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JaviBookseller at RavennaJavi is a creature of books and crafts. She shelves self-help, psychology, art history, indigenous, womens, black, and queer studies. When she's not selling books during the day, you can find her knitting, watching british mystery shows, taking naps with her senior cat named Martha, or reading by candlelight. |
Thapp is a storyteller in the way she visualizes the human experience of feeling emotions. Through her use of soft color palettes and minimalist art, she captures how it feels to grow with the seasons. Her words are rich with comfort, yet sting with familarity. It is a book to sit by your bedside table and to go back to with each passing year in order to reassure of our everchanging experiences with our emotions.
I can't even begin to describe the beauty of this book. It is the most beautiful graphic novel I have ever read. It is so seamless in the way Trung Le Nguyen talks about queer identity, the complexity of family, and love. From a first glance, it is a simple story of love, told through his own experience and his love for reading fairy tales. But once you finish reading, it keeps running in your mind, and suddenly you are unearthing the hundreds of experiences you read through. I feel like it is SO difficult to weave so many different themes with drawings and few words, but it was executed to perfection. I feel so lucky to have experienced this graphic novel, and you will absolutely not regret picking this gem up.
Everything about this delightful little book is perfect. From the art, the colors, the world and the characters that inhabit it. From page 1, you are welcomed with big, open friendly arms. You feel so immersed in the story, you start to notice the slight scent of tea brewing. It is packed with messages, telling us to pursue our passions and take care of ourselves and others. Highly, highly recommend.
This is one of the few books I frequently visit, like a good friend who I haven't seen in a long time, and we just sit down and drink tea together. It is a highly researched but deeply personal memoir about having bipolar disorder, and the fears that surface upon being diagnosed. She shares her downfalls and the coping skills she learned for them. It is a beautiful journey of finding balance, accepting the long-windedness of recovery, and the magic and familiarity of feeling good, after spending a long time being nostalgic for it.
I saw the title and instantly knew I wanted to read it. I'm a homebody by nature, and Cassandra Calin told me there's nothing wrong with that. Her collection of comics are comforting, funny (literally made me laugh out loud), and relatable. She makes the mundane moments seem exciting and reflective, reminding us that we don't need to be out in the world in order to have grand experiences. It is a perfect companion and reassurance for homebodies everywhere.
Let's talk about being neurodivergent in a world that caters to neurotypical folks! Jenara Nerenberg was diagnosed with Autism when she was an adult. After years of being misdiagnosed herself, she was shocked to see what little research had been done about neurodivergency in women, since they are often misdiagnosed with a mood disorder or for being 'hormonal'. So, what did she do? She did her own research and wrote a book. this book reassured me of my own neurodivergency and how to survive in a world that isn't accessible to those who are neurodivergent. Neurodivergence is an actual superpower, and we deserve to be heard and seen! This book is essential for those on, off, and in between the spectrum of neurodivergency.
Oh, Murderbot. This short book is full of whirlwind experiences from the perspective of a socially awkward robot named Murderbot. Although it was designed to kill, it hacked its own government module and became fully self-aware. While on a mission with a group of eccentric scientists, Murderbot finds itself in 2 situations: 1) it really just wants to be alone and watch its soap operas and 2) they encounter something dark and mysterious, and it is up to them to figure it out. Readers will relate to the socially-awkwardness of Murderbot, but be completely drawn to the mystery surrounding the dark situations encountered. It is so compelling and addicting!
This is the book that got me into the romance genre and opened a whole new world for me. I also didn't realize how much of a sucker I am for the enemies-to-lovers trope -- and The Hating Game perfected it.
Lucy Hutton comes from a small independent book publisher. Josh comes from a big-boss corporate book publisher. Their publishing houses merge, and competition arises between the two. When a promotion opens up, they set their eyes on it, and will do anything to take each other down. However, once interacting outside of work, they realize they aren't so different as they thought they were. Their work lives may be different, but they are personally and intimately similar to one another. And our only job as the reader is to watch these two fall in love and grow for one another.
This book is very queer and dear to the heart. With moments reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice (without being too similar), Written in the Stars is a rom-com, set in Seattle, all about opposites attract. Elle is sweet and passionate, a believer in all things astrology and magic. Darcy is factual and passionate. Their first date goes horrendous and awkward. But to get their families off their backs, they both agree to fake their relationship, just until they stop harassing them about their love lives. However, true feelings form... and the rest you'll just have to read! It is truly the lightest read and guaranteed to get you out of a reading slump.
