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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 Aloha Rodeo: Three Hawaiian Cowboys, the World's Greatest Rodeo, and a Hidden History of the American West 8/10

I would not say that I'm a rodeo fan, but I do live in a place where it happens, so I am loosely aware of what it entails. That said, a good writer (or writers, in this case) can make any subject compelling, and that's what Wolman and Smith have done here. I didn't know anything about Hawaiian paniolos/cowboys, and it was interesting to read about how they are different from their continental counterparts, plus the related history of the islands that created the job. The book is also a fair bit about Wyoming and their Frontier Days festival, where the paniolos would eventually compete, and I appreciated that the authors did not gloss over the difficult history of the displaced native tribes.

Rated Animals of the Ocean, in Particular the Giant Squid 8/10

Watch out for the terrible beak just waiting to rip you apart.

Rated Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking 6/10

Small book, big ideas and questions to ponder: What drives us to do what we love? What gives us the confidence to keep going and what keeps us from starting at all? First printed in 1993, one might expect some of the concepts raised in this book to be slightly out of date, but in the two and a half hours it took me to finish it, I never once felt like I was reading a sixteen-year-old observation, nor did I feel any of it crossed the line into preachy self-help nonsense.<br><br>(Full review at <a href="http://glorifiedloveletters.blogspot.com/2009/12/art-fear-by-david-bayles-and-ted-orland.html">Glorified Love Letters</a>

Rated Broken Ground 7/10

<div>This one's not quite as good as some of the others, but it was fine. The research seams show too much, and I wasn't as invested in the case.</div>

Wants to read Changers, Book Two: Oryon

Wants to read Chronicles: Volume One

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.

Rated Beat Fatigue With Yoga: The Simple Step-By-Step Way to Restore Energy 8/10

The title <i>Beat Fatigue with Yoga</i> sounds like something one would see on an infomercial, I know. To be honest, I don’t think I’d have even considered the book had it not been recommended by someone with similar health issues. Once I was done rolling my eyes at the title, I found quite a bit of useful information.<br><br>Like anything self-help or exercise related, your results may vary. Still, if depleted energy levels are an issue for you, I don’t think it would hurt to investigate this book. I’m guessing that over time, I will use it as a guide, but not a bible. My body and my attitude will decide the rest.<br><br>(My full review can be found on <a href="http://persephonemagazine.com/2012/08/02/book-review-beat-fatigue-with-yoga-by-fiona-agombar/">Persephone Magazine.</a>

Wants to read Birds of Paradise

Rated Black and Blue 8/10

<div>A good mystery, though not everything from the mid-'90s holds up today</div>

Wants to read Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self

Rated Bernice Summerfield: Treasury 8/10

<div>A solid collection of Benny short stories. Figures that Stephen Moffat's is another "boy has mysterious lady in his life" (AND there's a character named Irene!), but the man knows what he likes writing, I guess!!</div>

Wants to read Big Mushy Happy Lump

Rated The War Master: Hearts of Darkness 10/10

Rated Torchwood: More Than This 8/10

A really solid "describe the essence of Torchwood" story, though it does not touch quiiiite as heavily on the emotional damage often present in the Torchwood stories. Gwen's stories have been among the best in this audio series.