October Reading

The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers

“For the original transgression of this land was not slavery. It was greed, and it could not be contained.” Let’s be real - 790 pages is darn intimidating. It might stop some people (honestly, a lot of people) from picking up this book. Don’t let the fear dissuade you - it is worth every single solitary page. This is an EPIC family saga that covers over 400 years of history. It is the history of Georgia, of slavery, of Jim Crow, of connections amongst Black and Native people, of sexual abuse, identify, and passion, of dreams deferred and dreams fought for, of one family whose threads spread through the fabric of one community for generations. It is breathtaking in its scope, gorgeous in its lyrical writing, and truly impossible to put down until that very last page. This book will live in my head and my heart for a very long time.

Aristotle and Dante Dive in the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Saenz

I fell madly in love with Aristotle and Dante when they explored the universe in their first book. So I was worried…would I love them as much the second time around? Let me put your worries at ease - these two young men, their love and their lives, will once again wrap tightly around your heart.  Ari and Dante have so much life to navigate in this new book: a new sibling, attending different high schools, expanding and understanding their love for each other, incorporating other friends into their circle, experiencing unimaginable grief, and confronting their past. And lest we forget, this all takes place in the 80’s, where hatred and prejudice toward gay people is real and ugly and oh so sad. Be aware - it’s a slow start, wrapped up in stunningly beautiful writing. Yet at the very essence of this tale, it is a love story and the author slowly brings us back into the boys’ lives. But damn, the journey is so worth it. Some laughs, some tears, some anger, some hope, some inspiration - this book has it ALL! Please put this book into every kid’s hands who struggles with who they are, or who has been bullied or made to feel less than, who has struggled with connections or depression, or a person who has been indoctrinated into a life filled with hatred of the ‘other.’ Let Ari and Dante show everyone their hearts and their journey through rough waters - it will forever change each reader in profound and beautiful ways.

The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I mean what’s not to love about this extraordinary sequel to 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴…It’s got family secrets that involve billions of dollars, some death threats, and hormonal teenagers that will sneak into your heart, plus a wonderfully sassy voice that made me smile as I turned pages. And I literally couldn’t eat (I mean read) this bag of chips (I mean book) fast enough!!!!! Deeeee-licious! Need a big kick in the hiney out of your reading slump??!! This series will do it, trust me!

Fifty-Fifty by Steve Cavanagh

Eddie Flynn, the smartass conman-turned-lawyer, is baaaaack in book number 5. This time around he's defending a young woman accused of viciously killing her father (be prepared - the perpetrator likes her knives). The twist? Another newly independent lawyer with her own intriguing back story, is defending the other sister. Yep, they've pointed the finger at each other and let the chips fall where they may. Looking for some brain candy? This book will keep you turning pages - extremely entertaining.

A Spindle Splintered by Alix Harrow

Who doesn't love a re-telling of a fairy tale, but with a feminist twist, some dark humor, and a super-sassy voice?! Bonus - it is told by one of my favorite new fantasy writers who knows how to write strong, smart, independent female characters. I might have squealed in delight when I received this book from the publisher and it did NOT disappoint. Harrow takes the tale of Sleeping Beauty (and it is a seriously messed up, super misogynistic tale that kinda gave me the creeps anyways) and spins it on its head. Zinnia, a young woman who is not supposed to reach her 21st birthday due to an undisclosed disease, is taken through a portal to a fantasy world where Sleeping Beauty is trying to avoid a few things - her unwanted fiance, that stinking spindle, and pretty much the entire life laid out for her by her parents. This story is creative and funny and enraging and completely amazing. Highly recommend:)

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

My brain hurts. So do my ears, after listening to the audio (excellent narrator for 90% of book, narrator for the myth was…discordant). Five narrators tell the tale of a lost Greek myth and how this myth connects them all, attempting to illuminate the place storytelling has in our history and our current world. My hat is off to Doerr for his creativity and his beautiful writing. Yet if you asked if me I enjoyed this book, the answer would be a soft “No.” Not resounding, just No. It felt overly verbose to me, redundant at times (did it really need FIVE narrators?), and it skips around so much which is what hurt my brain. Each time I became invested in a particular story line - boom, it shifted. And then I had to listen to the harsh voice of the myth-teller. Ugh. I am sure Doerr had a wonderful time writing this - it is very cool. Just not my cup of tea. (And Yes, I read All the Light You Cannot See and loved it - this is very very different)

Women of Troy by Pat Barker

Cassandra: “I’ve learnt not to be too attached to my own prophecies. They’ve only ever been believed when I could get a man to deliver them.” …said every woman EVER. I do love these reimaginings of Greek mythology. You know, the ones where women are given a voice, a role, some authority, some gumption, some “F-U isms” to the so- called Greek heroes. You know, the muscly guys who, in the original tellings, “save” everyone by being cruel,selfish, arrogant jerks?! Geez, I wish I’d had all these books when I was busily teaching the Odyssey every year to high schoolers - I definitely would have done things VERY differently! So, read this book if you loved Silence of the Women (I did!), if you’re super into Greek mythology, if you kinda like to see the men taken down a few pegs in realistic fashion. It is legit Greek mythology tho so skip it if you’re not a bit of a nerd as I am about that stuff. 

The Marsh King's Daughter by Karen Dionne

Anyone else like to read the book before the movie comes out?! And YES, this thriller is filming now in Canada with Daisy Ridley (aka Ren of Stars Wars fame) as the lead! This book was a huge hit a few years ago and I see why - I turned pages ferociously fast. It’s a mix of Room, Dear Child, My Absolute Darling, and true-life stories of kidnap victims held for years. In this case, it is the story of Helena, born of rape, kept in captivity with her kidnapped mother for a dozen years, and now married with children of her own. When her father escapes from prison, it’s time for Helena to go on her own hunt, this time for dear ole dad. Fair warning, this story is dark, with so many conflicting emotions around this father/daughter ‘relationship.’ I can understand with Daisy Ridley jumped on this role - Helena is a badass and owns every part of this tale. I can’t wait to see it on the big screen!