Category: Doreen

I Will Do Better by Charles Bock

subtitled A Father’s Memoir of Heartbreak, Parenting, and Love. Perhaps my most popular and controversial review over on Goodreads is of an absolutely abysmal “parenting” memoir by a blogger who lost his wife in childbirth and struggled to raise their child on his own afterwards. I have genuine sympathy for his situation — with my …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/10/11/i-will-do-better-by-charles-bock/

Do-It-Yourself Dollhouse: Making More With Less by Shannon Anderson & Giulia Pintus

Firstly, I should note that this isn’t technically a how-to manual, but it’s certainly very inspirational for being able to make a dollhouse on your own! Secondly, wowzers, I wish I’d had a book like this when I was a kid! I always kinda resented my mom for throwing away the three story Barbie dollhouse …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/10/10/do-it-yourself-dollhouse-making-more-with-less-by-shannon-anderson-giulia-pintus/

Spinetinglers 3 by R. L. Stine

When R. L. Stine started making headlines as a writer with the Fear Street novels, I was already aging out of his target audience. I know that that’s a weird thing to say given how I voraciously read books across all age ranges now, but having grown up on Nicholas Fisk and Scary Stories To …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/10/09/spinetinglers-3-by-r-l-stine/

Kill Shakespeare: First Folio by Anthony Del Col, Conor McCreery & Andy Belanger

Nothing screams “this was written by men” more than having Juliet Capulet (lately of Romeo & Juliet) assure Othello that he is not a villain. Lol, like hell. Iago may be just as much a bad guy as Othello, but Desdemona is still dead! Murdered for no reason! Even if she’d been cuckolding her husband …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/10/08/kill-shakespeare-first-folio-by-anthony-del-col-conor-mccreery-andy-belanger/

The Midnight Mitzvah by Ruth Horowitz & Jenny Meilihove

Being a creature of perpetual lateness, let me apologize for that first before wishing a belated Shana Tova to all readers who celebrate! Whether Jewish or otherwise, plenty of people will enjoy and hopefully benefit from the message of The Midnight Mitzvah. Hanina Chipmunk is a champion nut collector who enjoys sharing her bounty with …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/10/07/the-midnight-mitzvah-by-ruth-horowitz-jenny-meilihove/

Mythos: The Illustrated Edition by Stephen Fry & Jesús Sotés

This book really does have to be seen to be believed. The mammoth illustrated version of Stephen Fry’s first Mythos book is absolutely stunning, from its foiled covers and sprayed edges to its painted endpapers and gold bookmark ribbon. And that’s even before getting into Jesús Sotés’ evocative artwork, which reimagines the iconography of the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/10/03/mythos-the-illustrated-edition-by-stephen-fry-jesus-sotes/

Sea Serpent’s Heir Book Three: Queen of Mercy by Mairghread Scott & Pablo Túnica

I can’t even remember the last time I read a graphic novel series that wrapped up neatly in three books. Good show, creative team! The Sea Serpent’s Heir trilogy concludes with this final volume, as our heroine Aella must try to rescue the demon Xir who was once bonded to her, in the aftermath of …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/10/02/sea-serpents-heir-book-three-queen-of-mercy-by-mairghread-scott-pablo-tunica/

Ayo’s Adventure: Across The African Diaspora From Afro To Zulu by Ain Heath Drew & Erin Robinson

Happy October, readers! With Black History Month starting in the UK, what better time to explore a book on Africa and its diaspora? Ayo is a young boy in America whose parents are doing a wonderful job teaching him about his heritage. While he’s proud to be a Black American with a rich generational history …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/10/01/ayos-adventure-across-the-african-diaspora-from-afro-to-zulu-by-ain-heath-drew-erin-robinson/

UFO Mushroom Invasion by Shirakawa Marina

translated and edited by historian Ryan Holmberg as part of Smudge, “a line of vintage horror, occult, and dark fantasy manga”. Honestly, this was rad and creepy all at once. The original manga was published in 1976, and has been translated and repackaged here for English-speaking audiences, with illuminating essays and notes to boot. Shirakawa …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/09/30/ufo-mushroom-invasion-by-shirakawa-marina/

Heebie Jeebies by Matthew Erman & Shelby Criswell

There isn’t anything super innovative about the plot of this terrific middle grade graphic novel, but the storytelling choices that the creative team have made give it a truly profound 21st century edge. Blue literally lives on the wrong side of the tracks. Their mom works multiple crappy jobs to make ends meet and they’re …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2024/09/27/heebie-jeebies-by-matthew-erman-shelby-criswell/