I’m finally back on my reading game! It feels good. These are the titles I dove into this month.
Conjure Women
Afia Atakora
I really enjoyed this book by new author Atakora. Some people are already calling her the next Toni Morrison! This is the story of a Black mother and daughter duo told during slavery and after emancipation. The mother was a healer and performed some witchcraft and the daughter has inherited her talents but is grappling with what the means for her. It’s a beautifully written and engaging story.
The Loved One
Evelyn Waugh
This quick little satire of the funeral industry was a fun read. It is very, very British, so if that’s not your type of humor I would pass. It’s an amusing story of a funeral home that glosses over and up-sells death and mourning. A British man living in Hollywood stumbles across the home when his roommate dies and begins a bizarre love affair with the resident cosmetologist.
Antigone Rising
Helen Morales
I love this read! It analyzes the women of ancient myths and reimagines them as feminist icons in our contemporary context. It was cool to see how these figures could be applied in a new way, especially when most ancient myths don’t treat women well. In this book we get our revenge! Sometimes at least.
My Planet
Mary Roach
This piece is a series of essays centered on humorous observations she makes about the world and her life. It’s a light, fun, relate-able read. I didn’t enjoy it as much as some of her more probing micro-histories and nonfiction explorations but it was a nice palate cleanser during a stressful time.
Clap When You Land
Elizabeth Acevedo
I’ve loved all of Acevedo’s books and I cried like a baby during this one. It’s about two girls, one in the DR and on in the U.S. who realize they have the same father when he passes unexpectedly. They now have to navigate their differences and similarities and what it means for their new relationship. This is written in verse like many of her books. It’s a fantastic read.
Sleepwalk With Me
Mike Birbiglia
This was our book club book for the month, though I didn’t actually make it to the meeting. This book was okay. It’s by a comedian from Massachusetts and a lot of it ruminates humorously on his youth. It’s not my usual vibe so I wouldn’t reach for it again but it was amusing enough.
The Book of Anna
Carmen Boullosa
This is an imagining of the story of Anna Karenina’s ancestors, with a Latina magical realist twist. I had high hopes as it was merging Russian and Latinx lit, my two favorites, but I had trouble connecting with this piece. Conceptually the idea was great but the execution was a little ambiguous.
Making an Exit
Sarah Murray
Murray explores death and mourning traditions around the world in the wake of her own father’s death. It’s sort of a travel guide of burial traditions, very similar to “From Here to Eternity” by Caitlin Doughty but with a more reserved tone. It was really interesting and I enjoyed it. Murray is a journalist so it’s written in that kind of style which I liked.