This novel was a wild ride! I enjoyed it thoroughly and I think- although it's labeled as YA, it's one that can be enjoyed by adults as well. 2025 is the year for books about plant aliens and plant invasions, and so after reading Overgrowth, and Eat the Ones you Love, I suppose it's not all that odd to be jumping into this novel which heavily features algae.
Holly's Reading Escapades! Read with me!
I'm a reader with broad taste ranging from Non-Fiction to Sci-fi and everything inbetween.
Sunday, 29 June 2025
Book Review: They Bloom At Night By Trang Thanh Tran 5/5 Stars
Thursday, 26 June 2025
Book Club Saga continues
I am still attending book club, and honestly, it's grown on me!
I didn't like the look of the novel that was chosen this month (again) so I just didn't bother to read it, but I still enjoyed attending the discussion. I think I'm wearing down the leader. I've seen her a few times around town and I've noticed her own personal reading is not always the same style as the club's choices, so I feel like MAYBE, I might have misjudged her. I know she really is passionate about the club- and lately she seems to be a little less prescriptive towards members, so I'm kinda appreciating that. She mentioned to me- very proudly that she had read about 30 books this year. I wisely did not let her know that my books read this year is over 100. My reading is excessive, and I don't think of it as a flex at all! (Especially considering at least a few belong to a ridiculous "Montana Brides" series... )
Next month we are YET AGAIN hitting historical fiction with one of the thousands of novels about one of the World Wars. I might give it a go, I might not. I used to love especially WW2 novels, but these days, I feel like I really really know the outcome and reading yet another story of courage and heroic acts isn't going to get me thinking differently or help me to act in the future. One of the members mentioned last month that they were quite tired of reading about War and I really agree. We've read a lot of books about both wars, and even some more recent wars, so I'm really ready for something different.
We are only allowed to nominate one book for next year's club, so I'm really debating it. I think it's going to be something by Elif Shafack. She's so good, and her stories are pretty compelling. Anyone else have a book club appropriate suggestion?
Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Book Review: The Brilliant Abyss by Helen Scales 4/5 stars
It's been a while since I dipped into some non-fiction! The Brilliant Abyss was a really good read for learning more about the ocean, and the life it supports!
Dr. Scales is a marine biologist who is clearly passionate about the ocean, especially the deep ocean - about which- very little is known.I had the audiobook which is read by the author and I really fully enjoyed it. I've clearly been reading a lot of water books, so some of the information wasn't new to me, but I'm no marine biologist so hearing it again, in a different voice was great, it also allowed me to think smugly "I knew that" !
In a very pleasing narrative style, Scales educates readers about the deep ocean and it's creatures, get's readers up to date on the state of the deep ocean and then finishes off with a flourishing call to action, imploring readers to get involved in big and small ways to engage in ocean conservation. Somehow this is done with out a preachy tone, and it was immensely listen-able for me.
The one thing that has really stuck with me from this book is that there is a species of snail that uses iron in it's shells. It's called the Scaly-Foot Gastropod and it's shell has one layer made of Iron sulphides. It is the only known animal to incorporate iron sulphide into it's skeleton!!! Sadly, even though this marvelous creature lives at deep-sea hydrothermal vents- it is endangered. Efforts to re-coin it's name as a sea pangolin failed as it turns out not too many people know what the regular earth pangolin is. Every time I see an article about the deep sea, there always seems to be some new creature being named or discovered. It's one reason of course we should care to preserve this area, because we don't even know what's there! So many sea organisms have been so useful to humans, that even if one didn't want to preserve this unique deep environment just because it's so cool- the commercial value of new tech and medicines seems to make it a good save. I promise there's more than a scaly gastropod though!
Scales educates readers about the deep ocean and it's creatures, get's readers up to date on the state of the deep ocean and then finishes off with a flourishing call to action, imploring readers to get involved in big and small ways to engage in ocean conservation. Somehow this is done with out a preachy tone, and it was immensely listen-able for me.
I'd pair this novel up with Richard Power's Playground for a Non-fiction/Fiction Mash up. For a somewhat more engaging read one might try Susan Casey's The Underworld, but I feel like Scales, being an actual marine biologist - might be a touch more genuine. Of course, it's easy to read all of these novels.
This read is a great gift for ocean lovers and budding marine biologists.
STATS
First Published : June 2022
Pages: 304
Available as an Audio Book :YES
Trigger Warnings: Climate crisis, death, animal death,
Saturday, 21 June 2025
Book Review : The First Thousand Trees by Premee Mohamed 4/5 stars
I'm starting to be a big fan of Premee Mohamed. It's not often that I feel like there's a book written specifically "for ME" but this entire trilogy seems like it might be.
I expected this novel to follow Reid as she returned to her campus, but instead we follow Henryk on his journey to his Uncle's more Northern community.
Short No Spoiler ( I hope!) synopsis:
Feeling bereft after Reid's departure, Henryk sets out on a wild adventure, traveling with a makeshift map to find his Uncle. With more luck than skill, he's able to find the community. Henryk is taken in conditionally and really does give it his all to fit in and be visibly productive in a vastly different community than the one he left. He struggles much in the same way he struggled at home, making some poor decisions, and being, in general, not very welcome. Much like his past, as series of disasters follows him, and while none are notable his "fault" dystopian communities seem to have no time for accidental blunders. After a particularly spectacular error Henryk somewhat redeems himself and makes a choice to move on.
For me, I wanted Henryk to desperately have sort of a hero's arc of redemption, but that does not occur, and to be honest, this seems so realistic as so many of us work very hard at being in community with others, and despite our efforts we aren't always successful.
In the end, the message I took away again was that people often survive better together, and no one really wins unless everyone can share in the winning. I love this message as it's one I believe in whole heartedly.
The writing again is precise and story construction is on point. These novellas are great for book club as there's so much to discuss- themes of belonging, community, class systems, the environment, poverty and wealth, community building and more!
The First Thousand Trees comes out September 30th! I am grateful to ECW press for the opportunity to read the novella as an Advanced copy!
STATS
First Published : September 2025
Pages: 136
Available as an Audio Book : not currently, but maybe soon?
Trigger Warnings: Climate crisis, Death of child, death of parent, blood, medical situation, violence, weaponry, (not a complete list- be responsible!)
Monday, 16 June 2025
Book Review: Aqueous by Jade Shyback 4/5 Stars
Have I been straying from my water theme? Kinda Sorta.
When I saw this on Net Galley, I knew it was one for my Water 2025 extravaganza. I wasn't sure what to expect from this debut novel, as I've had some hit and miss this year indeed. To be honest, I kind of went into this thinking it might not be that good. We are at the halfway point in my water year, and indeed...some of it hasn't been great. This however, hit me at just the right time!
For me, this was a hit! Firstly let's take a moment to appreciate the cover: It took me a hot minute to discover the cover artist and designer: Camryn Jette Anderson (Art) and Ashley Sherrif (Design)
The audiobook is read by the author herself and does included 2 musical numbers which were pretty enjoyable (I usually skip right over any added lyrics /poetry so if I say I enjoyed it, that's a real endorsement).
This might not be appreciated by adults, but I think a certain subset of the population will enjoy it and I think it's definitely a very thoughtful book for the YA audience. It would be great for a reading group as there are lots of themes to talk about: climate, community, gender norms, coming of age, discovering one's purpose, family, the future. I do want to read book 2, and I think this author/story line will only improve with each new installment.
STATS
First Published : May 2023
Pages: 204
Available as an Audio Book : YES
Trigger Warnings: ocean creatures, adoption/abduction, Climate crisis, Death of child, death of parent, blood, medical situation, (not a complete list- be responsible!)
Wednesday, 11 June 2025
Book Review: We Speak Through the Mountain by Premee Mohamed 5/5 Stars
Sometimes the middle book in a trilogy is considered the weak one. If this is the weak one, I cannot wait to read book three!!!!
We Speak Through The Mountain picks up right where The Annual Migration of Clouds leaves off. I highly recommend just reading the two as one novel, because they are novellas, and book two is where this really gains steam.
At the crux of the novella series is an age old conflict between responsibility to self, family and the community overall. This conflict is set in a futuristic, but realistic world which is well imagined and easily understood. Mohamed's writing remains clear, compelling and cinematic. As I realized I was at "the end" I felt a bit torn away from the setting that I had become immersed in, and I wondered why this hasn't been optioned for film!
I really liked this novella, and I think it would be a fantastic one for young adult students to read and discuss.
I have book three tee'd up thanks to Net Galley and ECW Press and I can't wait to come back and (without spoilers...) tell you how it concludes.
STATS
First Published : June 2024
Pages: 152
Available as an Audio Book : YES
Trigger Warnings: violence, blood, death, grief, medical situations, (not a complete list- be responsible!)
Monday, 9 June 2025
Book Review: Harmattan Season by Tochi Onyebuchi
Harmattan Season by Tochi Onyebuchi came out in April, and I was lucky to get an advanced listener copy to review.
This is such a unique novel, I'm not even sure what to think of it! I enjoyed it, 5/5 stars! Onyebuchi is a master, so I knew I'd be getting a well constructed story-line. I did not anticipate the story AT ALL!
STATS
First Published : May 2025
Pages: 336
Available as an Audio Book : YES
Trigger Warnings: violence, blood, death, grief, racism, (not a complete list- be responsible!)
Book Review: They Bloom At Night By Trang Thanh Tran 5/5 Stars
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