July Reading Challenge Update

Why are so many of the books on my Read Harder list on wait lists at the library right now? Is everyone reading the same Read Harder books that I am? People! Stop copying my list, or I'll never finish!

Ok, fine, people probably aren't copying my list, I clearly just have excellent taste in books, so all my picks are heckin popular. 😉

Thankfully, one of the apps my library uses is newish to the system so not as many people use it, which means I've only got like a two week wait for one book, AND I was able to borrow two of my challenge picks. Woo!

Pick one is for challenge #8: Read a classic written by a POC. I chose Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin because HOW HAVE I NEVER READ JAMES BALDWIN?! (Racism, that's how. I mean, I read Heart of Darkness three times in various AP and college classes, but not a single professor put Baldwin on their reading list? Come on.) I am very excited to get into this.

Pick two is for challenge #10: Read a political thriller by a marginalized author. I'm going with While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams. Life is basically a political thriller right now, so this might end up feeling a little bit like realistic fiction. 🤣😭Seriously, though, I'm looking forward to reading it. And who knows, maybe I'll even write actual reviews for these two! If not, there will at least be a brief reaction to them in a "what I'm reading now" post, I'm sure.

What I'm Reading: Summer Break Edition

It's summer break, and that means so much time for reading!

Haha just kidding, I've been doing pretty much the same amount of reading as I was doing before. Too many things competing for my attention! BUT...definitely not because I was in the middle of a D&D session and realized I never prepped the blog post I had planned to post yesterday, and then I was scrambling a little, since I had a D&D session to run today and needed to pack for a trip...I can still give a little update re: what I am reading/what I finished reading since my last what I'm reading post. Woo! First up, finished reading:

1. The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna - SO GOOD, such suspense! AHHHHH! 

2. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness - Meh. I am not convinced a woman wrote this trilogy, this is a pen name. There are so many weird things, like a reference when the pregnant main character is boning down with her husband and she thinks about how with him inside her it's the physically closest she, husband, and baby will ever be. Like. What. Anyway, I'm taking a little breather before I start the final book in the trilogy. I want to finish it, but also yeesh.

Next up, still reading:

1. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk 

Working my way slowly through this one. I'm about a third of the way through thus far, and it's interesting but at the same time I feel like there are probably better books on trauma out there.

2. A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year compiled by Jane McMorland Hunter

There were two poems within days of each other named The Kingfisher which...interesting choice, I guess. Probably could have separated them a little more so it wasn't so obvious.

3. Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Two-thirds of the way through now, and I feel like it's really hitting its stride...which, look back at what I had to say a month ago. This book could be shorter, y'all. That said, it is hitting me in some major feels right now. I've cried like the last three or four times I've read it. Oof.

4. Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare

Still buddy reading, still loving it, still want to punch anyone who fucks with Ty straight in the baby maker.

And finally...new reads!

1. Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia

This has been on my list to read basically since I first heard it was going to be published, and it's one of the books on my list for the Read Harder challenge this year. I finally got it from the library, and I looooooove iiiiiiiiiiiiiit! It's an anthology of short stories, and there's a blend of genres. It's such a delight, reading a realistic fiction and then a little sci-fi and then something else...there was one story that was literally just about getting your outfit ready for the first day of school, and I was SO into it. I just...I love it. As the title suggests, such a joy.

2. The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna

Book two in the Deathless series, baby, here we are! I'm so tense reading this. SO TENSE. I'm trying to take it slow because it's our book club read this month, and I always feel like it's such a drag when I finish our book early in the month and then am not chiming in much because I start to forget specifics. That said...I just packed it to take on the plane tomorrow to go visit my husband's dad, so we'll see what happens. I need to know what happens.

3. Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare

Alright, I've read this before, and I adore it, but I'm recording it for my sister to listen to, so I'm reading it again, and ooooooh, I'm spotting some things I didn't notice before! I've had the second book in this series waiting to read for a long time, so I'm excited to finish this one (it'll take a while, reading it out loud, but whatevs) and then get to the second one...the final book in the trilogy comes out in January, so I just need to finish the first two by then. Five months?! Tall order. 🤣

4. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

I've never read Ursula Le Guin, and this came in one of my subscription boxes, so I was like alright, let's give this a shot! I don't know what to say about it. Like I feel like sometimes I'm like mmmmmmk let's get to the point...but then also I'm into it at the same time? It's different from my typical fantasy reads, but I want to know what happens next, so I guess let's call that a win?

The Marvellers - Dhonielle Clayton

Initial Draw: ☆☆☆☆☆

Character Development: ☆☆☆☆

Plot/Writing Style: ☆☆☆☆☆

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the cover:

"Eleven-year-old Ella Durand is the first Conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute, a magic school in the clouds where Marvellers from around the world practice their cultural arts, like brewing Indian spice elixirs and bartering with pesky Irish pixies.

Despite her excitement, Ella discovers that being the first isn't easy - some Marvellers mistrust her magic, which they deem "bad" and "unnatural." But eventually, she finds friends in the elixirs teacher, Masterji Thakur, and fellow misfits Brigit, a girl who hates magic, and Jason, a boy with a fondness for magical creatures.

When a dangerous criminal known as the Ace of Anarchy escapes prison, supposedly with a Conjuror's aid, tensions grow in the Marvellian world and Ella becomes the target of suspicion. Worse, Masterji Thakur mysteriously disappears while away on a research trip. With the help of her friends and her own growing powers, Ella must find a way to clear her family's name and track down her mentor before it's too late."

What's this? A REVIEW?! That's right...it's summer break, and I'm going to do my best to get on a blogging schedule and maybe even keep it going when school starts back up. We'll see how that goes. But let's get started by diving right in to the initial draw of this book. First of all, it's Dhonielle Clayton. I mean. Come on.  I would read a draft of her grocery list. Also, a new take on magic schools that incorporates like...actual history and real-life events? Yes, thank you, I will devour this. And finally I'm sorry, that cover? Is truly a work of art.

Soooo yeah, safe to say I was eager to get my hot little hands on this, and I was over the moon when it was the book in one of my monthly subscription boxes. Such a delightful surprise. 

Now, I'm going to include a disclaimer before we get into why I only gave four stars for character development, and that is that this is a roughly 400 page book, and it has a lot of characters. Like...A LOT, a lot. Trying to build out an entire world, introduce a ton of characters, and develop a compelling plot in a relatively short fantasy book...not every character is going to be fully fleshed out. It's just the way it goes sometimes. 

I think there was a valiant effort to introduce all the relevant students, every teacher and headmaster, and give them all a reasonable amount of time on the page, but some of the tertiary characters fell a bit flat for me as a result of splitting attention that much. For the most part, that's fine, but without spoiling anything, there was a Big Reveal at one point late in the story that, with a lack of developed...relationship, I guess?...to these more background characters, it didn't pack quite the punch that it should have. Which was a shame, because it was otherwise a very powerful moment. Also, frankly, I'm just a greedy bitch and wanted more Masterji Thakur and Professor Kwame Mbalia. I mean, you name a character after KWAME FREAKING MBALIA and then you only give me a couple little tastes? I would read a whole book just about his character. I want to take his class. I need more!

All that said, the main characters were top damn notch, and I loved them all. Ella is so nerdy and earnest and wonderful, not to mention the kindest soul. Brigit is so loveably grumpy and angry (and she KNITS HELLO YES), and Jason might go on the list of my top characters ever created, he and his wiggly dreads wiggled their way right into my heart. And Ella's whole family gave me heart eyes. I don't eat meat, but I wanted to be at their family dinners over the holidays. Just...wonderful, all around.

And finally! Overall plot and writing style. I was a fan. I liked the way the book was structured, with a chapter followed by letters back and forth, a glimpse into something else that was happening, or some other little moment...it was a great way to further different parts of the story but still fold it all in together. And I feel like there were breadcrumbs dropped at juuuuust the right times...every time I thought to myself, "ok, this seems like a good chapter to stop reading after," I would get to a little vignette that made it impossible to close the book. There were even a couple times where I went "WHAT?!" out loud. Yessssss, the suspense! Even now, it's killing me. I need the next book.

Anyhoo, buy this book. Read this book. Share this book. Sleep with this book under your pillow, if that's comfortable for you. Write fanfiction about it. It's wonderful, is what I'm getting at. In case you couldn't tell how I felt about it.

In which everything sucks and I try to make a list of book recommendations

I mean. Everything sucks.

Well...Lyra doesn't suck.

But my husband tested positive for COVID, which meant I missed the last week of summer school and we had to cancel some stuff we'd really been looking forward to, and then yesterday the moment we all knew was coming came and Roe v Wade was overturned. So it has been just the chillest of weeks.

I've done what I'm can while sitting here waiting to see if I also have COVID, but I'm still feeling pretty powerless. I recently saw Dirty Dancing for the first time (yeah yeah, I know...I was raised mormon, I wasn't allowed to watch a lot of stuff), and while I've been sitting around thinking about how different making the choice to stay in your house and be isolated is from doing it because you have to, I've also been reflecting on how surprised I was at the depiction of abortion in that movie and how it was just like....it was the best decision for her, so she made it, and the commentary around it was about how terrible it was that she couldn't get good, safe care and not what a horrible, scarring choice it was. I was trying to think about what other examples of abortions in media and books I had encountered and how many of them presented it like that, as opposed to this earth-shattering, psyche-destroying choice. Grey's Anatomy? I can't think of any others.

So anyway, I'm doing what I do best and putting together a list of books that include abortion that I'd like to read. It isn't going to make things better for the people who have been dealing with white supremacist powers policing their bodies and harming them for generations, it isn't going to un-overturn Roe v Wade...but books are windows and books are mirrors, and I have to believe at least some anti-abortion people might have had their minds opened a little more if the mere mention of abortion wasn't so stigmatized and it was talked about more frankly in the media and literature that we consume. So it's what I'm doing right now.

Aftercare Instructions by Bonnie Pipkin - This book follows a seventeen-year-old whose boyfriend bails from the waiting room while she's getting an abortion. It seems like the story deals more with how Genesis recovers from the realization that her boyfriend wasn't who she thought he was and how she navigates some other challenges life had thrown at her, with the decision to get an abortion being the thing that kickstarts the story after she and the boyfriend mutually decide it's the right decision for them. I'm very on board with abortion being part of the story but not THE drama being navigated.

Baby & Solo by Lisabeth Posthuma - Abortion isn't even mentioned in this book set in the 90s, but I know from reviews that it features. Honestly, I kind of like that it isn't a main plot point but is still included, it shows that abortion is...a thing that happens. It doesn't have to be a Main Story plot point!

Crazy Horse's Girlfriend by Erika T. Wurth - The story of a sixteen-year-old in a small town who is surrounded by poverty, unemployment, and drug abuse and dreams of a way out. She thinks she has found it when a new guy comes to town, but he may not be the light at the end of the tunnel that she thinks he is.

Finding Yvonne by Brandy Colbert - The story of a teenager nearing high school graduation and navigating other life difficulties when she learns that, on top of everything else, she is pregnant. This had mixed reviews, but I'm gonna give it a shot.

Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero - A coming of age story about many things, one of which is Gabi's journey to accept herself and her sexuality after growing up in a shame-filled environment. This one has actually been on my list to read for a long time, so I need to get on it.

Girls Like Us by Randi Pink - Set before Roe v Wade passed, this book follows four teenagers who find themselves pregnant and aren't sure what to do. The reviews I read were mixed, but I thought the time period it was set in was important.

I Know It's Over by C.K. Kelly Martin - Gotta admit I'm on the fence with this one...it follows Nick, who has just learned that his ex-girlfriend is pregnant, and what happens with both of them as they navigate the situation. I can't decide if I like that the story is told from the guy's perspective or not, but I ultimately included it on the list because from the reviews it sounds like he's very supportive of what she wants to do, which is a great example of how anyone involved in an unwanted pregnancy should be.

Like Sisters on the Homefront by Rita Williams-Garcia - Gayle, fourteen-years-old, is sent by her mother to stay with family after she gets pregnant. This book was published in 1998, but recent reviews have talked about how relevant it still is, so I am eager to read it.

Me, Him, Them, and It by Caela Carter - Sixteen-year-old Evelyn has started acting out after her parents start having trouble in their marriage, and it ultimately results in her getting pregnant. The guy involved bails, and now she has to lean on the family she had begun to distance herself from while she decides what to do.

 Bonus: Jane Against the World by Karen Blumenthal - A non-fiction book about the history of Roe v Wade and the fight for reproductive rights.

What I'm Reading

It's very hot outside, and I've been doing a lot of physical labor before and after summer school, so in lieu of a book review, please accept this list of books I am currently reading and how I'm presently feeling about each one. I am including a bonus "I just finished this!" with my impressions...not a review, just impressions. There's totally a difference. Anyhoo, let's do this thing.

1. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

I've started choosing a non-fiction book, typically something associated with mindfulness, mental or physical health, etc. and reading a little bit of it at the start of my yoga practice. This is what I'm currently working my way through, and it's a bit heavy, but I am very interested in trauma and the impact it has on us, so it's fascinating reading about basically the evolution of our understanding of the effects of trauma.

2. A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year compiled by Jane McMorland Hunter

I've posted about this before. As the title says, it's a poem for each day of the year, and they're pretty delightful for the most part. I wish there were more female poets included, but also most of them are hella old poems, so I guess the pool to draw from was limited. I don't know why the decision was made to only use old poetry, though. There's so much poetry out there.

3. The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

Book club book! (For May, shhhhh. I'm reading it slowly because our other consistent book club participant is still waiting for their copy). It's so good! I love it, all of it, every bit of it. I want to finish it so I know what's going to happen (and end up on a cliffhanger, because it's not a standalone novel), but I also want to read it forever.

4. Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Look, this is billed as a YA, and it's technically about 17-year-old kids, but let's be real, it was written for adults who love coming-of-age stories. I mean, for shit's sake, it's more than 500 pages long. That's a fairly hefty book, particularly for realistic fiction. It's also very stream-of-consciousness, and I'm just having a very hard time envisioning tons of teenagers having the patience to sit down and read 528 pages of that. Don't get me wrong, I'm a little over a third of the way through and enjoying it, but I wish as a "YA" book it was not so blatantly written NOT for an actual young adult audience.

5. Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare

I'm buddy reading this with my sister, and we're working our way through it very slowly. We've been reading it for approximately...eight months? A long time. I fucking love this series though. Protect Ty at all costs.

6. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Look, I'll be honest...this is the second book in a trilogy, and I'm kind of slogging through the series. I don't dislike it, but I don't think I like it, either. I want to finish it, but I've also been reading it since March and if I go for a long stretch without reading any of it I don't miss it, so.......it might take me a while. There are some strong "Adult Twilight" vibes for me? Eh. It's an ok night time read for when I don't want to stay up late engrossed in a story.

BONUS: The Backstagers: Volume 1 by James Tynion IV

This is the first in a graphic novel series, and it was on my list to consider purchasing for my school but was rated as 12+, so I figured I would check it out to see what the vibe was and if it was ok for my 6th graders or if it read a little older. Did I read the description before I checked it out? Not closely (in my defense, I was going through a list of like...hundreds of books to consider adding to the library), and it was not what I expected, but I LOVED IT. Now I'm regretting not putting the other books on hold so I would have more to read right away. The illustrations are fantastic (shout out to Rian Sygh and Walter Baiamonte), the story is the perfect balance of humor, heart, and intrigue, and ahhhhh, I can't wait until my hold for the next one comes in.

The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor - Shaenon K Garrity

Initial draw: ✰✰✰✰✰
Character development: ✰✰✰✰✰
Plot/Writing style: ✰✰✰✰✰
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the Cover:

"One dark and stormy night, Haley sees a stranger drowning in the river. Since her greatest passion is Gothic romance novels, she knows her moment has come. But when Haley leaps into the water to rescue the stranger, she awakens in Willowweep. It certainly looks like the setting of one of her favorite books: A stately manor. A sinister housekeeper. Three brooding brothers. There's even a ghost.

Except Willowweep is not what it seems. Its romantic exterior hides the workings of a pocket universe--the only protection our world has against a great force of penultimate evil, and its defenses are crumbling. Could cruel fate make Haley the heroine that Willowweep needs?"

 

Life hack for getting myself to read books when I'm in a rut - apparently if I need to check if a book recommended for ages 12+ would be okay to include in my school library, I'll read it right away! Strange twist, given that the school year just ended, so any books I look into buying a. I can't actually order for another couple months, and b. no student will be able to read them until school starts in August. But whatevs! If it works it works. It also helps that my students love graphic novels. Fast reads, baby! And this one is a delight, let me tell you.

Our adventure begins with Haley begging her teacher to reconsider her grade...apparently she's obsessed with Gothic romance novels (and who could blame her?!), and her teacher wants her to branch out. Teacher, I FEEL YOU. One of my most avid readers at school will only read a very specific type of book, and we got to a point where I didn't have any other books like that, and I was like look...I can't magically make more books appear...maybe try something new if you don't want to reread stuff? Sigh. But I digress.

On her way home from school after her teacher refuses to change her grade, Haley sees someone drowning and leaps into the river to save them (after propping her umbrella over the stack of library books she was carrying to protect them from the rain, which I found incredibly heartwarming). Heroic! Somehow, though, this act of heroism lands her at Willowweep Manor, an estate straight out of Wuthering Heights. What is this place? How did she get here? And who is that strange, hella suspicious monk? There's only one way to find out...check out The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor! (For the curious, this is officially on my list of books to add to my library. I think my students will enjoy it.)

Oh me, oh May

Thrilled to report that not only did I finish and enjoy The Making of Jane Austen, I also survived until the end of the school year! I am still working (don't believe anyone who talks shit about how teachers shouldn't complain about pay because they get summers off...it's a fuckin lie), but I'm still hoping I'll have more energy and get more reading done, since I won't be actively TEACHING as much. Teaching = So Much Peopling = Exhausting. I can only extrovert for so long, and then I spend the rest of my day recuperating, too tired to do anything else. 

So anyway...Black Boy Joy, I'm gonna read you! I'm also going to read Every Body Shines for Read Harder challenge #5, read an anthology featuring diverse voices, and The Courage of Elfina for Read Harder challenge #6, read a non-fiction YA comic. I'm also ALSO going to be reading (well...presently reading) the graphic novel The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor, because it's recommended for ages 12+ but I had some students ask about getting it for our library, so I want to see if it would be age appropes for our older grades. So far? 👍👍

Finally, I'd really like to get back to more regular posting here, so I'm contemplating the best way to do that without completely exhausting myself. Trying to sit down and blog on Friday nights has proved tricky since my battery is very drained by the end of the week and since I frequently have DnD on Friday nights, but if I can get my ass in gear and write ahead of time, I could continue with First Page Friday posts. That's probably the best solution, working ahead. We'll see, I suppose. Only time will tell.