Tag Archives: Anna-Marie McLemore

Panaderia ~ Pasteleria by Anna-Marie McLemore

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Panaderia ~ Pasteleria
Author: Anna-Marie McLemore
In: Hungry Hearts (Caroline Tung Richmond & Elsie Chapman)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Food, LGBTQI
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Year: 2019

Thoughts

This was a fantastic way to finish out the Hungry Hearts collection. Mostly because Lila is a secondary character who pops up in many of the stories throughout this anthology. Gifting needed pastries and helping people to take a step forwards in their lives. So it was really nice that she got her own story.

I love how calm and accepting of Gael is and how they begin to form a relationship built on the present, not the past. I loved reading about Lila’s acceptance of Gael’s identity and reality, and that she honestly doesn’t even blink at that fact. I always love reading stories about building friendships and being true to oneself. Plus, Lila is so quiet, that it’s nice that she’s finding her own friendships.

Lila’s ability to communicate through her food and cooking is kind of adorable. And that, even if she’s not able to actually articulate her feelings, she is able to show her love through food. Ultimately, it’s this communication through food that really lets her and Gael connect. This was such a cute short story of acceptance and caring. One that was just filled with hope for a close relationship and a bright future.

<- Side WorkHungry Hearts ->

Image source: Goodreads

Hungry Hearts edited by Caroline Tung Richmond & Elsie Chapman

Book Review, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Overview

Title: Hungry Hearts
Author: Caroline Tung Richmond, Elsie Chapman, Sangu Mandanna, Sandhya Menon, Rin Chupeco, Adi Alsaid, Jay Coles, Rebecca Roanhorse, Karuna Riazi, Phoebe North, S.K. Ali, Sara Farizan & Anna-Marie McLemore
In: Hungry Hearts (Caroline Tung Richmond & Elsie Chapman)
Rating Out of 5: Contemporary, Food, Short story collections
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Year: 2019

Thoughts

I absolutely adored this collection – it was brilliant, light-hearted and fun. Plus, it was filled with many new authors and beautiful stories. A great journey of stories by #OwnVoices authors who gave me a glimpse into a multitude of experiences. Ones that I look forward to repeating again in the future.

As someone who loves her food, I really appreciated that each story in this collection featured food and the many feelings that an accomplish it throughout. Food is a great avenue through which to experience the world, and process feelings. The stories in this collection run the gambit of experiences. And I found it intriguing the different feelings that were expressed throughout.

This is one of those fantastic collections of stories that I will read and reread again and again in the future. I also can’t wait to read more stories by the authors that I’ve added to this collection. There wasn’t one that I don’t look forward to reading again in the future.

<- Panaderia ~ PasteleriaRain ->

Image source: Goodreads

A Universe of Wishes edited by Dhonielle Clayton

Book Review, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Overview
A Universe of Wishes: A We Need Diverse Books Anthology by Dhonielle Clayton

Title: A Universe of Wishes
Author: Dhonielle Clayton, Tara Sim, Natalie C. Parker, Libba Bray, Anna-Marie McLemore, Kwame Mbalia, V.E. Schwab, Rebecca Roanhorse, Nic Stone, Jenni Balch, Mark Oshiro, Samira Ahmed, Tessa Gratton, Zoraida Cordova & Tochi Onyebuchi
In: A Universe of Wishes (Dhonielle Clayton)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: LGBTQI, Short story collections, Young adult
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Crown
Year: 2020

Thoughts

A Universe of Wishes is a fantastic and brilliant anthology. One I really, really enjoyed. And one that introduced me to a whole lot more authors that I plan to add to my shelves. It was a fun and unique collection that gave the reader a whole lot of diversity, not only in tales and styles, but also in lead characters.

I loved that this is an #OwnVoices collection, and now I’m going to add more such collections to my shelves. I love having non-white leads in my stories. And this has given me a taste of a whole range of new authors and cultures. Something that I really love when reading – discovering the unknown.

This anthology runs the gambit of genres and styles. The only thing all of the stories have in common is that they are thoroughly enjoyable and I loved them. I look forward to reading this anthology again and again and again in the future.

<- HabibiA Universe of Wishes ->

Image source: Goodreads

Cristal Y Ceniza by Anna-Marie McLemore

Book Review, , ,
Overview
A Universe of Wishes: A We Need Diverse Books Anthology by Dhonielle Clayton

Title: Cristal Y Ceniza
Author: Anna-Marie McLemore
In: A Universe of Wishes (Dhonielle Clayton)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: LGBTQI, Retellings
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Crown
Year: 2020

Thoughts

This was a wonderfully unique spin on the Cinderella fairy tale. One that wasn’t dark and twisted. Rather, one that was about a young girl who was trying to find a way to save her family. And in doing so manages to capture the attention of the prince. And the king and queen. And just generally a whole heap of people. It also had a number of wonderful LGBTQI+ spins throughout that helped it become even more beautiful and inclusive.

The “Cinderella” in this story is travelling to the ball not to win over the prince, or to find a better fate for herself. But, to save her mothers from being separated – they live in a country that separates those who are in same-sex relationships and forces them to remarry into hetero-couples (feels a little too hauntingly familiar in this day and age). The fact that there is magic to be had to send her there and it is the very family she is trying to save who also act as the fairy godmothers makes it all that much better.

Then there is the fact that the prince is actually trans. The immediate understanding in his activities when the “Cinderella” states her case is really sweet and made my heart melt a little bit. There was the obvious moment of attraction and lust between the two, but it was the support that I found to be truly romantic. Maybe that’s because lust and attraction can be fleeting – but supporting one another? That’s forever.

Lastly, I loved the courage that is shown throughout this. When offered a sure thing to save just her family, the girl decides to go with the uncertainty to try and help everyone. It’s such a nice moment and a reminder that although not everyone will always do the right thing, there are plenty of people who are willing to try. A great short story of romance, love and the need to fight for what is right in the world.

<- The Scarlet WomanLiberia ->

Image source: Goodreads