August Wrap Up #2

 I'm including what else I read for my NEWTs and additional books that didn't fulfill any particular prompts.

For my career as Trader of Magical Tomes:

Ancient Runes

A:  Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers.

E: Passing by Nella Larsen. 

Charms

A: How to be a Normal Person by TJ Klune.

History of Magic

A: Ashes of Roses by Mary Jane Auch. 

E:The Shadows by Alex North 

For the Extracurriculars-

Locomotive Operator:

Muggle Studies

A: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. This was a graphic novel that interwove three stories including Chinese mythology. I didn't enjoy it and felt it was even a bit racist. I gave it 2 stars.

E: Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert. 

Magical Shop Management

Arithmancy-

A: Spilled Milk by K.L. Randis. 

Merpeople Linguistics-

Herbology

A: A People's History of Heaven by Mathangi Subramarian. This was a contemporary book set in India about five young girls living in a slum. It was comprised of vignettes, jumping back and forth in time. I enjoyed the stories but wished it had a more linear timeline since jumping around wasn't used for any big reveal or tension. I gave the book 3.5 stars.

E: My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell. 

Defense for Magical Animals-

Care of Magical Creatures

A: Firefly: The Big Damn Cookbook by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel. 

E: Stranger Planet by Nathan Pyle. 

The other three books I finished this month were:

Luster by Raven Leilani. This is labeled as "millennial fiction" which I think means that the protagonist is in their 20s and their life is still a mess. This followed a young woman named Edie who is dating a man who is in an open marriage. As her life falls apart, she becomes more entwined with her lover and his family. The writing felt ridiculous and I found her to be not only unlikable, but unrealistic. I gave it 2 stars.

Disfigured by Amanda Leduc. While I'm not a huge essay reader, I found I enjoyed the essays about media representation of disfigured and disabled people thoroughly fascinating. In fairy tales and superhero novels, disabled people either seek to get over their disability, are pitied, or are cast as the villains. She talks about how this shapes our views of disabled people right from childhood. This was incredibly thought-provoking and I would recommend this to everyone. I gave it 4 stars.

The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune. As you might've guessed, I am a fan of TJ Klune now and am seeking to read all of his works. I don't typically read YA but this was a fun romp about a fantasy world that is nearly identical to the real world, except "extraordinaries" exist. They are like superheroes but have less traditional powers. The protagonist is infatuated with one and makes it his mission to try to become an extraordinary. There is also a M/M romance subplot which I actually enjoyed as it was rather cute. There is also ADHD and migraine representation. I gave it 4 stars.