mar’s book blog !

[bibliomars]

'Queer as Folklore' by Sacha Coward

With a clever title and an engaging tone of voice, queer historian Sacha Coward expertly intertwines ancient folklore with contemporary pop culture, creating a web of associations that will resonate with most contemporary queer people in Western countries. From mermaids to aliens, new and old legends come together to explore why queer people seem to have an innate tendency to be drawn to the fantastical from a young age. Although this book is heavily written through a Western lens, other folklore is mentioned and explored with respect for the cultures they belong to, taking the reader on a breathtaking journey through time, places, and myths.

Coward is a talented writer and meticulous historian, and that shines through his work. With each word he writes, the reader is both transported in time and invited into an ongoing conversation with the author. Reading this book feels like being in that one fun class you look forward to every week, with the engaging teacher who values input and talks about history as though it's a story, giving flesh and voice to ancient humans and making them feel so much closer to us. I had the pleasure of attending the ‘Queer as Folklore’ book release event in London, which really solidified my review of the book. It was an enriching experience, and hearing the voices of other queer people, researchers, and storytellers building up momentum to the main conversation culminated in a memorable and well-spent evening.

This is a book I highly recommend to lovers of history and the fantastical, or to anyone who fancies an engaging and fun non-fiction read to get them out of a reading slump!

Thank you Unbound for providing an ARC for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[bibliomars]

'I Have More Souls Than One' by Fernando Pessoa

After having the ordinary experience of every person who went to secondary school in Portugal, and being exposed to Pessoa as a teenager, revisiting his work as an adult feels invigorating. Most of his poems do require a certain level of maturity that most 16-year-olds just don't have to be able to fully enjoy. Reading some of his most classic poems in English, also gave the words a new meaning, and made me look at the poems in a different light, and it was nice to see I still recognised some poems even in a different language. It's not the most complete selection of Pessoa's and his alter egos' poetry, but it never claims to be one. It is exactly what it promises: an introduction to Pessoa's more infamous poems, that have shaped contemporary Portuguese poetry until today. A nice book to read in one sitting, it shows just how well Pessoa's ideas and words stand up the test of time while efficiently introducing the reader to his writing style.

[bibliomars]

'Please Fear Me' by Jennifer Love

'Please Fear Me' portrays a teen girl's struggles with self identity and survival while on the run from her abusive mother. It is a beautiful insight into female relationships and vulnerability that keeps the reader on their toes the entire time. This is an amazing debut novel from Jennifer Love, that feels both real and mystical at the same time, where we get to meet the main character and see her develop and mature while staying, at her core, just a scared teenage girl who was forced by the environment around her to grow up too quickly.

Thank you Fairlight Books for providing an arc for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[bibliomars]

'Revolutionary Acts – Love & Brotherhood in Black Gay Britain' by Jason Okundaye

Wow, what a book. I usually have a hard time focusing on non-fiction audiobooks, but Okundaye does an amazing job in both his writing and narration which made me unable to put this book down. His prose is delightfully descriptive, and this book does a spectacular job at collating archive materials and conversations of a history that rarely gets written about. It was an enlightening read and it was just as heartwarming as it was heartbreaking, the people portrayed in it feel tangible, raw, their stories alive even if they themselves aren't anymore. This book also does a spectacular job at sharing different points of view on situations, celebrating the different perspectives of crucial moments in the fight for black queer liberation, keeping these moments alive for generations to come.

Thank you Aesop Queer Library for this copy of the audiobook.

[bibliomars]

'Lost in the Future' by Damián (Illustrated by Àlex Fuentes)

"Lost in the Future" highlights the power of friendship and forgiveness in trying times through a group of high schoolers who must work together with their bully to return home to the present day from a dystopian medieval future. The story is thrilling and engaging, sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats, whether they are children or adults, even if at times the narrative feels a bit too rushed. Regardless, a simple message of acceptance and inclusivity comes together with lovable characters and a beautiful art style, guaranteed to delight the eye of those interested in colour harmony and graphic compositions. Overall, it is a pleasant read certain to delight its target audience.

Thank you Papercutz for providing an arc for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[bibliomars]

'Vincent: A Graphic Biography' by Simon Elliott

This Vincent van Gogh biography is far from comprehensive, but it is still a wonderful place to start when learning about this artist. It is narrated by his sister-in-law, Jo van Gogh-Bonger, who is the reason he is celebrated so extensively today. The book takes the reader through van Gogh’s life from birth until death, exploring both the good and bad moments. While the end does get quite detailed, I wish the beginning of his career had been more thoroughly explored. Another critical part of his life that could have been examined in more depth was his stay in Arles with Paul Gauguin. These nine weeks were crucial to how we perceive the post-impressionism movement today, as neither van Gogh’s nor Gauguin’s art would be what we know without that period. A really good complementary read for this part of van Gogh’s life is Martin Gayford’s The Yellow House.

One thing worth congratulating the author for, in particular, is the final section of the book. The prose is incredibly well-written, allowing the reader to gain insight into how and why we know van Gogh’s work in the way we do today. This is all thanks to the aforementioned Jo van Gogh-Bonger, who preserved Theo van Gogh’s legacy and promoted Vincent’s work worldwide.

Regarding the graphic nature of the novel, I felt the reading order of the prose could have been clearer, as at times I didn’t know where to continue reading. The illustrations seemed rather lacklustre in the beginning, but Elliott’s style really develops and shines when depicting van Gogh’s paintings, which deserves applause. It feels like a perfect communion of both artists' styles.

Overall, it is an enjoyable read, definitely targeted towards people unfamiliar with or just beginning to explore the life of this legendary painter, though it may leave more seasoned art history lovers wanting more.

Thank you, Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion, for providing an ARC for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[bibliomars]

'Earth to Alis' by Lex Carlow

With 'Earth to Alis', Carlow makes a remarkable debut into the world of contemporary young adult fiction. This book encompasses a range of difficult topics that can be all too common for current queer youth. While I felt some themes might have been approached in too detailed a way considering the story is young adult, overall the themes of mental health, bullying, and loss of friendship carry the story forward at a great medium-speed pace. While the author has mentioned that this novel is intended for an older young adult demographic, it is important to keep in mind that at times descriptions of self-harm and violent bullying/physical assault can be seen as too raw and unsuitable for those under 18 (obviously depending on the maturity of the reader). Because of this, the book sometimes felt like it couldn't pick a specific audience, especially when dealing with themes that can be considered triggering for younger audiences, while the characters are around 17/18. This conflict between the age of the characters and the maturity of certain chapters meant that, as an adult, I couldn't at times determine if I was the intended audience. That being said, this novel is beautifully written and overall a solid debut, with lovable characters and a heartwarming story about the first spark of queer love and positivity in a world that might at times feel too unfair. Despite the graphic description of violence, this is overall a hopeful story and shows potentially vulnerable readers that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, regardless of what situation one might be in. I want to take this opportunity to write that if anyone related to Alis' story personally, there is help available and you are not alone even when it seems like it. Although it might seem all-consuming, there is a future where you are whole and content as a human being.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!