I love books. And I love talking about books. But taking my reading observations online scares the shit out of me. I hate reviewing books on TheBookReviewingSiteThatShallRemainNameless. I feel like conversations about books should be fluid and changing and writing them down on the internet only to be forgotten but immortal and not really discussed terrifies me. IDK what I’m going to think about the book five years from now! Maybe I’m just grumpy. Maybe it wasn’t the right time for me to read it. Maybe I’ve grown since I read it. Plus, what if I make the author sad?
But I do love talking about books and I feel like in this little insignificant corner of the internet world there’s little chance of me pissing too many people off. (read at your own risk, I guess) So here’s to doing scary things and sharing some thoughts about some books I’ve read this year. (And I’ll try to keep it updated to be an ongoing list.)
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson – (audiobook) I am going to say upfront I don’t know where the science is, and I imagine this is a book for people with a very specific cultural background. However. It made me feel so much better. If you were the kid who was always being told you were too sensitive or dramatic, who struggles to this day because of those things, who had parents who were good parents but didn’t meet your needs emotionally, or treated you like a mini adult, this is a book that kind of reaffirms everything you already know but don’t feel like you deserve to believe.
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler – Why would I read this in the year 2021 while all of Butler’s predictions are quickly becoming our reality? Because nothing has made me feel more sane in my life. We are on such a dangerous path, but Parable made me feel like even at the end of the world there will still be hope. The only part I found hard to swallow is that somehow Canada will be saved from the US’s future when we as a country are so determined to follow the US’s lead. Other than that, this book is so eery I would wonder if Butler had a crystal ball but I know it’s just that she was paying attention.
Butter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi – I happened to grab this from the hits to go shelf at the library before local covid cases skyrocketed and I am so glad I did. A story from the perspectives of a mom and her twin daughters, returning to Lagos and about healing a family trauma. Deep and beautifully written. And also the descriptions of food will make you hungry.
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaimon – (audiobook) I checked the dates and this is how I imagine Neil doing this: Ooh Chris Hemsworth is hot. Tom Hiddleston is hot. Damn I will be neither. I know! I will use my writing talent to write the book and then play them both in the audiobook! Nothing but respect. (also I want a version that focuses on the goddesses because too many annoying dudes just trying to marry off everyone idk idk)
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Mass – Katniss meets Edward Cullen except he’s a fairy but kind of a vampire fairy and they live out a Beauty and the Beast cosplay. DNF at 51% because kind of spoiler– they do WHAT to make spring? If you want to relive the books of your youth with some spice go for it. If you’ve grown out of the “oh he could kill me but he doesn’t so therefore it’s love” or “I said no but really I’m turned on and mean yes” horrors of a puritanical upbringing skip this one (or at least be warned because you’re an adult and once upon a time I devoured the whole twilight series so I get it I just can’t. and if you’re under 25 dear lord please just don’t let this trash into your brain because it’s really hard to undo even if you think you’re better than that!).
How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammovongsa – Do you like literature but don’t have the brain power to read a long novel that’s going to leave you crying for days? This is the short story collection for you! (and, Canadian!!)
Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay – I should have read this a decade ago when it came out (okay, almost a decade ago sheesh Tiffany don’t age us any further). For whatever reason I just kept saying “I will read it. I will read it.” and then not??? I love Gay’s takes on everything but ultimately the pop culture was alas, written (almost) a decade ago so DNF because I suck however I’m excited to pick something else of hers up.
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry – A cute summer romcom perfect if you miss travel. IDK about the longterm viability of the love interests, but it was cute and the future of fictional characters isn’t my problem. (plus I appreciate Henry’s blurb at the end about covid and travel being nonexistent but she wanted to give us escapism.) Really enjoyed this one. Cute and fun.
Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella – Okay I’m kind of curious to know if Kinsella even writes her own books anymore or if she’s just a brand? I couldn’t tell you much about this book other than it’s the same formula as all of her books which is why we keep reading them. I feel like these are for people about ten years older than me but I’ve been reading her stuff since forever and it would take something horrible from her to get me to stop.
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston – This was a cute romcom with like time travel and stuff but was also, surprisingly heavy for a cute romcom? Love that a wlw romcom is getting attention just be aware that there is some fluffing of issues like race and homophobia which while I understand the attempt at a romcom, just maybe leave them out if you’re going to brush them off? I know New Yorkers are like gasp what, but as someone who has only ever visited it was fun. Plus, queer time travel. Apparently you can get a list of trigger warnings on her website.
Much Ado About You by Samantha Young – Okay but where to I rent a bookstore in the English countryside?! And why oh why do white women feel the need to include racism if they aren’t going to handle it as anything other than like, a weird acknowledgement that never really gets dealt with?? And then we’re just gonna ignore the whole fucking gun incident?? The American Audacity. This was… okay? I guess? If you need a romcom and have nothing else I guess it’s okay. Also probably way better if you’re a hardcore Shakespeare fan which I am not (I am sorry! He’s a cool dude and mad respect it’s just not what I sit down to read. Bring me to the theatre though and I’m there.)
Josephine Baker by José-Louis Bocquet – I don’t know much about Josephine Baker, but after listening to an episode of Dressed and seeing this graphic novel on one of my library’s recommendation lists I had to read this. It was pretty, fun, and informative however for how explicit the book was with her opposite sex relationships why weren’t her same sex relationships focused on at all or at least in the same light? IDK maybe I’m missing something but I literally was like “Bisexual Black show girl? Yes please!” so feel a little confused about that. But such a fun read about this queer Black icon and activist.
The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui – This was beautifully illustrated and beautifully written and it left me with more questions than answers which is my favourite kind of book. Another great one if you want literature but can’t do a long novel, though this is heavy content (but it’s written with a hand of hope rather than despair.) Also, she illustrated A Different Pond which is a beautiful kids book.
We Have Always Been Here by Samra Habib – (audiobook) I’m really happy I got the audiobook of this one, it was performed so beautifully. I always wonder how someone can have such a life to have a memoir and then reading them I’m like ohhhhhh… they have lived. Also, the best description of Canada I’ve ever read/heard about our fake politeness and acceptance.
all about love by bell hooks – I don’t know what to say except this should be required reading for humans on earth. This is better than ten therapy sessions with the best therapist (okay that feels like a dangerous statement and like go to therapy but omg this book.) This book had me nodding, crying, furious at society, feeling grateful that people like bell exist. If you read only one book read this.
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan – DNF because holy fucking white feminism. This is such a “classic” but like many classics it belongs in the trash. I have held off reading it for years and years because the way it’s spoken about gives me Big Ick but I thought I’d give it a chance. I barely made it through the chapter about homosexuality being caused by having a stay at home mom (as well as any other trait that the author doesn’t like, like my fucking god) and I closed the book with a big nope when I got to the chapter comparing suburbia to a (no really) concentration camp. What in the girl boss glitter NO. There are so many other feminist icons who are actually feminists.
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer – I tried reading this but it is big and has a lot of ecology in it which I know nothing of, which duh, so I got the audiobook instead and oh my I swear this book is meant to be listened to. It was so good and I learned so much and it really connected science with culture and art which was absolutely beautiful. I recently saw a tiktok and the lady said it’s changed the way she’s spoken to her students about nature and seriously– life changing perspective if you’ve grown up with a white/colonizer relationship to nature and science. Must listen.
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave – I saw this on TikTok on one of those “if you loved Circe you’ll love The Mercies” and absolutely yes. A witch-hunt , wlw, Norway, I mean. !!! Also, led me down a very satisfying wiki rabbit hole and I found out a woman was tried for being a witch because she had yarrow which I’m growing because the lady I was buying plants from was like “you are a woman! you must have yarrow!” and like, she was right. I double dog dare someone to accuse me of witchcraft (jk it feels like a very real possibility if we keep going the way we’re going so please maybe don’t)
A Visitor’s Companion to Tudor England by Suzannah Lipscomb – This is such a fun little book that has little blurbs of historical places. One day when travel is safe and we revisit England I’ll definitely be bringing it around with me. Nice little reference book for the shelf if you’re into the Tudors. If you watch any of the multitude of Tudor movies or read any of the millions of book series (you know the ones) I imagine this would be a fun reference to have when historical places are mentioned.
A History of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult, DK – Okay so I got this because the foreword was written by Suzannah Lipscomb whom I love (you know her if you’ve watched Witches: A Century of Murder and if you haven’t you must!) but I was sad that the foreword was just a foreword and not a larger part of the book I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY I AM DUMB. But it’s an interesting look at history and also, fun to have on the bookshelf.
The Private Lives of the Tudors by Tracy Borman – Hot Tudor goss and also fun facts like how Henry VIII (you know the guy famous for murdering his wives and being an all around dickface) was actually good to his servants in comparison to idk, every fucking current billionaire??? We’re talking… paid for medical treatments, lifelong service (for you and your kin!), perks and gifts. Like in no way am I saying he was a Good Guy but I am saying maybe our views of life pre-industrialization could use a rethink and like maybe just we shouldn’t have billionaires or kings idk idk.
Courtiers by Lucy Worsely – Lucy has been single-handedly getting me through this pandemic. This was hot Georgian goss and I loved every minute. Also, hilarious to think that England’s monarchs aren’t even fucking English yet they’re all “Brexit bro!” (Okay not all, I know that’s a sensitive subject but I was born in the states and live in Canada, we get it not all all but like, enough that it’s a horrifying thing, okay?)