February is a month where I largely took off from writing my own fiction in preparation for Futurescapes this weekend. Like, I dabbled a bit, mostly played video games. Still did some reading. I finally can go back to listening to audiobooks, which is great for my brain buzz.
Here is a round up of my February reads. I got to interview two fabulous authors to kick off the month:
Happy New Year from me and my very strange perception of time. January felt very long, and it’s only barely almost over. What also doesn’t help is that my goals for the year are still quite nebulous aside from the reading goals and fitness goals. Which is fine, really. Time has been strange since March 2020, and I’m sorry to remind you how far away that date is.
Anyway, here is what I read this fine January! There has also been one blog interview:
December went by like a flash. I attended Dis Con III, visited my family for Christmas, and write you from Chicago. Please enjoy this final reading recap of 2021. What a year it’s been.
Tomorrow, we have my annual recap coming up. I hope you’re excited.
Continue readingGenre: Adult Memoir
Year Release: 2021
Source: Audible
Listened to the audiobook
Trigger warnings (all of these are graphic): Child sexual abuse, rape, sexual assault, incest, suicidal ideation, murder, isolation, gaslighting, manipulation, abuse, trauma in the name of religion
I finished listening to this book days ago and have finally figured out how to talk about it. It’s not an easy story or an easy read. But the author’s note at the beginning outlines what Jones set out to do: tell a coming of an age story from the point of view of a girl who grew up in a religious cult. In that, it is successful. Heartbreakingly successful.
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Elsa Sjunneson’s debut memoir, Being Seen: One Deafblind Woman’s Fight to End Ableism, is one part personal history, one part sociology, one part media criticism, all wrapped up in an inclusive package that invites the reader to examine the ableist world around them. In this interview to celebrate her debut, the author discusses the origins of the memoir, the process of putting it together, and what we can look forward to next.
Buy Links: Bookshop | Unabridged Books | Audiobook
Continue readingGenre: Adult Memoir
Year Release: October 26, 2021
Buy Links: Bookshop | Unabridged Books | Audiobook
Read an eARC from NetGalley
Content warning: ableism, depression, suicidal ideation, medically-assisted suicide, assault (sexual and physical, mentioned), child abuse, spousal abuse, eugenics, Nazis
Elsa Sjunneson is an award-winning writer, professor, and media critic. She is also Deafblind woman with partial vision in one eye and bilateral hearing aids. This memoir takes the reader through her personal history while also seamlessly incorporating critique of popular works featuring disabled characters and dispelling myths about the disabled experience through a combination of lived experience, history, sociology, and pop culture.
Infused with intersectionality, dry humor, and passion for the media critiqued, this is not one to miss.
The author Elsa Sjunneson will be featured on the blog tomorrow, October 26th, release date.
Continue readingGenre: Adult Crime Nonfiction
Year Release: 2020
Source: Library Audiobook
Listened to the audiobook
Trigger warning: graphic discussions of murder, sexual assault, and home invasion
Being the fan of true crime that I am, I had heard so many amazing things about McNamara’s work. With my recent interest in nonfiction, especially, i thought it was finally time to dive into this piece of true crime canon.
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In December, I made it a small goal to get my Currently Reading List down to zero. While I failed at that, I got most of the way there, even reading two additional books. I start 2020 with a four-book-long backlog, which honestly, it pretty good. Anyway, here is the last recap of the year.
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Instead of doing NaNoWriMo this year, I decided to plot out a book instead. It didn’t mean I didn’t have time for some excellent reads. This month featured such an assortment of genres and formats, I feel like my understanding of craft expanded in ways I didn’t expect.
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Jo Writes Fantasy 