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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: 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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


Review: True Biz
4/5 stars True Biz, by Sara Nović (2022) So many thoughts! I really enjoyed this book, but it also has some issues. Since I am...
tatedecaro
Sep 7, 20233 min read


Review: Who is Maud Dixon?
4/5 stars Who is Maud Dixon?, by Alexandra Andrews (2021) WOW this was fun. Totally entertaining! But there's also VERY little I can say...
tatedecaro
Jun 30, 20232 min read


Review: Hestia Strikes a Match
4/5 stars Hestia Strikes a Match, by Christine Grillo (2023) This is a great piece of speculative / alternate universe fiction. The year...
tatedecaro
May 28, 20232 min read


Review: Olga Dies Dreaming
4/5 stars Olga Dies Dreaming , by Xóchitl González (2022) TW: Mention of suicide and rape (not graphic), drug use, hurricane damage Olga...
tatedecaro
May 24, 20232 min read


Review: The House Girl
4/5 stars The House Girl, by Tara Conklin (2013) This story is told in two alternating narratives: Josephine is a young slave girl (about...
tatedecaro
Feb 1, 20232 min read


Review: Dictionary of Lost Words
4/5 stars The Dictionary of Lost Words, by Pip Williams (2020) For lovers of words - their history, how they're documented, and who...
tatedecaro
Jan 11, 20233 min read

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