Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo **Book Hangover Alert Alex Stern book 1 of 2 CW: rape, drug abuse, PTSD, body horror, murder, racism, self-harm I reread Ninth House in preparation for Hellbent, the sequel, which I am very excited about. Ninth House is a dark academia fantasy featuring Alex Stern, a girl who can see ghosts and is part of Lethe, an oversight body for the secret societies of Yale, tasked with making sure the societies don’t harm students of the town with their magic. After a suspicious murder, Alex must find out if the societies had anything to do with it. I listened to the audiobook this time and Lauren Fortgang does a superb job. 5/5 secret societies
New Books Read
Random House
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt CW: racism, n-word, murder, homophobia Talk about truth stranger than fiction. This is a true crime book set in Savannah, GA in the 1980s and it’s a wild ride from start to finish. The story covers Berendt’s move to Savannah and how he came to be a part of the Savannah community which is then rocked by the murder of a young man by one of the richest and most influential men in Savannah’s upper crust. It’s full of colorful and interesting characters and Berendt manages to capture the quirkiness of the situation and the people that live there without seeming condescending. 3.5/5 jars of grave dirt
Flatiron Books
Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert CW: animal death This is the first book in a long time that I’ve stayed up all night to finish in one sitting. It almost seems like a fever dream, I read it so fast. Our Crooked Hearts is a YA fantasy that follows a mother and daughter, both with an affinity for magic, on parallel lines as the dark secrets of the mother catch up to the daughter. I loved the dark fantasy aspect and twists and turns as Albert kept me guessing and unable to put it down. 4/5 rabbit hearts
Naxos Audiobooks
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas CW: racism, slavery, antisemitism, suicide, suicidal ideation, attempted suicide, ableism, abandonment Is this book like way too long? Yes, yes it is. Did I still enjoy it? Yes, yes I did. I’ve mentioned this before, but with many Victorian novels, you only have to read about every 30th page to still know what’s going on, and that’s definitely true here. The Count of Monte Cristo follows a man wrongly accused of Bonapartism in post Bonaparte France and his subsequent imprisonment, escape, and quest for vengeance. But Monte Cristo isn’t satisfied with just finding and murdering the men who put him away, he has extremely elaborate plans for the total destruction of the men who have wronged him. And I respect that about him. I have a few more thoughts, but they are spoilers. Read More: SPOILERS AHEAD
As much as I enjoyed the book overall, I did not need this many pages of prose to learn that vengeance doesn’t equal justice and destroying the men who have wronged him isn’t really going to make Monte Cristo feel any better. I also didn’t love that Monte Cristo and Haydee and up together at the end. It’s weird and gross and paternalistic. She is much younger and spent a long time as his slave. And even though Monte Cristo is portrayed as a benevolent, ‘good’ slave owner, we know that good slave owners don’t exist.
3.5/5 secret treasures
HarperCollins Publishers
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S. A. Chakraborty *** **Book Hangover Alert CW: murder, misogyny, racism This was a choice for the March Book of the Month and I didn’t choose it and I have regrets. It was so good. Retired scourge of the seas, Amina Al-Sirafi comes out of retirement for one final job, searching for the kidnapped daughter of her former crew member. There are pirates, found family, magic, monsters, sorcerers, demons, adventure, and it was fabulous. Definitely hoping Chakraborty continues the series. 5/5 charismatic demon husbands
HQ Fiction
The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner*** CW: ableism, murder I really liked Penner’s first book, The Lost Apothecary, so I was excited to read this one. I didn’t like it as much as The Lost Apothecary, but it was still enjoyable. The story follows Lenna Wickes, the pupil of famous medium Vaudeline D’Allaire, as she tries to solve her sister’s murder. When Vaudeline is called on to investigate the murder of one of the leaders of the London Séance Society, Lenna and Vaudeline discover there may be more to the society and these murders than they first thought. I loved the lesbian representation in Victorian London. My main complaint is a spoiler so read on at your own risk. Read More: SPOILERS AHEAD
I really disliked the chapters from the perspective of the man, whose name I can’t remember and doesn’t appear in any of the blurbs about the book. He was just so unlikeable, which I realize was the point, because he turned out to be the bad guy, but still. I think it would have been more enjoyable if he had been charismatic and alluring and THEN turned out to be the bad guy. He is also described as having a facial birthmark which I think is problematic. It is a trope in Victorian literature that those with disabilities or physical or mental differences are evil and the disability is God’s way of punishing them for it. I don’t know if Penner was trying to lean into this trope because it was a mainstay of Victorian literature, but it’s a really harmful stereotype and I hate that I still see it in modern books.
3.5/5 amber stones
**Book Hangover Alert indicates the kind of book that will leave you full up on love. Satisfied, but wishing the book never had to end. You’ll be laying on the floor with no idea what to do with yourself (other friends have called this feeling Good Book Depression or say that certain books necessitate Floor Time). This is the kind of book that gets its teeth in you and won’t let go easily. After the last page you’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. You’ll bother all your friends trying to get them to read it so that you won’t be alone in your Hangover.
***This book is part of my Books for a Social Conscience series! Read The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi for fantasy and piracy set around the Islamic Golden Age with diverse characters from many areas surrounding the Indian ocean. It also has LGBTQIA+ representation. Read The London Séance Society for LGBTQIA+ representation in historical fiction. Reads marked as part of the Books for a Social Conscience series will regularly address topics like race and racism, colonialism and post-colonialism, LGBTQIA+ experience, feminism, BIPOC experience, social and political issues, history, identity, class, disability experience, immigration, gun violence, poverty, colorism, environmentalism, and more! The goal of these books is to diversify the stories we’re reading, grow our empathy for those who are different from us, and amplify voices who are often silenced.
A Venom Dark and Sweet by Judy I. Lin*** The Book of Tea book 2 of 2 I really enjoyed this one too. I read the first book last month and all the things I liked about it continued in this one. This one is a little more focused on the political issues of the empire than the first one was, but I thought it was really well done. I liked learning about the gods and the mythology of the world Lin created. 3.5/5 relics from gods
Pan Macmillan
A Victorian Flower Diction: The Language of the Flowers Companion by Vanessa Diffenbaugh and Mandy Kirby I read this book as research for the novel I’m writing but I did find it both interesting and very helpful. The book talks in depth about 50 flowers, sharing their meaning for the Victorians and sharing art and poetry that uses these flowers as symbols. The book also contains a longer list of dictionary entries for more flowers and their basic meanings. I haven’t read The Language of the Flowers, the novel that this dictionary is a companion to, but the book was very helpful for my purposes. 3/5 chrysanthemums
Babel by R. F. Kuang*** **Book Hangover Alert CW: racism, racial slurs, death, Imperialism I adored this book. If you’re not interested in linguistics and language and the academic theory surrounding language, this book is probably not for you. I thought it was fascinating, and I loved the setting of magical Victorian Oxford and the dark academia vibe. It reminded me a little of Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, but with more likable and diverse characters. I also loved the exploration of Imperialism and racism and the difficult pull and push between one’s homeland and one’s adopted homeland, especially when one’s adopted homeland is exploiting one’s homeland. I love that this book is an anti-Imperialism, labor union book. It’s a very niche genre but one I love. My only criticisms are that I wished it had a happier end (though I’m not sure a happier end would have been believable), and I wished Ramy and Robin had a little happiness together. 5/5 silver bars
Penguin Publishing Group
Homicide and Halo-Halo*** Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries book 2 of 4 CW: PTSD, trauma This book has an author content warning at the beginning, so make sure to read it for a full list of triggers that may be in the book. I enjoyed this book too. The first book in this series was my book of the month a couple years ago and it’s a super enjoyable cozy mystery full of delicious food. This one continues in the same vein. I loved learning more about Filipino cuisine and I loved the beauty pageant aspect of the plot. We love mysteries (or really any books) with excellent female and BIPOC representation. 3.5/5 Filipino baked goods
The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, translated by Kencho Suematsu CW: pedophilia, grooming of a child This book is considered one of if not the first fiction novel ever written. This translation is supposedly one of the first translations of the book into English, however it only translates the first 17 chapters and not all 54. I don’t know why they didn’t translate the whole thing, but I must say, I’m grateful because 17 chapters was more than enough. Of course this book is important historically in that it is one of the first fictional novels ever written and it was written by a woman, so that’s cool. But that doesn’t make it good. It was not good. It was actually quite awful. It had no plot and no interesting characters. Prince Genji, the main character, was just the worst, a womanizer and a pedophile. It was also confusing for someone who has no knowledge of Japanese court structure, life, or customs in the year 1000. I hated it. 1.5/5 ladies named after flowers (I have to give it more than a 1 because I did finish reading it)
Alfred A. Knopf
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel I loved it. This book reminded me a bit of David Mitchell, one of my favorite authors. I loved how the story weaved through time and created such a neat, satisfying well resolved ending. I don’t want to say too much because spoilers, but I adored it. I read it in basically one sitting. 5/5 moon colonies
Penguin Random House
Spare by Prince Harry CW: PTSD, trauma, death of a parent, suicide, suicidal thoughts Prince Harry’s memoir was fascinating. We all know a little about the royal family and we all know a little about Princess Diana and her death, but getting to see the royal family and Princess Diana through Harry’s eyes was very interesting and also heartbreaking. Harry reads the audiobook which was cool to get to hear it in his voice. I was left with the conviction that the monarchy is no longer relevant and continues to be a harmful institution, and with the conviction that the way the press dehumanizes and commodifies famous people is disgusting. I wish only the best for Harry, Megan and their children and only the worst for everyone else in the royal family. 4/5 tabloids
Cursed by Marissa Meyer Gilded book 2 of 2 CW: death of children, loss of bodily autonomy This was a month of reading second books in series apparently. Cursed is the sequel to Gilded, and the duology is a retelling of Rumpelstitskin. I don’t think I liked this series as much as Meyer’s first fairytale retelling, The Lunar Chronicles, but it was still very enjoyable. I really liked the world she created and the magical creatures and gods in it. 3.5/5 golden chains
Lion Forge Comics / Oni Press
Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe*** Book Hangover Alert** CW: body dysmorphia I tried to buy this book for Banned Books Week last year and it was sold out so I still don’t have a copy, but this month for Trans Rights Read-A-Thon, I thought I would go ahead and get it from the library. It was great. You know I’m always trying to find more ace representation and Kobabe’s graphic memoir explores eir experience as a nonbinary asexual person. My complaint on the last book I read with ace rep (Loveless) was that it didn’t reflect my experience as an ace of not really wanting romantic or sexual relationships. I felt Kobabe’s experience of discovering asexuality more closely mirrored mine, although I identify as a cis woman. I hope everyone can read this book and more books like it. Stop banning books, you cowards. 5/5 pronouns
W. W. Norton & Company
The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson CW: slavery Two translated books and one book about translation this month. I’ve read parts of The Odyssey before from other translations but this is the first time I’ve read it straight though. Emily Watson’s translation is quite new and comes with a more feminist lens which was super interesting. I enjoyed it. I liked that she kept it as a metered poem, which it is in the original Greek. Other translations translate it to basically a prose poem, keeping the line breaks, but losing the meter and form. I do think it’s a little too long and there’s too much time spent between Odysseus returning to Ithaca and finally confronting the suitors. Also I didn’t realize how much help he had from Athena. Like Odysseus had a great reputation for being so smart and a great warrior, but really he just had a lot of help. 3/5 wine-dark seas
**Book Hangover Alert indicates the kind of book that will leave you full up on love. Satisfied, but wishing the book never had to end. You’ll be laying on the floor with no idea what to do with yourself (other friends have called this feeling Good Book Depression or say that certain books necessitate Floor Time). This is the kind of book that gets its teeth in you and won’t let go easily. After the last page you’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. You’ll bother all your friends trying to get them to read it so that you won’t be alone in your Hangover.
***This book is part of my Books for a Social Conscience series! Read A Venom Dark and Sweet for a lush Asian inspired fantasy with LGBTQIA+ rep. Read Babel for anti-capitalism, anti-imperialism, immigrant experiences and LGBTQIA+ rep. Read Homicide and Halo-Halo for BIPOC rep, strong ladies, and LGBTQIA+ rep. Read Gender Queer for experiences in self discovery and LGBTQIA+ rep.
Reads marked as part of the Books for a Social Conscience series will regularly address topics like race and racism, colonialism and post-colonialism, LGBTQIA+ experience, feminism, BIPOC experience, social and political issues, history, identity, class, disability experience, immigration, gun violence, poverty, colorism, environmentalism, and more! The goal of these books is to diversify the stories we’re reading, grow our empathy for those who are different from us, and amplify voices who are often silenced.
Siren Queen by Nghi Vo*** **Book Hangover Alert Exquisite. I read Vo’s The Chosen and the Beautiful earlier this year and loved that as well. I love the way she crafts a dreamlike fantasy world that isn’t so far removed from our world. I feel like I could easily get lost in the worlds she creates, though they definitely have teeth. I loved that this story was set in the 1930s and 40s Hollywood scene, though a fantastical one. I liked that it still addressed race, gender, and sexuality issues of that time, while still being a fantasy. 4.5/5 movie monsters
Knopf
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell **Book Hangover Alert CW: marital rape I adored this. The story takes a true event–the suspicious death of 16 year old Lucrezia de’Medici shortly after her marriage–and gives us a fictional account of Lucrezia’s life and death. It so lushly recreates Renaissance Italy, and I adored the character of Lucrezia. O’Farrell’s tension building is perfection. Lucrezia also read to me as neurodivergent, though that isn’t explicit as that isn’t something we know about her historically. 5/5 tigers
HarperCollins
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta*** CW: homophobia, bullying This is a lovely little novel-in-verse. I loved Atta’s style and how spare yet rich his language is. I know sometimes we can get a little tired of a coming out story, since sometimes it feels like that’s the only time LGBTQ+ people are represented in media, but I loved the way this story explored the intersections of race and sexuality and internalized homophobia. 4/5 feather boas
George Allen & Unwin
The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien I tried to read this book back in high school or maybe middle school (?) but I only got about 130 pages in. This time I listened to it which is how I’ve gotten through all of Tolkien’s works that I’ve read. I liked learning more about Middle Earth and its origins and connecting that to what I knew from the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the new Rings of Power TV show. But I will admit that my mind wandered from time to time and I might have to re-listen to a couple of chapters. 3.5/5 ents
Audible
Life Ever After by Carla Grauls This was an Audible original radio play, and I didn’t love it. I was really interested in the sci-fi world Grauls created, but instead of really getting to explore that world, we were stuck with a love story between two characters who were not that interesting. I also thought the dialogue was not very good; it tended toward circular arguments that got boring after a while. 2/5 upgrades
Penguin Random House
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill*** **Book Hangover Alert CW: misogyny This book was just sublime. I don’t have enough words to sing its praises. I laughed, I cried, I cheered. Somehow it reminded me of Glennon Doyle’s Untamed, even though it was a fantasy novel. Highly, highly recommend. 1000/5 dragons
Wordsworth Classics
Persuasion by Jane Austen Some books don’t deserve to be classics, but Austen’s books certainly earn their place in literary canon. I really enjoyed Persuasion. It’s not quite as good as Pride and Prejudice, but it’s still very good. I always love Austen’s heroines, and I love the way she creates tension and builds intrigue. 3.5/5 dashing sea captains
***This book is part of my Books for a Social Conscience series! Read Siren Queen for LGBTQ+ and Asian representation in old school Hollywood. Read The Black Flamingo for LGBTQ+ identity and representation. Read When Women Were Dragons for a look at women’s experience under the patriarchy, and LGBTQ+ representation.
Reads marked as part of the Books for a Social Conscience series will regularly address topics like race and racism, colonialism and post-colonialism, LGBTQ+ experience, feminism, BIPOC experience, social and political issues, history, identity, class, disability experience, immigration, gun violence, poverty, colorism, environmentalism, and more! The goal of these books is to diversify the stories we’re reading, grow our empathy for those who are different from us, and amplify voices who are often silenced.
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami CW: bullying, suicide, suicidal ideation I really liked Breasts and Eggs by Kawakami so I was excited to read this. I was left with the feeling that I didn’t get it. I mean, I understood the fundamental struggle of humans to try to give meaning to our lives, particularly our strife, the idea that suffering has to mean something. But the whole thing just left me sad and dispirited, and I felt that I suffered with the characters through the novel and then was left with no meaning at the end. Which maybe was the point, that the characters suffer meaninglessly and the reader does too, but it didn’t leave me particularly satisfied. So did I miss something? Have you read it? What did you think? 2/5 letters
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin*** **Book Hangover Alert CW: gun violence, suicide This book was just so good. We love to see ace characters. We love to see deep friendship given as much consideration as romantic relationships. We love 90s and early 2000s nostalgia. This book had all of that, as well as being thought provoking and literary and haunting. I loved it. 5/5 Donkey Kong machines
Penguin Random House
Upgrade by Blake Crouch CW: nonconsensual medical procedures This book was definitely a page turner. I enjoyed the ethical question of the lengths we should go to if it means saving the human race. I was interested in the examination of gene editing, especially since that is something that might be within reach of current science soon. I wish Crouch had spent more time examining the ethical problem of whether we should edit genes, even if we have the ability to, and if it’s ethical to upgrade people without their consent. 3.5/5 upgraded vigilantes
St. Martin’s Press
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah*** **Book Hangover Alert CW: war, genocide, rape, anti-semitism, torture I’ve said this about every Kristin Hannah book I’ve read so far, but I love her female characters. I love how distinct they are from one another and how the both develop throughout the narrative. I learned a lot about World War II. I loved how Hannah managed to portray her characters with such empathy, whether they were choosing to keep their heads down to try to survive or whether they were resisting the Nazis in large or small ways. 4.5/5 ration coupons
Audible Original
Agent 355 by Marie Benedict This was a fun little novella speculating on the identity of a spy instrumental in bringing down Benedict Arnold during the Revolutionary War. It was enjoyable and I liked Elizabeth’s plucky nature. But I could have done with more spying and less falling in love. 3/5 redcoats
Bloomsbury Publishing USA
House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J Maas Crescent City book 2 CW: fantasy racism I do think this was maybe a bit too long and had too much graphic sex in it for my taste. But that being said I did really enjoy it and I will read the next one. I do still kind of think this story is a grown up version of Throne of Glass, but again that doesn’t mean I don’t like it. I won’t explain more, because spoilers. 4/5 comm crystals
Tor Publishing Group
Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire*** Wayward Children book 6 of 10 CW: bullying, fantasy racism This is a stand-alone in the Wayward Children series and it might be one of my favorites from the series. We don’t get to see Eleanor West of the other children from the home for wayward children, which is a shame since I do miss them, but I loved Reagan and her story. 3.5/5 centaurs
The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford*** **Book Hangover Alert CW: racism, sexual assault I adored this one too. I love the idea of epigenetic inheritance and the idea of reincarnation (although that’s not quite what’s happening here). It reminded me a lot of David Mitchell’s work, and he’s one of my favorite authors. It also reminded me a bit of The Bonesetter’s Daughter. I loved the way each woman’s story echoed into the next and how each was wrapped up. It was moving and poignant and just so lovely. 5/5 typhoons
Harper Perennial
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley CW: racism, ableism Of 20th century dystopian novels, this one is not the best. It’s intriguing and I certainly agree with Huxley’s critique of consumerism and agree with the fundamental right of personal autonomy. But I didn’t love it. I think it was because I didn’t like any of the characters much, and I’m not really sure that you were supposed to. Bernard was shallow and cowardly and Lenina was also shallow, though that may have been a result of the conditioning of the World State. That left me with John, who I felt I was supposed to sympathize more with but I really didn’t much care for him either, even if his view of human nature and the natural order of the world is closer to my own. The caste system was interesting and frightening in its believability. 3/5 soma tabs
Tor Publishing Group
Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire Wayward Children book 7 of 10 CW: fatphobia, bullying I was glad this installment of the series included both many of our old friends from the home for wayward children, and let us see Reagan again from the last book. I really enjoyed this one and liked that we got to see the Whitehorn Academy which has been mentioned before in the previous books. 3.5/5 mermaids
**Book Hangover Alert indicates the kind of book that will leave you full up on love. Satisfied, but wishing the book never had to end. You’ll be laying on the floor with no idea what to do with yourself (other friends have called this feeling Good Book Depression or say that certain books necessitate Floor Time). This is the kind of book that gets its teeth in you and won’t let go easily. After the last page you’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. You’ll bother all your friends trying to get them to read it so that you won’t be alone in your Hangover.
***This book is part of my Books for a Social Conscience series! Read Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow for LGBTQIA+, mixed race and immigrant, and female perspectives in the world of video games. Read The Nightingale to learn more about WWII and the suffering Jews and other minorities, as well as French resistance fighters faced, and the everyday struggles of the women of occupied France. Read Across the Green Grass Fields for LGBTQIA+ representation in fantasy. Read The Many Daughters of Afong Moy for a Chinese perspective on the past, present, and future.
Reads marked as part of the Books for a Social Conscience series will regularly address topics like race and racism, colonialism and post-colonialism, LGBTQ+ experience, feminism, BIPOC experience, social and political issues, history, identity, class, disability experience, immigration, gun violence, poverty, colorism, environmentalism, and more! The goal of these books is to diversify the stories we’re reading, grow our empathy for those who are different from us, and amplify voices who are often silenced.
I didn’t read much this month because I was trying to finish writing my novel.
Books Reread
Audible
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett You know I love a full cast audiobook. And I love both Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. It was really nice to revisit this book which I haven’t read since before the TV adaptation came out. It’s still funny. I still love Crowley and Aziraphale. There are a few jokes that haven’t aged like fine wine, (looking at you Madam Tracey’s spirit guide) but overall it’s still a really good book. 4/5 nice and accurate prophesies
New Books
Redhook Books
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow*** Book Hangover Alert** CW: misogyny, racism I heard about this one on BookTok and it did not disappoint. I loved Harrow’s prose and the connection of witches to the women’s suffrage and workers’ rights movements–that’s something I haven’t seen done before. I also loved the LGBTQ+ representation; it’s not every day we get another asexual character. I thought the magic system was really cool. I liked the bittersweet ending. 4.5/5 words and ways
Inés of My Soul by Isabel Allende CW: rape, genocide, gore, colonialism I love way Allende writes. This novel had such a strong voice, and I liked the focus on a strong historical woman often forgotten. I was left a little uneasy that the protagonists are Spanish conquistadors. I do think Allende does a good job of not glorifying them or the colonization of South America, and she doesn’t flinch from describing the atrocities committed by the Spanish. But I guess I wanted the protagonists to come to a point where they condemned imperialism, even though I know that’s probably not historically accurate. 3/5 water divining rods
Penguin Random House
True Biz by Sara Nović*** Book Hangover Alert** CW: ableism, oralism, mention of forced sterilization, institutionalization Amazing. I loved this. It was my sister’s Book of the Month pick for April, and immediately after she finished it, I read it. I’ve never read a book where the characters used primarily sign language, so that was super cool. I loved the emphasis on Deaf culture, history, and issues facing the d/Deaf community. I also appreciated getting to see a coming of age story where Deaf teenagers get to do teenager things; often there’s a misconception that disabled people are asexual and don’t get out much and don’t enjoy the same things we all do. I learned so much from this book and highly recommend it to everyone. 5/5 hand signs
**Book Hangover Alert indicates the kind of book that will leave you full up on love. Satisfied, but wishing the book never had to end. You’ll be laying on the floor with no idea what to do with yourself (other friends have called this feeling Good Book Depression or say that certain books necessitate Floor Time). This is the kind of book that gets its teeth in you and won’t let go easily. After the last page you’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. You’ll bother all your friends trying to get them to read it so that you won’t be alone in your Hangover.
***This book is part of my Books for a Social Conscience series! Read The Once and Future Witches for a feminist fairytale with LGBTQ+ themes. Read True Biz to learn more about Deaf culture, ASL, and ableism.
Reads marked as part of the Books for a Social Conscience series will regularly address topics like race and racism, colonialism and post-colonialism, LGBTQ+ experience, feminism, BIPOC experience, social and political issues, history, identity, class, disability experience, immigration, gun violence, poverty, colorism, environmentalism, and more! The goal of these books is to diversify the stories we’re reading, grow our empathy for those who are different from us, and amplify voices who are often silenced.
The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis CW: ableism, racism, misogyny I actually finished this on January 31st but I had already posted the January book blog. I loved almost everything about this book. I loved the parallel story lines and the art history elements and the examination and contrast of women in 1919 and 1966 who were all unique trailblazers in their own way. What I didn’t love about this book is a spoiler so read on at your own risk.
Read More: SPOILERS AHEAD
The resolution to the mystery was that Miss Winnie is faking her deafness. I talked about this a bit last month as well, but the stereotype that disabled people are faking their disability to get benefits is so harmful. I was just really disappointed by that solution.
3.5/5 sculptures
Audible Original
The Sandman Act II Radio Drama by Neil Gaiman CW: (from Audible) “This content is not for kids. It is for mature audiences only. Just like the original graphic novels, this audio adaptation contains explicit language and graphic violence, as well as strong sexual content and themes. Discretion is advised.” I’ve mentioned on this blog before that Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read all his novels and short story collections, so I’ve been slowly trying to read and listen to the Sandman comics as well. Honestly, I’m not sure it’s my cup of tea. I’ve been trying to like it, but it’s a little too gory and violent for me. There are always a few stories in each volume that I like, but overall I don’t love it. This radio drama covers about Volumes 4-6 (doesn’t cover quite all of 6) of the comics. It’s really well performed and has a lot of big name actors. Kat Dennings as Death is one of my favorites for sure. 3/5 weird families
Lobizona by Romina Garber*** Book Hangover Alert** Wolves of No World book 1 CW: misogyny, immigration detention, ICE I loved this so much. It made me super nostalgic for Argentina, reading it felt like coming home (which is also how reading Harry Potter makes me feel). It does have a magic school and witches and magic, but it also has things that would make HP better if it did have them, for example, diversity. Our protagonist is an undocumented Argentine immigrant trying learning how to balance the different parts of her identity. I just can’t even explain how much I loved it. I need the next book. Someone give it to me. 5/5 brujas
Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez Book Hangover Alert** The main character in Lobizona is reading Cien Años de Soledad and she gushes about how much she loves it. This made me want to read it. I don’t have a copy of it but I do have a copy of Chronicle of a Death Foretold. Honestly, I was surprised. I didn’t expect to like it and I really did. It was hard to put down and I’m still trying to figure out how Márquez did it. I didn’t feel like I cared or felt bad for Santiago Nasar who dies at the beginning (whose death was foretold), but I couldn’t stop reading. I wanted to read this in Spanish but my reading level isn’t quite that high in Spanish. I liked his style a lot. The most interesting part of this book for me was the sort of bystander effect that pervades the whole community. There’s only one person who actually tries to stop the murder, but as a woman she doesn’t really have any power to stop it. I’m also thinking a lot about the woman whose accusation kills Nasar and how women have to go to extreme lengths to escape unwanted marriages and shame and all the double standards related to the sexual lives of women verses men. 4/5 pig slaughter knives
Hodder & Stoughton
The Second Rebel by Linden A. Lewis*** Book Hangover Alert** The First Sister Trilogy book 2 of 3 CW: body dysphoria, sexual slavery, fantasy racism, medical experimentation I really liked this one, maybe even a little more than the first one. The first one had to do a lot of world building so we knew what was going on, and this time, we just got to enjoy the plot and characters. Again I love the diversity of the characters; we have a few nonbinary characters, an asexual character, some wlw relationships, disabled characters. One thing I love about these books is the portrayal of the resistance fighters against the oppressive governments. Often in novels resistance fighters are unambiguously good guys and I really like how Lewis shows the hard decisions and the gray areas and the ease with which those fighting oppression slip to the level of their oppressors. 4.5/5 bioweapons
Doubleday
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury CW: femicide, serial murder I really like Ray Bradbury, but this one wasn’t my favorite. It’s billed as a novel but it’s really more like a collection of short stories or vignettes all set in the same town over one summer. Some of them I liked a lot, but it wasn’t super novel-y in my opinion. I don’t think it was as good as Something Wicked This Way Comes or Fahrenheit 451. I really like Bradbury’s writing style and the way he uses descriptive language. My usual complaint for his books is the lack of distinctive female characters that aren’t like “mother” or “wife” tropes. I liked in this book that there actually was a memorable female character in Lavinia. There were a few other female characters, but she was the most interesting. 3/5 happiness machines
HarperCollins
The Betrayal of Anne Frank by Rosemary Sullivan*** Book Hangover Alert** CW: the Holocaust, anti-semitism, persecution of LGBTQ+, Sinti and Roma, and disabled individuals In the wake of all the book banning, particularly of Maus, I thought this was an appropriate read (since I’ve already read Maus), and my best friend highly recommended it. This book was utterly fascinating. I learned so much. I loved the compassionate way the cold case team explored the mystery and how they grappled with how anyone could betray another to the Nazis. It’s so important for us to study history and see the effect that extraordinary circumstances have on ordinary people so that we can understand how so many ostensibly good people went along with the Nazis. 4/5 secret bookcase-doors
Foundation by Isaac Asimov CW: sexism, murder, suicide This book is lauded as one of–if not the–best science fiction book of all time. I didn’t love it. It was a bit dry. It was about politics and economics which people seem to think is groundbreaking in a science fiction book…but I guess I don’t usually choose to read science fiction because I want to read about politics and economics? And my tired old complaint: there is only one female character and she’s a nasty, nagging wife. Just felt pretty “eh” about it. 3/5 future plans
Faber and Faber
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro CW: classism, discrimination I guess the theme this month is science fiction. I really liked this book. I thought it was really unique. It’s written from the perspective of an AF (Artificial Friend) and the voice and the perspective are really interesting. I liked the way this future world was revealed to us slowly through Klara’s keen observation. I also enjoyed thinking about all the different ethical considerations when dealing with artificial intelligence and gene editing. What rights should androids have? 3.5/5 artificial friends
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah*** Book Hangover Alert** CW: classism, discrimination, poverty This was BOTM’s Book of the Year last year and it deserved it. It was great. I cried. I laughed. I cheered. I raged. I reveled in the story of two strong, gritty women and the ways they each come into their own. I also learned so much about the Great Depression, which was apparently much worse than I ever knew. I labeled this as a Book for a Social Consciousness. Usually books with that designation will be by authors of color, feature characters of color or different LGBTQ+ identities. This one is by a white woman and about descendants of Italian immigrants who were trying to survive during the Great Depression in Texas and California. It touches on themes of classism, worker’s rights, immigration, and how easy it is to “other” outsiders when times are tough. Somehow, even though it’s about the Great Depression, it’s still super relevant to today. 5/5 Hoovervilles
The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson CW: fatphobia, ableism, anti-Native stereotypes Bill Bryson is one of my favorite travel writers. He’s so funny and has such amusing observations even when he travels to a place, stays one night in a hotel, eats in one restaurant, and complains about how expensive all the attractions in the area are. This is one of his older books, and some of the humor does rely on negative stereotypes about disabled people, fat people, and Native people, which is, of course, not ideal. But overall, it was fun to go with Bryson on his long road trip across small town America. 3/5 perfect small towns
Don’t you hate it when libraries put stickers over the title???
The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood*** **Book Hangover Alert CW: domestic violence, sexual coercion, war, anti-Muslim racism, illegal immigration I don’t really know what I was expecting from this book but it surprised me every step of the way. I loved the intimate portrayal of different experiences of Muslim immigrants living in the US through events like 9/11 and the Trump presidency . I liked the messy characters and their messy lives and Anvar’s messy family (but not Safwa’s messy family). Very contemplative and nuanced and kind. 4.5/5 bubblegum ice creams
**Book Hangover Alert indicates the kind of book that will leave you full up on love. Satisfied, but wishing the book never had to end. You’ll be laying on the floor with no idea what to do with yourself (other friends have called this feeling Good Book Depression or say that certain books necessitate Floor Time). This is the kind of book that gets its teeth in you and won’t let go easily. After the last page you’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. You’ll bother all your friends trying to get them to read it so that you won’t be alone in your Hangover.
***This book is part of my Books for a Social Conscience series! Read Lobizona for a more diverse fantasy experience that grapples with trying to change entrenched cultural norms. Read The Second Rebel to see more diversity in science fiction. Read The Betrayal of Anne Frank to learn more about the Holocaust and the realities for Jews, other marginalized identities, and those who tried to help. Read The Four Winds to learn why Amazon’s company town idea is such a bad one that we really don’t need to repeat. Read The Bad Muslim Discount to learn about different Muslim perspectives.
Reads marked as part of the Books for a Social Conscience series will regularly address topics like race and racism, colonialism and post-colonialism, LGBTQ+ experience, feminism, BIPOC experience, social and political issues, history, identity, class, disability experience, immigration, gun violence, poverty, colorism, environmentalism, and more! The goal of these books is to diversify the stories we’re reading, grow our empathy for those who are different from us, and amplify voices who are often silenced.
Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo*** Book Hangover Alert** King of Scars Duology book 2 of 2, Grishaverse CW: body dysmorphia, reference to sexual assault, suicide, war, violence, grief, death, racism The second King of Scars book! Loved it! I won’t say much about this one because I don’t want to give any spoilers. There was one death I felt like was unnecessary and I was pretty mad about it. I am a big fan of how Bardugo writes her male characters. I saw a TikTok about how Kaz is a male character written for the female gaze and I think the same can be said for Nikolai. I would go more into that but spoilers. I loved that we got to spend more time with characters we know and love from other Grishaverse books. Will there be more after this one??? I think the answer is probably yes. 4.5/5 charming thieves
Penguin
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett*** Book Hangover Alert** CW: n-word, anti-black racism, AIDS epidemic, body dysmorphia, lynching, domestic abuse/violence, transphobia , sexual assault, colorism Stunning. I loved it. Just last month I read Passing by Nella Larsen which is a Harlem Renaissance classic that addresses the subject of passing and colorism so it was interesting to read The Vanishing Half right after. I loved how Bennett developed each of her characters. They were each so nuanced and distinct and flawed. I loved the bittersweetness of the whole story and how there wasn’t a neat resolution–even though some part of me wanted a neat resolution, I think that wouldn’t have felt as true. I also loved Jude and Reece’s relationship and how Bennett explored LGBTQ+ relationships and identity in the 1970s without that being the main focus. 5/5 long lost sisters
The Sweetest Remedy by Jane Igharo*** CW: racial microagressions I keep saying on this blog that I don’t read many romance books but I guess I read 7, which was my 4th largest fiction subcategory this year. I didn’t love this one, but it wasn’t bad. I thought the most interesting parts of the story were the relationships Hannah, the main character, explored with her father’s family as she got to know them, and how she learned to connect with her Nigerian culture. I wasn’t really that into the love interest and I almost didn’t even need that plot line. I loved the way Hannah came to self-acceptance and love by the end of the story. I guess I would have appreciated a little more Nigerian culture. Hannah didn’t really get to do any real sightseeing in Lagos other than visiting the slum Lawrence is from. The socialist in me also feels like the Jolade family could be doing more charitable work. They mention a scholarship program for kids in the slum, but considering how rich they are, it does seem like they could be doing a bit more, or be a little more self-aware about the vast economic inequality. And Hannah, being someone from a less privileged background and someone for whom charity and volunteering is so important, I felt should have explored that more. Also, just to nitpick, why did Igharo have to keep using the words “flapping” eyelids or eyelashes? Just say blinking. Ew. 3/5 also long lost sisters
The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker*** Keeper of Night Duology Book 1 CW: racism, body horror, gore, gruesome death of an animal, death I was really intrigued by the fantasy world Baker created based on Japanese mythology. I loved the idea of the Reapers and the Shinigami and how different cultures deal with death. I also liked the exploration of the two sides of the protagonist’s identity (British and Japanese) as she tries to find belonging, though I do think that even more exploration would have been better. I was disappointed by the characters. Overall they were pretty one-dimensional and the author’s efforts to make them morally gray, while interesting, ended up just making them unlikable. Ren, the protagonist, also doesn’t really change by the end of the book. She has one moment where she realizes the error of her ways, but no real change in her character happens. It also made me think a lot about Paulo Freire’s quote, “The oppressed, instead of striving for liberation, tend themselves to become oppressors,” from The Pedagogy of the Oppressed. I know this book is the first in a duology, but I would have liked to see Ren move from oppressed to oppressor to liberated. Instead she only makes it to oppressor and I don’t feel like I liked the book enough to read the second one and find out if she develops any more. 3/5 nine-tailed foxes
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi*** Book Hangover Alert** CW: addiction, depression, suicide attempt, n-word, anti-black racism, animal testing (scientific) I loved Gyasi’s first book, Homegoing, so I was really excited to read this one. It was so beautiful. I love her writing style. This book was quiet and contemplative, exploring the protagonist’s effort to reconcile her religious upbringing with her scientific work, and through that understanding, then come to terms with the loss of her brother and her relationship with her mother. 5/5 Ensure addicted mice
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid*** Book Hangover Alert** CW: homophobia, sexism, AIDS epidemic, alcoholism, death of family members, suicide and doctor assisted suicide, cancer I couldn’t put this book down. I talked a little about morally gray characters in relation to The Keeper of Night and I didn’t think it was done very well in that book. Here it’s done much better. Celia and Evelyn are certainly flawed characters who sometimes make questionable choices but I was always rooting for them throughout the book. I loved reading about how the characters had to navigate their identities in relation to their careers, and I think the book addresses a lot of things that are still sometimes a bit taboo in Hollywood. The book was a gorgeous, luscious exploration of the glitz and glam of Hollywood in the 1950s-80s as well as the darker side lurking beneath. 5/5 Oscars
Bloomsbury
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas Book Hangover Alert** Throne of Glass Series book 7 of 7 CW: torture, PTSD, slavery, death, war The glorious finale! This wasn’t my favorite book of the series but I did enjoy it and I was definitely satisfied with the ending. I did think the book was a little long and I don’t know that it was actually necessary to the plot to make the characters suffer so much before the end. I still would have been satisfied with the ending even if the characters hadn’t been tortured and driven to hopelessness. Overall a wonderful conclusion to a sweeping fantasy series. 3.5/5 shifters
**Book Hangover Alert indicates the kind of book that will leave you full up on love. Satisfied, but wishing the book never had to end. You’ll be laying on the floor with no idea what to do with yourself (other friends have called this feeling Good Book Depression or say that certain books necessitate Floor Time). This is the kind of book that gets its teeth in you and won’t let go easily. After the last page you’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. You’ll bother all your friends trying to get them to read it so that you won’t be alone in your Hangover.
***This book is part of my Books for a Social Conscience series! Read Rule of Wolves to see more LGBTQ+ representation in fantasy. Read The Vanishing Half to learn more about passing and what it’s like to juggle biracial identities. Read The Sweetest Remedy to learn about connecting with one’s roots and again juggling biracial identities. Read The Keeper of Night to learn about Japanese mythology. Read Transcendent Kingdom to enjoy one of the best African writers working today. Read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo to learn more about LGBTQ+ identities while working in Hollywood in the 1950s-80s.
Reads marked as part of the Books for a Social Conscience series will regularly address topics like race and racism, colonialism and post-colonialism, LGBTQ+ experience, feminism, BIPOC experience, social and political issues, history, identity, class, disability experience, immigration, gun violence, poverty, colorism, environmentalism, and more! The goal of these books is to diversify the stories we’re reading, grow our empathy for those who are different from us, and amplify voices who are often silenced.
The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman Book Hangover Alert** His Dark Materials book 3 of 3 CW: death, child abuse, kidnapping, violence, war The thrilling conclusion to the series! I reread this book in preparation for the third season of the HBO show. I’ve read the whole series before but I didn’t remember very much of this book. I mentioned in my review last month of the second book, that I didn’t get the anti-Christian allegory when I read the books as a child. Looking back now, it’s pretty obvious… I mean God literally dies. Maybe it was that I didn’t go to church as a child? Anyway, I still love these books and I love the final message that heaven isn’t a place we’re going after we die, it’s something we’re building ever day of our lives in the world we live in. 5/5 mulefa
New Books Read
HarperCollins Publishers
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doer CW: ableism, war, gore, homophobia, terrorism, radicalization I really liked All The Light We Cannot See, so I was excited to hear another book by Anthony Doer was coming out. It wasn’t quite as good, I don’t think, but I did enjoy it. A friend told me they dislike his “flowery language,” but I have to say I actually really like his writing style. I like the rich descriptions even if there is a lot of description. I also liked the way this book wove together stories set in the 1450s, in present day, and in the future. I liked how everything tied together in the end, and I liked the emphasis on climate change. I also really enjoyed the snippets we get from Diogenes’s Cloud Cuckoo Land story, and the segments about Konstance. Some things I didn’t like as much: I couldn’t help but notice that the story of Omeir and Anna was pretty similar to that of Werner and Marie-Laure. One is an unwilling participant in a conquering army, the other is a girl alone in a city besieged by a foreign army, and of course they end up meeting. I’d also like to talk about Seymour. Although I think Doer does a good job of making him a complex character that we empathize with, I think he relies heavily on standard and sometimes harmful stereotypes about autistic people. For example, Seymour is your classic white, male, traditionally-presenting autistic who fixates on something (owls and climate change), has trouble making friends, and has violent outbursts. There is so much diversity in autism and these stereotypes mean people who don’t present this way don’t get the diagnoses they need. There is also no evidence that autistic people are more prone to violence than neurotypicals. People with any disability are in fact more likely to be victims of gun violence and police brutality, and there is no empirical evidence that autistic people are more susceptible to radicalization by terrorists. Doer buys in to both of these stereotypes. Even though Seymour gets a redemption arc, I was disappointed with Doer for choosing to strengthen these stereotypes. Overall the novel is a beautiful literary tapestry weaving together across space and time to find human connection, even if it falls short in some aspects. 3.5/5 secret owls
Sorry, I read mostly e-books and audiobooks this month, so not many nice photos.
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divinia by Zoraida Córdova*** Book Hangover Alert** CW (from Book Trigger Warnings): alcohol, body horror, child death [not graphic], death, drowning [off-page, not graphic], infidelity, parental neglect, sexually explicit scenes, smoking I’ve been neglecting my Book of the Month choices; this one was from August and I’m just getting around to it. It was fabulous and I adored it. I loved the themes of immigration and family and the way they are explored. I was also struck by the unique magic of the house and the family; often I think we get stuck with witch and/or magic family stereotypes, but I found the magic in Córdova’s novel really refreshing and different from what I’ve read before. 5/5 flowers growing out of humans
W. W. Norton & Company
An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo*** Happy Native American Heritage Month! I loved listening to Harjo read more of her poetry. I like the way she’s really connected to the sound and phonetics of the poetry. If you’re following the blog, you’ll know I read another of her poetry books in September. I liked this one but I think I liked the other collection more. My favorite poem was “Washing my Mother’s Body,” which was a sweet and intimate portrayal of grief. As with the other collection, I felt I learned a lot about Indigenous culture, practices, and history through Harjo’s art. 3/5 memories
Disney Publishing
If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy*** Book Hangover Alert** CW: fat-phobia Amazing. Everything I hoped it would be. Even though this is a retelling of Cinderella and it is set on a Bachelor-type reality show, two ostensibly un-feminist things, it still manages to be a feminist story. I really appreciate that this version of Cinderella doesn’t include an abusive stepmother and step sisters. And while there is some drama and little cattiness on the reality show, there’s also some great female friendships, which we love to see. It was just overall lovely to read. I have one more thing to say but it’s a spoiler so read on at your own risk.
Read More: SPOILERS AHEAD
I really loved that at the end Cindy didn’t have to choose between falling in love and getting her dream job/dream career. So often in movies and books women are portrayed realizing that love is more important than their career and giving it up, and men never have to choose between the two. There’s no reason Cindy shouldn’t have both.
5/5 amazing shoes
Harper Trophy (I’m sorry, I don’t know why the picture is so small)
PrincessIn the Spotlight by Meg Cabot The Princess Diaries book 2 of 11 This series is so fun and it’s a really easy read. My sister and I call these Junk Food Reads. Not that there’s anything wrong with reading Junk Food Reads, on the contrary, you should not only read highly literary novels that you need to think hard about. Sometimes you just need an easy read about teenaged problems. I love the conversational tone and strong voice of these books. I also love how through Mia, Cabot explores universal teenaged problems, even though Mia is not a normal teenager. I do hope throughout the series we get to explore Mia and Lilly’s friendship more, because overall at the moment, I don’t feel like Lilly is really that good of a friend to Mia. 3/5 secret admirers
Quicksand by Nella Larsen*** CW: n-word, anti-Black racism This book, and Passing (see next entry) is a classic from the Harlem Renaissance. Both books were well-received critically when they were published, but Larsen sort of faded into obscurity after writing them. She only published the two novels and a few short stories, but she’s definitely an important figure in African American literary canon. Both books deal with being a biracial upper-class African American in the 1920s, which is not a perspective I’ve read before. Reading it sort of feels like sinking into quicksand, which I’m sure was the intention. Throughout the book, the protagonist tries to find somewhere she feels she belongs and is happy, but though changes provide her respite and a little happiness, she always slips back into discontentment and an unnamed satisfaction. I think Larsen was probably speaking to a pretty common feeling at the time (and perhaps even now), for biracial women, even privileged ones, to feel estranged from both sides of their heritage, never white enough but also not Black enough.
Passing by Nella Larsen*** CW: n-word, anti-Black racism, colorism This book focuses on those who are able to ‘pass,’ or someone of mixed race who is able to be mistaken for white and may choose to live as a white person. I thought Larsen did a really good job navigating the complex relationships within white, Black, and multi-racial communities. There is a lot of privilege associated with being lighter skinned and able to pass, but that also alienates people who never feel they fully belong to white society or Black society. Individuals living as white also live in constant fear of being found out. Another book on this subject I would recommend is The House Behind the Cedars by Charles Chesnutt, who may have been one of the first writers to address passing.
Roc Paperback
Blood Rites by Jim Butcher CW: sexual manipulation, rape, threatened rape, gore, incest, sexual abuse, misogyny The Dresden Files book 6 of 17 Chugging right along with this series. Still enjoying it. I enjoyed the themes of family in this book and I was happy that we got to know a little more about Murphy who is probably one of my favorite characters. I like the way Butcher puts a new spin on vampires with his Black Court, Red Court, and White Court vampires and how they’re all a little different, and none of them are the cliched, misunderstood, love interest. That being said, the White Court vampires are pretty repulsive and rape-y, and I just feel gross reading about them. 3/5 frozen turkeys falling from the sky
Little, Brown and Company
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie*** CW: anti-Native racism, death of family members and friends, alcoholism and drug abuse, child abuse, bullying This is a classic of YA literature and of Native American literature. It’s similar to the Princess Diaries books in conversational tone, though the themes are much heavier. I do really enjoy the comics that Junior draws and there is lightness and Indian humor to counter the sad parts. I would definitely recommend this book, but I also think you should make sure it’s not the only Native American book you read. Alexie does debunk some stereotypes but he reinforces others. Of course, many stereotypes are rooted in some truth, and Alexie speaks to his own experiences, but it’s important that we don’t just have one story about any group of people, because there is so much diversity across Native peoples. 3.5/5 comics
**Book Hangover Alert indicates the kind of book that will leave you full up on love. Satisfied, but wishing the book never had to end. You’ll be laying on the floor with no idea what to do with yourself (other friends have called this feeling Post Good Book Depression or say that certain books necessitate Floor Time). This is the kind of book that gets its teeth in you and won’t let go easily. After the last page you’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. You’ll bother all your friends trying to get them to read it so that you won’t be alone in your Hangover.
***This book is part of my Books for a Social Conscience series! Read The Inheritance of Orquídea Divinia to rep Ecuadorian immigrants. Read An American Sunrise to learn more about Native American life and to appreciate the current Poet Laureate of the United States. Read If the Shoe Fits for feminism, female friendship, and body positivity. Read Quicksand and Passing to learn about navigating biracial identities and to appreciate one of the great Harlem Renaissance writers. Read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian to learn about Native culture and issues. Reads marked as part of the Books for a Social Conscience series will regularly address topics like race and racism, colonialism and post-colonialism, LGBTQ+ experience, feminism, BIPOC experience, social and political issues, history, identity, class, disability experience, immigration, gun violence, poverty, colorism, environmentalism, and more! The goal of these books is to diversify the stories we’re reading, grow our empathy for those who are different from us, and amplify voices who are often silenced.
I read a lot in October. Do I need another hobby???
Books Reread
Doubleday
Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett A Discworld novel This book was also in my list of favorite stand alone novels. Pratchett is always hilarious but I just love the absurdity of a talking cat and talking rats running a scam of the Pied Piper. So many fun characters and hilarious circumstances. This is probably my single favorite Pratchett book, even though all of his are so good. 5/5 tap-dancing rats
Scholastic Point
The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman His Dark Materials book 2 of 3 I just watched the second season of the His Dark Materials HBO show. It’s great, but as I was watching I realized I didn’t remember the second and third books very well. So I thought I’d read them again. I love to listen to the audiobooks in this series because Pullman reads them himself with a full cast and it’s amazing. If you were wondering, the second season of His Dark Materials follows The Subtle Knife pretty much exactly. When I read it when I was young I didn’t understand that it was an anti-Christian allegory. Just like how I didn’t understand the Narnia books were a pro-Christian allegory. But I love both of these series and I didn’t end up religious, so I guess I don’t really understand writing proselytizing children’s books if children aren’t going to even understand the allegory until they reread it as an adult. Or maybe other children are more perceptive than I was? Anyway I love this series. The first book is my favorite but I love them all. 4/5 spectres
Dream Country by Neil Gaiman Sandman Volume 3 of 12 CW: rape, sexual slavery Just like Volume 2, I don’t know whether to put this in Books Reread or New Books Read. All of the stories in this volume were familiar from the Audible Sandman radio play, but I enjoyed revisiting them and enjoying the artwork. Death is still my favorite character. I really love the Midsummer Night’s Dream segment of this volume. I also really appreciate Dave McKean’s Art. 3/5 face masks
New Books Read
The Dial Press
Untamed by Glennon Doyle*** Book Hangover Alert** CW: eating disorders, addiction and alcoholism, homophobia, infidelity, police brutality (mentioned), sexism, suicide, gang rape, school shootings I don’t even have words for how much I liked this book. I laughed, I cried. Nothing will ever be as cute as Glennon and Abby’s love story. Not only was it interesting and insightful, it felt like it was making me a better, more mindful person. I also think it was incredibly brave of Glennon, not only to make the choices she made in her life, but to write a book about them. She had already written two memoirs about her life coming out of addiction and bulimia, her faith, and salvaging her marriage after her husband’s infidelity. But despite putting her life back together and being a good mom and wife, she was still denying herself truth and happiness. Untamed is about her journey toward her truest and most beautiful self and life. I feel like it sounds hokey when I say it, but it was so powerful. I’m tearing up thinking about it. 11/10 cheetahs
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss The King Killer Chronicle book 1 of 3 CW: mass murder, some gore, drugs My coworker lent me this book, as it’s his favorite book. Usually when people recommend a book to me, they just mention it and that’s the end, but he actually brought the book to me and has been excited to lend me the second one now that I’ve finished the first one. The Name of the Wind is a classic high fantasy novel. It’s good, I really enjoyed it, although it does kind of feel like a lot of backstory/lead up to the main event, which is the mysterious Chandrian. It’s the first in the series and honestly there’s still a lot of mystery surrounding the main conflict/bad guy which I guess we won’t really deal with until books 2 and 3. I did think there were about 150 pages in the middle that didn’t need to be there, and I thought the female characters were pretty lacking. You don’t even get one until 250 pages in and then she’s the love interest and she’s “not like other girls” (*insert eye roll*). There were 3 other girls in the novel, one of which existed only to be saved by the main character, and the other 2 were, I think, supposed to be mysterious, but ended up being boring because we knew almost nothing about them (the love interest was also supposed to be mysterious, which ends up seeming a lot less mysterious when they all are mysterious). Anyway, I know this book was written in the early 2000s and it’s not like canonical fantasy has ever been particularly feminist (see Tolkien who had no female characters at all in the Hobbit). I’d also like to point out that the last book in the series isn’t even out. After 13 years. I know it sounds like I didn’t like it, but I did overall. 3/5 powerful names
Aurum
Size Matters Not by Warwick Davis*** CW: ableism If you’re someone who likes movie trivia or are into sci-fi, fantasy, or cult horror movies, I would recommend this book. It’s the autobiography of Warwick Davis, little person and actor. Even if the name doesn’t ring a bell, you’ve probably seen one of his movies. His first role was the Ewok Wicket in the Return of the Jedi. Since then, George Lucas has cast him as various characters in every subsequent Star Wars film. His other really famous one is Professor Flitwick and Griphook the goblin in Harry Potter. But he was also in Labyrinth, Willow, the Leprechaun films, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, various Narnia adaptions, and so much more. His book was funny and charming and full of interesting stories. 3.5/5 ewoks
HarperTrophy
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot The Princess Diaries series book 1 of 11 This book is my manager’s favorite series. I love the movies so I thought I would read the first book. Which was a mistake, because now I have to read the whole series. Meg Cabot’s books are so readable. At first I thought Mia was a little annoying, but really, she was just a realistic 14 year old. She was flawed but definitely grew on you. It was different than the movie, but still super fun, so I’m interested in reading the rest. 3/5 Italian hairdressers
PiranesibySusanna Clarke **Book Hangover Alert CW: gaslighting, abuse, kidnapping, madness I bought this book as a birthday gift to myself and I am well pleased. I adored Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Clarke’s other novel that is about 5 times as long as this one. She meticulously crafts her worlds, and the whole mystery and point of view are so fascinating. I felt this strange nostalgia and longing for this other world Piranesi lives in, even though 1) I’ve never been there, and 2) it sounded kinda terrible actually. 4.5/5 mysterious halls
Scribner
The Institute by Stephen King CW: institutionalization, torture and abuse (physical and emotional), murder and attempted murder of children, suicide, anxiety, depression, PTSD, disability and racial slurs This was a month of book recommendations. My best friend recommended this one to me. She doesn’t read a ton but she knows me super well. I don’t usually read horror so I haven’t read much Stephen King, but this one is more of a supernatural thriller. King really knows how to write a page turner. I listened to the audiobook and I couldn’t turn it off. I was interested in the ethical implications of the book, though I won’t say more (spoilers). 3.5/5 dots
Sisters in Arms by Kaia Anderson*** CW: anti-Black racism, n-word, misogyny, racially and sexually motivated assault This was my Book of the Month for July (yep, still behind). I always like learning about the hidden figures from history. This historical fiction novel centered on the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (subsequently the Women’s Army Corps) and the first class of women officers, specifically the Black women officers. They were segregated into their own corps but still excelled and aided the war effort. I was also really interested in the author’s note at the end which talked about which characters were real people or inspired by real people and which events really happened. I also love a story about female friendship. 3.5/5 mislabeled letters
Orion
From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty*** CW: death, dead bodies, some gore If you watch the Ask a Mortician YouTube Channel (which I highly recommend) you’ll be familiar with Caitlin Doughty. In this nonfiction book, Doughty recounts her travels around the world to witness different death rituals, practices, and the industries and infrastructures for death. Doughty is respectful, thoughtful, and funny, and the book brings insight into mortality and our relationship with death as humans. 3/5 composted bodies
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling This is my October Book of the Month and I feel bad that I still haven’t read August or September’s BOTM but I felt like I needed a witchy, Halloweeny read. If you remember, I read A Discovery of Witches last month, but if you’re going for a book about a witch who doesn’t really use her powers and works in human (i.e. non-magic) history at a university and falls in love with a somewhat dangerous man, then definitely go for this one over A Discovery of Witches. The Ex Hex was fun, flirty, sexy, witchy, and, best of all, feminist. The banter was fabulous and I loved that Rhys and Vivi were always asking for consent even though they were clearly both into each other. 3.5/5 chattering plastic skulls
Ballantine Books
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir CW: death, drugs, alcohol, cannibalism (with scientific twist) I really loved The Martian, Weir’s first book. And I was really disappointed by Artemis, Weir’s second book. But I decided to give his third a try anyway. I don’t think I liked it quite as much as The Martian, but I did still really enjoy it. I don’t know a ton about science, so I feel like I didn’t really understand much of what Grace was talking about whenever he was solving a problem, but that also means that nothing really seemed that far-fetched to me (except maybe the amnesia). I do think it’s odd (or maybe just amateurish?) that none of Weir’s main characters ever have any families or friends. It’s certainly easier from an author’s standpoint to not have to make up a whole childhood, a best friend or friends, parents, grandparents, cousins, siblings, lovers for your characters, but it’s also not as believable. Grace’s only friends are his coworkers from Project Hail Mary? Really? He has no family members? And no reason not to have either of these things? Grace is basically the same dude as Mark Watney from The Martian, except a chemical biologist and teacher instead of a botanist. Actually the main reason I didn’t like Artemis that much was because I thought the main character Jazz wasn’t believable. Weir is good at science and good at plot, but I do think he could work on character. Anyway I did really enjoy this book. It was a fun interstellar mission to save multiple planets. There were aliens, many near death experiences, and also friendship. 3.5/5 alien lifeforms
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas CW: slavery, gore, fantasy racism, attempted suicide, drugs and substance abuse, slut-shaming, PTSD, discrimination, misogyny, violence, war, murder While we’re on the subject of character, I hate to say it but Bryce and Hunt are basically the characters as same as Aelin and Rowan from Maas’s Throne of Glass Series. She’s a half-human, half-fae princess with lot’s of magic power who is great at fighting, smart and snarky, and getting over traumas including but not limited to her boyfriend and best friend being brutally murdered. He’s a full blooded, centuries old immortal with great magic power who is being forced against his will to serve an ancient and evil overlord after losing his immortal lover. They start off hating each other but have to work together and eventually fall in love. (Spoiler! Skip next sentence) She frees him from his servitude. (End of spoiler) Now. All that being said, I really liked it. Luckily I really like the characters, even though they were the same as Aelin and Rowan, and I was still rooting for them and happy about them falling in love. I was interested in all 800 pages of the mystery, and Maas really knows how to keep a story moving. I was interested in the magical/technological city that Maas created and the different magical creatures that populated it. I’ll definitely still read the rest of the series. 3.5/5 Starswords
**Book Hangover Alert indicates the kind of book that will leave you full up on love. Satisfied, but wishing the book never had to end. You’ll be laying on the floor with no idea what to do with yourself (other friends have called this feeling Good Book Depression or say that certain books necessitate Floor Time). This is the kind of book that gets its teeth in you and won’t let go easily. After the last page you’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. You’ll bother all your friends trying to get them to read it so that you won’t be alone in your Hangover.
***This book is part of my Books for a Social Conscience series! Read Untamed really just to become a better person. Read Size Matters Not to learn about ableism in the film industry and the world at large (no pun intended). Read Sisters in Arms to learn about the hidden figures in United States military history. Read From Here to Eternity to grow your empathy for the way other cultures handle death and learn not to say “that’s gross” or “that’s so weird” of others’ customs. Reads marked as part of the Books for a Social Conscience series will regularly address topics like race and racism, colonialism and post-colonialism, LGBTQ+ experience, feminism, BIPOC experience, social and political issues, history, identity, class, disability experience, immigration, gun violence, poverty, colorism, environmentalism, and more! The goal of these books is to diversify the stories we’re reading, grow our empathy for those who are different from us, and amplify voices who are often silenced.
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman Neil Gaiman is my favorite author. And it’s been ages since he released a novel. I decided to reread some of his books. I’d only read this one once so it moved to the top of the list. I love mythology of all kinds, but I’m not as familiar with Norse mythology as I am with other pantheons, so it was nice to read again, especially since I’ve recently been watching all the Marvel movies. I do love that the original myths are significantly more weird than the versions in the MCU. 4/5 monstrous children of Loki
The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan*** Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard book 1 of 3 CW: ableism, child abuse, anti-Muslim sentiment I wanted to read the rest of this series but I realized I didn’t remember this first book well enough so I read it again. I enjoyed it perhaps even more than I did the first time. It was especially nice because I had just reread Norse Mythology so I was all brushed up on my myths. I love Rick Riordan. I love how inclusive his books are. I think this is the first book I’ve read with a Deaf character who uses ASL. I’d love to talk to someone from that community to see if they thought he did a good job, but to me it seemed like he did his research. 3.5/5 angry World Tree squirrels
New Books Read
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison*** CW: anti-Black racism, alcoholism, colorism, violence, sexism, incest, ableism I was so pleased when I got this book in a mystery book grab bag sale from my local library. I’ve been meaning to read more Toni Morrison. Morrison is definitely a national and literary treasure. I’m just awed by her literary craft. But that’s not to say I didn’t have to check Sparknotes to learn about all the biblical references I missed. I did enjoy reading this book, but I also wish I had a book club or an English class to discuss it with. It’s one of those books that I don’t feel like I can get as much out of it reading it alone. Morrison does use ableism as a literary device, which is pretty common, especially in older works, but I wish it wasn’t. One of Milkman’s legs is shorter than the other, indicating he’s morally stunted. By the end of the book, when he’s grown up and matured and overall become a better person, the disability goes away. These tropes are harmful to the disabled community. 3.5/5 pairs of gossamer wings
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner Book Hangover Alert** This was my March Book of the Month book. Fabulous. Loved it. Couldn’t put it down. I loved that it was full of interesting and unique female characters. I loved the way it built tension so seamlessly throughout. I loved the way it weaved forward and back through time to tie the fates of several women together. The only thing I didn’t love was the way Nella’s disability was characterized. Nella has some sort of degenerative disease and she believes it’s because she sells poisons and many people have died as a result. This plays into the classic stereotypes in literature of people who are morally corrupt having a physical disability as a mark from God that they are not good people (see what we discussed above with Song of Solomon). Which is obviously harmful to the disabled community. Now, Nella does mention that her mother died of a similar disease, which implies that maybe it’s more of a genetic disease, as Nella’s mother only sold cures, no poisons. And maybe it would make sense for Nella to believe that her disease is a punishment for her sins, since she lives in 18th century London, where those views would be prevalent. But since the disabled community is still discriminated against today, it’s tricky to play into that stereotype without it seeming harmful. 4.5/5 bottles of poison
The Mask of Apollo by Mary Renault I got this book as a mystery book subscription from the local bookstore in Frederickburg, which I did for a while during the beginning of the pandemic when I could afford it. Reading this book was kind of like getting thrown into 4th century Greece and being told to swim. Renault’s world building and all the research she must have done were stunning. I liked reading about Niko and the Greek tragedies, and I appreciated that even though she wrote the book in the 1960s, she didn’t shy away from portraying the acceptance of queerness in ancient Greek culture. (Though there was a lot of unresolved sexual tension between Niko and Dion.) But I did feel I was in over my head when reading about the politics of the time. 3/5 mysterious masks
A Promised Land by Barack Obama*** CW: anti-Black racism Former President Obama is such a remarkably intelligent and thoughtful person. It was really nice to read more about his start in politics through his first term in office. It was interesting to learn more about many of the events that took place just as I was beginning to become politically aware. Obama does a great job addressing the complexities of every difficult situation and decision that a president has to make. I liked hearing about his climate policy and how difficult it was to pass the ACA. The whole book did frustrate me a little though, because it is full of so much hope and it’s impossible not to think about where we might be today if we hadn’t had 4 years of Trump after the Obama years. I do think maybe he could’ve trimmed it down a little though. I did enjoy listening to Obama read the audiobook. 3.5/5 presidential dogs (Rest in Peace Bo)
King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo King of Scars Duology book 1 of 2, Grishaverse CW: suicide, child abuse, child marriage I’m sure everyone is watching Shadow and Bone right now, and isn’t it fabulous? I really enjoyed the Shadow and Bone series and the Six of Crows duology, so I was excited to read King of Scars. I love Bardugo’s world building and her characters, and I love that we get to keep visiting the Grishaverse from different perspectives. Bardugo is so clever with her plots and storylines and you’re always on your toes, desperate to know what happens. I also appreciate that she includes disabled characters and it’s not a big deal. MILD SPOILER AHEAD: I guess the only thing I don’t love is villains who just keep coming back and are super hard to kill. I think it gets a little tiresome. 4/5 saints
**Book Hangover Alert indicates the kind of book that will leave you full up on love. Satisfied, but wishing the book never had to end. You’ll be laying on the floor with no idea what to do with yourself (other friends have called this feeling Good Book Depression or say that certain books necessitate Floor Time). This is the kind of book that gets its teeth in you and won’t let go easily. After the last page you’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. You’ll bother all your friends trying to get them to read it so that you won’t be alone in your Hangover.
***This book is part of my Books for a Social Conscience series! Read The Sword of Summer to see people of different abilities and backgrounds represented in fantasy. Read Song of Solomon to experience a classic of Black literature and American literature. Read A Promised Land to get a better idea what it was like to be the first Black president and to understand all Obama did for America. Reads marked as part of the Books for a Social Conscience series will regularly address topics like race and racism, colonialism and post-colonialism, LGBTQ+ experience, feminism, BIPOC experience, social and political issues, history, identity, class, disability experience, immigration, gun violence, poverty, colorism, environmentalism, and more! The goal of these books is to diversify the stories we’re reading, grow our empathy for those who are different from us, and amplify voices who are often silenced.
