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spootilious's reviews
123 reviews

Noodle and the No Bones Day by Jonathan Graziano, Dan Tavis

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

 
Read: July 23rd 2022 
Title: Noodle and the No Bones Day 
Series: N/A 
Author: Johnathan Graziano 
Illustrations: Dan Tavis 
Genre: Children’s Picture book 
Rating: 4.5/5 
Review: 
I absolutely adored this book. Like most of us, I was a aware of Johnathan and Noodle on Tiktok. I also knew that the book had been published but had not ordered a copy. A fact, which I now sorely regret. 
Spotting it on the shelf of my local Barnes and Nobels, I couldn’t help but stop and give it a quick read. I loved it so much I bought it on the spot. 
The illustrations alone had me grinning from ear to ear. This was the most adorable book I had seen all year. That paired with the self-care message and inclusive tone of the book had me in love at first sight. 
The only thing that could make it better would have been a really tacky rhyming scheme (but that might be a me thing. I’m a sucker for those). 
 
 

Captain Jack and the Pirates by Peter Bently

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

 
Read: August 27th 2022 
Title: Captain Jack and the Pirates 
Series: N/A 
Author: Peter Bently 
Illustrations: Helen Oxenbury 
Genre: Children’s Picture book 
Rating: 3/5 
Review: 
I absolutely adored King Jack and the Dragon. It is one of the few books I rated 5 out of 5. So, discovering Captain Jack and the Pirates had me really excited. 
As always, Helen Oxenbury comes out strong with her beautiful illustrations of the group of multi-cultural characters and I can not find any fault with her skill. 
That being said the story fell a bit flat for me. I love that imagination is the primary story generator here just as it was in King Jack. However, the rhyming scheme seemed a bit off unlocking the original book and had me far too distracted… Well, that and the different spelling of Zak’s name (or is it Zack now?). 
Overall, this book is a joy to read to children and I highly recommend it for that purpose. I however, will be sticking with my favorite (King Jack and the Dragon). 
 
 

Gondra's Treasure by Linda Sue Park

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 
A beautifully illustrated children’s book about a child born into two different cultures! 

Gondra’s father is an eastern dragon, while her mother is a western dragon, and throughout the book the three discuss the differences in culture and celebrate the different mix that presents itself in Gondra. 

It’s a wonderful story about celebrating who we are and our differences along with the things we have in common. 

Even though I doubt young children will consciously pick up on the message the story is engaging and the art is stunning. 

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

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dark emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

 
This book started out strong. I was really enjoying through the entirety of part one. The characters were well rounded and the world was super interesting. You could definitely tell that Silvera has a background in fanfiction and I kind of like that. 

The writing was straight forward but well done, even with it being in first person (which makes me think it really should have been named We Both Die at the End but oh well.). 

All in all it wasn’t a bad book. The further in I got however, the less I really loved it. The ‘curve balls’ were very predictable and over-done. The rest of the book was pretty predictable as well but not as bad as that. The insta-love was understandable considering they knew how it would it but I dunno… I suppose it felt a little tainted because of it. The fact that there is a loose end on how the reporter dies bugs me but I can understand the choice of leaving it out. 

All in all, I understand why this book is so popular and recommend it to any who like YA romance, a celebration of life and a good cry. 

The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 
My thoughts on this book are a bit all over the place. I liked the characters well enough, and the world was quite unique. It was certainly entertaining… 

The Color of Magic felt like Adams meeting Hubbert. The prose was over the top in some places and lacking in other. The world building was cumbersome here and there and smooth at other points. The descriptions were always well done but there was no real plot. 

All in all, I enjoyed the book. I can understand why others love it so and look forward to seeing the miniseries which I feel may be a better medium for this particular story. 

I still love Terry Pratchett but don’t feel like I will be continuing my journey through the Discworld series. 

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

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funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

 
One word is all that is needed to explain this book: Delightful 

This is most certainly a feel-good book. A cozy coffeeshop AU with a gay couple in a D&D esc world. The descriptions are worthwhile and while the writing is simplistic it is easy to read and quite effective. 

I will admit there is no real complexity to the story, but I don’t feel it is needed. In fact, Baldree’s writing reminds me quite a lot of TJ Klune. It is a simple story of love and found family with wonderful characters and settings. 

It is not life changing or thought provoking… It is simply a nice steaming cup of coffee and a warm cinnamon roll on a cold morning. 

Go read it! It’s worth it. 

Knight Owl by Christopher Denise

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 
There was nothing too standout about this book, but it was executed almost perfectly with beautiful illustrations, a fun read, wonderful characters and an endearing plot. 

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson

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adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

 
Oathbringer, despite not quite being in the middle, suffers from middle book syndrome, in my opinion. That, of course, is not to say that it isn’t good. Quite the opposite. I have yet to read a Sanderson book that is bad. The world building continues to entrance, the characters continue to be lovable and tormented, the writing continues to be strong. 

 

I believe the issue I had with Oathbringer is that it dragged. The pacing seemed a bit slower than the previous two books. That paired with the slightly annoying love triangle and the ‘plot twist’ that I predicted in book one made it fall less than par for me. 

 

However, this book is still a solid three stars! I enjoyed it for the most part and the series makes it all worth it. There were smaller ‘plot twists’ that caught me by surprise and the pacing was necessary to add to the series as a whole. 

 

Quotes: 

“Sometimes a hypocrite is nothing more than a man in the process of changing.” 

 

“To love the journey is to accept no such end. I have found, through painful experience, that the most important step a person can take is always the next one.” 

 

“The question... is not whether you will love, hurt, dream, and die. It is what you will love, why you will hurt, when you will dream, and how you will die. This is your choice. You cannot pick the destination, only the path.” 

 

“A journey will have pain and failure. It is not only the steps forward that we must accept. It is the stumbles. The trials. The knowledge that we will fail. That we will hurt those around us. 

But if we stop, if we accept the person we are when we fall, the journey ends. That failure becomes our destination. To love the journey is to accept no such end. " 

 

“Life breaks us, ... Then we fill the cracks with something stronger.” 

 

“As long as you keep trying, there's a chance. When you give up? That's when the dream dies.” 

 

“Every moment in our lives seem trivial, ... Most are forgotten while some, equally humble, become the points upon which history pivots.” 

 

“Logically... the bright side is the only side you can look on because the other side is dark.” 

 

“Artists spend more of their lives making bad practice pieces than they do masterworks, particularly at the start. And even when an artist becomes a master, some pieces don't work out. Still others are somehow just wrong until the last stroke. You learn more from bad art than you do from good art, as your mistakes are more important than your successes. Plus, good art usually evokes the same emotions in people --- Most good art is the same kind of good. But bad pieces can each be bad in their own unique way.” 

 

“Morality and law are built upon the bodies of the slain.” 

 

“It is obscenely difficult-- if not impossible-- to make something that nobody hates, ... Conversely, it is incredibly easy-- if not expected-- to make something that nobody loves.” 
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

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dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 
I finished this book hours ago and I haven’t really been sure what to say about it. 

 

I am happy to be reading a book originally written in another language again, knowing there really aren’t enough in my reading circles, or advertised, now days. I’ve missed their feel, their cadence. There is something comforting about knowing that someone’s story is being shared with you even if you couldn’t hold a conversation…. Something heartwarming about knowing that no matter the barrier we all experience things similar, especially remorse, grief, and sorrow. 

 

A started A Man Called Ove only one week after someone very dear to me and my family passed away. Someone who I could not help but make parallels to. Going into the novel, I knew nothing of what it was about, only that it came highly recommended. Looking back at it now, I can certainly understand why. 

 

I won’t lie and say that the book was as good as everyone told me it would be. The start was very sluggish, and the cadence took some getting use to. Nothing really happened throughout the book, its more of a slice of life of a man trying to find his place in life after his wife paces. 

 

It was depressing… and moving… funny… and heartbreaking. 

 

Overall, it was delightful, and I am very glad I had a chance to experience it at such a time in my (and my family’s) life to really appreciate how our very own Ove had changed our lives.  

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The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

 
There isn’t much to say about this book… 

Perfect ending. Perfect plot twist. 

Unique world and characters (which is expected of Sanderson. 

The character development is amazing 

The religious symbolism is amazing. 

The only negatives I have is its mostly slow pace and predictable plot (minus the big twist) 

Absolutely loved this book and the series 

[The only reason the review is short and to the point is because apparently, I didn’t write it right after I read it so I’m having to write it now, a year and some change later)