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Rated A Common Pornography: A Memoir 8/10

Everyone has stories, brief anecdotes relating to our history. Our memories are at once humorous and heartbreaking, some retold again and again, some kept private forever. In <i>A Common Pornography</i>, Kevin Sampsell gathers his stories and assembles them into an atypical memoir, and the results are both intimate and intriguing.<br><br>Sampsell’s descriptions of the people he encounters are perfect in their spareness. He has a way of making a person clear within two sentences that might take other writers two paragraphs. I also appreciate his candor when it comes to more private moments, moments most people would hesitate to share at all, but still had an effect on their lives. From near-wordless encounters with other men to nights spent alone, he details his search for affection in a very real, honest way.<br><br>(Full review can be found at <a href="http://glorifiedloveletters.blogspot.com/2010/04/common-pornography-by-kevin-sampsell.html">Glorified Love Letters</a>.)

Rated Being 10/10

Maybe more of a 4.5, but hell, let's round up. This is a great mini-memoir.

Rated Bernice Summerfield: Many Happy Returns 8/10

Rated Doctor Who: The War Doctor, Vol. 1: Only the Monstrous 10/10

This was excellent. I can't believe I waited this long to listen.

Rated The War Master: Self-Defense 9/10

<div>At first, I wasn't 100% sure this was as amazing as the previous War Master sets of stories — yes, everything was still really good, but I wondered if it would have that OMG factor that previous stories had. Then things really kick off in the third story and I was 1000% IN.<br><br>Also fun to watch him poke at the Tenth Doctor in the last story, since it's so easy for him to do.&nbsp; And Abigail Thaw is in this, and I enjoy her on the show Endeavour.</div>

Rated A Vision of Fire 6/10

More of a 3.5. It's pretty good, and I'd be interested to see where the story goes, but something about the end of this one seemed rushed. Maybe it'll make more sense when partnered with the second book. I wasn't in love, but I liked it fine.

Rated Absolution 9/10

<div>My favorite of the series. I laughed quite a bit, despite all the body horror at certain points.</div>

Rated All Boys Aren’t Blue 9/10

<div>Even though I am long past the life stage of needing an affirming book pointing me into young adulthood, I still found this to be a good read. I think why there are so many asshole adults going after it is because it's unapologetically telling queer teens, particularly Black masculine teens, that it 100% ok to be who you are, on your own terms, and that you can find a supportive community. It also doesn't shy away from discussing sex, but teenagers need to hear about that too, which Johnson does in a fair, supportive way. They're the older cousin looking out for you. This is also a memoir about family, through thick and thin, and the great love Johnson has for his grandmother (Nanny) in particular. Definitely worth reading.</div>

Rated The Fixer 6/10

Wants to read Anomaly Flats

Wants to read Any Day Now: David Bowie the London Years

Rated Artificial Condition 8/10

<div>Enjoying this series so far via audiobook.</div><div><br></div>

Wants to read Ask the Dust

Rated ATA Girl 8/10

<div>This was really great. I listened to the first story a few years ago when it was available for free, but I only just now got around to buying the rest and listening, and I'm really glad I did. Based on the real stories of the Air Transport Auxiliary during WWII, all the stories about these women pilots who are trying to navigate expectations about their lives during and what will come after the war. My only issue was that sometimes I had a hard time keeping some of the different voices straight, but that could've been on me.&nbsp;</div>

Rated Authentically Mexican: A Family History in Six Dishes 10/10

Loved this. What a great set of personal food stories to finish out 2020 with.

Rated Authority 8/10

Rated Before the Poison 6/10

This is not one of those mysteries that one reads to feel a sense of satisfaction at sussing out the puzzle before the narrator does. For the most part, I was just as back-and-forth about Grace Fox's guilt as Chris is, but without the side of grief.<br><br>Though I enjoyed <i>Before The Poison</i> quite a lot, I wouldn't say that it made me super-excited to immediately seek out Peter Robinson's other work. I know he has a long-running mysteries series called <i>Inspector Banks</i>, and maybe at some point I will look into it. However, this was a good jaunt into the mystery genre territory, and those looking to do the same will also likely find this book to be a good read.<br><br>(My full review appears on <a href="http://glorifiedloveletters.blogspot.com/2013/03/before-poison-by-peter-robinson.html">Glorified Love Letters</a>.)

Wants to read Children and the Tundra

Rated ATA Girl 2 10/10

<div>Maybe it's because this set has only has 2 instead of 4 stories — or maybe because I was better acquainted with some of the characters, having just listened to the first set — but everyone was much easier to differentiate this time around. Loose ends from the previous installment are wrapped up, the story content remains strong, and I enjoyed listening a lot.</div><div><br></div>

Rated Barnyard Battle 7/10

<div>Read this (possibly a reread?) for a "Childhood Fav" category in a reading challenge I've been doing this year. I read every Sweet Valley book I could get my hands on in elementary school, and these characters still felt quite familiar 30+ years later. Lila sucks as a friend! The boys have early 90s misogynistic ideas! Jessica is a bit of a brat! I had also completely forgotten they have an older brother.<br><br>Read it all in about 90 minutes. Not a terrible way to spend an evening.&nbsp;</div>

Rated BASQUIAT, A QUICK KILLING IN ART, BY PHOEBE HOBAN 6/10

While I enjoyed some of the art gossip and New York history, this book too often describes Basquiat as an exotic, wild 'other.' Some quotes about him are straight up racist, and the book does little to analyze that. <br><br>Overall, just ok.

Rated Auberon 8/10

<div>Okay! I started out thinking this book was post-book 6, then realized it wasn't, put it down, read Book 7, then read this and realized it's post Book 8, BUT I don't think I've spoiled myself on anything that didn't seem like it was coming anyway, plotwise. It's separate enough of a story. Outside of all that, I very much found this interesting and I'm curious to see how it relates to Book 8, once I get on that.</div>

Rated Basic Witches: How to Summon Success, Banish Drama, and Raise Hell with Your Coven 6/10

This is like CBT and mindfulness under the label of witchcraft, which is fine, but I don't think I was the right audience. Some of the book will sound very familiar to anyone who has spent time in therapy, and there's value in having that information in one spot. If you're still in your 20s and/or still thinking a lot about "what does everyone else think?" and want to start relinquishing that, you'll get something out of it. If you're almost 40, were hoping to read more history paired with practice, and are not feeling particularly insecure when it comes to some of these topics... well, your mileage may vary.

Wants to read Be Gay, Do Comics

Wants to read Beautiful Shadow: A Life of Patricia Highsmith