5 On My TBR #14

This graphic novel was recommended to me by Sarah @ Suits of Stories!

This will be a re-read for me, because I stumbled across the webcomic a few years ago. I read as far as Book Three, but during the wait for Book Four I drifted away and forgot to come back to it. I remember absolutely loving this story, which is as warm and sweet as a freshly-baked blueberry pie. The main character, Bitty, is a closeted gay man who goes to college with a sports scholarship for ice hockey. The relationships (both platonic and romantic) that he forms with his teammates give him the courage to be his authentic self.

This novel was recommended to me by Ahaana @ Windows to Worlds!

These Violent Delights has been getting a lot hype as a Romeo and Juliet re-telling set in 1926 Shanghai. Do I know anything about it beyond that? Nope. However, I trust Ahaana’s judgement, so I’m bumping this up on my TBR.

This novel was recommended to me by Lil Sushi Roll @ Twirling Pages!

Shane has a boring life in college where she pursues nothing beyond the bounds of academic achievement. She signs up for a semester abroad in London, and is determined to use this fresh start to actually have a social life. But once in the UK, self-doubt starts to creep in, and her new life begins crumbling before her eyes…

I feel connected to Shane already; my first attempt at college sounds very similar to Shane’s friendless bubble of academia, though my own self-reinvention did not involve a trans-Atlantic adventure. Lil Sushi Roll has said this is a very sweet, happy book, and I’m really excited to see Shane learn how to be happy and true to herself.

This nonfiction book was recommended to me by my friend Kris (he drew my chibi icon!) when I realized I needed to do some Gender Identity Introspection. I am not even remotely Cherokee, but I am extremely curious about this book.

This poetic, historical book was recommended to me by R., who is my favorite non-blogging bookish friend.

Artemisia Gentileschi was a real-life historical figure, and was famous for being a female artist (traditionally a male profession) in 15th century Italy. Blood Water Paint shows how she discovered her passion and struggled to be seen as possessing individual talent rather than just imitating her father (who was also an artist). Artemisia’s story is interspersed with the biblical narratives that inspired her artwork. TW for misogyny, sexual assault, as well as torture in a court of law.