Content Warning: discussion of sexual assault in media.

I started reading The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen graphic novel after watching the movie. I’m only twenty or thirty pages in, and there have been two instances of sexual assault. I pause and reflect on other stories I have read written by Alan Moore. There’s another instance of attempted sexual assault in Watchmen. It made me wonder why Alan Moore utilizes rape with his female characters in his stories. It’s not something I alone have been wondering about. Typing into google “Why does Alan Moore write about rape” and there are countless articles as to why he writes about rape regularly. I wanted to discuss my thoughts about this because, as a reader, I’m tired of putting sexual assault as back story for women in media.

Before exploring this topic, there are a couple of things I want to address. I’m not saying sexual violence or rape shouldn’t be written about nor that if it’s included it’s automatically misogynist. There are ways to address sexual violence in a way that’s respectful to survivors. Most often, I see sexual assault being used as a plot device to demean the characters, and it doesn’t contribute to their development. The last statement I want to make is that anyone of any gender can be victims of assault. I cite female characters in this post as I see female characters being subjected to sexual assault in Moore’s work. However, anyone can be a victim of assault.

If we look at Alan Moore’s statements in this article, where he addresses sexual violence against women in his stories, he states, “As regards non-sexual violence, there is clearly a lot more non-sexual violence in my work that there is violence of the sexual variety, although in our current culture that’s true of nearly everyone’s work, isn’t it?” His instances of consensual sexual activity don’t undo the scenes he writes. Further into the article, Moore talks about the implications of rape, throwing out statistics of sexual assault. It seems Moore is educated about the origins of sexual assault and why it happens.

In the first paragraph, I mention how I’m tired of seeing sexual assault being used as a plot device to make a female character strong while also showing how evil a character can be. Rape doesn’t always have to be utilized to demonstrate this in media. Manipulation or gaslighting are alternative options to inform the viewer how evil a character can be.

I remember the first time I read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I was in high school, and I had no idea what I would be reading. Lisbeth is subjected to many forms of abuse. However, there’s so much more to her strength than only surviving her rapes. She’s a hacker, has a photographic memory, and can intelligently plot her way out of a horrific situation. Plus, Lisbeth gets back at her rapist, physically scarring him. I have never read a book where a rape victim got savage revenge against her rapist. It doesn’t undo the scene itself, but it makes it more manageable to read about.

I still enjoy reading Alan Moore’s work. Moore wrote these stories to be enjoyed by readers, so it shouldn’t be a surprise when readers connect the dots between the way he tells his stories. If anyone finds sexual assault triggering in any way, I highly recommend never reading anything by Alan Moore. I’d be happy to hear in the comments section below on your thoughts with SA in fiction, along with your opinions on Alan Moore’s stories.

In 2003, I was in third grade and playing pretend games with one of my friends who lived in a neighborhood over. We would pretend to play Teen Titans. She would be Starfire, so she could be dating Robin while I was relegated to being Raven. We ran around her yard pretending to defeat supervillains. Teen Titans will always hold a special place in my fandom heart. When I heard about a Raven young adult graphic novel being released by Kami Garcia and illustrated by Gabriel Picolo, I knew I had to read it. Teen Titans: Raven was a refreshing take on Raven’s origin story.

Raven is driving with her foster mom when they are involved in a deadly car accident. Raven lives without her memory while her foster mom is taken to the morgue. Raven is sent to live with her mom’s sister and her younger daughter, Max. Raven is navigating using her powers while being a normal high school teenager.

The best part of this graphic novel is easily the illustration. Gabriel Picolo does an excellent job of blending black & white with Raven’s purple color. It’s seen in Raven’s hair, lighting within the panels, and the writing bubbles. This novel is set in New Orleans, which coincides well with Raven struggling to have control over her demons… literally.

Additionally, I like Raven’s support group. Max is Raven’s best friend. She gives Raven noise-canceling headphones to cancel out the voice she’s hearing. Max takes Raven to an occult shop to discover more information about her powers. I would read a story of only Max and Raven living their lives in New Orleans.

My only minor complaint is that the story felt predictable and corny in parts. This is a young adult novel, so I believe that’s why I felt this way while reading. The male interest in Raven’s life is the stereotypical jock and nothing is interesting about him. There is a surprise appearance of a well-known villain, but I won’t reveal who this is.

I rated Teen Titans: Raven four out of five stars on Goodreads. The artwork is intricate, while the story knocked off a star on a five-star rating. Raven isn’t the only Titan to receive the graphic novel treatment. Garcia and Picolo will be writing/illustrating other books with the other Titans. The Beast Boy graphic novel will be released on September 8th, 2020. Teen Titans: Raven can be purchased at any local bookstore or comic store.

I met Chris Everheart at MSP Fallcon in October last year. I struck up a conversation at his booth, where he was telling me about his comic, Badass Girl. He graciously gave me both issue #1 and issue #2 to review. I’m finally back to a semi-regular blogging schedule, which means more comic reviews, including this series: Badass Girl.

Badass Girl has no name, but she slays the game. When I say game, I mean surviving an alien invasion and being scarred by the death of her parents. She wanders through the land, and to some, she’s a legend. Her experiences throughout the comic give you an idea of who she is and where she comes from. I can’t say much else without spoiling the series.

If Mad Max: Fury Road included aliens, Badass Girl would be the comic version. This is set to be a four-issue comic series, with issue #3 not being available to purchase yet.

With the coronavirus, independent comic artists need your support. Many conventions are being cancelled or postponed. This is absolutely the right thing, but many creators are out of funds for airline tickets or sales they would have made at conventions.

All comics for Badass Girl can be purchased digitally or in a physical copy at a convention. On the Badass Girl website, you can find t-shirts, coffee mugs, and other swag from the series.

My favorite season is, without a doubt, Autumn. It’s the reason that my fiancé and I have decided to get married in October. When I heard about the graphic novel partnership between Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks and how it revolved around an apple orchard, I knew this would be an automatic purchase. Pumpkinheads is the cutest, fall-themed graphic novel I have ever read. Instead of writing a typical review, I decided to use this inspiration to do my ABCs of Autumn. One word per letter of the alphabet to summarize fall. Here we go:

A is for. . . Autumn

Autumn is a better word to describe the season than Fall. It’s a beautiful word to say.

B is for . . . Books.

Being able to read a book with the sunlight filtering in my reading corner is heavenly. I plan on re-reading Pumpkinheads around August to get myself hyped up for the season.

C is for . . . Cinnamon / Apple Cider floats

A tradition I hold for attending the Renaissance Festival is ordering an apple cider float with cinnamon ice cream. It’s slightly spicy, less sweet, and the best beverage for Autumn. I believe you can make this boozy by adding cinnamon schnapps or hard apple cider.

D is for . . . Dress Code

Autumn is for cardigans in themed colors. Plaid shirts with dark jeans and thigh-high boots in light and dark browns. Graphic sweaters with fall-themed patterns. The style this time of year is what I live for.

E is for . . . Exercise

When Autumn hits, I walk outdoors for exercise. Looking at the colors of the leaves, seeing the sun rising high in the sky, and feeling the cool breeze move my hair. It’s truly bliss. I will work out outdoors instead of being stuck indoors.

F is for . . . Friends

Doing fall-themed activities with friends. The Renaissance festival, apple orchards, and visiting the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. ‘Tis the season for fun events with friends.

G is for. . . Grantolini

Grant is my fiancé. Early on in our relationship, I started calling him Grantolini. The name has stuck.

H is for. . . Halloween

Halloween is my favorite holiday that’s not a typical holiday. I adore costumes, reading horror-themed literature, watching scary movies, and wearing a costume. Last year, I was the Angel of Death, which was a spontaneous costume idea I had on Halloween. Me and a few friends went to a brewery and had a few beers in costume. Last year, Halloween was a special memory because the day after was the last day at my old job. I started my new job, which I’m currently in, and I’m super happy at.

I is for . . . Igniting Candles

Grant has picked up numerous fall-themed scents in candles. Being able to light a pumpkin or cinnamon smelling candle makes our apartment smell amazing.

J is for. . . Josiah & Deja

Josiah is one of the main characters in Pumpkinheads. He is emotional, real, and passionate about the apple orchard. Deja is outgoing, quite the opposite of Josiah. These two characters make Pumpkinheads as enjoyable as it is to read.

K is for . . . Kitchen

When I have the time to cook, I enjoy being in the kitchen preparing a new recipe. Fall-themed recipes include hot dishes (in Minnesota, we don’t use the term casserole), chilis, and soups.

L is for . . . Leaves

Leaves falling everywhere. Seeing the leaves pile up and kids playing in them… so cute.

M is for. . . Maroon

Maroon is an autumn color. It’s one color I would love to have as my wedding color.

N is for. . . Nippy

This is how the temperature is like in Autumn. I can walk outside with a cardigan or light jacket. I could wear a cute hat or gloves and I would be warm.

O is for. . . Orange

Maroon, burgundy, and orange would be my three color choices for an autumn-themed wedding.

P is for. . . Pumpkin Coldbrew Coffee

There’s a coffee shop/game store in my area that makes the best pumpkin infused, cold brew coffee. It’s a cold, black coffee with hints of pumpkin. It’s so good. Every year, I message this shop asking when it will be available. They used to sell growlers of it and this year I’m committed to purchasing one.

Q is for. . . Quilts and blankets

Sitting next to me is a quilt I received from Grant’s twin brother. This quilt comes from Senegal where he is in the peace corp serving his last year. I’m also using a quilt made by my grandmother. I love cozying up underneath multiple quilts and blankets.

R is for. . . Renaissance

The Renaissance Festival in Minnesota. I go almost every year. It’s fun to walk around, see the shows, and eat some fall treats. As mentioned, I always order the apple cider float. Another fun part of the Renaissance Festival is shopping for jewelry. I look for earrings, necklaces, and rings.

S is for. . . Spooky

Last year, we made a trip to Goodwill for Halloween decorations. We found so many cute items to hang. It made me happy to see Halloween stickers on the windows and knick-knacks on our sofa table. We will need more window stickers for this year.

T is for. . . Tea

I drink more tea in Autumn than in any other season. I like vanilla black tea if I want caffeine. Green tea is more for when I need less caffeine. If I’m feeling in the mood or sick, I like spicy cinnamon tea.

U is for. . . Umbrella

Autumn can be a rainy time of year. I lost my polka dot umbrella and I’m notorious for forgetting to bring an umbrella even though I know it’s going to rain. Additionally, I love breaking out my British / Union Jack rain boots.

V is for. . . Vivid

Vivid colors! Enough said.

W is for. . . Wedding

I will be disappointed if we don’t get married in October. We haven’t found a venue, but we toured one we like. We want to make sure we settle on a venue we love. Weddings are expensive.

X is for. . . being Xtra

Taking a selfie with the first Pumpkin coffee drink or using Instagram to take a boomerang of you throwing leaves. It’s a time to be Xtra this season.

Y is for. . . Young

I’m not a mom. If I decide to have children, I will take my kids to the apple orchard, the Renaissance Festival, and other fall-themed events. I want to share my joy with my kids again if my life path allows for kids.

Z is for. . . Zigzagging through a Haunted House or Maze.

I haven’t done a corn maze in a while. I went to a haunted maze at Valleyfair’s Valleyscare. Valleyfair is a small amusement park south of the Twin Cities area where I’m from. I don’t like going to the amusement park in summer, but in Autumn, they make it up to be Halloween-themed. I haven’t been back in a while, but I hope to go this year.

Yay, I found a word for every letter of the alphabet. If you haven’t read Pumpkinheads, you need to. Pumpkinheads is written by Rainbow Rowell and drawn by Faith Erin Hicks. Pumpkinheads can be purchased at any place where books are sold, though I highly recommend supporting your local book store.

Content Warning: Discussions about harm to children and violence against women. This is a truly horrific crime. I won’t go into any details about the crime itself because I don’t want to glorify it. However, I will touch on a basic background of the case.

With the writing I do for Twin Cities Geek, I’m on all kinds of early access emails. One of the emails I received was about the book My Daddy is a Hero: How Chris Watts Went From Family Man to Family Killer. This details the true crime story of Chris Watts. I was graciously sent a review copy of this book to read. This is a heavy book to read, and while it was interesting, I don’t think I can ever re-read it again.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own. 

I remember watching Chris Watts on TV stating how much he wanted his wife and their two children to be returned. Turns out, Chris murdered them all, and he’s now serving consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. What’s so scary about this is that Chris didn’t look like a killer. He looked like an ordinary person. Detailed in Lena’s book, not one person who was interviewed in this case would have believed Chris would have killed his entire family, so why did he?

Lena does a great job detailing the background information leading up to their deaths. She goes to great length in painting a picture of Shanann. Shanann is a beautiful, loyal, and happy mother who moved to Colorado from North Carolina to raise their daughters. It seemed like Shanann and Chris had a perfect marriage.

Lena Derhally is a licensed psychotherapist who specializes in relationship therapy. She mentions red flags in a relationship that shouldn’t be ignored. The sad part about reading these is that I have seen these in my friend’s relationships, along with my relationships, in the past. I want to list them out for you all:

1. They exhibit no empathy for you or your perspective. – Empathy isn’t the same as sympathy. The definition of empathy is understanding and sharing the feelings of someone else. Sympathy is offering condolences, but not trying to understand what that person is going through.
2. They’re ready to walk away or retreat emotionally. – This is seeing someone become a different person. Did they used to do romantic gestures, and now will go days on end without talking to you? This might be a leap in predicting if someone can be violent, but it’s something to be aware of.
3. They gaslight you. – For those who aren’t aware, gaslighting is where someone makes it seem like it’s your fault for something they have done. For example, if a partner is caught cheating. If their first reaction is to say that it’s your fault they strayed, run the fuck away. You have every right to feel the way you do. This is incredibly abusive and manipulative.
4. Trust your gut. – Women, especially, are taught to be respectful and kind to everyone they meet. If you feel unsafe or if someone keeps trying to talk to you, be rude. This is difficult for me as I’m generally a nice person, and feeling rude feels out of character for me. Our gut is usually right. Be rude and get out. This is easier said than done, but it’s worth noting.

This is a True Crime book that’s extremely well written. It gives a couple of gentle reminders about what can be signs of an abusive relationship. I don’t want to forget Shanann’s existence and how she was an exuberant person in the lives of many. Bella and CeCe were bright and spirited girls who carried their dolls around with them everywhere. I hope they’re all at peace.

I was surprised while reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows because of how much of the book translated to the movie. It was a smart decision to split this book into two movies because there’s so much detail about the horcruxes and the attempts the trio makes in finding them. This book is the grand finale between Harry Potter and Voldemort. I wanted to share all of the details I forgot about in this book.

• Voldemort has glowing red eyes with vertical slits for pupils (in the books)
• Voldemort tells Bellatrix about Tonks marrying Lupin. Voldemort says she needs to “prune her family tree” to keep it healthy
• Dumbledore’s father, Percival, died in Azkaban after attacking three Muggles
• 1945 is the year when Dumbledore first pursued Grindelwald
• The Dursleys actually liked Kingsley Shacklebolt (only because he learned how to dress like a Muggle).
• Dudley says Harry wasn’t a waste of space. Cute.
• Petunia doesn’t say anything to Harry before she leaves. Dudley is the one who has the meaningful interaction with Harry instead.
• Thestrals were used besides broomsticks in the Seven Potters chapter.
• Harry is supposed to be heading to Tonk’s parents instead of the Burrow, like the movie.
• Hedgwig’s death in the book is FUCKING HEART WRENCHING. She’s killed and remains dead in her cage.
• Harry is forced to explode the sidecar with Hedwig’s cage in it, like make me cry more..?!?!
• Hagrid leaps off the motorbike to attack a Death Eater. I love Hagrid
• Mr. Weasley is trying to put Sirius’s bike back together, aww.
• Not mentioned in the movie, but Hermione stole Mad Eye’s Polyjuice potion (from the Seven Potters incident), and that’s how they used it in the Ministry
• The opening scene where Hermione uses Obliviate on her parents comes from the book. It’s not seen, but Hermione made her parents believe they were Wendell and Monica Wilkins and that they wanted to move to Australia. Hermione says if she survives the war, she will come back for them. She tells Harry this story to remind him how serious she is in wanting to help him defeat Voldemort.
• Ron went so far as to catch a ghoul, give him his clothes, and have his dad tell everyone Ron is sick with Spattergroit. The reasoning for this is that no one will know Ron is with Harry, finding Horcruxes. BOOK RON IS SO SMART.
• This also prevents the Weasleys from being harassed by Death Eaters
• Remorse is how you put the soul back together, but the pain of it can rip you apart.
• Ron’s random Quidditch facts are adorable.
• Mrs. Weasley gives Harry a watch with stars for his birthday. It’s a tradition for any wizard who comes of age.
• Mrs. Weasley throws Harry a birthday party with a golden snitch cake and invites Lupin, Tonks, and Hagrid to the party.
• During Bill’s wedding, Harry was giving the Polyjuice Potion and disguised as one of their “cousins” named Barny
• Arthur sends a Patronus after Bill’s wedding, letting them know they are safe.
• Harry sees a vision of Draco being forced to torture Rowle, a Death Eater, in the café.
• Harry finds a letter addressed to Sirius from Lily. Within the letter, Harry learns Sirius bought him a broomstick. His parents knew Bathilda and Dumbledore on a personal level. Finally, James lends Dumbledore the invisibility cloak. Also, they apparently had a cat.
• Kreacher was volunteered by Regulus to put the locket in the cave, along with testing all of the spells Voldemort set up.
• Voldemort left Kreacher there to suffer.
• The reason why Kreacher was saved was because Regulus summoned him home, and that magic allowed Kreacher to apparate back to Grimmauld Place.
• One of the reasons Kreacher betrayed Sirius to Voldemort (despite his horrible treatment of him in the cave) is that Kreacher was loyal to Cissy and Bella. When they wanted info, he was happy to oblige. Sirius was never kind to Kreacher, so why not betray him?
• Death Eaters are watching 12 Grimmauld Place because they know Harry was given the home by Sirius in the will.
• After the wedding, Death Eaters tortured Tonk’s parents (SAD)
• The Muggle-borns are rounded up because they’re stealing magic.
• The thought of rounding up cute eleven-year-old muggles who are attending Hogwarts for the first time is terrifying.
• In the book, they give one of the Ministry members a puking pastille instead of stunning them.
• In the book, Harry stuns Umbridge, but in the movie, he says to her, “I must not tell lies.” This was added for the movie.
• In the book, Ron loses a layer of flesh. In the movie, it looks like a deep cut.
• During Ron’s departure, Harry pulls out the Maurader’s Map and watches Ginny. It’s sad.
• Rita used Veritaserum on Bathila to write her book. Appalling.
• Inside the locket, there’s an eye.
• Xenophilius has an Erumpent horn, which can explode at the slightest touch. (Hermione read Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them)
• Hermione says the cloak is the best Hallow, Harry says it’s the resurrection stone, and Ron says the wand. I think this says a lot about what these characters have gone through. Hermione has wanted to be invisible as she has been persecuted for her background. Harry wants the stone based on everyone he’s lost. Ron wants the wand because he feels inferior.
• In the book, the trio are caught after Harry says Voldemort’s name
• In the book, Bellatrix drags Hermione by her hair. ICK, this scene where she tortures Hermione is the worst.
• Dobby is so scared because he’s back at the Malfoys, where he endured all that abuse.
• I wish they kept Wormtail’s death in the movie.
• When Dobby actually dies, all he says is “Harry Potter”. This stuff about his friends was all added for dramatic effect. Personally, I think the book is sadder because Harry doesn’t get a chance to say goodbye.
• “He dug with a kind of fury, relishing the manual work, glorifying in the non-magic of it, for every drop of his sweat and every blister felt like a grin to the elf that saved their lives”
• Harry, Ron, and Dean helped bury Dobby. Ron puts shoes and socks into Dobby’s grave, and Dean puts a hat on Dobby’s head. (This is the point where I started crying)
• Malfoy’s wand (now Harry’s) is Hawthorne and Unicorn Hair 10 in.
• Ron is now using Peter Pettigrew’s wand. Chestnut and Dragon Heartstrings 9 ¾ inches.
• I love how the other two names for the Elder Wand are Wand of Destiny and Deathstick < my favorite.
• Lupin comes to Bill’s cottage to announce the birth of their son, Ted.
• The Goblets in Bellatrix’s vault have Gemino and Flagrante curses, which cause the cups to multiply and burn.
• In the book, this scene is more life-threatening. At one point, Griphook falls underneath the treasure. He’s blistering and burning.
• When the trio meets Aberforth, he reminds Harry that he’s only 17. That’s the issue. Dumbledore places this burden of carrying on the war when he shouldn’t have to worry about that to begin with.
• Neville has been standing up to Death Eaters. He refused to perform the Cruciatus Curse on students, and he defends muggles in the Muggle’s study class.
• The Death Eaters at the school went after Neville’s grandmother (since Neville was protesting at their school) and his grandmother kicked their asses. Imagine a little witch lady dueling two government dudes. The imagery. She lets Neville know she’s okay and tells him that he is his father’s son
• Ravenclaw’s entrance, of course, would make you answer a riddle for a password.
• McGonagall is fierce. “I will not permit your ineptitudes to pass onto the Hogwarts students.”
• Harry fires off a Cruciatius Curse against the Death Eater who spat in McGonagall’s face.
• The original Quidditch team (Oliver Wood, Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell, and Alicia Spinnet) come back to fight at Hogwarts.
• Helena Ravenclaw, Rowena’s daughter, stole the diadem from her mother. She wanted all the wisdom. Her mother sent the Bloody Baron aka. Slytherin’s ghost after her. When she rejects his advances, he kills her, then kills himself.
• Neville lobs mandrakes over the wall.
• Neville’s grandmother comes back to fight.
• Hermione kisses Ron after he suggests evacuating the house elves. This is such a Hermione thing to do.
• Nagini is protected in a magical sphere, unlike the movie.
• Peeves dropping stuff on Death Eaters makes me happy.
• Ron punches Malfoy in the face after they stun the Death Eater who wanted to attack him.
• Luna, Ernie, and Seamus all cast Patronuses to save Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Luna has a hare, Ernie has a boar, and Seamus has a fox.
• In the book, the cage Nagini is in encases Snape, and Nagini wraps herself around Snape while attacking him.
• Snape was killed in the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade. It’s ironic because this is the place where he was saved by James Potter, yet this is where Snape dies.
• Petunia begged for Dumbledore to accept her to Hogwarts even though Lily got to go. Dumbledore even wrote back with a kind response
• In the King’s Cross scene, Dumbledore wears midnight blue robes (I wish they kept these in the movie)
• Dumbledore equates himself to Voldemort as he wanted to escape death and rule over Muggles with Grindelwald.
• The reason Dumbledore turned down the Minister position is that he was afraid he would be selfish with all that power.
• Voldemort summons the Sorting Hat and puts it on Neville’s head. He then lights the hat on fire which holy shit burning someone alive!?
• Neville, when confronting Voldemort, grabs the sword and decapitates Nagini.
• OMG, Mrs. Weasley telling people to stay away from Bellatrix because she’s here to finish her is a whole mood.
• As Voldemort attacks Molly after she kills Bellatrix, Harry holds a shield up to Molly. This is the moment where Voldemort knows that Harry is alive.
• Voldemort doesn’t turn to pieces like in the movie; he falls dead like any normal person would
• When Harry took Ron and Hermione to Dumbledore’s headmaster’s office, all the headmasters cheered and Dumbledore is seen crying in his frame.
• Harry uses the Elder Wand to repair his own wand, then returns the Elder Wand to Dumbledore’s grave. This will end the control it has.
• “The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years; all was well.”

When I re-read the book, the two deaths that were the hardest to accept were Dobby and Hedwig. When Dobby arrives to save Harry, there are a couple of paragraphs talking about how scared Dobby is. Malfoy Manor is a place where Dobby has been abused for decades. Despite his fear, he shows up because Harry Potter is one of the few people who respect him.

Hedwig’s death is more brutal in the book because she was killed while still in her cage. Due to various circumstances, Harry is forced to blow up Hagrid’s motorbike, which had Hedwig’s cage in it. He couldn’t even bury his owl, who provided him peace while he lived with the Dursleys.

2019 was the year I re-read the Harry Potter series. It was touching to re-read these books that meant so much to me.

This is my fifth year filling out Perpetual Page Turner’s End of Year Book Survey. I discovered this survey back in 2015, and I like how detailed the questions are. 2019 was an exceptional reading year for me, as it was the year when I read the most! I came in at 53 books, graphic novels, and comics this year. In past years, I had a few life events come up that prevented me from reading more. If I could sum up my reading year in 2019, it would be: the year I re-read all the Harry Potter books, and I put an emphasis on re-reading my favorite books. In 2020, I’m going to attempt to re-read more of my favorite books, along with trying to read more nonfiction books. Here are my 2019 reading answers:

**2019 Reading Stats**

Number Of Books You Read: 53
Number of Re-Reads: 7 with all the Harry Potter books. 
Genre You Read The Most From: Fantasy and Comics 

1. Best Book You Read In 2019?

I started reading the Mr. Mercedes trilogy while on vacation in Orlando. I didn’t mind the first book, but this book made me continue with the series. Stephen King does an excellent job creating this cat & mouse chase between Mr. Mercedes and Bill Hodges. The chemistry between Bill Hodges, Jerome, and Holly is great, and I like seeing them solving various crimes. I highly recommend reading this series by Stephen King because it proves, after all this time,that he can still write a thrilling series.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Comics are one of my favorite genres to read. When I heard about this book about a romance between two characters of rival comic book companies, I felt I would truly love reading this book. This wasn’t a bad book, but it wasn’t my favorite read of this year.

3. Best Series I Started? Best Sequel of 2019? Best Series Ender?

I became a fan of Marie Lu after reading Warcross last year. I decided to revisit some of her earlier books, where I started reading Legend. This series appealed to me because of the action sequences, the twists, and the romance between June and Day. Additionally, I read Prodigy, the second book in the series, and it’s still a great story. I plan on reading the third and final book in the series in 2020.

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

Out of all the Queer Eye hosts, Jonathan Van Ness is my favorite. This is the book where JVN talks about how they found out they were HIV+. They also highlight the importance of Planned Parenthood for low-income communities. Reading their story brought tears to my eyes, but it also helped to decrease the stigma that still surrounds STDs. I also identified with JVN’s struggle with the loss of their step-dad to cancer. It hit way too close to home for me, but it was cathartic to read about someone I could identify with.

To answer the actual question, I loaned this book to my friend and she read it.

5. Favorite new author you discovered in 2019?

This book was really good. It was easily a contender for being the best book I read in 2019.

6. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Any book Ashley Elston writes is a must-read for me. My favorite book of 2017 was This is Our Story, which is an Ashley Elston book. I ended up reading over half of this book in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. If you haven’t read any of her books, you absolutely need to.

7. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Harry and Hermione are proof men and women can be friends. I personally like Ron and Hermione ending up together because they’re opposite of each other. I feel book Ron and book Hermione are a better couple then their movie counterparts.

8. Favorite Book You Read in 2019 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Wildcard wasn’t as good as Warcross in my opinion, but I still love this book series. I can’t wait for the third book to be released.

9. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2019?

I’m nominating Deathly Hallows. Dobby and Hedwig both got to me. Dobby’s death is especially depressing because there’s a paragraph where it talks about how scared Dobby is to be back in the Malfoy mansion. This is the place where he experienced the most abuse, but Dobby overcomes his fears to save Harry because of how much Harry means to Dobby. Are you crying? or is it just me?

10. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Mad Cave Comics is a comic studio I discovered earlier this year. They graciously sent a couple of comics to me, so I could review them. Midnight Task Force was my favorite out of the three series I received, but this studio is seriously going places. I wouldn’t be surprised if I see them at more comic book conventions I attend in the future.

1. New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2019?

I recently started subscribing to Whatpaigeisit as she does comic book reviews. She also does cosplay makeup tutorials and general vlogging. I adore her work and I find different comics to read because of her.

2. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2019?

Reading 53 books! This is the most I have ever read and I want this to continue into 2020.

3. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

I had no challenges. This was a great reading year for me.

4. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Making Cream & Amber my new go-to bookstore. Shop local if possible!

 1. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2020?

I’m interested in reading the third book in the Legend series by Marie Lu.

2. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2020?

I want to re-read more books this next year in 2020 and I want to read more nonfiction books.

Happy Reading in 2020!

Lately, I have been driving to my local comic book store somewhat regularly. Since my comics reading has increased, I have been reading comics faster than I can write reviews. I wanted to share the comics I read and my thoughts about them.

The Prometheite by Ari S. Mulch

This graphic novel was one I backed on Kickstarter in June of this year. Ari is a LGBTQIA+ creator who launched this campaign during Pride Month. This novel is a sapphic retelling of Frankenstein. Frankenstein and Gothic literature are one of my favorite genres to read. This novel captures the essence of the story. The artwork is dark with the use of black and white panels. The only other color used is red. The red is used sparsely; however, when it’s utilized, it creates this horrific theme within the story. Ari Mulch can be found on Instagram. I rated this five stars on Goodreads.

Paper Girls Volume #4

If anyone else reads Paper Girls, the first few trade paperbacks don’t go into why everything is happening, while this one gives more story background. Paper Girls stars four newspaper girls out delivering the newspaper in the 80s. These girls witness an alien invasion of sorts, which leads them to time-travel. It’s been fun reading all the ’80s references. Recently, the girls traveled to Y2K. I was only six when Y2K happened, so there’s a lot I don’t remember. It’s fun reading about it in this graphic novel. Despite my earlier thoughts, I recommend reading the series. The artwork is great, and it’s clear Brian K. Vaughan has crafted an intricate story. I rated Paper Girls Volume #4 four stars on Goodreads.

Riri Williams as Ironheart Issue #1

Ever since Riri Williams was announced to take over Iron Man in 2016, I knew I needed to eventually read this. I picked this first issue up in February during my Universal Trip on the Marvel Island side of the park. I loved Riri’s Ironheart suit. I highly recommend purchasing this comic. I rated this five stars on Goodreads.

During Small Business Saturday (November 30th), I picked up quite a few comics to read. There will be more comic reviews, and I will probably write them in this format. Happy Comics Reading, everyone!

I purchased Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren back in February for my trip to Orlando. Whenever I fly, I don’t like to pack books because they’re heavy and take up too much space in my luggage. While I purchased this book eight months ago, I finally finished it this month. Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating is one of the best romance / contemporary novels I have read and is a contender for being the best book I read in 2019.

Hazel Bradford is an eccentric elementary school teacher. She has a variety of pets living in her one-bedroom apartment in Portland, including a fish named Daniel Craig. Many men Hazel has dated feel she’s a little much for them. Hazel reconnects with Josh Im, whom she originally met in college by puking on his shoes. Josh is the brother of Hazel’s best friend, and he’s more mellow than Hazel. After Josh finds out his girlfriend is cheating on him, Hazel sets him up on a date. This leads to both Josh and Hazel double-dating with the people they set each other up with. Hazel and Josh start to build a friendship, but are they meant to be together?

One reason I instantly became attached to this book is that it reminds me of my relationship. I’m the one who has my head in the clouds. I talk about all the traveling I want to do in my lifetime, whereas my fiancé is the rational one. Can I afford to travel? How much do I have in my 401k? I believe this is the reason we work well together. I lift my fiancé up in the air with me, but he brings me down to earth. Hazel and Josh’s relationship is similar to my relationship in real life.

Hazel is a character I want to be best friends with in real life. Hazel doesn’t conform or change her personality for any of her romantic partners. In one instance, Hazel goes on a date wearing a cow print tank top, a denim skirt, and green cowboy boots. This is an outfit I would never wear, but I think it’s endearing how Hazel is who she is. Josh is the complete opposite of Hazel as he’s quiet, resolved, and put together. He’s a genuinely great guy and deserves to feel appreciated in any relationship he’s in.

In the last quarter of the book, the plot takes a personal turn. I’m not going to reveal what this is because it would be a huge spoiler. Many reviews I read toward Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating are that this plot twist is unnecessary and dramatic. I personally disagree. I believe the book does a beautiful job of highlighting this personal experience that many women have gone through. My spoiler-filled review of this book is on my Goodreads account if you feel inclined to read what this event happens to be.

Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating is an adorable, personal contemporary novel. Hazel and Josh are well-crafted characters, and their dating experiences are awkward yet realistic. This book warrants a re-read for me, and I wish Christina Lauren would write a sequel all about Hazel & Josh raising their kids. I would buy it in a heartbeat.

I’m close to meeting my Goodreads goal of having read fifty books in 2019. This is a superb reading year for me. It’s become difficult to write book reviews on this site because I read faster than I can type reviews. I wanted to write a review for Wildcard by Marie Lu because it’s the second book in the Warcross series. Warcross was one of my favorite series I read in 2018, so it holds a special place in my bibliophile heart.  Despite Warcross’s strong start, Wildcard is a weaker addition to the series.

*spoilers from Warcross & Wildcard down below, be aware*

Wildcard begins immediately after Warcross with Hideo Tanaka’s neurolink going online. This neurolink forces anyone who has committed a crime or thought about committing a crime to turn themselves in to the police. Emika feels betrayed by Hideo because she feels no one should have this type of power, even if Hideo’s intentions are good. Emika is contacted by Zero, who is revealed at the end of Warcross to be Hideo’s missing brother, Sasuke. Zero gives Emika a way to shut down the neurolink by being recruited by Zero’s group, the Blackcoats. As Emika investigates further into Sasuke’s past, she uncovers a shocking horror into what happened with Sasuke and how this leads to the Blackcoats’ true intentions.

Sasuke’s backstory is tragic. I’m not going to reveal any of it because I don’t want to give massive spoilers in this review. I wouldn’t say I shed any tears for Sasuke, but his backstory allowed him to be manipulated by high-ranking individuals who weren’t looking out for his best interests.

Marie Lu excels at crafting morally complex characters. The villain’s methodology is completely wrong, but their intentions are good. This type of character creation enables open discussion about the implications of Wildcard in our current society. Hideo can be considered a villain as well because even though he has good intentions in trying to decrease crime, he has also caused mass suicides of criminals and innocent people. In my opinion, Hideo is more of an anti-hero because his intentions are good, but the outcome is severe.

Wildcard builds off of my OTPs, including Hammie & Asher and Roshan & Tremaine. I don’t ship Emika with Hideo because Emika is fiercely intelligent, and she deserves someone who will listen to her, and Hideo doesn’t.

As I mentioned, Wildcard is a weaker addition in the series because the final battle drags on forever. I found myself losing focus while reading because the virtual elements were confusing to picture in my mind. I never lost my focus reading Warcross, whereas Wildcard felt too long.

Wildcard isn’t terrible, but could be better. I initially gave this book three stars on Goodreads, but seeing the return of the Phoenix Riders along with the addition of new characters allowed me to give this book four stars. It’s not as great as Warcross, but it’s still a worthy sequel to this neon gaming world.