What I’m reading…

Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde. Hard hitting, relevant, powerful, necessary. This is a quote from her essay on silences. May we stop being silent and start speaking up. . . . . . . . . . . . #audrelorde #sisteroutsider #antiracistbookclub #antiracist
Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman is a 2012 memoir about a Hasidic woman rejecting her roots. This pulled me in from the first pages, a great look at an ultra-religious Jewish community in NYC and her experiences as an insider who always felt like an out
The Magicians by Lev Grossman was a gritty fantasy of a college-age magic school. Quentin’s a loner who finds his way...kind of... but only with the help of his favorite Narnia-esque children’s series. Gritty, hard working, and unpredicta
How to Argue with a Racist by Adam Rutherford is a deep look into genetics and the spurious arguments that racists use to paint us as inherently different. Chock full of explanations and references, this is a great read. As he says, “Race is re
The Bride Test by Helen Hoang was a fun romancw set in Southern California about a woman from Vietnam trying to find love and a life with broader opportunities. Esme and Khai are a mix-matched couple thrown together. While predictable, I liked that t
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosch is an illustrated memoir. This is an older book published in 2013, but I wanted something different. She touches on themes of depression, identity, relationships, and dogssssss. Very cute, very vulnerable, very fu
When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey is a YA fantasy novel concerning themes of identity and friendship. Each of Alexis’s friends are magic, which is great when you have just accidentally killed someone. Set against the high school concerns of te
Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane is a riveting, appalling, important first hand historic account of apartheid in South Africa. In this moment, we can’t forget where racism and fascism can take us. We have a long way to go before equity and justice
Our public library is reopening and I can finally drop off all the physical library books I’ve read in quarantine. They make a nice little stack (90 lb good boy for scale) 📖📚. . . . . . . . . . #bookstagram #book #booklover #booknerd #booksta
Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn was a powerful read. Drawing on his native Hawaiian roots and spirituality, Washburn wove a story about a family surviving on Hawaii’s outskirts while navigating their son’s potential
#blackouttuesday Black Lives (and voices) Matter - please read POC authors
Some of my Best Friends by Emily Bernard is a collection of essays on interracial friendships. A 2004 book, it still speaks so eloquently today. As we’re all grappling with how to bring lasting change to systemic racism, this book calls us into
Smoke Bitten by Patricia Briggs is the 13th novel by one of my favorite urban fantasy writers. Maybe don’t pick up this one, start at the beginning with Moon Called. It’s a fun read, what I consider “mind candy”. What’s
The Holdout by Graham Moore was a twisty, turny thriller mystery. I super enjoyed the premise (controversial jury with a landmark case) and the pacing. With alternating timeline between what happened “before” and present, it kept me guess
In My Own Moccasins by Helen Knott is a memoir of resilience in the face of hardship and trauma. It was very vulnerable and real look at what First Nation’s Women face still. Some scenes are graphic relating to her sexual abuse as a child and o
From the Charred Remains by Susana Calkins did not impress me. It’s a mystery set in 1666 in London after the Great Fire, but lacked any real tension for me. I couldn’t hold onto why the protagonist cared about the mystery and it felt slo
Pale Colors in a Tall Field by Carl Phillips was a great read, poetry that is calm and thorough. I read this slowly over the last 6 weeks (of quarantine) and appreciated his way of tilting reality. . . . . . . . #bookstagram #book #booklover #books #
I’ve found myself drawn to shorter mediums lately. An article on @the_rumpus or @newyorkermag or @longreads It fits my quarantine mindset. Any articles or shorter things striking you? . . . . . . #read #reading #readersofinstagram #readingtime
Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys. by Viv Albertine was a heady look into the life of the musician and author. Part of punk group The Slits, Albertine’s life was an inspiring look at overcoming odds, sexism, depre