More November Reading

 The Burning by Jane Casey

I am always on the lookout for a great detective-murder mystery and Jane Casey delivers. Honestly, it was like watching a well done BBC series. As always, I have to start from the beginning, back with the first book written in 2011. We meet Maeve Kerrigan, the newbie homicide detective, trying to make a name for herself with the boss, dealing with the rampant sexism within the department, and getting entangled with a fellow detective. And all while trying to figure out if the fifth victim of the serial killer nicknamed the Burning Man, was a copycat or the real deal. I loved how it uses a few different viewpoints, consistently sending me down rabbit holes as I chased Casey's red herrings. And yes, I already have Book #2 in my hands!

Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

The story of young Betty, a child of Ohio Appalachia, daughter to a half-Cherokee dad and a mentally ill mother, this story was one of unrelenting sadness, trauma, and tragedy. From the moment Betty is born into this sprawling family, she takes the place of her father's favorite, the child who looks most Native like her dad, the one who listens to his myths of the land and the sky, who sits in the middle of numerous brothers and sisters, who watches as each child moves to their foreshadowed destiny. The writing is lyrical, beautiful, evocative, yet it was hard to continue at times. The one ray of light was the father, Landon, and his incredible relationship with Betty; would that every child could have one person in their live who loves them unconditionally and irrevocably. 

Jackpot by Nic Stone

Having read both Dear Martin and Dear Justyce, I am a huge Nic Stone fan. She has an uncanny ability to capture not only young adults and their attitudes/outlooks/realities, but also important issues in our world in a very authentic way. This time around, Stone looks at a young adult relationship in their senior year of high school - yes, the boy is white and the girl is biracial, but more important to the story is the economic inequality between these two. Zan is the white boy who comes from great wealth, who has never known 'want,' who is handsome, popular, kind, thoughtful, yet ignorant of need. Rico is the girl who works after school to help pay rent, whose brother was brought home to a homeless shelter, who worries about doctor bills w/no insurance, and who does not see any way out of her life. When she and Zan team up to locate a woman who has a winning lotto ticket, their worlds collide. This would be a fantastic book for students, middle school through high school, to be taught, as well as an adult book club, as we often focus on the easily seen issues of today, and not the vast economic divide tearing us apart. Yep, I loved this book.

Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky, #1) by Rebecca Roanhorse

This is the buzziest sci-fi/fantasy book of 2020, and it lives up to all the hype. It combines Native mythology with an earth where unique, and sometimes magical groups of people, live in different cities, have different faith systems, and whose cultures war against one another. The entire story revolves around the axis of a solar eclipse, as well as the return of Serapio, a young boy who has been turned in a god. Yeah, it's complicated, and there's a million characters, but wow, it is creative, unique, and all together fascinating. I listened to it, and while the narration is fantastic, I think I would have been better off having a physical copy so I could keep names and places in better order.

American Royals by Katharine McGee

This is what I call a bag of potato chips - nothing healthy, but all together addictive. After having my heart shredded by the sadness and trauma of Betty, I needed a palate cleanser and this silly book did the job perfectly. It is alternative history in the most implausible manner, with George Washington accepting the kingship at the end of the Revolutionary War, and handing out titles and duchies like they were candy. In today's royal family, the story follows the three young adult children of the Washington royal family, with the daughter prepping to become queen someday and the twins wreaking havoc as the 'spares.' Throw in young hot love, a perfectly evil nemesis of an ex-girlfriend, and friendship drama, and yep, the perfect escapism can occur. Well done!

You (You #1) by Caroline Kepnes

What. Was. That??? Hmmmm, let’s see - a lot of sex (like a LOT), a sociopathic male lead, a shallow unlikeable young woman, a LOT of murder, some gratuitous sexism, and not a lot of karmic justice. YET...a really talented narrator on audio. I’ll still never get back those 12 hours, nor all the showers I felt I needed after listening. This book was just NOT for me.

November 2.0

Dear Justyce (Dear Martin #2) by Nic Stone

I adored Dear Martin, five star read, but I’m pretty sure Dear Justyce has my heart. In this sequel, a young Black teen named Quan sits in jail, awaiting trial for allegedly killing a policeman. The same policeman who killed Justyce’s best friend and Quan’s cousin. Yeah, it’s complicated. As Justyce and Quan exchange letters, we see how Quan’s childhood led him to this prison cell. It will anger you, make you weep, and inspire you to see the people who give Quan the chances he needs. If I was still teaching high school, I would do ANYTHING, to use both Dear Martin and Dear Justyce in my classroom. These two books are eye opening, life changing, and vitally important to read as we all continue to open our eyes to the INjustice in our justice system.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

“𝘐𝘧 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬, 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵?” This is an oft told tale, of selling one’s soul to the devil in exchange for eternal life, and then, of course, regretting it. But wait...VE Schwab has a few twists to that old cliche.What if the ‘victim’ hasn’t read the fine print? What if she’s a strong badass woman who won’t be pushed around by the devil? What if she tries to ‘work the system’?! And most tantalizing, what if the devil is fire hot?! While it took about fifty pages for this story to gel for me, once it did, I could not put it down. I loved the deep character development, the beautiful writing, and the unique plotting.  It should provide some provocative conversation in any book club.

The Cold Millions by Jess Walter

Let me preface this review with the fact that I am a huge Jess Walter fangirl; I've read three of his books and adored them. Yet this one fell a bit flat for me. The premise pulled me in as it takes place in the PNW (Spokane, WA in the early decades of the 20th century), two brothers, one actress, and a plethora of many, many other characters, and all these things woven together with union organization, racial and class inequality, and family ties. It is gorgeously written - I truly admired Walter's syntax and language. Yet often I was bored with the unending trials and tribulations of the union, even as it addresses legitimate and ongoing societal issues. Perhaps I was just tired of politics? Regardless, while I admired this book, I didn't really love it.

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

I have teased my family for years, that in a parallel universe, I have puppies not kids, or I'm a world-famous neuroscientist, or an astronaut, or a photo-journalist. You get my drift - other lives I think I'd like to experience. In this book, debut author Johnson brings us just this idea, with a few twists. In Earth Zero, a Steven Jobs-type of guy has invented the technology so we can go to these other worlds, with one caveat - only if our other self has already died. Yet Cara, our multiverse traveler, runs into a few problems. Big problems. World ending problems. Life ending problems. Within this book, there is love, family, society issues that will remind you of today, mystery, murder, power plays, yep, everything in life. I loved this book, and I am not normally a big sci-fi fan. Highly recommend if you want to get out of your box a little bit.

Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy

I'm confused by the love for this book honestly. It just seemed like a rip-off of Misery by Stephen King (he did it better) but maybe I am missing something? Annie, college professor who is willing to give up NYC and her home and her life just to follow her husband Sam to  a small town upstate (don't even get me started on the sexism in this book), is looking for her husband. The book goes back and forth amongst multiple viewpoints, narrated by at least one rather unlikeable voice in the audio. Bottom line, I've read better thrillers but I know some people who liked this one - I just wasn't one of them.

Heart Berries: A Memoir by Terese Marie Mailhot

A heart-wrenching memoir of a Native woman, battling past traumas, family issues, and mental illness herself, this was a rough book for me. Maybe it was the time in which I read it, but it just seemed like trauma overload. There was very little light and I just was depressed by the end. The audio is beautifully narrated, yet the stream of consciousness style of writing was challenging to follow the story line. 

November Reading

 The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

“𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩...𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦.” This book is literally perfect for this season - it’s got witches, suffragettes, voting rights issues, and MAGIC!New Salem in the late 19th century is a hot mess with women fighting for their voting rights as well as their rights for economic and domestic justice. Harrow shows her writing chops by creating three disparate yet compelling sisters, a diverse group of fellow witches who form their own sisterhood, and a  villain who has stood the test of time, literally. While this book took its time to pull all the plot strings  together, it is well worth it. The final 150 pages are exciting and magical, making this book impossible to put down. Alix Harrow has become an auto-buy author for me after this one and 𝘛𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺 (ahem, I am still waiting for that sequel!)

Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha

“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘣𝘰𝘳, 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘢 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯. 𝘕𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘸. 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩.”Wow. No seriously, WOW. After being on my TBR list for months, I finally read it in just 24 hours. This book is earth shattering. Based on the true story of a young Black girl killed by a Korean shop owner in 1991 Los Angeles, author Steph Cha uses that incident to juxtapose it with the racially charged world of today... the world of systemic racism, of segregated neighborhoods, of families torn apart, of generational anger, of marches and protests and the lack of justice for brown and black people. This book will blow your mind. Do NOT miss it. 

Down Along with That Devil's Bones: A Reckoning with Monuments, Memory and the Legacy of White Supremacy by Connor Towne O'Neill

Do you like history and all kinds of interesting historical trivia? How about an inspiring story about fighting to rid Tennessee of all kinds of statues and monuments of Nathan Bedford Forrest? (Yes, the namesake of Forrest, Forrest Gump!) My goodness, the stuff I learned that I knew utterly nothing about was beyond fascinating: the pivotal Confederate battles and losses, the background of General Forrest (trust me, it's not pleasant), the reasons behind the monuments and their artists, and how hard so many people had to work to convince government and college officials to take them down (yes, it made me want to scream). 

Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa

How does society form a terrorist? Is it the neighborhood, religious beliefs, family, friends, lovers, circumstance, poverty, racism, war? Or a combination of all these things? Is a terrorist evil or sympathetic, born or made, guilty or blameless? Is Israel right or wrong? Is Palestine? Is there an answer? Or is there grey area in all these ideas? A book that makes me question and provokes conversation is always a winner for me, and this book does just that. We meet Nahr, the pivotal character, at the 'end,' as she lives in solitary confinement in an Israeli prison. As she recounts the journey of her life and what led her to this place, we experience the journey with her. Nahr is complex, rather hateful at times, selfish at others, sometimes devoted, sometimes kind. There are no black and white answers in this book, which is what I loved about it. This would be an amazing book club choice as there is so much to chew on.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

What a beautiful book showing a completely unique side of the Latinx community, and rather perfect as the Day of the Dead comes up this weekend. In this young adult novel, we meet Yadriel, a transgender boy who lives in a cemetery in East Los Angeles, who desperately wants his father to accept him as a brujo, a Latino who can help the dead find their way to the underworld. Yads is the most amazing character - funny, loving, smart, loyal - you will adore him, as you will his best friend, Maritza, who really can't stand the idea of being a bruja due to the animal blood needed and her vegan lifestyle. These two have to deal with a ghost named Julian, who needs their help and earns their friendship, all while solving a mystery of missing young men in their community. A bit long in parts for me, but ultimately a wonderful story of family, acceptance, and the spiritual world.

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

This is one of the most authentically voiced story of a young adult Black woman, searching for where she belongs in her world and the world in which she lives. Portland, Oregon is the setting, a supposed bastion of progressive thinking, but with a long history of racially segregated neighborhoods and biased laws. Attending a mostly-white school on scholarship, Jade has many people who want to 'save' her, but...does she need saving? The laser focus on the subtle racism everywhere in our world - schools, department stores, mentors, support programs - is powerful and eye opening. This would be a fantastic book to use in a classroom.

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

This was just a weird book for me. Granted, it's a very 'buzzy' book, with lots of people reading and talking about it. However, in my typical 'outlier' attitude, I just honestly did not see what the big deal was? Here's the premise: wealthy white NYC couple rents Long Island home with their two teenage kids, a blackout in the city occurs, thus the Black couple who owns the home return and hang out with the renters. Yes, there is tension. Yes, it is creepy in subtle and overt ways. Yes, it gives no answers but provokes many questions. But at the end of it all, I was left just feeling 'meh.'

End of October

 The Midnight Library by Matthew Haig

"The many worlds interpretation of quantum physics, suggest there are a infinite number of divergent parallel universes. Every moment of your life you enter a new universe. With every decision you make." Nora's life sucks. Like super sucks. She's lost her job, her cat has died, and her brother no longer speaks to her, thus death looks like the best option. But what happens if instead of life, or death, Nora finds a library...the midnight library, where each book is a life choice. I think if I was in a cynical or snarky mood, I don't think this book would have hit me where it did. But I'm in search these days for heart and love and kindness, and most of all, HOPE. This book hit me exactly where I needed, because "Sometimes regrets aren't based on fact at all. Sometimes regrets are just...a load of bullshit."

The Searcher by Tana French

Ah, how I love a beautifully written, well-constructed, character-driven mystery...and in eight books, Tana French has rarely let me down. In The Searchers, she has written my favorite of them all. On the surface, it is the story of a retired Chicago cop, Cal, who has moved to a small town in Western Ireland and befriends a needy young teen named Trey, whose brother has been missing for six months. But dig a little deeper, and this story is about the deep waters that run through the town, the prejudices that have existed for generations, the influence of just one good adult in a child's life, and the way that secrets fester and damage. I didn't find any black and white heroes in this book, and sometimes cringed at certain actions or words. Yet these characters were so alive to me, so authentic and human, just people trying to figure their shit out, doing the best they can, sometimes messing up, and sometimes getting it right. If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller, this is not it. But if you're looking to sink into a small Irish town and roll around in their lives, pick this one up. 

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

While this is one of my favorite movies, I thought it was time to read this modern day classic to see where it all began; it did NOT disappoint. I do love a book of letters, and these letters from Celie to God show the dynamism of this character. As the reader, we see Celie in her youth, abused and vilified by her father, sold in marriage to Mr. _, and forced to raise children not her own. All this time, we see Celie's inner thoughts in her letters to God, and then to her sister, Nettie, and how life changes Celie in profound ways. Admittedly, I did not enjoy the letters from Nettie and her life in Africa, but that was a 'me' issue as I was so madly in love with Celie. If you have only seen the movie, I highly recommend the book - it is simply brilliant.

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

I am now 3/3 on poet Elizabeth Acevedo's books, in just two months. Yep, I am a FAN! This is her book not written in verse, and admittedly, as much as I liked it, I missed the cadence of her voice (and yes, she narrates all her own books). The premise in this book is a teenage mother, trying to raise her young daughter with her grandmother's help, her father living back in Puerto Rico, and her mother dead. Cooking is Emoni's jam and provides a motif that pulls us through her school world, as well as her personal life. I thought Acevedo did a fantastic job of looking honestly at the huge difficulties of being a teenage mom - the workload of both school and friends, trying to get good grades as well as keep a job to pay the bills, how to reenter the dating and social world, and ultimately, figuring out what is the best future for both herself and her child. Each time, this author gives her readers a glimpse into Latinx life that is authentic and engaging.

All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

If I had a friend, or son, or relative who was struggling with their sexual or gender identity, this is the book I would put in their hands. What a beautiful memoir from a young Black writer, who is able to look back at his childhood and teen years with openness and honesty, showing us the pain and struggles, but also the joy and happiness. I wanted to just sink into his family home (I mean, his Nanny is just the most amazing grandmother ever!). As George explores his love life, his college days, his burgeoning romances, the death of a friend or a cousin, I felt like I was standing next to him as he told his life story. Highly recommend this one in audio - it is a powerful story.

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

One of the preeminent Black sci-fi writers of the last fifty years, I have wanted to read one of Butler's books for ages, though admittedly I am not a huge science fiction fan. This book is the perfect mix for me, more historical fiction and alternative history. Think about it...a Black person from 1976 being yanked back in time to Maryland of 1815. Imagine...someone owns you, can whip you or rape you or abuse you without consequence, can force you into unpaid labor of the worst kind, can dehumanize you. That is what happens to Dana, who gets transported back and forth through time, without warning. It is a fascinating concept, trust me. I read this one in just 24 hours, and it left me with a huuuuge book hangover, thinking constantly of this story for days after the final page.

The Boys' Club by Erica Katz

As fast as I read this book, it left me with a sour taste in my mouth. Perhaps that was the point? The story begins with a lawsuit, and then goes back in time to follow first year associates in a Big Law firm, fighting and scrapping to make a name for themselves, as well as to be 'matched' into the most prestigious practice group. So many truly awful tropes were used...women who will use sex to advance their careers, the token Black lawyer who turns to drugs and alcohol, the privileged boys who use power to get whatever they want, literally. I mean, could we not overuse these tropes?? It feels like the more they are used, the more these ugly stereotypes are perpetuated? Ultimately, there really weren't any characters that I could even find a modicum of respect for, ruining the entertainment value somewhat for me. 

October 2.0

 Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie

Picked by Good Morning, America for its September read, it is refreshing to see big names/organizations choosing debut novels by bipoc writers. For me, this was a uniquely beautiful, yet also weirdly frustrating, book. The premise is so unique - in post WWII Japan, young Nori, the product of an aristocratic Japanese mother and her African-America lover, is left at her grandmother's house in Kyoto. Imprisoned, beaten, insulted, Nori's life has no joy...until her half-brother Akira comes to stay. The story of the following years of Nori's life is fascinating, impossible to look away even when drenched in sadness or trauma. At times overly melodramatic for me, I also found myself wondering what life would have been like for them without the benefit of great wealth? And the ending...aargh. Yet, with that said, this would be a fantastic book club choice as there is sooooo much to mull over, discuss, argue over, and analyze. 

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

Having taught this book for years, it was time for a reread of my very favorite Toni Morrison novel...and of course, it did not disappoint. If anything, having read so many other books this year on social justice and race issues in America, this book was even more profoundly moving. Based on the Black man's Odyssey, Morrison uses the main character of Milkman to show the journey of identity in post WWII America. Part One shows us Milkman's childhood, the complexity of his family relationships, and truly, the degradation of his character as he practices self-hate. You will hate Milkman by this point in the book, trust me. And then Part II will blow your mind, as his odyssey takes him on a journey of self-realization about his family, his race, his history. Quite possibly the finest last paragraph in American literature, this book is EVERYTHING.

A Knock at Midnight by Brittany K. Barnett

If you loved Just Mercy, this book is for you. Life-changing in the very best sense of the word, attorney Brittany Barnett tells her story, as well as her journey to changing the world. Raised in a household where drug addiction was the monster, Brittany put herself through law school, with a goal of climbing the corporate ladder, while at the same time visiting her mom who was incarcerated in a federal prison. Brittany chose to take on pro bono cases involving Black prisoners sentenced to life in prison for ridiculously minor drug offenses. This memoir will make you angry, will make you question the idea of 'justice' in America, will make you cry as well as cheer for both Brittany and the prisoners she helps, and will make you want to join her cause for prison reform. Check out Buried Alive, the organization she and others started in order to find true justice in our country.

The Woman Before Wallis by Bryn Turnbull

Start with ideas from Downton Abbey, mix in some of The Crown and research from the History Channel, and then sprinkle some People magazine on top, and you've got a page-turning historical novel. This debut by Turnbull looks at the time period of the 1920's and 30's, as the white privileged people thought their power and ability to fascinate would never end. Turnbull focuses her story on Thelma Morgan, whose identical twin sister was Gloria Vanderbilt (yes, mother to Anderson Cooper's mother, THE Gloria Vanderbilt). I was knee-deep in royal intrigue as Thelma marries a Duke, has a years-long affair with the Prince of Wales, and fatefully introduces him to Wallis Simpson. Juxtaposed with the British world, is the 'trial of the century,' as Gloria's aunt battles for custody of Little Gloria amidst some very dirty laundry. This book had my attention until the bitter end.

The House by the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Kline

There's a reason why literally everyone has been raving over this book...because it is EVERYTHING I needed right now. While America has become a raging dumpster fire, this book made my heart grow three times the size. The premise is simple: Linus Baker must travel to the house on the Cerulean Sea, and inspect the six occupants of this orphanage to see if the head master is treating them correctly. Simple, right? Except that these six children have 'interesting' backgrounds and skills. This story is written for ages from eight to one hundred, seriously; I loved it so much I had to go purchase a copy to keep on the shelves for future grandchildren:) In other words, DO NOT MISS this book - it will give you hope and make you believe in the goodness of humanity.

Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz

First, let's be real, this book should count as TWO books! Just as in its predecessor, Magpie Murders, this mystery is a book within a book. Same lead character, Susan, who is no longer a book editor but living in Crete running a boutique hotel with her partner. But due to her previous working relationship with the same old curmudgeonly mystery writer, Susan is once again dragged back to England to help find the missing young mother, as well as try to figure out whodunnit eight years ago in the same hotel. I love a smart mystery, and Magpie was my favorite mystery of the year, but this book? Meh. Between the original story and the embedded novel inside, this book was overabundantly peopled - as in, I couldn't keep them all straight and eventually just gave up. Horowitz has a clever yet sometimes supercilious voice, too busy patting himself on the back to notice that he is boring the reader with extraneous chapters and description. More judicious editing might have saved this book for me, yet some of the subtle xenophobia and homophobia helped sink it as well. 

October

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson

THIS is the book of 2020 for me, seriously. I have read a lot of books about social justice these last few months, but no other book has everything like this one does. It provides the basis, the foundation, the history, the explanation, the justification, the reasoning, for all those other books. Every television show and movie I have watched since has been seen through a new pair of spectacles. This is the most eye-opening book I think I have ever read. It is not an easy read; it is long, dense, and required lots of highlighter and note-taking by me. At times it hurt my heart, but it also inspired me. If you want to learn, read this book. If you are open to a new way of looking at race/caste in America, read this book. If you are a teacher, read and then use this book in your classroom. Please read this book because..."Caste is a disease, and none of us is immune...A world without caste would set everyone free."

Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell

Lisa Jewell, a popular British thriller writer, has never let me down, and I think this is one of her best yet. The drama involves two families: one is the stereotypical mom (Cate), dad (Roan), and two kids, where Roan is a child psychotherapist, amongst other things and Cate has rather a lot of 'trust' issues; the other is Saffyre, orphaned and raised by her uncle, and a former patient of Roan's. The glue that pulls these two together, as well as the plot line, is the character of Owen, an odd, socially-challenged, 'off' guy who lives across the street from Roan and Cate. When Saffyre disappears, Owen is the first guy the cops look to, wondering how this 'weirdo' is involved. The rabbit hole of possibilities are endless, and Jewell does a masterful job of taking us down every dead end path, as well as roads open to possibility. This one is impossible to put down; if you're looking for a thriller that works, this is it:)

The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline

If you read Orphan Train or A Piece of the World, you know Kline tell an engrossing tale; I loved those books, but her new one, The Exiles, has charged to the front of the line as my very favorite. I opened this book one evening, and finished it the next afternoon, living in 19th century Tasmania. Kline develops such rich characters (the naive vicar's daughter sentenced to 14 years transport, the young pickpocket whose life is devoid of safety, the pregnant street walker, the aboriginal child adopted by the governor, the convict ship doctor, the sailor with no moral compass), yet she doesn't abuse any stereotypes; her characters are complex, authentic, intriguing. As the story unfolds in the London jail, moves to the long ship's journey across oceans, and ultimately to Van Diemen's island and the life of the convicts, it was hard for my brain to leave this story, giving me a huuuuge book hangover. If you like historical fiction based in solid research and enhanced by beautiful writing, you will love this book.

Shit, Actually: The Definitive, 100% Objective Guide to Modern Cinema by Lindy West

Do you love movies? Do you like sass? Do you need a good laugh these days? If you answer "YES" to any of these, I highly recommend this audio. Lindy West narrates it herself, as she skewers, raves, and picks apart some of our favorite all-time movies, rating them against her personal favorite, The Fugitive. Admittedly, I liked it best when I was familiar with the movie, even when she pokes at a movie I love (ahem, The Notebook), but overall, I was thoroughly entertained and highly amused by this one.

Dear Child by Romy Hausmann

It has been a looooong time since I was scared to read a book at nighttime, but this book did just that. A story ripped from the headlines, a young woman is 'found' after having gone missing twelve years ago, allegedly kept in captivity along with her two children. But this dark psychological thriller has much more in store for its readers, with a grief-twisted father, a deeply disturbed child, and the victim herself telling the story. Don't even try guessing where this story leads as the rabbit hole is long and twisted, and made me want to lock all my doors as I read the final fifty pages. This debut novel has changed my negative perspective on thrillers; Hausmann does far more than look for a quick twist - she uses brilliant mind games with her readers to keep us obsessively turning pages. I will be on the lookout for her next translated novel.

When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole

Yikes, this book...how to describe it? Maybe a mix of farce, horror, and thriller, with a dose of social justice thrown in. The plot revolves around two characters: Sydney, a long-time Brooklyn resident whose neighborhood is historically Black as is Sydney, whose mother has cancer, who works in the block garden and sees some shady stuff going on; and Theo, her white neighbor with a rocky past, who is unemployed, whose romantic relationship has hit the skids, and wants to help Sydney research for a historical walking tour of their 'hood. Can I just say...this synopsis does not do this story justice? I could NOT stop listening to this audio - the narrators are fantastic, the racism displayed is raw and enraging, the creepiness is legit, and the ending was beyond cathartic (perhaps not realistic, but hey, I wasn't looking for plausible - I was looking for vengeance). 

Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Starting her career as a slam poet, Acevedo's debut novel is just simply stunning. Written in verse, this book, especially the audio, flows and ebbs and embeds itself into one's heart. The main character, Xiomara (hence the title, Poet X), is raised in a conservative Domincan family, forced to go to church and confirmation classes when really, she just wants to see the boy she likes and attend the after-school poetry club. This is the story of being a teen, of wanting one's freedom, of being different, of standing up for oneself, in finding liberation from a parent as well as connection. I might have shed a few tears over this one, and the ending is just...magical. This would be a fantastic book to use in a classroom, and/or to broaden one's own knowledge of different cultures and neighborhoods.

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand

I know lots of people love this author, and I do find her family dramas compelling, but if you're looking for a good mystery, this is not it, in my opinion. She uses and abuses stereotypes in an epic manner: rich white male lead whose ignorance of his privilege is monumental, nerdy smart girl who is shamed for her brain not celebrated, obligatory hot yet disloyal best friend, ice queen mother and creepy father whose privilege protects them all the way to the final page, and bestie who is murder victim and described as a 'sex kitten' when really, she was horribly sexually harassed yet that was never explicitly addressed. Ugh. If you need a good mystery, go dive into Louise Penny's series.

More September Reading

If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais

"If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." Having loved Marais' first book, Hum If You Don't Know the Words, of course I had to pick up her second book. It did not disappoint! Once again set in South Africa, this time the story is told through three viewpoints: teenage Zodwa, poor, gay, pregnant, nursing a dying mother; Delilah, an aide worker and excommunicated nun, with a traumatic past; and Ruth, a rich white woman, raging alcoholic, and Delilah's sister. The author brings all three of these disparate women together, and weaves a rich story, showing the extreme racial hatred present in post-apartheid South Africa, the questionable power of the Catholic Church, the desperation with the cycle of poverty,  and ultimately, the family ties of hope and love. Once again, Marais hits an emotional nerve for me - I highly recommend this book.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Written in lyrical verse, Acevedo tells the story of two girls, connected across the sea by the father they lost. Right after 9/11, a plane crashed in NYC that was headed to the Dominican Republic. I remember the news, with everyone wondering if it was another terror attack, but I never went further, to think of the lives and connections lost. Acevedo does just that in this lyrical book told in verse, as she explores the connections between two girls. Camino lives in the DR, waiting for each year when her father returns...except this one. Camino lives in poverty, watchful of the man who stalks her, dreaming of a life where she can become a doctor. Yahaira lives in NYC, having stumbled upon her father's secret as he left for the DR once again, bitter towards him but filled with guilt when his plane crashes. These two girls' lives come crashing together in this gorgeously told story, read in combination with the author. Acevedo gives us a slice of life in the world of these young girls, into life in NYC as a gay teen, into the barrios of the DR and the lives of its residents. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

Gyasi's first book, Homegoing, is one of my very favorite reads of the past decade, so Transcendent Kingdom had big shoes to fill. The story centers on Gifty, a research scientist who struggles with the push and pull of her religion upbringing as it meets her field of science. Almost reading like stream of consciousness at times, the story moves rapidly through time, as we meet Gifty's mother, an immigrant from Ghana who struggles mightily with depression, her father who joins the family in America and struggles to find his place here, and her brother Nana, a gifted athlete who falls to the lure of opioids. For me, a slower moving plot embedded into rich character development, this book left me wanting...something more. Perhaps some light? The all-encompassing sadness of the book was difficult in 2020 for me, as this has been such a rough year. Yet that is unfair to Gyasi, as her story so much in America today: the plight of the immigrant as in what jobs are available to them and what are they willing to sacrifice to be Americans; the expectations on a young black athlete, and how society pushes and pulls at them, regardless of what is healthy or right; the conundrum of science and God, and can they both be loved? This is a thoughtful book, sure to provoke conversation in any book group, but I would suggest choosing a good time to read it, not a time when your own heart is sad or broken.

Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove, #2) by Shelby Mahurin

For those who follow me, you KNOW how much I loved the first book in this YA fantasy series, Serpent and Dove (I compared her to Maas, high praise indeed!). Book two does not disappoint, as once again our female protagonist, Lou, sassy witch who is just learning her own power, and Reid, the witchhunter turned witch himself, are both trying to entrap Lou's mom, who happens to be the witch in charge of lots of awful doings. Yes, there's sex, violence, murder, mystery because that's what YA fantasy is all about and Mahurin delivers it in spades. If you need a new series and an intriguing new world to escape into, I highly recommend this one!

Buried and Cut to the Bone(Agent Sayer Altair, #2) by Ellison Cooper

Round Two of Criminal Minds meets Mindhunters, with a little of The Stranger Beside Me thrown in. As our badass female FBI agent Sayer Altair works on her creepy research project (interviewing psychopaths who DON'T commit violence crimes), she gets pulled into a new serial killer case. This time around it is in the Shenandoah Valley, involving a disappearance from nineteen years ago, plus a couple of fresh bodies. Cooper is masterful at creating a team to become invested in, as well as using diversity which impresses me. She's got a Black female, numerous smart women, an Asian agent, and a few dogs that are incredibly smart as well as tender-hearted. I do love this series, and Book 3 continues the page-turning obsession, with lots of "WOW" moments, and seriously, the last line of the book?! Yikes. I need book 4 immediately!