Review: An Introduction to Social Constructionism

An Introduction to Social Constructionism by Vivien Burr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, this book is amazing! I recommend it to all humanities and social science scholars, and I wish I had read it earlier in my doctoral program. It really helped me to better understand social constructionism theories and poststructural theories, along with discourse analysis. Burr breaks down important theories of Foucault, Derrida, and other key scholars in a way that is accessible and easy to understand. If you're interested in doing humanities and social science research, pick it up and read it today! It's worth it.

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Review: Bitter Medicine: A Graphic Memoir of Mental Illness

Bitter Medicine: A Graphic Memoir of Mental Illness by Clem Martini
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was definitely an interesting read, and it will help me with a current project I am doing on comics that represent mental health issues. It definitely makes important statements of how traditional healthcare sometimes fails people with mental health issues. What I found uplifting about the book is how much the family support mattered to Liv and how his connections to his family truly saved him. Also, I loved how Clem did the writing and Liv did the drawings. Artistic collaborations between people who truly love each other make for great work. This is definitely worth reading!

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Review: A Teacher's Introduction to Reader-Response Theories

A Teacher's Introduction to Reader-Response Theories by Richard W. Beach
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I very much enjoyed this book! It takes complex reader response theories and breaks them down in a way that is easy to understand. In particular, I was interested in the cultural response theories, and that section will help me greatly with my comprehensive exam essays. I would recommend this book to Language and Literacy Education practitioners and researchers alike. I am so glad I got to read it prior to having the privilege of meeting Dr. Beach and hearing him speak at UGA in a few days!

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Review: Wytches, Vol. 1

Wytches, Vol. 1 by Scott Snyder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! I have enjoyed reading horror stories since I was a kid, and this comic turned graphic novel combined two of my literary passions, horror stories and comics. I read it for the graphic novel book club of Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia, and I'm so glad I did. It had fantasy and gothic elements to it, in addition to in depth character analysis and deeper themes of self-awareness, so I was hooked from beginning to end. I was frightened at times, but in the best possible way. Really, the scariest "Wytches" are our own insecurities and our demons within, and this story conveyed that point so well. Also, the art work was amazing, and the dialogue was captivating. I definitely recommend this book and hope to read the other volumes. :)

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