Queer Icons and Their Cats by Alison Nastasi and P.J. Nastasi

 

Queer Icons and Their Cats by Alison Nastasi and P.J. Nastasi

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Publication date: 04 May 2021 

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The link above is an affiliate link. If you make a purchase through it, I will receive a small amount of the sale, at no cost to you. It helps me make a little money to support my book reviewing hobby. Thank you! 

Publisher's description:

These cat lovers are out and purr-oud!

Freddie Mercury, Sylvia Rivera, Alison Bechdel, Dusty Springfield. This book is a celebration of queer icons of the past and present and their furry feline friends. From images of lost legends such as Josephine Baker and James Baldwin, to snapshots of contemporary trailblazers like comedian Tig Notaro and fashion designer Jason Wu—these charming and eccentric photographs capture what it truly means to be a cat purr-son.

• PURR-FECT FOR CAT LOVERS: This book celebrates the love between human and cat. What better gift could you get the feline fancier in your life?

• AMEWSING ANECDOTES AND IMPAWTENT MOMENTS: Learn about the lives of the queer heroes who came before us and those who are still fighting for equality and inclusion. We're not kitten around—with watershed moments like the Stonewall riots and sweet stories of domestic bliss, this book will both entertain and inspire you.

• PHOTOS WITH CATITUDE: In these purr-ecious photographs, you'll get to see your heroes in unguarded moments expressing love for their pets. This collection of images will bring joy to any cat lover's heart.

My review:

I received a free copy of the ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my review. All opinions shared are 100% my own.

This is a really cool book! First of all... CATS! If you love cats, you will love the photographs. I also learned so much about people I already knew and learned about people I'd never heard of doing incredible work in the world. Though not a traditional coffee table book size, it definitely has the potential to be a beautiful book left out for frequent browsing by you and guests to your home or office. You'll also want to read it cover to cover (not something usually said about a book of photography). What an inspiring and fun idea for a book!

Recommended to LGBTQIA+ cat lovers and the people who shop for them and anyone interested in learning more about influential queer figures—and their pets!

Fun stuff:

The authors have also published Artists and their Cats and Writers and their Cats. 

About the author: Alison Nastasi is an arts and culture journalist, author, and artist living in Los Angeles. Her writing has appeared in Angelus News, Darling Magazine, Gizmodo, Fandango, Moviefone, MTV, Pitchfork, RogerEbert.com, and more. She was a longtime editor for the website Flavorwire. Alison is the author of the popular books Artists and Their Cats and Writers and Their Cats from Chronicle Books.

Caturday: 08 May 2021

 

Our current foster kittens, available for adoption through CritterhouseKC.  

Oak - 2 months old, female

Mulberry - 2 months old, female

Hickory - 2 months old, female

10 Mother's Day Gift Ideas for Your Book-Loving Mom

These may or may not be hints for my own family. 😜 You know the drill.. these are affiliate links. So, at no cost to you, I'll get like a penny or two if you purchase from Amazon when you click through from these links.  THANK YOU!  

I won't be recommending books... there are plenty of other posts on this blog to see what books I like and read and books are so personal. Unless I specifically have a book on a wish list or unless it's a really extra super duper special book the giver just knows I will love and may not have already heard of, I prefer to obtain my own books and not receive them as gifts. Plus, I'm a wannabe minimalist so I really, really love the simplicity of using the library for most books I read. 

You will notice a theme on all these items (CATS! The theme is CATS! Well, and books - did you see the name of this blog?).  Use these ideas to spark your own ideas if your mom isn't as into cats as I am.  

1. Kindle Paperwhite $129.99  

I love, love, LOVE my Paperwhite. I still love a good physical book but I do the majority of reading on my Paperwhite. It props nicely for reading while I'm eating breakfast or lunch and it's pretty easy one-handed use when my cat demands my other hand for petting. 

2. A blank journal $5.99

If your mom reads a lot of self-improvement books (this one does), then she probably engages in journaling. Journaling is a super helpful practice, whether you're journaling gratitude, working on that long pondered novel, or just keeping track of the day-to-day workings of a household. The actual journal should be something your mom wants to see every day!  I know this cute kitty cat journal would look mighty sweet on my desk. Check out more from Whimsy Books Publishing here. 

3. Bookmarks $7.99

Yea, duh. Book lovers love bookmarks. I personally prefer just the standard heavy cardstock bookmark rather than the fancy ones with magnets or some such. While tassels are cute, for someone with foster kittens (me!), they are not practical if you want the bookmark to remain in the book and not be pulled out and dragged across the house by a playful cat or kitten.

4. Book Tote $18.99

Speaking of libraries... books are heavy! A decent-sized tote bag with long enough handles to hold on your shoulder is a must. 

5. Coffee / Tea Mug $15.62

Some stereotypes are stereotypes because they are true. Book lovers tend to drink coffee and tea in large quantities. A mug that also involves a favorite book is always appreciated! 

6. Book-themed T-Shirt $16.95

Fact: One cannot own too many soft cotton t-shirts. 

7. Face Masks $13.99

If we're leaving the house to go to the library or bookstore, we have to mask up. Why not show our love of all things books?

8. Book-themed Scarf $24.80

I don't know about all readers, but THIS reader gets a cold neck a lot. So, between being cold and tensing up from the cold and then leaning over to read, a scarf to keep my neck warm is a very appreciated gift. Alas, I couldn't find one with books AND cats, but this one from Alice in Wonderland with the Cheshire Cat's famous quote comes close enough to keep with my theme.  See more options from the Literati Club Store here. 

9. Novel Teas $13.50

Because who doesn't love a mashup of tea and literary quotes wrapped up with a pun! English Breakfast Tea with a literary quote on each tag. 

10. Michel et Augustin Gourmet Chocolate Cookie Squares $26.97

These are SO GOOD, but just the sort of thing that this mom would never buy for myself! And that is exactly the sort of thing that is great to buy for your mom for Mother's Day. What treat does she like but never gets for herself? These are nice because they don't make your hands messy... important when reading! 

What ideas can you add?  What are you hoping to receive on Mother's Day morning (but not too early on Mother's Day morning)? 

New World Witchery: A Trove of North American Folk Magic by Cory Thomas Hutcheson

 

New World Witchery: A Trove of North American Folk Magic by Cory Thomas Hutcheson

Publisher: Llewellyn Publications

Publication date: April 8th, 2021

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The link above is an affiliate link. If you make a purchase through it, I will receive a small amount of the sale, at no cost to you. It helps me make a little money to support my book reviewing hobby. Thank you! 

Publisher's description: 

Featuring nearly 500 samples of folklore, including stories, artifacts, rituals, and beliefs, New World Witchery is one of the most comprehensive collections of witchcraft and folk magic ever written. This treasure trove of witchery is designed to help you integrate folk traditions into your life and deepen your understanding of magic.

Folklore expert Cory Thomas Hutcheson guides you to the crossroads of folk magic, where you'll learn about different practices and try them for yourself. Explore chapters on magical heritage, divination, flying, familiars, magical protection, spirit communication, and more. This in-depth, accessible book also provides brief profiles of significant folk magicians, healers, and seers, so you can both meet the practitioners and experience their craft.

My review:

I received a free copy of the ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my review. All opinions shared are 100% my own.

The world of witchy books resides heavily in the pantheons and lore of the eastern half of this globe. I can’t recall another book I have seen that even made much mention of western folklore and folk magic. Of course, the author admits, this book misses the western mark a bit too, as it focuses on the stories and tales passed down on the North American continent so it isn’t even the entire “new world”.  At 480 pages, that’s okay! Someone should definitely take up the gauntlet and give South American folklore focus as well. 

I’ve always loved folk tales and stories and this book is a veritable treasure trove. It’s definitely a book worth having as a physical copy. I particularly liked the herbal healing stories. While there are some rituals and remedies to lace the past and present together, those aren’t really what the book is about. There is definitely fodder there for a second book to go into far greater detail on some of the information shared there. Dr. Hutcheson is a folklorist and an academic - an interesting combination - and I learned a lot. If I lived closer to Pennsylvania, I would love to take one of his college courses. In the meantime, I do enjoy listening to his podcast, New World Witchery, and recommend it. 

This book is jam-packed with stories and information and still doesn’t dive deeply into any one story due to just how rich and colorful the story of North American folklore is. (The book would be 1200 pages long if it did!) There are definitely places where I was left wanting more information. Thankfully, there are recommended reading sections for every chapter with some words on what to expect to find from each recommendation, not just a strict bibliography (though there is a sizable bibliography too). 

This book is not a quick read. There’s just too much to digest. It is as much a reference book as it is a storybook. While there are rituals and spells throughout that relate to the folklore shared, it’s not really a ritual or spell book so I don’t recommend getting it for that purpose. If you are interested in North American folklore and spirituality and the melting pot that helped shape it, then this book belongs on your bookshelf. 

Fun stuff:

New World Witchery podcast

About the author:

Cory Thomas Hutcheson is the cohost of the popular podcast New World Witchery. He has a doctorate in American Studies with specializations in folklore, religion, and ethnicity from Penn State. He is a contributor to the Oxford Handbook of American Folklore and Folklife Studies and American Myths, Legends, &Tall Tales, and he has written for popular occult publications, including Witches & Pagans. Visit him online at www.CoryThomasHutcheson.com

Self-Improvement Book Goal 2021

 
Yea, yea, yea. Self-improvement books - self-help, if you will - get a bad rap. Everyone seems to be writing them but are they actually effective? I don't know about the rest of the world, but, for me, they certainly have been. One of my favorite quotes is "It's all in the striving.".  I think we should be constantly working on becoming better people and learning, learning, learning. I strongly believe that we should never stop learning. That is a major driving force behind why I read so much. So, in addition to the Build Your Library Hygge reading challenge for 2021, I'm also setting my own personal goal to read 15 self-help books. Let me know your favorites and they might make my list! 

Completed 5 out of 15 books as of 28 Feb 2021.

1) The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life: Before 8AM by Hal Elrond

This is the second time I read this book and I read it as part of my online personal development book club on Facebook, called Lifting Vibrations. I've had a miracle morning habit for almost two years now and it really has been life-altering in a very positive way. 

2) What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast: A Short Guide to Making Over Your Mornings--and Life by Laura Vanderkam

I listened to the audiobook. It's a quick listen. I'm not sure I really got anything from this I didn't already know or do. 

3) You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth by Jen Sincero

I listened to the audiobook and also skimmed through the hardback from the library so I could write down some of the affirmations. The author is super entertaining and inspiring (she narrated the audiobook).  It definitely helped me move past some old stories I told myself about money and the law of attraction. It is fairly "woo-woo" on the law of attraction, but there are some really good mindset shifts in here if you can't get past the woo-woo. 

4) Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brené Brown

I listened to the audiobook but I want to go back and read it in print now too. WOW! Just wow... some super powerful stuff in here and I want to be able to read it for more absorption - a lay person's lectio divina reading, if you will. This was the first Brené Brown book I have ever read, but now I want to read them all! (I'm already onto Dare to Lead with my book club). 

5) Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy

This book was life-altering! So many fantastic strategies for prioritizing your tasks and Getting. Things. Done! A definite must-read even if you aren't a self-help book fan. Not every tip is going to be useful to every person but there isn't definitely something in here for everyone. It's pretty short but PACKED with actionable, useful advice. 

*The links above are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I will receive a small amount of the sale, at no cost to you. It helps me make a little money to support my book reviewing hobby. Thank you! 

Build Your Library 2021 Reading Challenge

I homeschool my kids. We've always used a combination of many different curricula - picking and choosing what best fits the kids' goals each year. We started using the Charlotte Mason-based curriculum Build Your Library this year and wish we'd known about it all along! Lots of fantastic literature. This is the 2021 reading challenge put together by creators of the Build Your Library curriculum. The theme is Hygge. 

"Hygge is a Danish word that describes a lifestyle placing emphasis on coziness and happy living. Hygge can be anything from eating your favorite meal with the people you love to wrapping yourself up in a warm blanket and reading by candlelight. In 2021, embrace the hygge lifestyle by reading books that evoke feelings of warmth and comfort with the people you hold dear."

https://buildyourlibrary.com/2021-build-your-library-reading-challenge/ 

I'll be using this post to keep track of my reading for this challenge. 

Completed 14 out of 41 books as of 14 April 2021.

  A book with your favorite color on the cover
       Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman 

❑  A story that takes place under the sea

❑  A story set in a country you want to visit 

❑  A story written in verse

❑  A story set in a library

  A story inspired by mythology
        Never Say Never by Justine Manzano

❑  A fairy tale retold

❑  A book written by an Indigenous author

❑  A genre you never pick up (ex: mystery, romance, fantasy…)

  A book about a game
        We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry

  A sequel you have been meaning to pick up
       the witch doesn't burn in this one by amanda lovelace

  A book with a household pet in the story
       The Squeaky Clean Skeleton by R.A. Muth

  A book in translation
       The Adventures of Dagobert Trostler: Vienna's Sherlock Holmes by Balduin Groller

❑  A book by a favorite author

  A book by an author you have never read from before
       Falling into Magic by Elizabeth Pantley

❑  A book you think will be a new favorite

❑  A book that was released the year you were born

❑  A book about food

❑  A book with a house on the cover

❑  A book that makes you feel nostalgic

  A new release you are excited about
      Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

❑  A book recommended by a friend

❑  A book that a family member loves

❑  A biography or memoir

❑  A classic

❑  A book published in your lifetime that you think should be considered a classic

 A book that won an award
      Between Wild and Ruin by Jennifer G. Edelson 

❑  A book about an issue that is important to you

  A book written by a person of color
        Cheat Sheets for Life: Over 750 hacks for health, happiness and success by  Ayesha Ratnayake

  A short story collection
      Black Cat Crossing: A Collection of 11 Cozy Mysteries to Celebrate Halloween

❑  A book that was adapted into a movie or television show

❑  A book about music

  A book with LGBTQIA+ representation
       Chasing The Taillights by Kate Larkindale 

❑  A play

❑  A book written by a local author

 A non-fiction book about a topic you want to learn more about
      Little House in the Suburbs by Deanna Caswell and Daisy Siskins

❑  A book about girls in STEM

❑  A book set in your favorite vacation destination (ex: beach, camping, amusement park…)

 A book with an animal on the cover
      Queer Icons and Their Cats by Alison Nastasi

❑  A book with a cover that makes you feel cozy

❑  Your favorite book
       To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Between Wild and Ruin by Jennifer G. Edelson

Between Wild and Ruin by Jennifer G. Edelson

Publisher: Bad Apple Books

Publication date: December 2020

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The link above is an affiliate link. If you make a purchase through it, I will receive a small amount of the sale, at no cost to you. It helps me make a little money to support my book reviewing hobby. Thank you! 

Publisher's description:

Truth, like love, isn’t always obvious.

Seventeen-year-old Ruby Brooks has never had a boyfriend. After moving to small-town La Luna, New Mexico following her mother’s untimely death, boys aren’t even on her radar. Ruby just wants to forget the last horrible year and blend in. But when she discovers an ancient pueblo ruin in the forest behind her house and meets Ezra, a bitter recluse whose once-perfect face was destroyed in an accident he won’t talk about; Angel, La Luna’s handsome sheriff’s deputy, and Leo, a stranger who only appears near the ruin, Ruby finds herself teetering between love, mystery, and other worlds. What happened to Ezra’s face? And why is she so attracted to the one boy in town everyone despises? As Ruby unravels her own connections to both Ezra and the pueblo ruin, she’ll learn surfaces are deceiving. Especially in the heart of New Mexico, where spirits and legends aren’t always just campfire stories.

About the author:

From the author’s website: In a Godzilla-sized nutshell, I grew up in Los Angeles, dropped out of high school, rebelled the hell out of my teens, and spent a couple of rocky years dabbling in everything from car stereo sales, to animal rescue, to scalping concert tickets, to waiting tables. After quickly learning that limitations suck, I went on to complete a B.A. in Fine Arts-Sculpture with a minor in Criminology at the University of Minnesota and later, a J.D. in law school.

My review:

I received a digital copy of this book from BookSirens. All opinions shared are 100% my own.

I have read other fantasy fiction set in the American Southwest (check out the Shards of History series by Rebecca Roland). For that reason, I wanted to love this book. With all the awards (see below) it has won, I had high hopes. I did enjoy looking up the landmarks mentioned throughout so I could get a sense of what the landscape looked like. Unfortunately, I did not love the book. The world-building was lacking and rushed. Relationships were shallow… and rushed. The main character was a series of opposite personality traits that didn’t really mesh. I don’t regret reading the book. I did consider reading the second in the series (though other reviews I read for it changed my mind on that front).  

While I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it either. It is an interesting setup. I just wish it had been fleshed out more and less rushed when the “big reveal” came. Fantasy always asks us to suspend our disbelief but this took that suspension request a little too far. There are likable and loyal supporting characters and the history of the area is interesting. I would recommend it for anyone who loves the Southwest and magical realism (and doesn’t mind love triangles - another miss for me).  

Fun stuff:

** First Place Winner — Young Adult Fiction: 2020 Arizona/New Mexico Book Awards

** First Place Winner - Young Adult Fiction: 2020 National Federation Press Women

** Gold Medal Winner (First Place) - Young Adult Mythology/Folklore; 2020 Reader's Choice International  

** First Place Winner - Young Adult Fiction: 2020 New Mexico Women's Press