Bitsy's Books
Note: I'm uploading my books from Goodreads and since there are like 200+ it's going to take awhile. The uploading seems a bit wonky too, so hang with me as I fix things. Also there may be spoilers until I can make all the appropriate tags.
I'm an ex-English Major who, sick of reading classics after college, decided to read all the trashy books I didn't before because I was too snobby. Since graduating, I've entertained myself with comics, YA, and romance novels, finding out they can not only be decently written, but superbly written. I've since recovered from my classics aversion, but I'm now more open-minded reader willing to read from any genre. If a book has kick-ass heroines and/or witty banter and/or takes place in a different time or place (including fantasy settings), I will most likely fall in love with it. My favorite authors are Jane Austen, Shakespeare, E.M. Forster, Meljean Brook, Sarah Rees Brennan, Rachel Hartman, Catherynne M. Valente, and Aliette de Bodard.
Text: 2 StarsIllustrations: 5 StarsExperience a day as a Kenyan child in a village, but don't forget your chores!I appreciate what this book was trying to do, but I don't think it ever worked. The story is told in second-person ("you"), so that the reader/child identifies and experiences the story as the Kenyan protagonist. I know it is to show people not as "the other" but as people with similar experiences. However, because of the second-person narration (which is a bit clunky), the story is dry and lacks personality. I would have preferred a character as the protagonist to follow. Also, a few JUST LIKE US!!! messages contradict the point of the second-person and made me uncomfortable. Otherwise, the plot was cute and taught about Kenyan culture (albeit not seemlessly).Ana Juan's illustrations are, again, wonderful. She gives the characters so much personality and expression without losing her signature style. Her pictures, not the text, do most of the work giving life and interest to a scene. I agree with another reviewer the book could be only pictures and still be understandable.In summary, superb illustrations, mediocre text.