The Bloodied Nightgown and Other Essays

by Joan Acocella

Publication Date: February 20, 2024
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Charlie’s Review:
A quick look at the cover might lead you to think you’ve got your hands on a particularly gruesome volume of horror or mystery, but no—this is actually an unexpectedly interesting and thought-provoking series of literary essays. Acocello, the recently deceased critic for The New Yorker, weighs in on topics in varied range: Dracula (the title essay), the Waugh family, Agatha Christie, Grimms’ fairy tales, the Book of Job, Elmore Leonard, Little Women, the Epic of Gilgamesh, Andy Warhol, Richard Pryor, Graham Greene, and more. The essays are insightful, amusing, and beautifully written.

The Butcher of the Forest

by Premee Mohamed

Publication Date: February 27, 204
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Katherine's Review:
This dark and atmospheric book definitely keeps things tense for the reader. I ended up wanting to like it more than I actually did though. I wanted to know more about the main character, the tyrant, and what was going on in this world when the book ended.

A Short Walk Through A Wide World

by Douglas Westerbeke

Publication Date: April 2, 2024
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Katherine's Review:
I absolutely loved aspects of this book. I thought the writing was amazing and the story was fascinating. The main reason I couldn’t give it 5 stars is that there were so many loose ends. I definitely need someone else to read this one so we can talk about it. What was the cause of the illness? What did the last scene mean? But, I’m excited I’ve found a new author and will definitely be keeping an eye out for future books!

Transformers Volume 1

by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer

Publication Date: May 8, 2024
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Robby's Review:

As a huge Transformers fan growing up, this comic is one of my all time favorites. It is the first thing since watching the original show when I was young that has felt as cool as watching that show did then. It is such a love letter to the source material while still feeling unique and more mature.

Locked in Pursuit: an Electra McDonnel Novel

by Ashley Weaver

Publication Date: May 14, 2024
Rating: 4 out 5 stars

Joyce's Review:
Sometimes it takes a thief – or even a reformed thief – to catch the bad guys. This is number 4 in a series of historical novels set in World War II England. The books are fun to read with an interesting mix of history, mystery, family drama, and a bit of romance between two of the main characters. The attention to historical detail adds to the story without slowing it down.