RandomLibrarian's Completed Shelf
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RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Mar 21, 2024
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Mar 11, 2024
Comment:
This book is based on a real Muslimah figure skater, Zahra Lari from the UAE. The illustrations are whimsical. It's nice to read a story that features a Muslim girl and her family and not have the story be centered around "teaching Islam". She's Muslim, her family is Muslim, and it's just a fact of life but not the focus of her story.This book is based on a real Muslimah figure skater, Zahra Lari from the UAE. The illustrations are whimsical. It's nice to read a story that features a Muslim girl and her family and not have the story be centered around "teaching Islam". She's…
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Mar 11, 2024
Comment:
A very cute story about a little girl named Rabia, who tries fasting on the last day of Ramadan and celebrates Eid with her family. The illustrations are very sweet.
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Mar 07, 2024
Comment:
Review excerpt: "The lasting impression I got from this book was one of tough women living in a tough place under tough conditions and making art and meals consisting largely of potatoes and sometimes mutton, while also caring for the people among them. Also a general spookiness, and an impression of flawed humans and animals alike trying very hard to do good things. A must read for Brontë fans, horror fans, folklore fans, and anyone who likes strongly atmospheric and character-based writing in general."
Full review: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/reviews/my-brothers-keeper-by-tim-powers/Review excerpt: "The lasting impression I got from this book was one of tough women living in a tough place under tough conditions and making art and meals consisting largely of potatoes and sometimes mutton, while also caring for the people among…
Zain's Super FridayZain's Super Friday, Picture Book
by Khan, HenaPicture Book - 2023Picture Book, 2023
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Mar 06, 2024
Comment:
A really cute story about an imaginative, adventurous little boy going to Friday prayers with his dad.
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Mar 04, 2024
Comment:
"Ramadan Kareem" is a very cute storybook, out just in time for this Ramadan. It differs a little from most of the books about this holiday because it doesn't follow one or two main characters from beginning to end, but has a new cast of characters every page or two, criss-crossing the world from countries that are Muslim-majority to countries where Muslims are a minority. It shows the experience and connection that Ramadan is for Muslims across the globe. The illustrations are colorful, charming, and diverse. The back pages have more information about Ramadan, a glossary of terms (not just Arabic words!), and suggested resources for further reading."Ramadan Kareem" is a very cute storybook, out just in time for this Ramadan. It differs a little from most of the books about this holiday because it doesn't follow one or two main characters from beginning to end, but has a new cast of characters…
The Ballad of Songbirds and SnakesThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Book
by Collins, SuzanneBook - 2020Book, 2020
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Feb 24, 2024
Comment:
Knowing that Snow becomes the villain in the trilogy, it's hard to have much empathy or sympathy for him in this origin story.
The author made a number of choices in telling his story that just didn't work well, particularly the overabundance of songs (read in a singsong poetry style by the narrator of the audiobook that was really irritating) and the ambiguous nature of the ending.
Not a satisfying read. I wish she had chosen to tell Haymitch's story, instead, or perhaps a book about Annie and Finnick's respective Hunger Games.Knowing that Snow becomes the villain in the trilogy, it's hard to have much empathy or sympathy for him in this origin story.
The author made a number of choices in telling his story that just didn't work well, particularly the overabundance of…
The Hunger GamesThe Hunger Games, DVDBallad of Songbirds and Snakes
DVD - 2024DVD, 2024
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Feb 24, 2024
Comment:
The most interesting part of this film was seeing the early iteration of the Hunger Games. Since we know that Snow is the villain of the original trilogy, it's hard to have much sympathy or empathy for him as he makes choices that lead him to become evil. Viola Davis stands out in her performance as the cruel Dr. Gaul. Might be worth watching once, if you are a fan of the series, but is lackluster in comparison to Katniss' story and films.The most interesting part of this film was seeing the early iteration of the Hunger Games. Since we know that Snow is the villain of the original trilogy, it's hard to have much sympathy or empathy for him as he makes choices that lead him to become…
The MarvelsThe Marvels, DVD
DVD - 2024DVD, 2024
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Feb 14, 2024
Comment:
A delightful follow up to 2019's "Captain Marvel", "WandaVision", and "Ms. Marvel". Iman Vellani is the highlight of the film and steals every scene as Kamala Khan - aka Ms. Marvel. Flerken fans will have a whole lot more of Goose to love. "The Marvels" has a lot of heart and serious moments, but also lightens it up a bit without being cringy, which is a relief after so many MCU films that cross into embarrassingly goofy frat humor (see: Guardians of the Galaxy films, Thor: Love and Thunder, etc).A delightful follow up to 2019's "Captain Marvel", "WandaVision", and "Ms. Marvel". Iman Vellani is the highlight of the film and steals every scene as Kamala Khan - aka Ms. Marvel. Flerken fans will have a whole lot more of Goose to love. "The…
She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to EatShe Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat, Graphic Novel3
by Yuzaki, SakaomiGraphic Novel - 2023Graphic Novel, 2023
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Jan 31, 2024
She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to EatShe Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat, Graphic Novel2
by Yuzaki, SakaomiGraphic Novel - 2023Graphic Novel, 2023
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Jan 31, 2024
She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to EatShe Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat, Graphic Novel1
by Yuzaki, SakaomiGraphic Novel - 2022Graphic Novel, 2022
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Jan 31, 2024
Comment:
This is a really cute slice-of-life manga about two women who are neighbors. One loves to cook and dreams of cooking large meals, but doesn't eat much and doesn't want the food to go to waste. The other loves large portions. This first volume is filled with depictions of shopping for and cooking a wide variety of foods while the main characters grow their friendship. The relationship does start to become romantic in later volumes as the characters begin to recognize their growing feelings for each other, so if you're looking for a Sapphic foodie romance manga, dive into this one!This is a really cute slice-of-life manga about two women who are neighbors. One loves to cook and dreams of cooking large meals, but doesn't eat much and doesn't want the food to go to waste. The other loves large portions. This first volume is…
Futari EscapeFutari Escape, Graphic NovelVol. 2
by Taguchi, ShouichiGraphic Novel - 2023Graphic Novel, 2023
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Jan 29, 2024
Comment:
The "cute, 'no plot, just vibes', slice-of-life" continues as the artist and senpai navigate a summer heatwave by pretending it's winter, take a late night trip to a bento place, get locked out of their apartment and have to sleep in the hallway, among their day-to-day adventures. Easily read over a lunch break. This series has yet to give any indication that it's yuri as the publisher blurb claims - so far it's just a roommates-who-are-friends story.The "cute, 'no plot, just vibes', slice-of-life" continues as the artist and senpai navigate a summer heatwave by pretending it's winter, take a late night trip to a bento place, get locked out of their apartment and have to sleep in the hallway,…
Futari EscapeFutari Escape, Graphic NovelVol. 1
by Taguchi, ShouichiGraphic Novel - 2022Graphic Novel, 2022
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Jan 29, 2024
Comment:
A cute slice-of-life manga about a manga artist and her unemployed roommate, who teaches her how to decompress and have fun when life and work become stressful. Very cute, easy to pick up and put down again. Best described as "No plot, just vibes".
Why Women Read FictionWhy Women Read Fiction, BookThe Stories of Our Lives
by Taylor, HelenBook - 2019Book, 2019
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Jan 28, 2024
Comment:
An interesting read, but definitely a bit more academic in format than your standard nonfiction meant for general interest. It's an interesting look into British women's reading habits - what and why they read - and a good way to discover new-to-you authors in the UK who aren't well-known in the US.An interesting read, but definitely a bit more academic in format than your standard nonfiction meant for general interest. It's an interesting look into British women's reading habits - what and why they read - and a good way to discover new-to-you…
Project LinaProject Lina, BookBringing Our Whole Selves to Islam
by Gray, TamaraBook - 2020Book, 2020
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Jan 11, 2024
Comment:
This book is a valuable resource for new Muslims, written by two American Muslim women who came to Islam 30+ years ago. They know what being a new Muslim is like, not just from others' stories, but because they've lived it themselves.
Books for new Muslims often focus heavily on the fiqa (legal) basics of Islam - prayer, fasting, tawhid, etc - but they don't really offer any guidance on the practicalities of day-to-day life: whether to adopt an Arabic (or "Islamic") name, how to maintain relationships with your family members (who may or may not be accepting/supportive of the new Muslim in their family), how to navigate holidays, how to answer questions about your new faith when you might not even know the answers yourself yet, how to handle social pressure from within and outside of the Muslim community, and how to go about looking for and choosing a spouse (when you're ready for that).
"Project Lina" is filled with exercises that allow you to put some of your new knowledge to use, set some goals, and become confident and joyful in your faith. Even if you've been Muslim for a few years, you'll find some great tips and advice. I wish I'd had this book as a new Muslim over a decade ago, but I'm grateful to have it now.This book is a valuable resource for new Muslims, written by two American Muslim women who came to Islam 30+ years ago. They know what being a new Muslim is like, not just from others' stories, but because they've lived it themselves.
Books for…
I Don't Want to Be A MomI Don't Want to Be A Mom, Graphic Novel
by Olmo, IreneGraphic Novel - 2023Graphic Novel, 2023
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Dec 20, 2023
Comment:
This whimsical graphic novel about a woman who realizes she doesn't want to have kids and how she deals with pressure from everyone around her to conform and become a mom is so relatable. The art style is charming, though it can sometimes be hard to figure out which word bubbles to read first when the panels are stacked on one page. A fast and easy read that also prompts the reader to consider questions around the topic of having children and the assumptions made about (and depictions in pop culture of) childfree women.This whimsical graphic novel about a woman who realizes she doesn't want to have kids and how she deals with pressure from everyone around her to conform and become a mom is so relatable. The art style is charming, though it can sometimes be hard to…
The Princess and the Grilled Cheese SandwichThe Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Graphic Novel
by Muniz, DeyaGraphic Novel - 2023Graphic Novel, 2023
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Dec 16, 2023
Comment:
The author claims to have read a lot of shoujo manga, and you can really see that influence in the art style. Does the story have a particularly coherent storyline? Not especially. Is the culture of this cheese country a fun blend of historical dress up and modern conveniences (the kitchen has a refrigerator, for one)? Absolutely.
You can't help but root for Cam and Brie as they figure out the path to their HEA - with the help of their friends and Brie's very opinionated little dog, Gouda. This story is pretty and fun, and sometimes that's all you want and need from a book. Recommended for those looking for Sapphic romance graphic novels.The author claims to have read a lot of shoujo manga, and you can really see that influence in the art style. Does the story have a particularly coherent storyline? Not especially. Is the culture of this cheese country a fun blend of historical…
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Dec 10, 2023
Comment:
This picture book really conveys the yearning of Palestinians in the diaspora to return to their relatives and homeland, which so many have not seen in decades (or ever) because Palestinians do not have a right of return. You can feel the longing in the pages towards the end, as the author and her sisters dream of their family's home in East Jerusalem. This book celebrates Palestine as a place of happiness, beauty, and human connection through her father's childhood stories. The illustrations are charming and perfectly suit the tone of the book.This picture book really conveys the yearning of Palestinians in the diaspora to return to their relatives and homeland, which so many have not seen in decades (or ever) because Palestinians do not have a right of return. You can feel the longing…
The QurʼanThe Qurʼan, Book
Book - 2009Book, 2009
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Dec 03, 2023
Comment:
This translation by Palestinian historian and scholar Tarif Khalidi is very reader-friendly for the modern English speaker. While I can't speak to the overall quality of the translation as compared to the original Arabic, I've always found it an enjoyable translation.
My only quibble is with a formatting choice, which groups verses in paragraphs and doesn't number each verse separately, so it can be hard to tell which verse you're reading for cross-referencing purposes.This translation by Palestinian historian and scholar Tarif Khalidi is very reader-friendly for the modern English speaker. While I can't speak to the overall quality of the translation as compared to the original Arabic, I've always found it an…
The Clear QuranThe Clear Quran, Large PrintA Thematic English Translation : English Only
Large Print - 2016Large Print, 2016
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Nov 30, 2023
Comment:
"The Clear Quran: A Thematic Translation", translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab, has been praised by Muslim scholars for its accuracy, clarity, and quality. It has been approved by Al-Azhar, the Islamic Council of North America (ICNA), the Canadian Council of Imams (CCI), and a number of respected scholars, including Imam Suhaib Webb, Imam Omar Suleiman, and others.
The English is modern and simple to understand, and the meaning of the original Arabic mushaf is conveyed as faithfully as possible without sacrificing beauty or flow for the reader. The footnotes are informative without being overwhelming. I have personally found it to be one of the best translations available in English.
This particular edition, which is Large Print, is a large but surprisingly light-weight hardcover that should make for comfortable reading."The Clear Quran: A Thematic Translation", translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab, has been praised by Muslim scholars for its accuracy, clarity, and quality. It has been approved by Al-Azhar, the Islamic Council of North America (ICNA), the Canadian…
The Jane Austen Book ClubThe Jane Austen Book Club, Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc - 2008Blu-ray Disc, 2008
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Nov 19, 2023
Comment:
This movie is one of my favorite comfort films. It's often described as a rom-com, and that is part of it, but it's largely about female friendship and how women help each other navigate losses and life challenges such as death (of a pet, in this case), infidelity, divorce, marital woes, etc.
In this movie, Bernadette starts the Jane Austen Book Club to help Sylvia cope with her divorce and Prudie manage her disappointment in her marriage. She cheerfully (and rightly) declares Jane Austen to be the antidote to Life, and claims "Pride & Prejudice" as her book. They each select one of Austen's novels and take turns hosting the discussions at their houses.
The group immediately begins to see parallels between events in their lives and events in Austen's books, ultimately leading them to ask "What Would Jane Do?" in their search for fulfillment and happiness. This is a great movie to watch with your girlfriends!This movie is one of my favorite comfort films. It's often described as a rom-com, and that is part of it, but it's largely about female friendship and how women help each other navigate losses and life challenges such as death (of a pet, in this…
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Nov 18, 2023
Comment:
An engaging story about an underdog distance runner overcoming health problems to win the 2018 Boston Marathon. Des Linden is tenacious, with a fierce competitive streak and a level of mental toughness that rivals her physical fitness. An inspiring read - most of us will never be professional runners or in the front of the pack, but that doesn't mean we can't learn some lessons from the elite runners!An engaging story about an underdog distance runner overcoming health problems to win the 2018 Boston Marathon. Des Linden is tenacious, with a fierce competitive streak and a level of mental toughness that rivals her physical fitness. An inspiring…
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Nov 04, 2023
Comment:
"Homemaker" is reminiscent of a folksy Taylor Swift, if you like themes of marriage, motherhood, and a woman figuring out what her life is supposed to be. It's particularly heavy on the motherhood theme, which didn't appeal to me. Her voice is lovely."Homemaker" is reminiscent of a folksy Taylor Swift, if you like themes of marriage, motherhood, and a woman figuring out what her life is supposed to be. It's particularly heavy on the motherhood theme, which didn't appeal to me. Her voice is…
What You Are Looking for Is in the LibraryWhat You Are Looking for Is in the Library, BookA Novel
by Aoyama, MichikoBook - 2023Book, 2023
RandomLibrarian's rating:
Added Oct 30, 2023
Comment:
A quick, gentle slice-of-life read. Rather than chapters, the book is broken up into short stories about each character - their stories intersect at the community house library. This book doesn't veer towards the dark stuff that seems to be very common in translated Japanese contemporary fiction, which was a relief to me - I love the way Japanese authors write, but the content is so often depressing - about suicide, death, getting drunk, etc.A quick, gentle slice-of-life read. Rather than chapters, the book is broken up into short stories about each character - their stories intersect at the community house library. This book doesn't veer towards the dark stuff that seems to be very…
Comment: