The Last Language, by Jennifer duBois: WOW. A whole gamut of emotions and responses while reading this, from intrigue to delight (at all of the linguistic tidbits) to shock to horror. I didn’t recognize the author’s name when I borrowed this; after looking her up I realized I read one of her other books, Cartwheel, and though I remember enjoying it, the experience didn’t compare to this one. Mesmerizing. Waiting to Be Arrested at Night, by Tahir Hamut Izgil: The… Read more »
Posts By: Claire
Books of 2024, Part 3
Fear is Just a Word, by Azam Ahmed: I’m glad I read this for its comprehensive background on the Zeta drug cartel and the terror the residents of San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Mexico, have faced. The primary story – of a woman who becomes an activist after her daughter is kidnapped and murdered by the Zetas, one of many such kidnappings – was compelling, but could have made a much more compelling long-form article. Unfortunately, in book-length, the writing felt repetitive,… Read more »
Books of 2024, Part 2
Hex, by Thomas Olde Heuvelt: Not sure why I finished this…it was over-written, nonsensical, tonally inconsistent, and completely devolved in its second half. Weird misogyny and other offenses, failed attempts at allegory. One interesting thing – it was originally written in Dutch, then when sold to the American market was rewritten by the author, rather than translated. Maybe the Dutch version is better? I’m not holding my breath. None of This is True, by Lisa Jewell: I appreciated the twistiness… Read more »
Books of 2024, Part 1
The Longest Race, by Kara Goucher: Oof this was so tough to read – I enjoy running memoirs in the same way that I love media about Mt. Everest (ie “living out vicariously things that I would never be able to do”), but it made me want to bang my head against the wall at every turn. Not because of the author’s actions; I fully understand how difficult it is to question someone (especially someone you initially trusted) who’s in… Read more »
Books of 2023, Part 13
Under the Harrow, by Flynn Berry: I had mixed feelings about this – it’s very atmospheric and surprising, but I struggled to remember the characters’ names and identities outside of the narrator and her sister. For some reason, they just wouldn’t stay with me. The ending was slightly abrupt but satisfying. The Quickening: Creation and Community at the Ends of the Earth, by Elizabeth Rush: An entwined narrative about the Antarctic glaciers and the choice to become a parent –… Read more »
Books of 2023, Part 12
The Women Could Fly, by Megan Giddings: A fun premise (though I was confused initially when I started reading it with no background and no physical copy with a back-jacket description to orient me), but somehow felt very juvenile to me and somewhat didactic. Alone, by Daniel Schreiber: As I read this collection of essays on living alone and un-partnered/childfree, I couldn’t stop thinking about the author’s siblings – as an only child it’s very easy for me to romanticize… Read more »
Books of 2023, Part 11
Hell Bent, by Leigh Bardugo: As someone admittedly not a frequent reader of fantasy, I suppose it makes sense that I enjoyed the first Alex Stern book – Ninth House – more than this one; this sequel goes full force into demons and devils and heaven and hell where the first dipped more of a toe in. It was generally fun, though. Dirt Creek, by Haley Scrivenor: A quality mystery/examination of a small town, reminiscent of Jane Harper’s The Dry…. Read more »
Books of 2023, Part 10
The Sun Walks Down, by Fiona McFarlane: Slow-paced but dreamy. I know have a predisposition toward books set in Australia, but this was especially appealing. Natural Beauty, by Ling Ling Huang: The premise was great but everything did unravel after the setup was established, getting very silly in the end. Tell Us No Secrets, by Siena Sterling: Was this YA? I don’t think it was intended to be, but…a very rote, highly on the nose, somewhat didactic entry to the… Read more »
Books of 2023, Part 9
Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism, by Jeffrey Toobin: This is a unique book in that (as I learned in the introduction) it’s incredibly uncommon for a complete set of court documents and communication between lawyer and client to be made publically available. As such, it’s very complete. But it’s almost exclusively focused on McVeigh and the Oklahoma City bombing, and I was hoping for more about the January 6th Capitol riots. There’s a connection drawn between… Read more »
Books of 2023, Part 8
Ninth House, by Leigh Bardugo: I wasn’t sure I would be able to buy into a mystery whose plot hinges on ghosts, demons, and magic, but dare I say this was a romp. Silly in places, but very atmospheric, and I’ll definitely pick up the sequel. Small Game, by Blair Braverman: I found this fun and overall satisfying, and though I’ve seen some quibbles about the ending, it worked for me. To Be Taught, if Fortunate, by Becky Chambers: More… Read more »
