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sweekune's reviews
342 reviews
Supporting Fat Birth by AJ Silver
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
⭐ 4/5 ⭐
From the author that wrote Supporting Queer Birth, we are treated to an informative and reflective book about supporting larger women and people through their childbearing journey.
- The book is well set out. Silver has different chapters for different aspects of care such as homebirth or infant feeding. There's also a lot of intersectional chapters covering global majority and queer birth too.
- The book it well researched both in an academic sense, with references provided, but also in who Silver interviews through the course of the book. Not only do the additional perspectives educate amazingly but they also provide additional avenues for the reader to retake when doing further reading or learning after finishing the book.
- The last chapter I loved. It discusses how to firmly set boundaries with professionals and how to make caregivers stop and think if they are not being as respectful as they ought. It provided me with more ways of raising concerns in my own professional sphere but also is an great tool for women and birthing people.
A wonderful educational resource. I've already recommended it to several students and leant my copy to another midwife.
From the author that wrote Supporting Queer Birth, we are treated to an informative and reflective book about supporting larger women and people through their childbearing journey.
- The book is well set out. Silver has different chapters for different aspects of care such as homebirth or infant feeding. There's also a lot of intersectional chapters covering global majority and queer birth too.
- The book it well researched both in an academic sense, with references provided, but also in who Silver interviews through the course of the book. Not only do the additional perspectives educate amazingly but they also provide additional avenues for the reader to retake when doing further reading or learning after finishing the book.
- The last chapter I loved. It discusses how to firmly set boundaries with professionals and how to make caregivers stop and think if they are not being as respectful as they ought. It provided me with more ways of raising concerns in my own professional sphere but also is an great tool for women and birthing people.
A wonderful educational resource. I've already recommended it to several students and leant my copy to another midwife.
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
⭐ 4.25/5 ⭐
Audiobook narrated by Em Grosland.
The sequel to A Psalm for the Wild-Built. Dex and Mosscap travel across the land, meet a variety of different people and have many poignant experiences.
- Similar to it's predecessor, this is a relaxed and reflective tale. This time there's less of a destination and reads more as a journey with different sections.
- I love this world that Chambers has created. She has a knack for creating such inclusive and comforting but also faceted worlds.
- I feel Dex's internal conflict. How do you reconcile anxiety, depression and other mental concerns when on paper you have everything? I love how the book covers this and addresses mental health.
Cosy, calm and introspective. Good for those that need a hug in book form.
Audiobook narrated by Em Grosland.
The sequel to A Psalm for the Wild-Built. Dex and Mosscap travel across the land, meet a variety of different people and have many poignant experiences.
- Similar to it's predecessor, this is a relaxed and reflective tale. This time there's less of a destination and reads more as a journey with different sections.
- I love this world that Chambers has created. She has a knack for creating such inclusive and comforting but also faceted worlds.
- I feel Dex's internal conflict. How do you reconcile anxiety, depression and other mental concerns when on paper you have everything? I love how the book covers this and addresses mental health.
Cosy, calm and introspective. Good for those that need a hug in book form.
A Tale of Hijinks and Honeydew by Alex Nonymous
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
⭐ 3.75/5 ⭐
Wyn is a land bound mermaid and Quintzy is a partially shapeshifting goblin. Both live in a town of heroes and when a competition for an additional guild leader starts, they are forced to work together more closely.
- The setting was very D&D inspired. A city where the Heroes Guild causes trouble for it's citizens. I liked how the heroes weren't necessarily the good guys in this narrative and that it showed the impact of the guild's activities.
- The disability representation was pretty good and although it was fantasy based, there were clear analogues for real life conditions. It was great to see how well this was handled.
- I enjoyed how the two main characters interacted though it was very dialogue heavy. It would have been nice to see more nonverbal communication and some descriptions.
Short, fun and great for those who like light-hearted D&D adjacent media.
Wyn is a land bound mermaid and Quintzy is a partially shapeshifting goblin. Both live in a town of heroes and when a competition for an additional guild leader starts, they are forced to work together more closely.
- The setting was very D&D inspired. A city where the Heroes Guild causes trouble for it's citizens. I liked how the heroes weren't necessarily the good guys in this narrative and that it showed the impact of the guild's activities.
- The disability representation was pretty good and although it was fantasy based, there were clear analogues for real life conditions. It was great to see how well this was handled.
- I enjoyed how the two main characters interacted though it was very dialogue heavy. It would have been nice to see more nonverbal communication and some descriptions.
Short, fun and great for those who like light-hearted D&D adjacent media.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
emotional
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
⭐ 4.5/5 ⭐
A Psalm for the Wild-Built is a soothing and reflective journey for both the characters and the reader. Sibling Dex starts out a new path as a tea monk in a futuristic world set on a moon. On a particular excursion they encounter the robot Mosscap which is a bit surprising as no one has seen a robot for many years.
- There are lots of interconnected themes within this book that blend beautifully. The job of a tea monk is to listen to people who need to talk and provide them with a space and environment to do that. This book fulfills the role of tea monk for the reader, letting you reflect on the themes discussed as applicable to your own life or just simple enjoy the journey of the story.
- Cosy is the best way to describe almost every aspect of this book: plot, characters, themes, world, pantheon. I adored Sibling Dex and Mosscap and how they both learn from each other. This book is like being immersed into a metaphorical cup of tea, comforting, slow and gentle.
- Shout out for the amazing use of they/them pronouns. It's so great to see characters having these used well and also in a setting where there is seemingly no judgement, transphobia or vitriol about it.
Like a hug and a warm, soothing drink. For anyone who needs a short and positive fantasy/sci-fi story.
⭐ 4.5/5 ⭐
A Psalm for the Wild-Built is a soothing and reflective journey for both the characters and the reader. Sibling Dex starts out a new path as a tea monk in a futuristic world set on a moon. On a particular excursion they encounter the robot Mosscap which is a bit surprising as no one has seen a robot for many years.
- There are lots of interconnected themes within this book that blend beautifully. The job of a tea monk is to listen to people who need to talk and provide them with a space and environment to do that. This book fulfills the role of tea monk for the reader, letting you reflect on the themes discussed as applicable to your own life or just simple enjoy the journey of the story.
- Cosy is the best way to describe almost every aspect of this book: plot, characters, themes, world, pantheon. I adored Sibling Dex and Mosscap and how they both learn from each other. This book is like being immersed into a metaphorical cup of tea, comforting, slow and gentle.
- Shout out for the amazing use of they/them pronouns. It's so great to see characters having these used well and also in a setting where there is seemingly no judgement, transphobia or vitriol about it.
Like a hug and a warm, soothing drink. For anyone who needs a short and positive fantasy/sci-fi story.
A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
⭐ 4/5 ⭐
Audiobook narrated by Helen Laser.
A cute and fluffy paranormal romance. Mariel is hopeless at magic and when one of her spells goes wrong she accidentally summons Ozroth the Ruthless. Until Mariel agrees to trade her soul, Ozroth has to stay near her, which makes family dinner, local politics and problems on the demon plane very interesting.
- This is not a complicated and detailed story and it does not try to be. It excels and being enjoyable, mostly fluffy (though there are some rather spicy sections) and had a really cute and cosy feel to it. An easy listening book.
- Both Mariel and Oz were such fun characters. I empathised a lot with Mariel and her struggles with familial and societal pressure. Oz was a mardy and grumpy character with a soft side and the dynamic between the two was so fun.
- The setting and the magic were what I would describe as witchy cosy. A modern world setting with a magical twist and Hawley made it work so well. I was so happy to discover there will be more books set in this town.
If you want a romance that isn't mentally taxing that you can just sink into and enjoy, I recommend giving this book a go.
Audiobook narrated by Helen Laser.
A cute and fluffy paranormal romance. Mariel is hopeless at magic and when one of her spells goes wrong she accidentally summons Ozroth the Ruthless. Until Mariel agrees to trade her soul, Ozroth has to stay near her, which makes family dinner, local politics and problems on the demon plane very interesting.
- This is not a complicated and detailed story and it does not try to be. It excels and being enjoyable, mostly fluffy (though there are some rather spicy sections) and had a really cute and cosy feel to it. An easy listening book.
- Both Mariel and Oz were such fun characters. I empathised a lot with Mariel and her struggles with familial and societal pressure. Oz was a mardy and grumpy character with a soft side and the dynamic between the two was so fun.
- The setting and the magic were what I would describe as witchy cosy. A modern world setting with a magical twist and Hawley made it work so well. I was so happy to discover there will be more books set in this town.
If you want a romance that isn't mentally taxing that you can just sink into and enjoy, I recommend giving this book a go.
Ocean Renegades!: Journey Through the Paleozoic Era by Abby Howard
funny
informative
fast-paced
4.0
⭐ 4/5 ⭐
Professor Lernin and Ronnie take another trip back in time, this time to the paleozoic era to learn about all the awesome and bizarre creatures that evolved.
- As with last time, amazing artwork. Each creature is depicted beautifully and with such gorgeous detail.
- Loved the depth of information but also how accessible it was. Phylogeny, evolution and anatomical characteristics were all used correct and explained in a way that even children would understand these potentially complex concepts.
- I loves how each period from the Cambrian to the Permian was covered in its own little chapter. I realise it was both constraints of publishing and knowledge of this but I wish we'd been able to focus more on each time period and go through them systematically like we did with the Dinosaur Empire book.
Bright, fun and educational. Great for fans of prehistoric life.
Professor Lernin and Ronnie take another trip back in time, this time to the paleozoic era to learn about all the awesome and bizarre creatures that evolved.
- As with last time, amazing artwork. Each creature is depicted beautifully and with such gorgeous detail.
- Loved the depth of information but also how accessible it was. Phylogeny, evolution and anatomical characteristics were all used correct and explained in a way that even children would understand these potentially complex concepts.
- I loves how each period from the Cambrian to the Permian was covered in its own little chapter. I realise it was both constraints of publishing and knowledge of this but I wish we'd been able to focus more on each time period and go through them systematically like we did with the Dinosaur Empire book.
Bright, fun and educational. Great for fans of prehistoric life.
Tales from the Café by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
⭐ 3.5/5 ⭐
Marigold is desperate to escape the high society life of balls and formal courting so when her grandmother arrives and shows she is descended from a line of honey witches, she jumps at the chance of a different life. This life comes with a caveat: Marigold is cursed to never find love. However, she becomes close with a young artist and begins to find the curse may be more of a problem than she first thought.
- The vibes of this book were superb for summer reading in the garden. Think cottagecore, wildflowers, beekeeping and honey and the slow life of a countryside witch plus the found family aspect.
- The characters were alright but I never felt too connected. They were interesting on paper but in reality I found I didn't really care too much about them or their fates. That said, Mr Benny and Althea were so cute and we're my favourites, possibly due to their contribution to the vibes.
- The pacing felt off but not horrendously so. The plot twists were easy to guess (I think I guessed the major one about 100 pages in) so the story isn't exactly deep. It is sweet and enjoyable but if you're looking for high literature, this isn't it.
If you don't mind a slightly rougher plot and characters but adore a gentle and cosy cottagecore ambience, give The Honey Witch a try.
Marigold is desperate to escape the high society life of balls and formal courting so when her grandmother arrives and shows she is descended from a line of honey witches, she jumps at the chance of a different life. This life comes with a caveat: Marigold is cursed to never find love. However, she becomes close with a young artist and begins to find the curse may be more of a problem than she first thought.
- The vibes of this book were superb for summer reading in the garden. Think cottagecore, wildflowers, beekeeping and honey and the slow life of a countryside witch plus the found family aspect.
- The characters were alright but I never felt too connected. They were interesting on paper but in reality I found I didn't really care too much about them or their fates. That said, Mr Benny and Althea were so cute and we're my favourites, possibly due to their contribution to the vibes.
- The pacing felt off but not horrendously so. The plot twists were easy to guess (I think I guessed the major one about 100 pages in) so the story isn't exactly deep. It is sweet and enjoyable but if you're looking for high literature, this isn't it.
If you don't mind a slightly rougher plot and characters but adore a gentle and cosy cottagecore ambience, give The Honey Witch a try.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
⭐ 3.5/5 ⭐
Audiobook narrated by Ariana Ii.
A café in Tokyo offers customers an opportunity to travel in time with some conditions: you have to remain in your seat, you can only meet with someone who's been to the cafe, you cannot change the present. However, the most important rule is you have to return to the present before the coffee gets cold.
- A book I recently read (The Kamogawa Food Detectives) is frequently compared to this book and I can. see the similarities. Similar vibes are involved and a sense of longing, bittersweet emotions and the processes of decisions and actions made. I personally preferred the way The Kamogawa Food Detectives handled this but Before the Coffee Gets Cold touched me too.
- The topics are sensitive. There are stories featuring lovers facing separation, a wife who's husband has dementia, a woman wanting a final chance to make amends with her dead sister and a pregnant woman facing a difficult situation. I liked how the book wasn't all happy endings but that the resolutions made sense and elicited feelings. I would recommend checking out content warnings if you are sensitive to themes of medical issues and/or grief.
- The cafe itself was fun to imagine. This basement space with a table almost exclusively occupied by a ghost and clocks showing different times. The staff made the cafe more alive, with different and interesting characters. I'm looking forward to hearing what happens to them in the rest of the series.
A sad but cosy book. If you want a book that feels bittersweet, can help you cry or to enjoy some magical realism, Before the Coffee Gets Cold may be for you.
Audiobook narrated by Ariana Ii.
A café in Tokyo offers customers an opportunity to travel in time with some conditions: you have to remain in your seat, you can only meet with someone who's been to the cafe, you cannot change the present. However, the most important rule is you have to return to the present before the coffee gets cold.
- A book I recently read (The Kamogawa Food Detectives) is frequently compared to this book and I can. see the similarities. Similar vibes are involved and a sense of longing, bittersweet emotions and the processes of decisions and actions made. I personally preferred the way The Kamogawa Food Detectives handled this but Before the Coffee Gets Cold touched me too.
- The topics are sensitive. There are stories featuring lovers facing separation, a wife who's husband has dementia, a woman wanting a final chance to make amends with her dead sister and a pregnant woman facing a difficult situation. I liked how the book wasn't all happy endings but that the resolutions made sense and elicited feelings. I would recommend checking out content warnings if you are sensitive to themes of medical issues and/or grief.
- The cafe itself was fun to imagine. This basement space with a table almost exclusively occupied by a ghost and clocks showing different times. The staff made the cafe more alive, with different and interesting characters. I'm looking forward to hearing what happens to them in the rest of the series.
A sad but cosy book. If you want a book that feels bittersweet, can help you cry or to enjoy some magical realism, Before the Coffee Gets Cold may be for you.
Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad
adventurous
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.0
⭐ 4/5 ⭐
A young British man goes to Japan to teach English and begins his journey living in a country with different language, customs and ways of life.
- As someone who has taught English abroad (not in Japan), the early part of this book was familiar. The sense of discovery, nervousness and feeling out of place was one I remember. It was enjoyable to follow Broad through his adaptation to his new life, teaching and learning Japanese.
- I love the travelogue style snippets about how Japan functions and day to day life along with the bits about more tourist focused locales. This variety was great and gave a good sense of what a foreigner could expect from different places in Japan.
- I was not familiar with Broad's YouTube channel but I don't feel I needed to be. He describes how he built this up and the events that boosted his vlogger career well and humourously. I have since watched some of his videos and they are good fun too.
A funny and enjoyable book giving insight to life in the Land of the Rising Sun. Would recommend to those who enjoy reading about other countries and the highs and lows of living abroad.
A young British man goes to Japan to teach English and begins his journey living in a country with different language, customs and ways of life.
- As someone who has taught English abroad (not in Japan), the early part of this book was familiar. The sense of discovery, nervousness and feeling out of place was one I remember. It was enjoyable to follow Broad through his adaptation to his new life, teaching and learning Japanese.
- I love the travelogue style snippets about how Japan functions and day to day life along with the bits about more tourist focused locales. This variety was great and gave a good sense of what a foreigner could expect from different places in Japan.
- I was not familiar with Broad's YouTube channel but I don't feel I needed to be. He describes how he built this up and the events that boosted his vlogger career well and humourously. I have since watched some of his videos and they are good fun too.
A funny and enjoyable book giving insight to life in the Land of the Rising Sun. Would recommend to those who enjoy reading about other countries and the highs and lows of living abroad.