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August of Posting commences. \o. Luckily I had this stored up. Probs not a perfect record, certainly not of media, and obvs doesn't include the hundreds of fanfics I have shoved at my eyeballs but...
Kat Reads Books - June & July Edition
Meet Me in Mumbai by Sabina Khan - In 2000 Ayesha is finishing high school in US with plans to go to university there, but falling for the only other Indian in her school derails everything in the most classic ways when she gets pregnant. Eighteen years later, Mira finds herself thinking about her birth mother more and more as she starts to tentatively connect with her heritage. Then she finds a letter... This was a nice read, which sounds very bland and I guess it didn't exactly rock my world with originality or prose, but the book did give some insight into desi experience in America and the 'person of colour adopted by white parents' experience too. Overall, I think the book probably gave an overtly optimistic and rosy view of some of issues especially given the first time period and cultural tensions (Muslim girl, Hindu boy etc), and the ending too was unrealistically happy for everyone but... maybe that's what we need in YA, idk.
Roihu (= 'Blaze') by Tuomas Niskakangas - Having reached the inevitable end point of unchecked capitalism, Finland in 2030 is a country of increasing inequality, polarisation and a right wing/conservative government dancing for the tune of economic elites. The leftwing coalition is increasing in popularity under new charismatic leader and the citizens are angry. Like 'rife for revolution and coup' angry. Then a young woman sets herself on fire, setting in motion a series of events with twining conspiracies and unravelling secrets. This was a really good thriller with enough twists to keep you guessing until the end. There's a good deal of history and economic theories winding through, so if like me, you like it when the author brings receipts, only adds to the story. The context is depressingly believable, only a very small step away from current situation in many places. Can't find anything online about this being translated (though I didn't look too hard) but would recommend.
Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee - Birthday book gift from H. Dylan is working hard at keeping his aunt's takeaway afloat when rich boy Theo stumbles into his life with potential solutions and family drama but also some (fake, or not) dates. Listen, this was exactly what it promised; adorable romance with little fake dating and upstairs/downstairs tropes, with an underlying story about family and acceptance. I also learned about mooncakes and Chinese myths. Perfect holiday reading, engaging writing, great detail and diverse cast all around. Would recommend.
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas - Another of H's birthday gifts because they knows what I likes. By the author of Cemetery Boys which I 'reviewed' here, and like that, this has a trans boy as the protagonist and the reluctant not quite a hero. Set in a fantasy world of gods and their half-god offspring, all in a hierarchy, Teo is the son of the goddess of birds, who gets selected to participate in the Sunbearer Trials with nine other semidiosa youth. Adventures are had, friendships (and maybe more) rekindled, all while dark forces are sabotaging the trials. This was fun with a diverse cast, emphasis on friendships and family relationships over romance, and interesting worldbuilding. I was fully invested by the end, only to discover that this ended with a 'to be continued'. Sigh. So now just waiting for the sequel I guess... But would recommend.
Kat Consumes Media - June & July Edition
Elements - I was upset over something and wanted some pretty animation on my eyeballs. This provided that. The concept is cute and there's some fun jokes and creative things about the Elemental city and how it's adapted to the different elements. However, I am too adult for this because we end up with the cross-elemental romance and I'm too distracted by trying to figure how that's even possible...
Striking With Pride: United at the Coalface - Sky Documentary about the solidarity and support between the LGBTQ+ community and the Miners' Union in 1980s (i.e. what inspired the movie Pride) with focus on Mark Ashton, the main organiser. This was a really good documentary with many of the surviving members of the movement from both sides. I very much want to show this at uni but copyright may be tricky.
Damsel - I am here for the concept for sure, and one does enjoy watching Millie Bobbie Brown fight a dragon, but the plot? So full of holes that dragon would be able to fly through it. The fact that movie also got Angela Bassett and Robin Wright, and yet utterly wastes them... The only one who wasn't wasted was Shohreh Aghdashloo voicing the dragon though arguably even the dragon's characterisation was weak. ( Spoilery rant )
***
August of Posting commences. \o. Luckily I had this stored up. Probs not a perfect record, certainly not of media, and obvs doesn't include the hundreds of fanfics I have shoved at my eyeballs but...
Kat Reads Books - June & July Edition
Meet Me in Mumbai by Sabina Khan - In 2000 Ayesha is finishing high school in US with plans to go to university there, but falling for the only other Indian in her school derails everything in the most classic ways when she gets pregnant. Eighteen years later, Mira finds herself thinking about her birth mother more and more as she starts to tentatively connect with her heritage. Then she finds a letter... This was a nice read, which sounds very bland and I guess it didn't exactly rock my world with originality or prose, but the book did give some insight into desi experience in America and the 'person of colour adopted by white parents' experience too. Overall, I think the book probably gave an overtly optimistic and rosy view of some of issues especially given the first time period and cultural tensions (Muslim girl, Hindu boy etc), and the ending too was unrealistically happy for everyone but... maybe that's what we need in YA, idk.
Roihu (= 'Blaze') by Tuomas Niskakangas - Having reached the inevitable end point of unchecked capitalism, Finland in 2030 is a country of increasing inequality, polarisation and a right wing/conservative government dancing for the tune of economic elites. The leftwing coalition is increasing in popularity under new charismatic leader and the citizens are angry. Like 'rife for revolution and coup' angry. Then a young woman sets herself on fire, setting in motion a series of events with twining conspiracies and unravelling secrets. This was a really good thriller with enough twists to keep you guessing until the end. There's a good deal of history and economic theories winding through, so if like me, you like it when the author brings receipts, only adds to the story. The context is depressingly believable, only a very small step away from current situation in many places. Can't find anything online about this being translated (though I didn't look too hard) but would recommend.
Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee - Birthday book gift from H. Dylan is working hard at keeping his aunt's takeaway afloat when rich boy Theo stumbles into his life with potential solutions and family drama but also some (fake, or not) dates. Listen, this was exactly what it promised; adorable romance with little fake dating and upstairs/downstairs tropes, with an underlying story about family and acceptance. I also learned about mooncakes and Chinese myths. Perfect holiday reading, engaging writing, great detail and diverse cast all around. Would recommend.
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas - Another of H's birthday gifts because they knows what I likes. By the author of Cemetery Boys which I 'reviewed' here, and like that, this has a trans boy as the protagonist and the reluctant not quite a hero. Set in a fantasy world of gods and their half-god offspring, all in a hierarchy, Teo is the son of the goddess of birds, who gets selected to participate in the Sunbearer Trials with nine other semidiosa youth. Adventures are had, friendships (and maybe more) rekindled, all while dark forces are sabotaging the trials. This was fun with a diverse cast, emphasis on friendships and family relationships over romance, and interesting worldbuilding. I was fully invested by the end, only to discover that this ended with a 'to be continued'. Sigh. So now just waiting for the sequel I guess... But would recommend.
Kat Consumes Media - June & July Edition
Elements - I was upset over something and wanted some pretty animation on my eyeballs. This provided that. The concept is cute and there's some fun jokes and creative things about the Elemental city and how it's adapted to the different elements. However, I am too adult for this because we end up with the cross-elemental romance and I'm too distracted by trying to figure how that's even possible...
Striking With Pride: United at the Coalface - Sky Documentary about the solidarity and support between the LGBTQ+ community and the Miners' Union in 1980s (i.e. what inspired the movie Pride) with focus on Mark Ashton, the main organiser. This was a really good documentary with many of the surviving members of the movement from both sides. I very much want to show this at uni but copyright may be tricky.
Damsel - I am here for the concept for sure, and one does enjoy watching Millie Bobbie Brown fight a dragon, but the plot? So full of holes that dragon would be able to fly through it. The fact that movie also got Angela Bassett and Robin Wright, and yet utterly wastes them... The only one who wasn't wasted was Shohreh Aghdashloo voicing the dragon though arguably even the dragon's characterisation was weak. ( Spoilery rant )
***
