Ivy's Reviews

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

Guy Delisle is a master of the graphic novel form and this is no exception. When a man working for Doctors Without Borders is kidnapped in Chechnya, what follows is a harrowing tale of solitary confinement. Beautifully rendered, this story breaks down what it means to be human. In my opinion, this volume will be listed among the classics in no time. - Ivy

Ignore everything about the cover, I promise this book is the fantasy book of your dreams. Zosia fought her war with a band of misfits, won her crown, but in the end everything turned out worse than expected. Each character is incredibly fleshed out and the story takes the tropes of the genre and smashes them to pieces. I was mad I didn't pick it up sooner. - Ivy

What does society mean when no one lives there? Through the life of a cop on the failing Moon Colony with only a few wards, this book explores just that. The art is playful, but each line purposeful. The entire package from story to artwork delighted me and it definitely earns its Eisner nomination. - Ivy

The year is 1399 and young widow Kate Clifford just had a world of trouble thrown on her doorstep. She has two young wards by her late husband's mistress to watch out for, King Richard's (the II) men keep raiding her shipments, and, oh, there's a dead body in her guesthouse. Robb has created a masterpiece and one hell of a compelling protagonist. I loved every twist and turn of this most excellent historical mystery. - Ivy

When I say I’m a terrible cook, I want you to understand just what I mean. Sometimes I have nightmares about being on Hell’s Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay yelling at me because I certainly don’t deserve to be there. (I’m a baker, not a cook.) But this cookbook gave me the courage to set aside the measuring cups and timers to actually try cooking something delicious. Nosrat’s decision to use illustrations rather than photographs reminds us that food doesn’t have to look perfect to be perfect. - Ivy

Hi, my name is Ivy and I am an awkward person. I have been all my life. There’s nothing inherently wrong with me, I’ve just always been a little weirdo whose foot finds her mouth quite frequently. This slim volume, written by an expert with a layperson’s voice, helped arm me with simple things to make social interactions a little bit easier and lot less stressful. - Ivy

My mother introduced me to David Sedaris’s work when I was (far too) young. That alone probably says a lot about how I turned out. Sedaris is a master of wicked humor, and during his lecture tours he often reads excerpts from his diaries to the eager crowd. They are funny, insightful, and more than a little snarky, and he is finally releasing some of them for our reading pleasure. I can’t wait! - Ivy