Books Are Jazzy

So, here we go in no particular order:

• The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
• Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
• The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
• A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab
• Kingdom of Ash by S.J. Maas
• Muumipappa ja meri by Tove Jansson

Anna’s top pics/most worthy of a mention from 2018:
In total I managed to read 21 books, which I am very glad about since I had a hard time finding joy in books at times this year. I was in a sort of rut and couldn’t find a book that would keep me so hooked that, I would constantly be craving just a small moment of free time when I would brew some tea and get lost in the words of a great read. That’s why the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas  as a whole has been my most notable, favorite, life changing read this past year. It brought back not only my love for reading but my love for fantasy. I was, and still am, obsessed through and through.
And just as Laura said, I’m picking my favorite out of the four parts by reflecting on the generic feeling I get. The first was great but the second blew my mind so therefore A Court of Mist and Fury is my first.

Second I would like to mention a Finnish novel that actually won the Finlandia prize in 2016. Akvarelleja Engelin kaupungista by Jukka Viikilä taught my about the time of C.L. Engel and the building of our capitol Helsinki. I loved the journal entry style and depictions of Turku, where I now live, hit home with me.

The third book I’m going to raise to the podium here is the Swimmer Among the Stars by Kanish Tharoor, a book of short stories that I picked it in Paris from Shakespeare & Co. (I admit, the setting for reading this book did enhance my experience. But none the less I was inspired by these colorful stories.

Fourth and fifth were similar and I can’t really set them apart in my mind but both inspired me greatly and I remember them with a spark of happiness. You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero and #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso have helped shape my attitude and the way I perceive things (as did Homo Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari too by the way) and they were a big part of my nonfiction phase of 2018.

We hope you find amazing reads in 2019!
Laura and Anna

Wow. It feels like such a long long time since I've last written one of these - a blog post for Books Are Jazzy. I checked that my last entry was in June but honestly it feels much longer than that.

I've missed this.

We took a break of undetermined length together with Laura because we were feeling a little uninspired and the whole blog had turned into more of a burden then an outlet of creativity. Slowly, over the past few weeks, maybe a couple of months even, I started to notice my love for reading and writing to grow again and I felt a really big want to share that passion once again.

So, that is how I find myself back here now, writing this.

I think I want to take it slow to reassure that this feels good and is a source creating joy, not draining me of it. It will be in your best interests too, don't worry, since I honestly believe it shows wether one does something out of honest will or a feeling of must.

For now I'm just going to leave you with a few points from the last months that I have been absent.

-I finished quite many books. And really good ones at that! I haven't in a long time felt this excited about books and have made time during the day, not just at night, to read.
Here's some top picks that I've absolutely devoured:

• You Are a Badass -How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life -Jen Sincero
• Akvarelleja Engelin kaupungista -Jukka Viikilä
• I Want to Sleep -How to Get a Good Night's Sleep -Harriet Griffey (for all my fellow insomniacs)
• A Court of Thorns and Roses -Sarah J. Maas

-My absolute disinterest in fantasy and newer curiosity towards nonfiction and self help has taken a new turn. I found myself effortlessly sucked back into fantasy come fall (aka the ultimate season of all things magical, mystical and murky). I have the A Court of Thorns and Roses -trilogy to blame or mostly thank for this dip back into my former favorite genre. I guess my preferences change around the year to fit the seasons. I also believe that I was just in need of a good, new, more adult story to suck me back in.

-As for nonfiction and self help -well I'm still going strong on that track as well and am looking for books to add to my repertoire. (All suggestions are very welcome!) Actually, all 6 books that I breezed through over my summer vacation where from this category. Let's allow that to speak for itself.

It must be this gloomy weather that has invited me to grab a book and a mug of tea by the candlelight -bliss

As for what's to come, we hope to start posting monthly from now on instead of the previous pace of once a week. I have some reviews and thoughts already in mind so stay tuned! Thanks for being so patient and more over for being loyal and sticking around! :)

-Anna

Maggie Stiefvater's "Raven Cycle" series is one of my all-time favorite book series, and when she released a new standalone novel last fall, I was quick to pick up a copy of my own from the local bookstore. I was not as quick to pick it up to read however. I finally got around to reading Stiefvater's All the Crooked Saints when my summer break started.

All the Crooked Saints follows the Soria family in 1960's Colorado. The Soria's are known for being able to give out miracles. "Pilgrims" travel to the Soria family in hopes of receiving a miracle and if the current Saint deems the pilgrim worthy, a miracle is delivered. Thus, similarly to the Raven Cycle series, this novel features an element of magical realism, meaning that the presence of fantasy is normalized in the society of the novel.

I really enjoyed reading this novel and would recommend it to fans of magical realism or fantasy. Moreover, there are some light elements of romance, so this novel also works as a "lighter" read.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

-Laura

The reading challenge book for April was Minna Canth's arguably most famous work, Työmiehen vaimo. The play follows a recently married couple, a hardworking woman and an alcoholic husband, as their marriage slowly falls apart.

I had previously dipped my toe into Canth's texts by reading her play Annaliisa, and I was excited to read her other works. From my previous readings I knew Canth was known for focusing on so-called "women's issues". However, when I started Työmiehen vaimo, I was disappointed by how she presented these feminist themes in this specific text. The only real conflict in the story was the husband's alcoholism and how the wife found it difficult to accept. Instead of creating well-rounded characters, the characters in the play were two opposites of a moral quandary.

I'm glad I've now read Työmiehen vaimo, solely for the cultural capital associated with it, but I would not recommend the play if it was not considered a classic of Finnish literature. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

-Laura

May saw the publication of Sarah J. Maas' latest installation in her "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series. The newest instalment is Maas' version of a novella, but at 272 pages it's more like a novel.


A Court of Frost and Starlight is set after the events of the last actual novel in the series and focuses heavily on the characters familiar to readers and their relationships, as they are preparing for their first Winter Solstice. Thus, as there is not much plot development I am hesitant to recommend A Court of Frost and Starlight. I personally loved the novella, but it is in no way required to be read to enjoy the series as a whole. If you are already a fan of the "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series and want to read about the everyday lives of the characters in it, I would recommend reading this to tide you over until the last book in Maas' "Throne of Glass" series is released this fall.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

-Laura

Both me and Anna have previously talked about Tahereh Mafi's novel Furthermore, you can find the posts here and here. Not too long ago, I picked up my copy of the second book in the series Whichwood.

Another beautiful cover in this series!

I was excited to read Whichwood for a couple of reasons. Firstly I had obviously been a fan of the first book in the series, Furthermore, and wanted to read the next instalment. Secondly, Tahereh Mafi revealed the basic concept for Whichwood already at the Furthermore launch event, and the idea of a book heavily inspired by Persian mythology interested me. Finally, Whichwood promised to show more of the world of Furthermore, and to focus on a new main character.

Once I finished reading it though, I felt conflicted. Whichwood was a good addition to the series but I have a couple of issues with the novel. The new main character, Laylee, was absolutely amazing and her personal history was heartbreaking. However, I felt like the two main characters from Furthermore, Alice and Oliver, had a larger part in Whichwood than I had expected and felt to me like they were taking away the attention from Laylee. Moreover, including Alice and Oliver in such a large part made it seem as if Mafi was setting up a possible book 3 in a very heavy handed manner.

All of this is not to say that I didn't like Whichwood, it's just that after Furthermore I had very high hopes for the book. I'm still recommending these books to anyone who likes fantasy, just with the warning that the second book can be a bit of a let-down.

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐

Have you read either of these books? Let me know what you thought in the comments down below!

-Laura

Over spring break I got the opportunity to visit Washington D.C. The trip was lovely, but of course I must highlight the bookish aspect of the vacation. While in D.C., I got to see another adorable independent bookstore: this time it was Capitol Hill Books.

The store was a converted apartment, crammed full of books. There were even books in the bathroom!






Moreover, there were amazing notes scattered throughout the bookstore, left there by the hilarious employees.


Scroll through for more pictures!

Since I now live in the U.S. I can purchase Owlcrate boxes at a reasonable price. Ever since the "Wanderlust" box was released back in July of 2017, I have had my eyes on it. Thus over winter break, I finally grabbed myself by the neck and ordered the box. When I arrived back on campus, I had a fun package waiting for me.

The full contents of the Wanderlust Owlcrate box

Because this was a "past box", I already knew what was going to be in the box. The box contained so many amazing items, all of which I have put to use in some for . Of course, I was most excited to finally get my hands on The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee. Along with the book, the box also contained a signed bookplate, a letter from the author, and a map of the world of the book.

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for a review of The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue!

-Laura

The start of a new month means another book review of a Finnish "classic". During March my goal was to read Jäniksen vuosi by Arto Paasilinna, and I finished it with plenty of time left in the month. I was especially excited to read this book because Jäniksen vuosi is my mother's all-time-favorite-book. I even timed my reading of the novel so that she was visiting me at the same time as I was reading it, so that we could discuss it as I read along.

The concept of the novel is absolutely amazing. The novel follows a middle-aged journalist who encounters a hare on the road and decides to drop everything in his life to spend time with this hare. He quits his job, leaves his wife, even sells his boat! The novel follows the extraordinary pair for a year, but the ending is left open to suggest that their adventures continue beyond this.

I highly, highly recommend this novel to everyone! Not only is it hilarious, it also offers some valuable life lessons. Moreover, it has been translated into English and can be found under the title The Year of the Hare. Let me know in the comments down below if you've read this novel.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Happy Readings!
-Laura

Nimona is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel by Noelle Stevenson. Nimona was originally published as a webcomic running for multiple years until Stevenson finally published it as a physical book in 2015.

Nimona follows the eponymous main character Nimona, a shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. At the beginning of the story Nimona hoists herself on the notorious villain Lord Ballister Blackheart as his new sidekick. Due to Nimona's shapeshifting abilities Balckheart eventually accepts her and incorporates her into his plans. Nimona begins as a very typical story about the dichotomy between good and evil but in the span of 200+ pages becomes about moral ambiguities.

I found it really to interesting to read a story about an anti-hero, especially one as compelling as Nimona. She flips between exuberant to murderous in a split-second and kept up a sarcastic repartee the entire time. And of course, I'm going to take any queer representation I can get despite how ambigious. In Nimona the relationship between Blackheart and the knight Sir Goldenloin, was only referenced but never confirmed. However, Stevenson has confirmed that the two used to date. So in short, it's the Dumbledore problem but to a lesser extent. At least Stevenson wrote in clear hints, unlike some authors...

Overall, Nimona was a fun adventure story that left me thinking about it even after I put the book down. It stands alone as its own individual story, but i can't help but hope for more books about these characters.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

-Laura

The City of Woven Streets, also known as The Weaver, by Emmi Itäranta is a dystopian fantasy novel. I was originally drawn to the novel by its beautiful cover, but I was officially hooked when I heard the premise.

The City of Woven Streets is set in a fantasy world where dreams are outlawed. Human life means very little: everyone must find a Craft, otherwise they are worthless. The story centers around Eliana, a young weaver from the House of Webs, who harbors a dangerous secret: Eliana dreams. When another young woman appears on the doorsteps of the House of Webs, Eliana's life hits a tailspin. The new arrival, Valeria, has her tongue cut out and Eliana's name tattooed on her skin. As the two grow closer and closer together they begin to work against their society's leadership.

I enjoyed The City of Woven Streets immensely. Itäranta told a fresh story in a genre that often seems overdone by focusing on lyrical prose and detailed characterizations. Moreover, I was pleasantly surprised by the blossoming lesbian relationship between Eliana and Valeria. Finally, I enjoyed the role tattoos had in the society presented in The City of Woven Streets.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

-Laura

Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver is a story told on multiple levels. On one hand the book is about girls who go missing, or who vanish, in a calm seaside town, and on the other it is about intense sibling rivalry. But beyond these plots, the story is about so much more, which I can't state without spoiling the book.

Hello everyone! Another month has gone by, which means it's time for another update to my 2018 Reading Challenge! In February I read the novel Rautatie by Juhani Aho. Rautatie follows a married couple as they first hear about a train coming to a village near them, to them riding on the train for the first time, to finally deciding never to speak of the experience again. Previous to the novel's events, the couple had never heard of a train before and thus when hearing various details about trains and their workings, they quickly attached fantastical elements to the transportation system.


Compared to January's read, Rautatie was a lot more similar to other classic Finnish literature that I have read and therefore reading it felt more comfortable. Having said that, I'm not sure if I would go out of my way to recommend this book, since plot-wise not a lot happens.

Rating:⭐⭐⭐

-Laura

I just finished reading Kesäkirja by Tove Jansson, as the first book in my 2018 Reading Challenge. Due to some unexpected coursework I didn't technically finish reading the book in January, but since I read the bulk of it during January, I'm still counting this as a win.


Kesäkirja was a short and sweet novel detailing the friendship between a young girl and her grandmother as they experience it over multiple summers at their summer cottage. Reading this in the cold of January did lessen my enjoyment of the novel a bit (since it's a summer novel, it would be best enjoyed read on a beach in the summer). Reflecting on it further, I believe the novel took on a more dreamy quality due to me reading it in the opposite climate the events of the novel occur in. I would like to reread the book during the summer to see how this changes how I react with the story.

Overall, I would recommend Kesäkirja for people who enjoy character driven novels. Personally, I liked reading the more adult side of Jansson's writings.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

-Laura

During 2017, also known as the year Finland turned 100 years as an independent country, the Finnish publishing company WSOY created a series of books that I am extremely excited about. They polled Finnish readers for their favorite Finnish books and re-released the top 12 as a series with brand new covers created by contemporary Finnish artists.


One book was released per month and during the course of 2017 I managed to gather copies of all 12 books into my hands. All this leads me to introduce a new feature for 2018. One of my reading goals for this year will be to read one of these books per month in the order they were released in as part of the series. After reading the book I will of course be reviewing it here. In January, I'm starting with some classic Tove Jansson, specifically her Kesäkirja. Keep your eyes peeled for a review of it later this month!

-Laura