I love talking about books: with patrons at the library, with friends, with family — I want to hear about what you’ve been reading, want to tell you about the last book that kept me up late, want to trade stories and characters that have made us angry or glad to be alive.
My wife and I have wildly divergent tastes in books, but that only means that I can retell whole novels to her without spoiling anything, or listen to her blow-by-blow account of a bike memoir or historical novel set on a ship, without having to read it myself.
My favorite way to talk about books is simply: It’s a story about… The way kids tell you about their favorite books or movies.
Without any further throat-clearing — here are three things I read recently:
SHUT UP THIS IS SERIOUS by Carolina Ixta
This is a story about two teenage girls in East Oakland. Lettie is super religious, really good at school, dead-set on going to Berkeley, and pregnant. Her best friend, Belén, is in danger of dropping out of school, reeling from her father’s disappearance, and tragically a virgin. It’s about grief and racism and mental health and the power of chosen family. The audiobook is especially excellent.
This was a stay-up-too-late read for me. It’s a story about a doctor on some kind of exploratory expedition — only the same events seem to be repeating in different times. I can’t say anything more specific without spoiling it — but I will say that the twist is gorgeous, and Reynolds has created a book where the innovative structure is a fundamental part of the story being told (not just a gloss). It’s also a story where the
reveal isn’t the conclusion — it’s a hinge point after which the main characters have to actually solve the rest of the plot (much more satisfying).
THE ACTUAL STAR by Monica Byrne
This is a story about a half-Mayan, half-white teenager who travels to Belize and falls in love with a sacred cave. But it’s also about two royal Mayan siblings trying to hold their family’s throne, even as climate change has eroded their empire in the 11th century. But it’s also about a complex and evolving far future, where the philosophies that have saved humanity may no longer be serving us. Byrne’s world-building in all three storylines is phenomenal and immersive. The ending lost energy for me (psychedelic imagery/visions kind of make my eyes glaze over…), but the journey was still enjoyable.
What have you been reading recently?
Thanks for sharing! You know how I love your book recs!