ARC Review: Devil is Fine by John Vercher

Title: Devil is Fine

Author: John Vercher

Source: Celadon Books

Format: Paperback ARC

Publisher: Celadon Books

Release date (expected): June 18 2024

Goodreads     Celadon (Book Page) 

Synopsis From Celadon:

Reeling from the sudden death of his teenage son, our narrator receives a letter from an attorney: he has just inherited a plot of land from his estranged grandfather. He travels to a beach town several hours south of his home with the intention of immediately selling the land. But upon inspection, what lies beneath the dirt is much more than he can process in the throes of grief. As a biracial Black man struggling with the many facets of his identity, he’s now the owner of a former plantation passed down by the men on his white mother’s side of the family.

Vercher deftly blurs the lines between real and imagined, past and present, tragedy and humor, and fathers and sons in this story of discovery—and a fight for reclamation—of a painful past. With the wit of Paul Beatty’s The Sellout and the nuance of Zadie Smith’s On Beauty, Devil Is Fine is a darkly funny and brilliantly crafted dissection of the legacies we leave behind and those we inherit.

What I thought:

When I finished reading Devil is Fine by John Vercher, I had so many initial thoughts that it made it difficult to summarize what I felt about it. And I didn't even know where to start.

So I guess I'll start with the story. It revolves around the unnamed narrator's identity and the throes of that. While it mostly seemed to pertain to his professional life and having to deal with owning a plantation, it was also carefully woven into a story about a man dealing with grief and somehow coming to terms with where he is in life. Of course it was not a smooth road since there were odd and disconcerting experiences along the way. He was aided by the occasional words of wisdom from the more frequent characters, Freddy and Clarence. A bar owner and frequent bar customer respectively, their own life and experiences tended to add a different angle to what the narrator was going through. On the flip side, there were a lot of times where I wondered just why he was doing what he was, but some of that was answered much later on. 

Another thing I noticed was the writing. It's in first person and begins shortly before the burial of the narrator's  son, Malcolm. From the beginning to the end, the main character often thinks of and addresses him while chronicling his ongoing life. Sometimes he would wonder what Malcolm would say if he was there during a conversation, for example. Along with the main character's musings, it is mainly through occasional chapters in between that showed who Malcolm was growing up. I honestly wasn't sure how I felt about these chapters at first. But, about half way through, I felt it both added to and left breathing room from the tension that was building throughout the book. Some of that was also probably from the general back and forth of the current time and various past memories from the narrator's own life and experiences. 

Speaking of that tension, I was constantly on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. Some of the story was predictable for me. But there were parts that weren't at all. The conclusion and ending are an examples of both of these feelings. Based on a few pages of conversations beforehand, I had thought that a particular scene was going to go a certain way. But I was wrong. Instead it was rather mundane (for the lack of more spoiler-y but probably better words I could use). It is at this point the character growth is fully realized with many truths coming to light. Even being a little sad and grim, overall it definitely felt more in line and satisfactory with the way the bulk of the story was written.  So I was somewhat happy to be wrong.  As for the last pages, the end? Well, it was a tear jerker.

As a whole, I truly liked Devil is Fine. The surreal nature of it, dialogue, complicated relationships, and even the tougher, more serious tones mixed with some lighter ones. All that to say, it became a page turner and I really enjoyed reading it.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Celadon Books for this review.

Thanks for reading!

ARC Review: The Manicurist's Daughter by Susan Lieu

Title: The Manicurist's Daughter

Author: Susan Lieu

Source: Celadon

Format: Paperback ARC

Publisher: Celadon

Release date: March 12 2024

Goodreads    Celadon (Book Page)

Synopsis From Celadon

An emotionally raw memoir about the crumbling of the American Dream and a daughter of refugees who searches for answers after her mother dies during plastic surgery.

Susan Lieu has long been searching for answers. About her family’s past and about her own future. Refugees from the Vietnam War, Susan’s family escaped to California in the 1980s after five failed attempts. Upon arrival, Susan’s mother was their savvy, charismatic North Star, setting up two successful nail salons and orchestrating every success—until Susan was eleven. That year, her mother died from a botched tummy tuck. After the funeral, no one was ever allowed to talk about her or what had happened.

For the next twenty years, Susan navigated a series of cascading questions alone—why did the most perfect person in her life want to change her body? Why would no one tell her about her mother’s life in Vietnam? And how did this surgeon, who preyed on Vietnamese immigrants, go on operating after her mother’s death? Sifting through depositions, tracking down the surgeon’s family, and enlisting the help of spirit channelers, Susan uncovers the painful truth of her mother, herself, and the impossible ideal of beauty.

The Manicurist’s Daughter is much more than a memoir about grief, trauma, and body image. It is a story of fierce determination, strength in shared culture, and finding your place in the world.

What I thought:

I tend to like memoirs anyway, but I really liked The Manicurists Daughter by Susan Lieu. From the prologue (which I later realized was an excellent summary), to the writing that drew me in, I found this memoir to be an enjoyable read.

It's essentially Lieu's journey to get answers about her mother. And I want emphasize journey. For every vague lead, there seemed to be even more questions that needed to be addressed. Intertwined with this was also her process of eventually creating performances inspired by her quest. When she finally did get some answers, and things began falling in place, I could see how and where each chapter's contents connected. This not only led up to her performance of 140 LBS: How Beauty Killed My Mother, but also the memoir's end. Which I might add, ends on a confident, understanding, and hopeful note.  There's probably a lot more I could mention but I think the synopsis does a well enough job showing what The Manicurist's Daughter is all about.

As for the writing, I found myself on the typical rollercoaster of emotions. There were times that were heart wrenching and sad, to happy and joyful. Along with the inclusion of Vietnamese, the descriptions were lively and vivid. Overall, it was a rather nice pace. 

Like I said, I found my read enjoyable and I really liked it. I don't have much to say unfortunately. But that's only because, for me, The Manicurist's Daughter is of those memoirs that you just have to start reading, get into it, and see for yourself.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Celadon for this review.

Thanks for reading!

Book Review: Treasure Island

Title: Treasure Island
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson; Forward by Avi
Source/Format: Purchased ; Paperback
Publisher/ Release date: Aladdin; Feb 1, 2000 (First Published 1879)
Goodreads     Barnes & Noble

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Climb aboard for the swashbuckling adventure of a lifetime. Treasure Island has enthralled (and caused slight seasickness) for decades. The names Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins are destined to remain pieces of folklore for as long as children want to read Robert Louis Stevenson's most famous book. With it's dastardly plot and motley crew of rogues and villains, it seems unlikely that children will ever say no to this timeless classic.

What I Thought:

This review is going to be on the shorter side. A long time ago, when I was younger, I tried to read Treasure Island but stopped around page 124 or 125. I decided to give it another go recently. Starting over from the beginning I found that it is an exciting adventure story. The first half of the book bored me. But, I still somewhat enjoyed it. This is because the first few chapters served as an in-depth introduction to the main characters and the relationships they had with each other. Otherwise, it seemed to drag on. It was better once the characters set out to sea.

There’s not much else I want to say, so I’m going to leave it here. Overall, I did enjoy Treasure Island. It’s a classic, fun, treasure hunting story, so if it sounds interesting to you, I recommend checking it out.

Thanks For Reading!

Book Review: Hollywood Park (ARC)

Title: Hollywood Park
Author: Mikel Jollett
Source/Format: Celadon Books; Paperback ARC
Publisher/ Release date: Celadon Books; (Expected) May 26 2020

Book summary:
Hollywood Park is a remarkable memoir of a tumultuous life. Mikel Jollett was born into one of the country’s most infamous cults, and subjected to a childhood filled with poverty, addiction, and emotional abuse. Yet, ultimately, his is a story of fierce love and family loyalty told in a raw, poetic voice that signals the emergence of a uniquely gifted writer. Read more on Goodreads

What I thought:

I didn’t know what to expect when I received an ARC of Hollywood Park by Mikel Jollett. The only thing I knew was that the synopsis immediately caught my interest. It recounts Jollett’s life after Synanon, and the eventual beginnings of The Airborne Toxic Event. This memoir was an emotional roller coaster, but I don’t feel like I can squeeze everything into this review.  However, there were a couple of things that definitely stood out.

In the beginning, it was written from the point of view of Jollett’s childhood self. As he got older and experienced various things, the POV shifted too. It painted his life in a way that the reader could easily visualize it, and contributed to being a page turner. There were all the sad moments that had me on the verge of tears, but of course, there were the times that made me smile too.

By the end, I found that I really enjoyed Hollywood Park. Three words from the synopsis caught my attention in particular: “…raw, poetic and powerful…” I think this is the perfect way to sum it up. I recommend checking it out if it sounds interesting to you.

*I received this book from Celadon for this review

Side note: I’ve never heard of The Airborne Toxic Event, but I’ll definitely be checking out more of their songs. Also, FYI, they’re going to be releasing an album of the same name on May 22nd.

Thanks for reading.

Book Review: Manga Art: Inspiration and Techniques from an Expert Illustrator by Mark Crilley

Title: Manga Art: Inspiration and Techniques from an Expert Illustrator

Author: Mark Crilley

Source/Format: Blogging For Books; Paperback

Genre: Art, Drawing

Publisher/ Release date: Watsin-Guptill; June 6, 2017

Goodreads      Barnes & Noble

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The world of manga (Japanese comics) has captured the imagination of artists, both aspiring and professional alike. Now best-selling artist and art instructor Mark Crilley presents the most complete look yet at the variety of creative options available in the world of manga. Crilley fills each chapter with gorgeous, original artwork created with a variety of tools (pencils, colored pencils, digital art, pen and ink, and more) and in a variety of manga-inspired styles. He pairs each piece with information on the materials used and the inspiration that led to its creation. Manga Art provides readers a one-of-a-kind chance to hear from one of the leading artists in the field of manga instruction, as he reveals the unlimited possibilities of manga and the creative secrets behind over 100 pieces of original, never-before-seen artwork.

My Thoughts

In Manga Art: Inspirations and Techniques from an Expert Illustrator, Mark Crilley presents a lot of art along with details about them. The book provides an overview of inspirations and techniques—as indicated in the title—as well as tools and mediums. While Crilley’s book may not be a tutorial or how-to book directly, in another sense it is. It is a view of the processes an artist considers before, during and after creating a work of art. Also, the themes for each chapter are things that one may consider during their own creative process. I like the prompts that occasionally pop up throughout the book. Even though they were pretty vague, they encourage creative flow. There is one quote that perfectly describes how I feel about this book: “Creating things is fun. That’s all there is to it.”

This book is exactly how the blurb describes it, and I liked the topics discussed. I’d recommend reading it, especially if you like reading about art.

I loved it!

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review

Book Review: Leading Lady: Sherry Lansing and the Making of a Hollywood Groundbreaker

Title: Leading Lady: Sherry Lansing and the Making of a Hollywood Groundbreaker

Author: Stephen Galloway

Source/Format: Blogging For Books, Hardcover

Genre: Nonfiction, Biography

Publisher/ Release date: Crown Archetype; April 25, 2017

Goodreads        Barnes & Noble

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The definitive biography of movie executive and philanthropist Sherry Lansing traces her groundbreaking journey to become the first female head of a major motion picture studio, shares behind-the-scenes tales from movie sets and Hollywood boardrooms, and explains what inspired her to walk away from it all to start the Sherry Lansing Foundation.

My Thoughts

Leading Lady: Sherry Lansing and the Making of a Hollywood Groundbreaker is the biography of one of Hollywood’s top women. Honestly, having never heard of Lansing, Stephen Galloway does a tremendous job of introducing and illustrating her life and struggles as she transitioned throughout her career. It’s a realistic portrayal of what happens behind the scenes in Hollywood.

The majority of the book’s content contains interviews from Lansing and other people. Additionally, the author provides a clear timeline with the inclusion of historical events, headlines, and facts. I particularly enjoyed this aspect of the book, because Galloway did not try to sugarcoat the hardships of a career in Hollywood. Instead, the author provided a raw take on the events and meetings by using the recollections of the people involved.

Overall, I enjoyed Leading Lady: Sherry Lansing and the Making of a Hollywood Groundbreaker. I liked reading about Lansing’s life, what being a studio executive is like, and what it takes to make a movie. The only downfall to this book was that some parts felt prolonged. However, I would still recommend reading this book if you're interested in learning what it’s like behind the scenes in Hollywood.

I liked it!

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Book Review: The Fabulous Fibonacci Numbers

 Title: The Fabulous Fibonacci Numbers
Author(s): Alfred S. Posamentier, Ingmar Lehmann
Source/Format: Library borrowed, Hardcover
More Details: Nonfiction, Math
Publisher/ Release date: Prometheus Books, May 30, 2007

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

The most ubiquitous, and perhaps the most intriguing, number pattern in mathematics is the Fibonacci sequence. In this simple pattern beginning with two ones, each succeeding number is the sum of the two numbers immediately preceding it (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, ad infinitum). Far from being just a curiosity, this sequence recurs in structures found throughout nature - from the arrangement of whorls on a pinecone to the branches of certain plant stems. All of which is astounding evidence for the deep mathematical basis of the natural world.
With admirable clarity, two veteran math educators take us on a fascinating tour of the many ramifications of the Fibonacci numbers. They begin with a brief history of a distinguished Italian discoverer, who, among other accomplishments, was responsible for popularizing the use of Arabic numerals in the West. Turning to botany, the authors demonstrate, through illustrative diagrams, the unbelievable connections between Fibonacci numbers and natural forms (pineapples, sunflowers, and daisies are just a few examples).
In art, architecture, the stock market, and other areas of society and culture, they point out numerous examples of the Fibonacci sequence as well as its derivative, the "golden ratio." And of course in mathematics, as the authors amply demonstrate, there are almost boundless applications in probability, number theory, geometry, algebra, and Pascal's triangle, to name a few.
Accessible and appealing to even the most math-phobic individual, this fun and enlightening book allows the reader to appreciate the elegance of mathematics and its amazing applications in both natural and cultural settings.

My Thoughts

After discovering the both golden ratio and Fibonacci sequence, I just had to find a book on it.

The first thing I noticed was the range of topics covered. I like that this book wasn’t purely math, but rather it explored how the Fibonacci sequence could be found in nature, art, music, and a little bit in physics. At times before an example, the reader is reminded of an equation that relates to the example. I like this because I often found myself being distracted at other fascinating things. Along with these examples, various pictures and diagrams were riddled throughout this book, making for both textual and visual interpretations. In addition to this, Appendix A and B contain the first five hundred Fibonacci numbers and more proofs of the relationships.

Even though there were some moments that I felt bored, this was a great, slightly in-depth introduction to the Fibonacci numbers. Overall, I enjoyed The Fabulous Fibonacci Numbers and would recommend it.

I loved it!