Review: Firebreak

Firebreak by Nicole Kornher-Stace
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an advanced reader's copy of Firebreak by Nicole Kornher-Stace from Gallery/Saga Press, and I'm so thankful I did!

I didn't know much about Firebreak going into it.  I don't like to read too much about books before I read them.  Not so much to avoid spoilers as to avoid influencing how I feel about the book.  The QR code on the cover intrigued me.  Puzzle?  Tech?  I'm down.  What Firebreak turned out to be was so much more a book that is totally in my wheelhouse.  Strong, kickass female characters?  Check.  Video games?  Check.  Some sort of mystery?  Check.  Also, not many action thrillers can make me shed a tear.  You don't have to be a video game nerd to enjoy the story although I felt that added a layer to my enjoyment.  

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Review: The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Computer

The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Computer by Sydney Padua
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Computer is a graphic novel by Sydney Padua. My only complaint about this was I couldn't adjust the font size on my Kindle, so the footnotes were very difficult to read.  The rest of this is so much fun.  

I knew nothing about Charles Babbage, but I had heard hints about Ada Lovelace's involvement in creating the first computer.  That she was Lord Byron's daughter makes her all the more fascinating because he is an unusual character.  She took her passion in a very different direction but with no less fervor.  While this graphic novel takes liberties with the history, Sydney Padua is very upfront about what is true and what might be embellishment via footnotes throughout.  A very fun way to explore history!

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Review: If the Fates Allow: A Short Story

If the Fates Allow: A Short Story by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If the Fates Allow is an Amazon Originals short story by Rainbow Rowell that takes place in the Fangirl universe.  This time Reagan is the main character.  Since it is so short, I don't want to give too much away.  I will say it is set at Christmas during COVID times.  That part made this story hard for me to read.  The feels are real.  It may be too soon for some to read this.  I feel like it is the perfect book for future generations who wonder what holidays were like at a time like this.  

Some will feel this story is overly political.  If you are an anti-masker and/or anti-vaxxer, you probably don't want to read my reviews, let alone this book.   

Bonus points for Jell-O salad.  Even though I use vegan gelatin now, I still love Jell-O salad.  

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Review: Thunderpaws and the Tower of London

Thunderpaws and the Tower of London by Ben Housden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thunderpaws and the Tower of London is the first book in the Nature's Claw series by Ben Housden.  I received an advance copy from High Gate Press via NetGalley.  

I couldn't resist the idea of following a cat on his adventures in the Tower of London.  It was delightfully just what I expected.  Do I wish there were less murderous thoughts about other animals?  Yes, but what can you expect from a feline narrator.  

Bonus points for the illustrations.  They weren't so overwhelming to turn this into a children's book but quite a lovely accompaniment.

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Review: Last Chance to See

Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams is a funny and moving trek across the world to see certain species before they go extinct.  If it weren't for his incredible humor, I probably would have been a sobbing puddle of tears before I finished the first chapter.  It's not easy to read about the damage humanity has wrought around the world.  It is heartening to know there are people out there that care enough to dedicate their lives to protecting those that can't protect themselves.  While traipsing around to gather material to tell these important stories, Adams manages to get himself into all sorts of predicaments, some which may be familiar to those who've also traveled to exotic locales.  The only thing I wish my Kindle version had was photos of the animals and the travels.  If you like stories of travel or animals, this is a great read.

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Review: The Last Days of Video

The Last Days of Video by Jeremy Hawkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Last Days of Video by Jeremy Hawkins was a walk down memory lane for me.  Younger readers may not remember video stores or even have ever been to one.  I not only remember when they came about but also worked in my small college town's video store/movie theater for four years.  My mom was such a movie buff that she recorded enough movies onto VHS that we could have run our own store out of our house (had that been legal).  Reading this story about an eccentric crew of independent video store employees in their element felt like putting on a comfy sweater.  As they battle to save their store from the Blockbuster and Netflix, it made me feel guilty putting the book down to watch something on streaming although I am probably one of the last people in history to still get DVDs from Netflix.  Trust me, there are just some things you can only get on DVD now.  It's true.  If you love movies, you will also enjoy the many movie references.  Just be better prepared than I was.  I wanted to eat fresh, buttered popcorn the whole time!  

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Review: Five Flights Up: and Other New York Apartment Stories

Five Flights Up: and Other New York Apartment Stories by Toni Schlesinger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Five Flights Up: and Other New York Apartment Stories by Toni Schlesinger means so much more to me now that I'm one of those people that would end up in this book.  I am just thankful that I don't have to climb five flights to get to my apartment every day!  If you've ever lived in New York City, are moving to NYC, or have ever wondered about living in NYC, this is a great introduction to the housing situation here.  Trying to find housing in NYC is an unique experience and unlike anywhere else I've been in the world.

The book is actually a collection of articles she published about NYC housing.  Each section tells you where the place is, how much it costs, how big it is, and who the occupants are before giving you the highlights of an interview with the occupant(s) and then including a photo.   It was fun to read about the type of people that end up in NYC and the type of homes they are drawn to.  I feel like I finally understand co-ops now.  Thanks, Toni!

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