100 Books 2014: 22-26

I'm still chipping away at my book goal for the year! Travis took some books to McKay's and used the credit to get me a Kindle (An old used one, but it still works great!) It makes it even easier to check out books from the library! But here is a batch of books I read on old fashioned paper: 

22. Stardust by Neil Gaiman It has been well established that I love Neil Gaiman and his storytelling. I liked Stardust, but didn't LOVE it. It is a beautiful fairy tale, but it didn't pull me in like the other novels of his I have read.
23. Today Is The Last Day of the Rest of Your Life by Ulli Lust This is a graphic novel about Ulli Lust's travels through Europe as a teenager. It was interested and at times made me wish I had done more exploring once I got out of high school, and made me glad I stayed home. It kind of reminded me of Off The Map, a book I got from a zine distro that I have probably read 10 times!
24. Redefining Realness; My Path to Womanhood, Identity, and Love by Janet Mock I have been following all the stories in the news lately about transwomen, especially Carmen Carrera, who was on Drag Race a few years ago and is now a pretty visible trans fashion model. I noticed Janet Mock was often on the same news shows as Carmen so when I saw she had an autobiography I knew I had to read it. It is very good, a really honest and brave story of how she grew up and what she went through to become the woman she knew she was when she was small. I have always considered myself an ally but didn't have a lot of understanding about trans issues and this book taught me a LOT and was a great read.
25. The Million Dollar Mermaid by Esther Williams This book has been in my amazon cart for a few years but I never pulled the trigger. I wish I had! It is one of the best autobiographies I've ever read! You get all kinds of dirt on stars of the 40's and Esther Williams doesn't shy away from the less seemly portions of her life. It makes me want to spend a weekend watching all her movies, just for the elaborate swimming scenes! I totally recommend this to my fellow vintage lovers!
26. Hollow City: The Second Novel of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs The only thing I don't like about the Miss Peregrine's books is they always end on a total cliff hanger and you have to wait a few years to find out what happens! I knew I would into these when I saw the first one used found vintage photos as part of the story telling. Ransom Riggs has collected images, gotten some on loan from collectors, and has a few manipulated one. You know I'm into that! And the stories are great too. It is about a collection of strange children with abilities like invisibility, seeing the future, and making fire in their hands. The world is full of magic and strange happenings and danger and sometimes I would stay up late just to see what happened! Another one I highly recommend.