In a Nutshell: A cute picture book about a little wolf who discovers her howl just when she needs it. Sweet story, gorgeous illustrations, valuable liIn a Nutshell: A cute picture book about a little wolf who discovers her howl just when she needs it. Sweet story, gorgeous illustrations, valuable life lessons, plenty of animals. A great option for little readers.
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Plot Preview:
Little Wolf tries hard to howl, but her version sounds more like a hiccup or a whistle. Her siblings laugh at her but not in an insulting way. They find her attempts cute, but Little Wolf wants to be strong and tough like them. One day, Wolf finds herself lost in the forest after chasing a butterfly. She knows that if she howls, her mother will be able to locate her. But as she can’t, she is determined to remember her mother’s other instruction: “If you are ever lost, find North” and make her way back home. The only problem is, Wolf has no idea who or what or where North is.
This is such an adorable story! Right from its little protagonist to the other animals to the writing and the illustrations, this serves as a wonderful resource for young readers.
While storylines about lost animals/children are scary at times, I loved how this book depicts Wolf keeping her calm and knowing what to do. She doesn’t panic, she remembers her mother’s training, she approaches the right animals for help without hesitation, never loses hope, and never stops trying. Wolf’s adventure shows us that everyone has something to teach us, if only we pay attention.
There are many life lessons here that will help its readers, but they might be enhanced with adult guidance. For instance, a human child can’t really go asking random strangers for help as humans are much more dangerous than animals.
The story is written in simple prose that uses many emotion and reaction words. There are also some onomatopoeic words that add to the effect. I shouldn’t forget the biggest one of these: the wolf’s howl, which gives readers too an opportunity to howl along while reading aloud.
The illustrations are stunning with full-colour graphics in vivid hues on every page. The digital art seems to create a watercolour-like effect of shimmery colours that have just the right balance of soft and bright. The animals as well as the background feel alive through the vibrant sketches. I especially loved the page where Little Wolf is fishing with the bears. The art makes us feel like the water is splashing right before us.
All in all, this is a lovely picture book that balances morals with a healthy dose of humour, adventure, and insights. The content is suitable for kids aged 3-6 years.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to Marble Press for providing the DRC of “Little Wolf's Howl” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
In a Nutshell: A book that is just as beautiful as its cover. There are some teeny shortcomings, but the story is heartwarming enough to make you wannIn a Nutshell: A book that is just as beautiful as its cover. There are some teeny shortcomings, but the story is heartwarming enough to make you wanna forgive them.
Story:
Hope Henderson is not in a happy place. She lost her husband a couple of years ago to cancer. And now she has lost her job. To seek a fresh start, she has returned to York, the town where her family resides. While traversing the streets of York, she spots an advert about a part-time position in ‘The Ever After Emporium’, a local shop filled with a medley of antiques and curiosities from all over the world. She gets this job and begins to find her happy place in this new environment. One day, an antique emerald ring is discovered hidden inside one of the knick-knacks. And thus begins a new adventure of trying to discover whom the ring belongs to. Helping Hope on this journey are Mr Young--the eccentric owner of the emporium, Will—the charming jewellery shop owner who is dealing with his own personal problems, and Ciaran—the equally charming professor of archaeology at the local university. Will Hope find personal happiness? If yes, with whom? Will they discover the owner of the ring? Read and find out.
In a Nutshell: A children’s graphic novel about two classmates who learn how to work together. Cute for the target age group. Nice life lessons as welIn a Nutshell: A children’s graphic novel about two classmates who learn how to work together. Cute for the target age group. Nice life lessons as well. Learnt some interesting facts too along the way.
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After moving with his family to ‘New Stork City’, Puffin is excited to be in a fancy new school in ‘Brookloon’. However, he soon realises that the buddy assigned to him, Penguin, is the coolest and busiest kid in school, always in demand and loved by everyone. Feeling ignored, Puffin hatches his own plan to make friends and joins the stage crew of the drama club. But even the best of plans comes with glitches, and Puffin learns that enthusiasm doesn’t lead to automatic success.
In a Nutshell: NOT A CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK! Officially, an illustrated story book for young adults. The textual content might work better for this aIn a Nutshell: NOT A CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK! Officially, an illustrated story book for young adults. The textual content might work better for this age group as it gets quite dark. I found the concept as well as the implementation somewhat half-baked. It might have worked better in a lengthier work with more plot and character development.
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Seven-year-old Vivek dislikes his Daadi (paternal grandmother) for two main reasons: 1. She always forces him to have raisins, and 2. She pinches his cheeks every chance she gets. But when he gets his hands on her old diary, he learns some painful truths from her past and begins to understand her better. The story comes to us in Vivek’s third-person perspective, with some first-person interludes through Daadi’s diary entries.
One of the best and most powerful poems ever! Written in 1910 when Indian was under colonial rule, the sentiments contain a fervent wish still relevanOne of the best and most powerful poems ever! Written in 1910 when Indian was under colonial rule, the sentiments contain a fervent wish still relevant not just to India but to all the nations of the world.
This is the 35th poem in 'Gitanjali', the collection that won Tagore his Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. Originally written in Bangla but translated to English by Tagore himself. Since I just reviewed a Tagore short story collection, it made sense to revisit my favourite poem by him. I first read this in my childhood, and it struck a chord even then. Every time I read it, I whisper a prayer for the words in the poem to come true.
In a Nutshell: A collection of a hundred hundred-word stories from various genres. A quick and entertaining indie read.
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A In a Nutshell: A collection of a hundred hundred-word stories from various genres. A quick and entertaining indie read.
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A hecatontagon (I dare you to pronounce it five times in a row without faltering!), also known as a hectogon, is a hundred-sided polygon. A stew is, as you probably know, a dish of multiple veggies and meat slow-cooked. A “Hecatontagonal Stew” is a collection of a hundred stories from multiple genres and themes.
This isn’t my first Kyle Massa work. I have read his novel ‘Eggs for the Ageless’ and two other story collections, ‘Monsters at Dusk’ and ‘Past, Present, Future’. Each of these has been a delightful experience, showcasing the author’s creativity and humour excellently. So I had (unfairly) high expectations from this new collection, and to a great extent, they were met.
The specialty of this latest work is that each story (excluding the title) is exactly a hundred words long. (I cross-checked some of the stories at random and found this claim to be true. ...more
In a Nutshell: A picture book with an important message related to bullying, but not in the usual style. The approach makes this book stand out. A greIn a Nutshell: A picture book with an important message related to bullying, but not in the usual style. The approach makes this book stand out. A great option for school libraries and classroom group discussions.
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This picture book is more of a manifesto than a plot-based storybook. The content alternates between one page of text and one of illustrations.
The test is written in a simple print-handwriting font and set against a notebook-style background, giving it the appearance of something written actually written by a child on a page torn off from a notebook. This adds to the personal touch of the message.
The illustrations are also simple, focussing only on what is needed rather than adding needless background clutter. The streamlined approach with the appropriate expression on the main character’s face enhances his feelings on the topic.
So, what is this important message that the text and the illustrations are aiming to deliver? The tagline tells us that it is an anti-bullying message for children. But the book is not addressed to a child who is getting bullied verbally or physically, nor is it addressed to the bully. It is addressed to children in general because, as the title says, “it’s up to you.’ The author’s being an experienced teacher ensures that the language is one that kids understand and the situation, something they can handled without fear, apprehension, or adult intervention.
This book doesn’t depict the kind of bullying we imagine or that we usually see in fictional books or movies. There’s no active bullying on the page. There’s no one getting beaten, no one getting abused, no one getting teased, no one crying. The book stresses on the other kind of bullying, the one that is much tougher to detect in real life and often passes unnoticed by adults: indirect or hidden bullying, which usually happens through behind-the-back gossip, rumour-mongering, or ignoring. As such bullying acts are not ‘loud’, the impact on the child is the same but the visibility is not that much. Tackling this kind of bullying is more important as the psychological impact is still high. As one line from the book says, “This kind of pain hurts a lot too.”
This atypical depiction of a bullying storyline changes the very manner in which most people view bullying, and that is the biggest contribution of this book – of making us notice what we usually don’t even look at as bullying.
The only thing that could have worked better for me was the choice of grammatical voice in certain parts. The second person ‘you’ works well to address the reader and the third person ‘he’ is also good in pointing towards the child who is bullied (though this isn’t apparent at the start; the illustrations deliberately throw us off on this aspect.) But the first person doesn’t fit into the flow. As the message is addressed to the reader, it should have retained ‘you’ throughout. (The text does help somewhat by writing the ‘I’ sections in red and the rest in black, but it is still abrupt in the current structure.) The continuity also felt a bit off in a couple of pages, especially when a line goes ‘The answer is…’ but there was no question asked. Compared to the admirable intent of the book, these minor negatives can be easily overlooked.
The book ends with a ‘Stand Up’ game that can be conducted by teacher and counsellors with any group of children. This game sounds brilliant, and will clearly highlight how many kids suffer from direct or indirect bullying. I hope it helps them to learn that they aren’t alone in the situation.
All in all, this picture book might have a simple approach, but it shows how even a single positive action can make a difference to someone who is bullied, and how we don’t need to physically fight a bully to fight bullying. In fact, the tactics discussed herein will work not just with those who face indirect bullying but also with those who are going through tough new changes such as being a new student in school or having parents going through a separation.
Definitely recommended. Though the book can be useful to everyone, it would work especially well as a classroom resource as the discussion might work better in a group situation. This would be a great option for children aged 6-10, though the lesson is without an age barrier.
4.25 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via StoryOrigin. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
In a Nutshell: A crime fiction set In Victorian England. The gaslight theatre setting is appealing, but the pacing, the plot development, the female cIn a Nutshell: A crime fiction set In Victorian England. The gaslight theatre setting is appealing, but the pacing, the plot development, the female characters and the mystery itself didn’t work for me.
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1882. Hastings Wimbury has always dreamt of playing Hamlet on a West End stage, but the closest he has got to the theatre so far is in his new job as a ‘gas boy’, taking care of the gas chandelier and the other gas-based light and shadow machines in the theatre. When a strange man meets him with an equally strange proposal, Hastings is not sure whether to accept it or not. But soon, the decision goes out of his control. The story comes to us from the third person perspective of mainly three characters: Hastings, Cassie (an assistant to a ‘spirit investigator’), and Flora (Hastings’ secret fiancée.)
In a Nutshell: An adorable sequel that takes Garlic’s story into an unexpected dimension. Enjoyed it just as much as the first graphic novel. Works asIn a Nutshell: An adorable sequel that takes Garlic’s story into an unexpected dimension. Enjoyed it just as much as the first graphic novel. Works as a standalone but better if read in series order. Great for middle-graders, fun for all.
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Garlic, Carrot and the other veggies are still at work in Witch Agnes’ garden when Garlic discovers an unwelcome change: her hands have begun to resemble human hands. The Count and Witch Agnes try to reassure her that it is a natural development, Garlic isn’t so sure. Changes are never good, right?
My review will be almost the same as that of the first book because my feelings are almost exactly the same!
In a Nutshell: A sweet picture book about appreciating nature and its creatures. Good story, lovely illustrations, important message. Recommended.
~~~~In a Nutshell: A sweet picture book about appreciating nature and its creatures. Good story, lovely illustrations, important message. Recommended.
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Leo and Lilly love chasing fireflies and salamanders in their backyard. They even manage to capture one of each in a glass jar to take it to school for show-and-tell. However, when they show their treasures to Grandma, she wisely guides them towards doing what is right for the creatures, and even shows them a way they can take a ‘firefly’ and a ‘salamander’ to show-and-tell.
When I read the start of the story and saw the kids happily capturing those lovely creatures in glass jars, my heart began to sink. This wasn’t at all an activity I could advocate! Just as I was wondering how I would review this book politely, Grandma came to the rescue. ...more
In a Nutshell: A sweet middle-grade graphic novel featuring anthropomorphic vegetables, a witch, and a vampire. Great story, cute illustrations, nice In a Nutshell: A sweet middle-grade graphic novel featuring anthropomorphic vegetables, a witch, and a vampire. Great story, cute illustrations, nice themes, lovely ending. Much recommended!
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Plot Preview:
Garlic likes to work in the vegetable garden along with Carrot and the other vegetables. However, she is very uncertain of herself and constantly battles self-doubt and anxiety. Even Carrot’s encouraging words and the kind witch Agnes’ encouragement don’t help. When the vegetable village learns that a vampire has moved into the nearby castle, they all agree that Garlic is the best *person* to drive him away as vampires hate garlic. However, Garlic herself isn’t sure if she has what it takes to do such a brave thing. But can she let her friends down?
In a Nutshell: A good collection of Tagore’s works, but the translation could have been better. A nice option for readers of character-oriented short In a Nutshell: A good collection of Tagore’s works, but the translation could have been better. A nice option for readers of character-oriented short fiction who are interested in Indian non-mythology classics. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rabindranath Tagore is, to date, the only Indian winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. He was a skilled poet and novelist, but his short fiction was a cut above the rest. The fourteen short stories in this collection were originally written in Bengali, and translated to English by various writers.
The biggest plus of this collection is seeing the strong command that Tagore has over his narrative. His stories don’t go the way we want or the way a typical happy-ending tale should proceed. Rather, he takes each story where he wants and stops, whether the ending is complete or not, whether the characters are happy or not, whether the readers get closure or not. This could go either way for a reader, but to those accustomed to literary fiction and slice of life stories, this kind of writing won’t present a big hurdle.
The main hurdle in enjoying this collection to the fullest is the shoddy translation, or rather, the lack of uniformity in the translation. As various writers have worked on the individual stories, there is no consistency to the writing or the vocabulary. Some stories are needlessly verbose while a few are too simple to seem like Tagore's work. Some use formal language while others are almost jargonistic. Some explain terms while others assume that the readers are knowledgeable enough. A couple of the stories break the fourth wall for no rhyme or reason. All this makes for an uneven experience, as some stories don’t hold up to the potential. Of course, this flaw is not to be assigned to Tagore’s writing.
Despite the mixed translation, the stories offers a comprehensive study of human behaviour. All the main narrators are flawed male protagonists who miss the obvious and jump to conclusions. The women’s role are somewhat limited to their being docile and sweet though there are some worthy exceptions as well.
The stories might have been contemporary in their time, but to a reader of 2024 and familiar with the country, the stories are clearly historical, with many of these issues no longer that prevalent at least in urban areas. However, human emotions and reactions don’t change with eras. The response of the characters to their circumstances is still realistic, though a tad melodramatic. The setting is Bengal, as is the case with Tagore’s works.
As always, I rated the stories individually. Of the fourteen stories, four stories touched the four-star mark while most of the rest hovered around three stars. I am sure the performance would have been better had I read this a couple of decades ago and had the translation been better. These were my top favourites: ...more
In a Nutshell: A middle-grade novel about a boy who struggles with his overactive “Brian”. This had great potential, and some of the content has greatIn a Nutshell: A middle-grade novel about a boy who struggles with his overactive “Brian”. This had great potential, and some of the content has great value, but somehow, the overall book didn’t come together well enough for my liking.
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Since childhood, thirteen-year-old Josh has called his brain “Brian”. Brian is very active in Josh’s life, constantly poking and prodding him towards good ideas as well as mean insults. Brian also creates a lot of insecurity by making Josh feel guilty for the family arguments between his mother and his elder brother Charlie. When the situation at home gets too bad, Josh is sent to stay with his maternal grandmother for a few days. But she stays in a small shack in the middle of nowhere, and Brian protests vehemently. Will Josh be able to push Brian’s nagging away and strengthen his own voice? The story comes to us in Josh’s first-person perspective.
The concept of the book is great. I love the idea of a brain that works against its human. So many of us have the inner voice that makes us question our decisions, and Brian seems to be the manifestation of the most criticising ones. The cover art and the title also made me believe that the focus of the story would be mainly on Josh’s learning how to handle his “Brian.” However, the implementation seems to be somewhat disjointed.
The book begins in a light-hearted way, with Josh introducing us to Brian and some funny outcomes of his interference. But soon, we get a glimpse of the fights between his mom and Charlie, and of how Charlie acts as a typical elder brother: mildly aloof and somewhat bullying. Then the story shows how the family arguments escalate to such an extent that Charlie decides to go live with their dad, who has his own family and a bigger house. When Josh’s mom struggles with her emotions, she decides to send Josh away to her own mom, from whom she has been somewhat estranged. There Josh learns that his grandma is a recluse who works in her own garden, and also that she too had escaped from city life after her “Briany” found it overwhelming. Josh finally learns from grandma how to tackle his Brian, but has she herself learnt how to tackle Briany yet? When Josh finally returns home, he is a bit calmer, though the situation at home is only mildly better.
See the problem? All of the above happens within just 96 pages. The story goes from one issue to another without focussing in detail on any. Each of the above scenes is a major conflict and needs proper settlement, especially in a book aimed at children. But the approach is more go-with-the-flow, with no dominant main point. Just when it seems like the final quarter would sort out everything neatly, the plot brings in yet another conflict.
Moreover, many key things aren’t revealed in the book, mainly because we get the story in Josh’s first-person voice, and whatever he isn’t aware of, we also don’t come to know. So we are not aware of how their dad or their stepmother feel about Charlie suddenly living with them without informing them beforehand, or how their mother contacts their grandmother when the latter doesn’t even have a phone. Josh tells us that his mother and his grandmother haven’t been in touch after a major fight years ago, so it is also not clear why his mother decided to send Josh all the way to a relative stranger (to him) when his own dad seemed to be accommodating enough. Charlie’s sudden good behaviour towards Josh is unexplained. Even the whole “Brian”-brain thing is left without any elucidation. The overall effect is hence quite jumpy.
It might have been easier to like the book had Josh been a boy worth rooting for. But he seems to be deflecting all his negative behaviour on to Brian. Whenever something goes wrong, it was Brian’s fault and not Josh’s. Now this might be a genuine mental health condition, but we never know the details as there’s nothing about Brian’s origins. Brian seems to be a boastful, manipulative bully, so some of his lines might be a bit traumatic to littler readers. (Worse: they might find him funny, though his behaviour actually ticks off all red flags.)
To top it all, the book has mentions of vaping, of parents’ bitter divorce, and of running away from home, none of which are topics I like to see in MG fiction. Josh also tends to allot rude nicknames to his peers and teachers, and judges them by appearance. When he terms his grandma a ‘witch’ just for how she looked, the book nosedived for me with no hope of recovery.
I usually love this publisher’s books for the way their writing follows the Hi-Lo format, with stories aiming at the middle-grade level but the language pitching a little lower so that the books are accessible to those with lower reading prowess. They are never afraid to tackle topics that might be considered dark for this age group. But this book turned out to be a rare exception, not because of the topic but because of its handling.
Basically, I had expected this book to focus on a young boy's struggling with his hyperactive mind. But it turned out to be more focussed on other topics, with the title and the cover serving more as clickbait.
The book has B&W illustrations which are decent but not outstanding. I didn’t appreciate Josh’s annoying expression in many of the sketches, so I wasn’t a fan of these.
This is just one opinion. So please do go through other reviews and see if the book might work better for your young one. It's a little complicated, but read with adult guidance, it might work decently for kids with loud interruptive brains.
2 stars.
My thanks to Barrington Stoke for providing the DRC of “Me and My Brian” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
In a Nutshell: A huge collection of stories and poems written and edited by women writers of Polynesian origin. Infused with a flavour of Polynesia anIn a Nutshell: A huge collection of stories and poems written and edited by women writers of Polynesian origin. Infused with a flavour of Polynesia and the Moana, but at times, the language gets a bit tricky for non-Polynesians to understand. Despite some niggles about the quantity and the language, definitely recommended! You won’t find such a powerful OwnVoices indigenous anthology.
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When a reading challenge I’m participating in required a book by a non-Indian indigenous author, I knew that I'd pick up a work by an indigenous woman, and that I'd want to attempt something by an atypical ethnicity, a voice that is not often seen or heard in popular fiction. What better than to find a book written by not one but thirty-eight women from the Moana!? That gorgeous cover only sealed the deal.
This is one gigantic collection! Not just by page count (almost 400 pages) but also by content count – seventy-one stories, which includes eighteen poems! I almost fell off my seat when I saw the extensive Table of Contents! The blurb only said “over 50 rich stories”, so a 70+ count was unexpected. Then again, this also means that most of the stories are on the short side of the short fiction range. A part of me wishes that the story count would have been lower – most anthologies work best with 20-30 stories before reader fatigue sets in.
The representation is as authentic as it can get. The stories are by 38 women of various Polynesian ethnicities - Cook Island, Chamorro, Erub Island (Torres Strait), Fijian, Hawaiian, Māori, Ni-Vanuatu, Papua New Guinean, Rotuman, Samoan and Tongan. The editors are Polynesian, as is the designer of that magnificent cover art. (I can’t tell you how many times I have simply stared at that sketch – it is so soothing!)
As I wasn’t familiar with the main word of the title: ‘Vā’, I waited for the content to offer a clue, but there was no mention of it at all in the book. Google helped with this information: “In Samoan culture, vā is a concept that describes a physical or emotional space that connects people and things through relationships. It's a relational space that's constantly being redefined and negotiated between two cultures.’ So yes, it is a perfect title for the book. But it would have been great to see its meaning and the interpretation in some kind of introductory note ‘Moana’ is slightly more familiar to us, but mainly because of the Disney movie. . The word ‘Moana’ means either ‘ocean’ or ‘a large lake’ or ‘the sea’, or the colour of ‘ocean blue’, depending on the Polynesian language. (Thank you again, Google!)
The vocabulary hurdle would have been okay if limited to the above two words. However, a majority of the stories contain various words and phrases from languages I know nothing about. Guessing the etymological meaning is next to impossible, and trying to figure out the contextual meaning only works when there are scattered words, not entire sentences and conversations in that language. A glossary wouldn’t have helped as there were too many such instances. Perhaps there could have been footnotes with the English translations? I know for a fact that many of the stories would have worked better for me had I understood them entirely. Having a lot of local vernacular adds to the authentic feel but also gets distracting and confusing when it cannot be interpreted. The subtleties of many of the dialogues were lost to me because of this issue.
I took my time with this anthology, spending over a month savouring 2-3 stories a day. As some of you might know, I am allergic to poems, so I carefully skipped over every single poem in the book. (Apologies to the contributing poets! I am sure you did a great job! It’s not you; it’s me.)
The stories come from a variety of emotions and genres and timelines. Every tale is obviously from the point of view of a female character, with some stories having Queer rep as well. Some of the stories were more about the mythology of the cultures. Some were about fitting in the modern world while retaining your cultural identity. A few were more generic narratives, having nothing much to do with the Polynesian aspect. I liked the Samoan stories the best as they seemed to have much in common with Indian thinking in both good and bad ways.
I enjoyed the parting note by the editors (though I am upset that they didn’t write an introductory note. Yup, I’m quite greedy like that!) Instead of writing a traditional Oscar-winner-style vote of thanks, the note is written in the form of a traditional “vi’iga”, a praise song.
As always, I rated the stories individually. Of the fifty-three stories, fourteen stories reached or crossed the four-star mark. Most of the rest were clustered around 3-3.5 stars, and many of these would have ranked higher for me had I been able to understand the content better. These were my top favourites: ...more
In a Nutshell: A cute little collection of comics that will warm your heart and bring a smile to your face. If you know Wawawiwa comics, you know whatIn a Nutshell: A cute little collection of comics that will warm your heart and bring a smile to your face. If you know Wawawiwa comics, you know what to expect. A great gifting option.
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I’ve been a fan of Wawawiwa comics since many years now. Author Andrés J. Colmenares, who is a self-taught illustrator from Colombia, describes his work as a "visual hug" [Cue: the title of this compilation!] and he is absolutely right. The art is always cute and the content is always endearing.
The main feature about these comics is that they personify not just animals but also objects that we would never think of in a anthropomorphised way. Think toothpaste tubes, avocados, cola cans, the planets, balloons, body organs, and so on with human sentiments – ridiculously funny, but Colmenares manages to make them sweet.
This latest collection contains some of the most liked comics from Wawawiwa’s Instagram page. At about 200 pages, this is much longer than Colmenares’ earlier Wawawiwa compilation, ‘When Sharks Attack With Kindness’, which had about 128 pages. Both the books are adorably uplifting!
I had already seen many of these comics before, but they are so heartwarming that a repeat read never hurts. Some of the strips are funny, some are thought-provoking, and some are just ‘awww’-inducing. While the animal-based ones are my favourite, all are delightful.
Most of the strips have a fresh feeling, with only a few seeming a bit repetitive. At the same time, I wish there had been a few new comics also in the set. If a reader can see the same content browsing through the Wawawiwa site or the Instagram page, why would they buy the book?
The illustrations are exactly as you can see on the cover – kawaii-style cute!
This needn’t be a book you read from start to end. You can just flip to any random page and get your dose of a daily smile.
Much recommended. As a wonderful combination of heart and humour, this would make for a wholesome gift to loved ones of any age, to family as well as friends and colleagues.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing the DRC of “A Great Big Visual Hug” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
In a Nutshell: An enlightening book about the world of decomposition and decomposers. Excellent info and presentation. Much recommended!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~In a Nutshell: An enlightening book about the world of decomposition and decomposers. Excellent info and presentation. Much recommended!
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Most people go ‘Ewwwww!’ at the thought of rot, but the fact is that decomposition has a big role to play in our lives, whether within our body, on our body, in our homes and local communities, or even in the world at large. Whether we like it or not, decomposition helps keep our world clean. Decomposing matter also results in yummy food items such as sourdough bread and yoghurt.
This book begins with a brief introductory note about the importance of rot and creatures who help in the rotting process. “Rot can’t happen without life and life can’t happen without rot.” – this simple and honest sentence in the note sums up how vital decomposition is to our world. I also love the correlation the note makes between composition and decomposition.
The main content is organised into three chapters with multiple subtopics, the main sections being the essentials of rot, interesting decomposition trivia, and important decomposers. The structure of the information is evident in the table of contents as well as in the individual pages, with each page presenting the information in neatly structured blocks.
The content is comprehensive beyond belief. Almost every aspect of how rot exists everywhere around us is covered in detail. I appreciate how the book also talks about things that don’t decompose and how these affect our environment. (Stop using balloons, people!)
The language gets a bit difficult only when scientific terms are in use. Otherwise, the vocabulary is fairly manageable for older tweens and teens. The first section would be great for younger tweens as well.
The illustrations are not in a style I enjoy, but they do work to a great extent. There is a limited palette (with only yellow, green and red used predominantly, as you can see on the cover.) I guess the colours are restricted to the colours of decomposition in nature, though I am not sure about this. I wish that there were actual photos of the creatures mentioned in the decomposers section. Illustrations can go only so far! Information about real animals always works better with real images.
There are many activities at the end of the book, all connected to understanding the process of decomposition and the activities of decomposers. These might not be to the taste of all parents, and some could be mildly risky if done without adult guidance. So it would be better to tackle the activities section together, especially if the child is on the younger side.
Definitely recommended. This would be a great resource in classrooms as well as libraries, and would also make a great gift to every little nature-lover.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to Storey Publishing for providing the DRC of “World of Rot” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
In a Nutshell: A dual-perspective picture book, with one half written from the father’s point of view and the other from the son’s. Interesting concepIn a Nutshell: A dual-perspective picture book, with one half written from the father’s point of view and the other from the son’s. Interesting concept and touching content. But I am not sure whom to advocate it to.
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The title states that this picture book is a story *about* Father and Son, but the book is also a story *by* a father and a son as it comes in two distinct perspectives. One half of the book tells us the narration from the father’s first-person point of view, talking about how he felt from the time he first held his newborn son in his arms, leading on to his emotions over various milestones in his son’s life, all the way till the son himself becomes a father. The middle page reminds us that “there’s always another point of view.” Thus the story changes over to the son’s perspective, and we see exactly the same incidents from the viewpoint of the son and the emotions he experienced on those occasions.
The intent of the book is great. There are always two sides to every story, and this book is a great way of highlighting how two people may view an incident similarly or differently. It is interesting to see how the father and the son have the same feelings about certain events but totally different reactions to some other incidents. The start and the ending being similar hints at life coming a full circle, as the son is now grown up enough to experience his father’s emotions through his own newborn.
The book has a great mix of funny scenes as well as emotional moments. As the story has no woman in an active role, the prime focus is only on the two male characters. It was nice to see a father being honest about his insecurities and his apprehensions over his son’s reactions, always wondering if he is doing a great job of being a dad. This isn't a lesson about perfect parenting, nor does it offer a glimpse of an ideal father. At the same time, just because the book is about a dad’s love doesn’t mean it shows a helicopter dad over-protecting his child; rather the dad allows the son to learn many things on his own. The relatable nature of the father will help reading dads connect with him strongly.
The story is written in simple text, with not more 2-3 sentences per page. The layout is such that that the pages never appear cluttered.
The illustrations are cute, hand-drawn and then inked in a water-colour style that lends fluidity to the graphics. I could have done without the bright rouged cheeks, but the rest of the art looks great.
So it is mostly a positive experience to read this book. The only point about which I am stumped is: whom is it aimed at? Though a picture book, it is certainly not for kids as both the stories are in the past tense and the boy is already a grown-up man by the time each perspective ends. I can only presume that it is for adults, or to be specific, for a new/young father. So it might make a good gift from a father to his adult son when the son is about to step into the new phase of his life through parenthood, or for special occasions such as Father’s Day. The only thing is: the cover and the title don’t indicate this idea anywhere. Perhaps some direct indication on the cover art would help clarify the book’s intent to potential buyers.
I must add that Amazon has listed this as a book for 4 to 8 year olds, but I honestly don’t see this appealing to that age group as this doesn’t work that well as a bedtime story or a general children’s book, at least in my opinion. The only way in which it could work for kids is in understanding how parents might feel differently from them about some issues, and that parents also feel insecure. But this will work only up to the part where the son in the story is young. Little kids might not relate to the leaving-home-for-college and dating and marriage parts.
All in all, definitely a nice and sweet indie picture book full of beautiful emotions, but one that will emotionally impact adults (parents/grandparents/guardians) far more than children.
3.25 stars. (2.5 stars as a kids’ book, 4 stars as a book for dads. Averaged.)
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via the Library Thing Early Reviewers Program. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
The digital version of this book is currently available free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
In a Nutshell: A seasonal analysis of FRIENDS, and the other sitcoms and shows before and during the “golden age”. The focus is not just on sitcoms, tIn a Nutshell: A seasonal analysis of FRIENDS, and the other sitcoms and shows before and during the “golden age”. The focus is not just on sitcoms, the feedback is not just positive, and the approach is more like a hindsight-analysis with 2024-glasses on. I'm a FRIENDS superfan, so some (actually, most!) of this review comes from biased eyes. Take it with a pinch of salt!
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As a FRIENDS fanatic, I have watched the show umpteen times, I can still watch any episode any day in any random order without any confusion, and I can even quote lines from multiple episodes. So when I saw this title listed on NetGalley, my reaction obviously was, “Could I BE more excited?” The execution of the book, however, has left me with mixed feelings.
FRIENDS is not the only hit sitcom of its time, but it's probably the only one that still has a loyal fanbase not just from its original viewership but also among the younger generation, thanks to OTT channels. Because of the latter factor, it has also been subject to intense modern scrutiny, and isn’t always able to match current inclusivity standards. The book covers all this and more.
The content provides not just a generic analysis of FRIENDS but also a season-by-season assessment. It even has an in-depth evaluation of the changing dynamics of shows over the last three decades on television, and the impact of the entry of OTT channels and the modified viewership habits on TV shows.
You don’t require a comprehensive knowledge of American sitcoms to grasp the analytics provided. My knowhow is limited to iconic sitcoms from the “golden era” such as Seinfeld, Frasier, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Everyday Loves Raymond, Dharma and Greg, and That 70s Show. While the book covers many more shows (sitcoms and more), I didn’t find myself struggling to comprehend the information.
Each chapter is cleverly titled in the FRIENDS episode title format: “The One Where/With...”. There is also some smart chapter numbering, with chapters one to ten corresponding to seasons one to ten, even though there are fourteen chapters in all.
The book starts off quite well. The initial two chapters (which highlight the then status quo of TV viewership and the early sitcoms that paved the way towards FRIENDS) set the right foundation for the book. Even the first chapter, that highlighted Season One and how the cast and the rest of the team came together, is superb. FRIENDS fans might already know many of the details, but this book provides them in a structured way.
Things start going downhill from the second chapter onwards, when the focus shifts more towards a clinical approach, with loads of data about other shows, TV ratings, network positions, and so on. This becomes too tedious after a point. The FRIENDS-related information is intriguing, what with a proper exploration of each season’s focal point, the dynamics of the six friends, and the season finale. However, the rest of the data dulls the impact of the FRIENDS content. As a FRIENDS fan, I was interested in knowing more about the show and its competition, but not in such a dry manner.
What bugged me the most during the season-focussed chapters was the constant criticism about how FRIENDS hasn’t aged well. Yes, we fans know that it doesn’t completely pass muster in today’s world. But if a programme has to be analysed, it has to be seen not from NetFlix-generation opinions but from the original 90s viewpoint. When FRIENDS was produced, its creators wouldn’t have thought, “Hmmm, let’s ensure that we can satisfy the viewers watching our show thirty years hence.” The show was made for the people of the 1990s by people of the 1990s, and was partly based on the (white) creators’ post-college experiences. As David Schwimmer said in a 2020 interview to ‘The Guardian’, “A lot of the problem today in so many areas is that so little is taken in context. You have to look at it from the point of view of what the show was trying to do at the time.”
That said, FRIENDS still broke the mould by showing a lesbian relationship & wedding (Carol & Susan), having a Black actor (Aisha Tyler as Charlie) and a POC actor (Lauren Tom as Julie) in a key role – nine and seven episodes respectively – AND having a transgender character (Chandler’s dad Helena Handbasket, though the casting of Kathleen Turner in this role is somewhat questionable.) The other shows of the era didn't do any of this, with the only prominent exception being Will & Grace and its two homosexual main characters, though one of them – Sean Hayes’ character Jack McFarland – was an extremely camp portrayal of a gay man. Why call it the golden age of the sitcom era and then go to bash the show for things the entire television business was guilty of?
I disagree with the author that calling something "of the era" is a lazy way of justifying it. No, calling something “of the era” is a way of acknowledging that we know there were mistakes made in the past, that the work doesn’t hold to modern standards, and that we shouldn’t repeat those errors in future. It indicates that this knowledge has come to us in hindsight, and hence we need to learn from those mistakes, not castigate those who were reflecting prevalent social trends and the systemic racism without even realising it. (Aren’t shows guilty of the same even today, though awareness is so much greater? You think the storyline of Raj Koothrappali of The Big Bang Theory is a genuine Indian representation? Think again! I’d rather not have our representation on shows than to have such stereotypes perpetuated.)
Some of the points of criticism were just silly. Like saying that the use of pagers and answering machines places FRIENDS firmly in that era. Of course, it does! You think modern audiences don't realise that it's a thirty-year-old show? There has been so much technology that has come and even gone in the interim, so tech shouldn't be used to judge the timelessness of any show! Almost every show is OF ITS ERA when it comes to technology, and this cannot be used as a shortcoming.
The proceedings improve to a great extent from Chapter Ten (focussed on Season Ten) onwards. The tone in these final three chapters is more enthusiastic and nostalgic, and reminded me of why I had opted for the book in the first place. If only that same impartial and wistful approach had been retained throughout the book, this would have been an easy winner.
There are some photos at the end of the book, but all of them are stock pictures that are easily available on the internet. I found nothing striking, innovative, or memorable in the chosen photos.
All in all, the nerd in me did like the analysis of the TV trends and the final three chapters were exactly what I wanted, but the FRIENDS fan in me was mostly disappointed with the remaining writing choices. With such a title, I would have appreciated seeing a bit more warmth and enthusiasm and a little less data and unwarranted criticism throughout. FRIENDS is celebrating the 30th anniversary this year, marking three decades since the pilot episode aired on September 22, 1994. In such a momentous month, I’d rather have read something that celebrated its longevity than reproved it for not doing better.
I am not sure whom to recommend this book to, as non-FRIENDS-fans won’t be interested in this kind of topic, and FRIENDS fans won’t be that happy with it. I guess it might work for those who are interested in studying TV trends as the insights on this specific topic are engaging enough.
2.5 stars, rounding up for FRIENDS.
My thanks to Pen & Sword for providing the DRC of “Friends and the Golden Age of the Sitcom” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
In a Nutshell: An unusual novel straddling multiple genres: humour, romance, mystery, thriller, science fiction, and end-of-the-world. Slow-paced and In a Nutshell: An unusual novel straddling multiple genres: humour, romance, mystery, thriller, science fiction, and end-of-the-world. Slow-paced and a bit repetitive, but entertaining enough if you are looking for a light read with an unusual plotline.
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Plot Preview:
Let me copy-paste the GR blurb here for once: “It's the age-old story. Boy meets girl. Girl lies to boy about being human. Girl accidentally destroys planet. Girl apologizes super hard.” This story is epistolary, written as the apology letter by the girl to all humans, especially Greg. The “girl” is an alien queen, and that’s what turns this *age-old story* into a humorous novelty.
In a Nutshell: Don’t trust the blurb at all! This is NOT a romcom but a contemporary drama with realistic flawed characters. Works pretty well as a drIn a Nutshell: Don’t trust the blurb at all! This is NOT a romcom but a contemporary drama with realistic flawed characters. Works pretty well as a drama, but if you are looking for a light romance storyline (or any kind of romance plot), this isn’t for you.
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Plot Preview:
Eve is a career-oriented thirty-three-year old who doesn’t allow anyone and anything to come in the way of her professional success. She does have some wonderful friends, but they are not high on her priority list. Her dating life is restricted to the matches sent to her by an online dating app, and she has no complaints as her physical needs are being met. Or so she thinks. Adam is an overly laidback tutor having a close-knit bond with his brother (who has cerebral palsy) and his four friends. He is also in a loving long-term relationship. Or so he thinks. When a mysterious cat starts making an appearance in Eve’s and Adam’s houses, each thinks that the cat belongs to the other, thanks to the houses being two doors away. The plot focusses on the professional and personal turmoil of the two characters’ lives, and the strange cat who is the common factor between them. The story comes to us in the first-person perspectives of Eve and Adam.
Whoever wrote the blurb for this novel did it a huge disservice. I wonder if they even read the book, or if they just wrote it based on what would sell the book. Here’s the thing: if a reader goes into a book expecting one kind of story and the book turns out to be something else altogether, they leave bad ratings/reviews! It is always better to stick to the right label, even if it isn’t the hottest-selling tag in the market.
Let’s evaluate the claims in the blurb, which declares this book to be an “opposites-attract, forced proximity, heartwarming rom-com of finding love when you least expect it.” ...more
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