Review! - The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

Title: The Art of Being Normal

Author: Lisa Williamson

Genre: YA, Contemporary, LGBTQ+

Amazon: UK - USA

A few starting notes:

The bookish online community has me chomping at the proverbial bit in terms of the contemporary genre (especially YA.)

(Because I clearly wasn't reading enough genres before *rolls eyes, smiles*)

So to get a start on my epic TBR, and take advantage of the books I can get my hands on without selling my blood for book money, I borrowed this from the Welsh libraries ebook system.

(Because we actually have some of our priorities right here in Wales - and I'm happy to say that literacy is one of them. Sorry, I'll stop being smug and/or political now.)

This is a book about transgender people. I am cisgender and so do not have enough prior knowledge to truly analyse the representation of trans people in this book.

So, here's some reviews I found from the perspective of transgender reviewers:

Here's a review from Goodreads user Neo.

And here's a review from transgender reviewer James, who blogs/booklr's @ Crusing For Content

Premise:

Kate has a secret. It's not, as her parents suspect, that she's gay.

Kate is not gay. Kate is a straight girl, stuck in a boy's body.

Leo Denton is the new kid in school. He just wants to put his past behind him. But sometimes past events won't let us be.

Two kids*. Two secrets. And one hell of a term at Eden Park school. 

(Kate is referred to as David throughout the book, but as she has chosen the name Kate, I have amended this review to only call her Kate.)

Best bits:

Firstly, let me just make this clear from the start:

I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!

...I basically spent a couple of days snapping at anyone who dared to interrupt my reading of this book. My family must think I've been in a really bad mood (oops.)

Anyone who has ever felt different will be able to sympathise with the struggles of Kate and Leo.

The bullying scenes in particular will break your heart, and Williamson really pushes the button marked 'ouch' in terms of the feels.

LIKE REALLY?!?! STOP IT. STOP BREAKING MY HEART!!!!!!

You know those books that you somehow feel in your bones? Yes. This book is one of them. In spades.

It's well-written, sensitive but not sentimental, realistic but not grim, and has complex and hugely believable characters.

My bookish friends, this is a good book.

It deals with trans issues. It manages to do it well.*

I also loved the supportiveness of Kate's mates, and Leo's twin sister - it always makes me smile when characters have people to fall back on, even if they're not the biggest part of the story.

And the parent-stuff was handled quite well too.

Yes, in places we have the trope of absentee parents, but it's addressed as a real relationship/family issue instead of a lazy plot device; which is certainly refreshing.

(* but see the 'not so great bits' for improvements that could be made.)

Not so great bits:

Usual warnings for stuff that might upset people: a bit of swearing, the smallest bit of violence, transphobia, family issues, and bullying, all feature here.

Also, there's some underage drinking, and references to underage sexy-times, and parts of male and female anatomy.

All of these things are handled very well, and I can't see them bothering the majority of people.

I got a bit disorientated over whether we were in Leo or Kate's point of view at various moments, because both are written in the first person.

Annoying, but not the end of the world.

I also worked out what one of the major plot points (relating to Leo's father) was going to be from pretty early on, so it really didn't come as the surprise I think it was probably meant to be.

Whether this is because it was obvious, or because I read far too many books, is difficult to say.

It didn't spoil my overall enjoyment though: this is a great book.

Although I still think this book is awesome, I've become aware that there are issues with dead-naming Kate as David throughout the book. And mis-gendering her as him.

I decided to come back to this review and add this note because I felt it was an important point to make.

Verdict:

Guys, if you're a fan of YA and/or contemporary, read this book.

If you're a fan of well-written books, with complex characters and a hell of a lot of heart, read this book.

Seriously, you'll love it.

(This review was amended on 24th October 2016.)

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Author's Site

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Nerd Church - The Importance of Chillaxation

You know what I've realised this week?

Relaxation is uber-uber-important.



This is a photo I took in Pembrokeshire. See? I keep telling you Wales is beautiful.

I don't mean just being lazy, I mean giving yourself some time to completely chillax.

Human brains are peculiar things, and they need processing time to put all the things they've thought about, seen, heard, felt, etc., into little individually-labelled folders, and then put those folders in the correct drawers in the filing cabinet.

(No, I don't mean literally - silly people! It's all metaphorical and junk, of course.)

I mean, we're all (by which I mean society - that big ominous thingummy,) obsessed with fitting more 'productivity' into everything.



You know what will actually increase your productivity? Chilling out.

I mean it, your brain works better when you've had time to relax and chill.

Stressing just makes you feel icky, makes your brain work like mush (and not the good kind of mush,) and impedes your ability to actually do all the productive stuff you want to do.

via GIPHY

So schedule in some you-time.

And don't spend that time worrying that you should be working - it kind of defeats the object of the thing.

Grab a book, or turn on the TV, or whatever you like... and don't stress over it. Allow yourself to actually enjoy it and to actually relax.



Self-care is important.

You have to take care of yourself - all of yourself - or you won't be able to do anything else.

We all have mental health, just like we all have physical health.

If you don't exercise and eat right, your physical health suffers. If you don't chillax and allow your brain some time to process everything - no matter how big or small - then your mental health suffers.



Sometimes you're not relaxed, even if you think you are.

Relaxing is far more difficult than it sounds - and I know that's a bit of a paradox,  but trust me on this one.

I'm exceptionally good at convincing myself I'm relaxed, when in reality I'm just less tense.

Remember to give yourself some time to actually relax - not just be less stressed ;)

via GIPHY

Cut the screen-time a bit.

I know this is heresy to a lot of people... but you need time without electronic screens. They screw with your brain.

So spend some time unplugged (yes, even e-readers, try paper once in a while,) - your poor digital-fatigued brain will thank you for it.

via GIPHY

Hopefully this post made a degree of sense.

I realise that I have the tendency to go way off-topic, and ramble my little reading-addict mouth off (or should that be fingers? I'm typing, not talking, after all,) but hopefully every so often I actually say something worthwhile (a girl can dream.)



Nerd Church is a weekly post where I ramble about just about anything and everything. Feel free to continue the discussion, but please link back here ;)



Like this post? Try these:

• Nerd Church - Millennials Are Gonna Get There... Somehow
• Nerd Church - What To Do When The Mean Girl Finds Success

The Writer Diaries: Micropoetry April 2016

A reminder, my dear blog-readers that micropoetry is something that I came across on Twitter, and dutifully dived into with little to no thought.


March was my first 'Writer Diaries' micropoetry post - where I essentially stick all the little bits and bobs of micropoetry I've written in the month into one blogpost, so that it's not lost forever in the mire of my Twitter feed.



Much less micropoetry from li'l old me this month, though.


I guess that's what happens when my method is essentially:

• have random phrases going round and round my head 
• write them down (usually directly into the Tweet box)
• head is now free of random phrases (woo!)

 

 

31st March

Not for the first time,
She wondered
Why they would make a girl of ink,
Into flesh and bone...




5th April

But surely you knew this before?
That she liked to watch the transient
Fade into decay
While celebrating and mourning the same?




5th April

My Shadow Man -
I dread the day
When you shadow another.
Am I your Shadow Girl?




20th April

You thought my spark had gone out
Hell no,
I'm a wildfire -
And I still burn




Like This Post? Try These:

• The Writer Diaries (or, I Need to Be Brave)
• The Writer Diaries: Micropoetry - March 2016

Friday Fics Fix! - No Sex, Please, We're British

Do you want the good news first or the bad news?

 

Let's lead with the bad news: this week's fic is Omegaverse.

I've explained Omegaverse and all of it's bizarreness before, and I'm not doing it again. Go check that post if you want to know more.



The good news then?

There's no sexy-times!

Did you hear that???? Omegaverse - the fount of weird alternate-universe porn - has produced a completely no sexy-times fic!!!!!!

via GIPHY

 

In fact, this fic (from the Sherlockians, that most dearly beloved and often most deranged group of fangirls and fanboys,) is about an asexual and aromantic Omega-designated Sherlock.

Now, a round of applause really has to go to the fic writer here: asexuality and aromanticism in Omegaverse?

You, my friend, are a credit to the fandom. You should have a certificate for services to nerd-dom.

 

via GIPHY

 

(Fangirling note: this gif, my dear nerdlets, is from the original 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.' That is Kimberley, Billy, and Tommy. Non-90s-kids do not know the pain. That was my childhood, right there.)

 

 

Also, I really love the whole Lestrade-is-protective-of-Sherlock (on account of him being basically Sherlock's dad,) thing.



This week's fantastical piece of fanfiction, then, is:

I Can Stand Alone by SailorChibi

Honestly, I'm so chuffed to have found something which takes a well-worn AU and finds something original to say about it :)



Also, I haven't recommended a fic with sexy-times in a month. Still can't help feeling it's the calm before the storm.

via GIPHY

 

 

 

 

Like this post? Try these:

 

• Friday Fics Fix - There Is Omegaverse (And I'm Taking You All Down With Me)
• Friday Fics Fix - Stuck in the AU



Comics Wrap Up - Nuttier Than a Squirrel's Hoard

Film Trailers

The final trailer for X-Men: Age of Apocalypse, is here.

Stand-by for extreme fangirling:


OHMYGOD THIS LOOKS SO FAB, MYSTIQUE IS ON THE GOOD-SIDE AND APOCALYPSE LOOKS NUTTIER THAN A SQUIRREL'S HOARD!!!!

PLUS - THE CLAWS!!!!!!! AT THE END - LOOK AT THE FREAKING CLAWS!!!!!!!!

X-MEN VERSION OF QUICKSILVER!!!! DUDE IS SO AWESOME!!!!

KURT, EVER-LOVING NIGHTCRAWLER, WAGNER!!!!!!


In case you hadn't noticed, I'm a little bit excited.



Graphic Novels



This week, I reviewed I Hate Fairyland, Volume 1 (UK - US). I love Gert and her wacky green hair and completely cynical (and more than slightly demented) outlook on life :)


You can see my review of I Hate Fairyland here.












I've decided to put my review for Luna The Vampire Vol 1: Grumpy Space (UK - US) back a month or two so that it goes up closer to the release date for this title.










My review of Blood Stain, Volume 1 (UK - US,) which I told you all about last week, is, at the time of writing, the most popular post of all time on my blog, which kind of rocks :)


You can check out my review of Blood Stain here.








Like this post? Try these:

• Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - I Hate Fairyland, Vol 1: Madly Ever After
• Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Blood Stain, Vol 1
• Comics Wrap Up - This Ain't a Scene

Month in Review(s) - April 2016

Lots more reviews this month! Especially of graphic novels.

There've been some truly rocking graphic novels out this month - my faves are probably Blood Stain and I Hate Fairyland.

Check out all the lovely reviews! :)

Kids

Eliza Rose by Lucy Worsley - historical fiction



New Adult

Growing Up by Tricia Sol - contemporary, LGBTQ+, short stories, romance (m/m)



Adult

Play Hard by J T Fox - LGBTQ+, romance (m/m,) short stories, contemporary
Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult - contemporary, crime*, witches*, magic realism* (*ish)



Graphic Novels

Golem by Lorenzo Coccetti - dystopian, sci-fi, manga
Paper Girls, Vol 1 by Brian K Vaughan - sci-fi
Blood Stain, Vol 1 by Linda Šejić
Echoes by Joshua Hale Fialkov - horror, crime
I Hate Fairyland, Vol 1: Madly Ever After by Skottie Young - fantasy, fairies/fae, humour

Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - I Hate Fairyland, Vol 1: Madly Ever After

Title: I Hate Fairyland, Volume 1: Madly Ever After

Author: Skottie Young

Contributors: Jean-Francois Beaulieu, Nate Piekos of Blambot, Rian Hughes

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Fairies/fae, Humour

Series: I Hate Fairyland (#1-5)

Release Date: 20-26 Apr 2016

Amazon: UK - USA

A few starting notes:

I received a free digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews.

Didn't really know what to expect from this one: but it looked mad as the proverbial box of cats, so I went for it.

And you know what?

It was most definitely mad as the proverbial box of cats.

Premise:

Little Gertrude was brought to Fairyland when her wish to go there was granted.

To get home, she just has to finish her quest and find a key.

Turns out, quests aren't Gertrude's strong-suit.

Flash forward twenty-seven years, and still looking like an eight-year-old, Gertrude is pi*sed (in more ways than one,) and making chaos and killing the hell out of sh** wherever she goes.

And she's still trying to get that damned key!

Best bits:

You know when something is so random, and so off-the-wall that its just ridiculously funny? That's how I find this book.

It's difficult, as a reviewer, to call something funny, without it sounding fake or forced.

But I mean it - I found this really funny, and I was actually laughing at more than one point while reading it.

It has Deadpool-style humour: lots of violence, lots of randomness, lots of breaking the fourth wall in pretty b*lls-out style.

The artwork is perfectly balanced for the blend of randomness and violence - cartoony, but not kids-style cartoony.

It's bright, but not cutesy, with enough hints of fairyland to make the violence stand out more without resorting to dark and brooding. Dark and brooding this book is not.

And I love the fact that Gert's natural hair colour is apparently green. I mean, why not, right?

Not so great bits:

THIS BOOK IS NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER READERS.

I can't tell you that enough. This ain't for kids, folks.

Lots of gore and violence, and lots of Gert giving pretty much everyone the finger.

Most of the gore and violence is perpetrated by someone who looks eight, and is in fact, fairly damned bloodthirsty.

So, if that's not your thing, you've been warned.

Other than that, there's very little to fault with this book.

Maybe it all felt a little loose and out-of-control in a few small places, but then, with a plot this random I'm just surprised there was any semblance of control at all, really.

Verdict:

Quite simply - I loved it.

It's not going to be for everyone. Because if it doesn't suit your sense of humour, you will hate it.

But the randomness, the off-your-head plot, the insanity of it all?

Well, it was all very me, wasn't it?

If it sounds like it's you too, then give it a try.

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Author's Site

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