This is the tale of Elina who, discovering that her ill grandmother is the keeper of the little folk, had to step in for her in stemming a threat that is about to send the fairy community into crisis.

LIKES
The art evokes warm feelings in me. The colour combination and the detail that went into the paintings make this book a collectible.

DISLIKES
The story is a bit cliche and predictable but charming nonetheless.

WHO IS IT FOR?
This is for lovers of fairytales of all kinds, though this story is as traditional as they come.

Many thanks to Europe Comics for providing a review copy.

 

The Decagon House Murders (Volume 1) is based on Yukito Ayatsuji's 1987 mystery novel. The plot is about a university mystery club whose members took a vacation on a remote island where they stayed in a house that happens to be a crime scene. An unknown assailant had killed a family in that house many years ago in a manner that attracted the nation's attention. The manga focuses on the characters within the club, their individual theories about the murder case, as well as the strange happenings that are occurring both on and off the island.

LIKES
The art is good to look at and the characters are distinct enough. The dialogue flows very well and the background to the story is well-explained. In short, this is a tale that is easy to get into.

DISLIKES
I find it difficult taking The Decagon House Murders seriously. Apart from the weird codenames that are forced on many of the characters, the plot seemed contrived as some of the situations the characters are put in aren't realistic nor believable.

WHO IS IT FOR?
This seems to be a book for any kind of mystery novel fans. The enjoyment factor might be debatable.

Many thanks to Kodansha for providing a review copy.

 

Championess is the story of Elizabeth and Tess, based on the real-life story of Elizabeth Wilkinson, an 18th-century mixed-race bare-knuckle female boxer living in London.

In this graphic novel, we explore how Elizabeth fought against poverty, betrayal, racism, and many other obstacles to establishing herself as one of the best pugilists of that period.

LIKES
The story flows like a movie. The plot is smooth and there is a bit of surprise sprinkled here and there, keeping me invested all through.

Also, the colour scheme fits the overall mood of the story and the fight scenes are dynamic enough to make readers pause long enough to enjoy the art.

DISLIKES
None.

WHO THIS IS FOR
Fans of boxing, historical graphic novels, and seekers who want to learn what it takes to build their own stuff amid stiff opposition will find interesting stuff in this book.

Many thanks to Legendary Comics for providing a review copy.

 The Secret Of Chocolate is an author's journey through the process of making chocolate. It details the process and procedure of making chocolate confectionery and the care that goes into it. Through the eyes and hands of chocolate makers and cocoa producers, we are able to share the joy of growing a crop that goes into making one of the most delectable treats in the world.

THINGS I LOVE IN THIS BOOK
The enthusiasm of the author is infectious. It is clear he loves chocolate and the process of making it. Through his eyes, the reader is able to appreciate the efforts and techniques that go into creating some of the most popular treats on the market today.

DISLIKES
The font choice for this book is not suitable for the eyes. It is curly and requires extra attention to decipher some of the phrases used. It is a poor choice of font, if I may say so.

WHO THIS IS FOR
If you love chocolate and are curious about the level of creativity and toil that goes into making it, there is a high chance you will enjoy reading The Secret Of Chocolate.

Many thanks to NBM Publishing for providing a review copy.

Crossroads: I Live Where I Like is a graphic novel that retells some parts of the South African apartheid story through the lens of gender and housing. In this book, we see how South African women organised and resisted the government's attempt to bulldoze Crossroads, a settlement created by women who had nowhere to live because of the government's segregation policies.

THINGS I LOVE IN THIS BOOK
Crossroads contains diverse accounts (more than 50 witnesses) of the atrocities committed during the apartheid period. The book explains the origins of the underhanded tactics used by the government to sow distrust and division within black communities.

DISLIKES
None.

WHO THIS IS FOR
Those interested in the historical happenings during the South African apartheid regime will find new perspectives and narratives here.

Many thanks to PM Press for providing a review copy.

 

The Famous Quartet of Piraeus is a biographical graphic novel that explores the lives and careers of a band of four Greek musicians pre-World War Two. The band is formed in a cafe around 1934 and did go on to record multiple records to critical acclaim. Their success catches the eye of authorities who are displeased at some of the quartet's lyrics.

THINGS I LOVE IN THIS BOOK
The colour profile complements the story and its timeline. The dialogue is natural and the book does not seem to shy away from uncomfortable themes like infidelity, bribery, drug addiction, etc

DISLIKES
Some of the Greek words used in the book may be confusing for those unfamiliar with the language.

WHO THIS IS FOR
The Famous Quartet of Piraeus is for any music enthusiast who loves the historical side of it.

Many thanks to Europe Comics for providing a review copy.

"It is helpful to be categorical and unsentimental on this score:... there is no way of parenting that does not inflict some form of psychological damage on children. The most psychotherapised person in the world will not be able to avoid generating neuroses; there is no such thing as a blameless parent. Above the door of the nursery, the most emotionally mature parent should still hand a sign: 'I love you - but I will give you issues.'

The Good Enough Parent explains what parents do to sabotage their children and what can be done to mitigate that. This is a book that wants to help parents reconnect with what childhood feels like and how regaining that sort of perspective can help their children.


THINGS I LOVE IN THIS BOOK
The author does not beat the parents over or claim to hold any particular secret knowledge. All we are being exhorted to do here is to understand what being a child feels like as well as develop an understanding of our own person as a parent.

DISLIKES
None.

WHO THIS IS FOR
The Good Enough Parent is for any parents who feel that their personality flaws are getting in the way of going a decent enough job. It is also for those trying to get better at what is seemingly one of the hardest jobs in the world.

Many thanks to The School Of Life for providing a review copy.

 

"There is no universal truth about happiness. It is subjective and unique to each person. Even as someone poor thinks wealth would make them happy, a few wealthy people might look at their seemingly loving families and feel that being wealthy has robbed them of that love..."

Ajibade's Living By The Script is a book that seeks to steer us away from modern definitions of a good life towards our own brand of success. It reads like a manifesto in finding out what success means to us and how to lay hold of it.

THINGS TO LOVE IN THIS BOOK
This is a self-help book written in a clear and lucid style. The reasonings in the boom are not ambiguous and there are many examples to back up the principles Ajibade wants us to learn about living this one life we have got.

DISLIKES
Living By The Script falls short of the lofty aims it set out to achieve. While the book is littered with many examples, there are not enough stories from Ajibade's own personal experiences to illustrate some of his points. This left me a bit disconnected from the narration.

Also, some of the role models listed here are not appropriate for the themes Ajibade is exploring. For example, citing Jeff Bezos as a model of discipline falls short of the mark because of his track record on the exploitation of his workforce, the ruthless suppression of small business competitors, and similar shenanigans.

WHO THIS IS FOR
There is still a lot of value here for those disillusioned with their path. Anyone seeking to explore alternative thinking as to what a good life is will find something to use here.

Many thanks to BooksGoSocial for providing a review copy.

 Breathe is an autobiography of Rickson Gracie, a former jiu-jitsu champion and one of the best martial arts practitioners in the world today. Breathe details his upbringing in Brazil, his training, and his ethos in jiu-jitsu and life.

WHAT I LOVE IN THIS BOOK
What is striking about this book is the in-depth examination of the art of jiu-jitsu and its importance outside of the ring to personal development. Lovers of the sport would love the tips, the tricks, and the philosophies of Rickson as he lays them out in the book. Even those who are not into the sport will come to appreciate the level of candour displayed by the author and the lessons jiu-Jitsu provides for all.

WHAT I DISLIKE
The first few chapters delve into the Gracie family and how Rickson came to be born. It looks at the family dynamics and idiosyncrasies of the Gracies. The author presents how it shaped him and made him who he is today.

I feel this section of the book could have been made shorter as it was a tad too long. Having said that, the earlier chapters do provide a solid background and good insights into the rest of the narrative.

WHO THIS IS FOR
Breathe is for practitioners and non-practitioners of jiu-jitsu. Everyone should be able to take one or two lessons from the strange and incredible life of Rickson Gracie.

Many thanks to Dey Street Books for providing a review copy.

Love Me Please looks at the life of the singer, Janis Joplin. It explores not only her inner world but the happenings that led to the heights of her music career and ultimately to her death at the tender age of 27.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS BOOK
From Joplin's early years in Texas to her career struggles in San Francisco, we witness her perspectives on life and how she wants to live it. Love Me Please opens a lens into Joplin's personality and talent - a combination that influenced people around her, pushing the young lady to the top of her craft.

Even at the heights of Joplin's career, this biography shows her vulnerability and efforts at grasping unto herself as she slips to alcohol, drug use, and other excesses.

DISLIKES
None

WHO IS IT FOR?
This is meant for Janis Joplin's fans as well as those curious about the life and times of the late musician.

Many thanks to NBM Publishing for providing a review copy.

Seek You by Kristen Radtke breaks down the subject of loneliness in the United States. The book looks at what causes it and the myriad of ways it manifests itself. Seek You meditates on the nature of loneliness and how it has evolved over time even through cultural and technological changes.

THINGS I LOVE ABOUT THE BOOK
This isn't a book that necessarily proffers solutions to the problem of loneliness. But it does its job well by looking at how it arises. The author concludes that loneliness itself is an unavoidable phenomenon. As we age, we naturally lose the people closest to us and that loss does leave a hole, whether we admit it or not.

DISLIKES
None.

WHO IS IT FOR?
Social science is all about understanding ourselves and the world we live in. This work will be of benefit to those with similar goals.

Many thanks to Random House for review copy.