Happy Trans Day of Visibility 2025! 🏳️‍⚧️ We are strong, we have always been here, and we aren’t going anywhere.

Finished reading: Paper Doll by Dylan Mulvaney đź“š

A very fast read, finished in one sitting. I liked how she intertwined journal entries with reflections and other essay-like sections to give us a story but not one that had to be on a strict forward-moving timeline. I think I’d give it 3.5 or 4 stars.

Didn’t Finish: Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami đź“š

This book started out very slow, but then I got interested, but then it just wasn’t keeping my attention. I made it about 25% of the way through. Clever idea.

Happy bday, Lord Derby. Your Iliad is still one of my favorites, after Caroline Alexander’s & Emily Wilson’s.

Tattoo is finally, I think, happening! And maybe two. They always say you can never stop at one after you’ve had your first. I’m planning my second while drawing my first, and maybe I’ll do the two at the same time. Both reflects my explorations (Dawn), in my self and my gender, and my (a)vocation. I’m so excited. I’ll see if I can post pictures (drawing and eventually the real deal once I’m able to book it and make it happen!) đź©·

Finished reading: Holding Wonder by Zenna Henderson đź“š

I liked her book The Anything Box” much more. But, I did enjoy “You Know What, Teacher” and “Loo Ree”.

Finished reading: Vanishing Monuments by John Elizabeth Stintzi đź“š

A stunning work of joy and sadness, reflection, becoming and unbecoming. I don’t normally like experimental writing but this is fantastic. Moving, disconcerting yet ringing true to my inner eyes and ears. I look forward to reading more works by them.

Finished reading: Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico đź“š

An okay read that I took out from the library. It felt a little lifeless to me but not so much that I didn’t want to finish it.

I added a bunch of books to my read shelf for 2025, but since I did it in bulk, I didn’t have a chance to post each review. So, here’s a quick rundown of my thoughts.

  • Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata (translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori): 5 stars. Simply a joy to read. Beautiful writing, beautiful ideas. Superb. No hesitation or doubt that this was a five-star read.

  • Gliff by Ali Smith: 4 stars.

  • Skinship by James Reich: 4 stars. It was a very fast read, so nicely done with writing craft, which made it flow so smoothly. I’m a sucker for a generation ship novel.

  • Aurora Floyd by Mary Elizabeth Braddon: 4 stars. Not quite as good as Lady Audley’s Secret, but still a great romp of a novel. Braddon’s writing style simply compels you to keep reading, even if the situation feels incredulous!

  • The Clone by Theodore L. Thomas & Kate Wilhelm: 1 star

  • Girlmode by Magdalene Visaggio/Paulina Ganucheau (illustrator): 4 stars

  • Banal Nightmare by Halle Butler: 2 stars.

  • How the World Made the West: A 4,000 Year History by Josephine Quinn: 4 stars.

  • Lifeboat by James White: 3 stars.

Finished reading: Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite đź“š

Beautifully written, very fast read, love generation ship stories. Plot a little thin but a joy to read.

A new dawn … that simple little phrase can mean so much. New joys or new tears. New fears or new hopes. But, if you do it right, always exploring. I have so many new things to explore and hope that each dawn brings a little joy to me and others.