I’ve been on a serious reading roll lately, so let’s jump right in.
INBOX (BOOKS ACQUIRED)
Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee — After hearing so many of my Book Riot colleagues rave about this middle grade story about a bi-sexual middle schooler who discovering that it’s possible to have a crush on a girl and a boy during her school’s production of Romeo and Juliet, I added this to my library hold list with a quickness. It finally, finally came in and I’m so excited to dig in.
Edgar & Lucy by Victor Lodato — I don’t know much about this, but I do know that Elizabeth Allen basically bullied me into picking it up. Plus there’s an eight-year-old narrator and I’m a sucker for kids-as-narrators.
I Am The Beggar of the World: Landays from Contemporary Afghanistan translated by Eliza Griswold — I found this slim little poetry collection while searching for a book to fulfill the “Read a collection of poetry in translation on a theme other than love” task for Read Harder. It won the 2015 PEN Award for Poetry in Translation and I was thrilled to see that my library had it in its collection.
OUTBOX (BOOKS FINISHED)
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas — I did a buddy read of this much-lauded YA novel that draws on the #BlackLivesMatter movement with my lifemate in crime because we both needed a partner to discuss the major themes and feelings we were having throughout. It is every bit as good as everyone says it is, and I highly recommend a reading partner who can help analyze the things you’re feeling (because there will be feelings) while you’re reading.
Giant Days, Vol. 3 by John Allison (Writing), Max Sarin (Artist) — This slice-of-life comic about three friends in university in the UK is just about perfect. The hilarity of life as an 18-year-old college student is captured in colorful and just-plain-fun art and I don’t think I’m going to be able to wait for my library to get Volume 4, which was just published on March 14th. I think a trip to my local comics indie is in order.
The Brain Defense: Murder in Manhattan and the Dawn of Neuroscience in America’s Courtrooms by Kevin Davis — I don’t read a lot of science-y or technical nonfiction, but this examination of the increasing role that neuroscience has in the courtroom (namely whether brain damage from things like concussions, drug/alcohol abuse, tumors, or cysts can be used to support the idea that defendants were not fully responsible for their actions) is fascinating and extremely readable. By examining one landmark case, Davis peels back the layers and complexities of this issue in ways that a non-physician, non-lawyer like me can easily understand.
IN THE QUEUE (WHAT I’M READING NEXT)
The Mothers by Brit Bennett — I am apparently catching up on “OMG YOU HAVEN’T READ THAT BOOK YET?” novels. A Book Riot favorite from last year, I’m finally going to get around to reading this lovely piece of writing in time for my book club meeting next month. I can’t wait.
The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez — This is my pick for the Read Harder “Read a book by an immigrant or with a central immigration narrative” task and I’ve been waiting for the right moment to queue it up on audio, which is, I’ve been assured, the only way to consume this book.
Phew! So many great books, huh? How was your reading week?
