Ivy's Reviews

Joni Mitchell has played with some of the greatest musicians in the world and her music has inspired even more. She’s best known for her incredible lyrics and beautiful, lilting voice (seriously, where is her Nobel Prize?), but she has lived an incredibly full life beyond her music, which David Yaffe chronicles in his new book. - Ivy

Women are frequently shunted to the side or ignored altogether in history, but they have often played a vital role in shaping our world. Alison Weir, with her signature meticulousness, puts the powerful women in the palace at the very center of history in this first of four planned volumes. I was more than happy to read about these important women and hope they will soon become household names, as they well deserve to be. - Ivy

Ta-Nehisi Coates exploded into our world after Between the World and Me hit the shelves. He has a keen eye for the issues facing America and uses his blistering words to highlight what needs to be done. His newest work is no exception. He has collected some of his best articles and combined them with his own personal stories. What emerges is a powerful look at the Obama years. By looking back, Coates has given us hope for the future. - Ivy

I’m a huge history and Hamilton fan. I adored every second of reading Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton, so when I heard he had a new book, I snatched it right up. Ulysses S. Grant is quite the divisive historical figure, seen as a great general and a degenerate drunk at the same time. Chernow seeks to set the record straight once and for all. This book is quite hefty, but I am savoring every moment of it. - Ivy

Nilanjana is a scientist and that is Important. However, when Night Vale’s citizens begin to disappear, leaving only a gaping maw in the ground, Nilanjana is thrown headlong into the world of a strange new religion…cult…mob? A battle between religion and science ensues, and you may be surprised by the outcome. You truly don’t need to know anything about the podcast to enjoy the heck out of this story. Just be ready for an excellent ride through the strangest town you’ve never heard of before. - Ivy

Roz Chast is a master of the graphic memoir. Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant pushed the very boundaries of the genre, showing the world that comics are so much more than “just comic books.” Her new volume promises both an insider and outsider view of Manhattan, a strange yet beautiful city. I can’t wait to crack this one open and soak up Chast’s newest love letter to New York City. - Ivy

To grow up in the midst of a violent revolution, especially with the soul of a poet, is to be forever marked. Marina comes from a well-off Russian family. Her life is also poised on the edge of the Russian Revolution. This is a story of passion, betrayal, and revolt. I was utterly drawn in by Marina’s story and read it on the edge of my seat. - Ivy

This is a distinctly Irish story and one not often told. Until 1993, it was illegal to be homosexual in Ireland and we see the fear many faced through the eyes of Cyril Avery. In an era sweeping story, Cyril guides us from his dramatic birth to slow death touching many important parts of history on the way. I loved growing up and old with Cyril even with the hardship and I hope you will as well. - Ivy

Zoe Quinn was the eye of the Internet storm known as #gamergate. Some claim it was about “ethics in videogame journalism”, but the truth is so much scarier. The details are startling and upsetting, but this book has good steps for combating cyberbullying and keeping your information safe. Through it all, Quinn manages to tell her story with humor and even has a positive spin on the outcome. A must read especially if you know nothing or very little of the Internet. - Ivy

Grief has a powerful influence over art. When Tom Hart lost his daughter at a young age, he poured out a gorgeous attempt at healing. Rosalie struck like lightning as her name implies and the following thunder will reverberate in Hart forever. This book got me through a really tough time and opened up much needed flood gates to cry. Have tissues handy. - Ivy