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A New York Tate of Mind
A New York Tate of Mind
In which this reader and explorer reviews books, muses on literary (and other) matters, and shares some of her adventures.

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My 1-5 rating system:
1 = I did not like it and would not recommend it.
2= It was fine. Read it if the subject matter interests you.
3 = I enjoyed it and would recommend it.
4 = I really liked it, and think you should read it!
5 = One of the best books I've read.
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Review: Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)
4/5 stars Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) , by Jesse Sutanto (2025) Another cozy murder mystery with your favorite old...
tatedecaro
Apr 162 min read
18 views
0 comments


Review: The Crane Husband
4/5 stars The Crane Husband , by Kelly Barnhill (2023) Barnhill does magical realism very well. I've read two other novels by her - The...
tatedecaro
Mar 102 min read
15 views
0 comments


Review: Witchmark & Stormsong
4/5 stars Witchmark and Stormsong , by C.L. Polk (2018 and 2020) A great one-sentence summary from a post on Goodreads:...
tatedecaro
Feb 262 min read
6 views
0 comments


Review: Black Star
4/5 stars Black Star , by Kwame Alexander (2024) TW: Racism, KKK activity, reference to a lynching This is a sequel to The Door of No...
tatedecaro
Feb 52 min read
28 views
0 comments


Review: Sworn Solider series
4 & 3 out of 5 stars What Moves the Dead and What Feasts at Night , by T. Kingfisher (2022 & 2024) 4/5 stars What Moves the Dead A...
tatedecaro
Feb 14 min read
18 views
0 comments


Review: Sleeping Giants
4/5 stars Sleeping Giants , by Rene Denfeld (2024) TW: Child abuse and death, sexual assault, institutionalization, foster care I saw...
tatedecaro
Jan 73 min read
20 views
0 comments


Review: Woodworm
4/5 stars Woodworm , by Layla Martínez (2021) Translated by Sophie Hughes & Annie McDermott I got this in a book swap at my book club's...
tatedecaro
Dec 23, 20242 min read
23 views
0 comments


Review: A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking
4/5 stars A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking , by T. Kingfisher (2020) “Death by sourdough starter. Not a good way to go.” This book...
tatedecaro
Dec 12, 20242 min read
27 views
0 comments


Review: How to Be Eaten
4/5 stars How to Be Eaten , by Maria Adelmann (2022) I don't always love a fairytale re-telling, but this one is done especially well....
tatedecaro
Nov 29, 20243 min read
86 views
0 comments


Review: An Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder
4/5 stars An Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder , by C.L. Miller (2024) Freya Lockwood was an orphan when she went to live with her quirky...
tatedecaro
Aug 13, 20242 min read
28 views
0 comments


Review: The Book of Delights
4/5 stars The Book of Delights, by Ross Gay (2019) It IS a delight, this book! Ross Gay's essays remind us to look around each day and...
tatedecaro
Jul 13, 20242 min read
641 views
0 comments


Review: Even Though I Knew the End
4/5 stars Even Though I Knew the End, by C.L. Polk (2022) At barely over 100 pages, this was a quick read, but Polk manages to create an...
tatedecaro
Jun 27, 20242 min read
25 views
0 comments


Review: Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
4/5 stars Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, by Jesse Sutanto (2023) “People always say that your wedding day is the happiest...
tatedecaro
May 29, 20242 min read
170 views
0 comments


Review: Then She Was Gone
4/5 stars Then She Was Gone, by Lisa Jewell (2017) I've read two Lisa Jewell books before and really enjoyed them (The Family Upstairs...
tatedecaro
May 20, 20242 min read
856 views
1 comment


Review: The Salt Grows Heavy
4/5 stars The Salt Grows Heavy, by Cassandra Khaw (2023) A mermaid with no tongue, who's run away from her prince husband, leaving behind...
tatedecaro
Apr 18, 20242 min read
28 views
0 comments


Review: Night Wherever We Go
4/5 stars Night Wherever We Go, by Tracey Rose Peyton (2023) (I'm running way behind on posts, so you may get three notifications in...
tatedecaro
Apr 11, 20242 min read
16 views
0 comments


Review: The Parliament
4/5 stars The Parliament, by Aimee Pokwatka (2024) "First it was one girl, then a second joined in. It felt good to scream - little girls...
tatedecaro
Mar 14, 20242 min read
47 views
0 comments


Review: Arc of a Scythe series
4/5 stars Scythe, Thunderhead, & The Toll, by Neal Shusterman (2016, 2018, 2019) I'm going to start with a review of only the first book,...
tatedecaro
Jan 28, 20244 min read
1,850 views
0 comments


Review: The Fragile Threads of Power
4/5 stars The Fragile Threads of Power, by V.E. Schwab (2023) Spoiler Alert: If you have not read the Darker Shades of Magic series by...
tatedecaro
Dec 23, 20232 min read
148 views
0 comments


Review: Other Birds
4/5 stars Other Birds, by Sarah Addison Allen (2022) This book is a delight. It's somehow utterly fanciful and has its feet firmly...
tatedecaro
Oct 18, 20232 min read
423 views
0 comments

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