An engaging social history full of primary-source detail against the backdrop of a quickly-changing world in the wake of the Reformation.

Difficult, dark, beautiful, and fierce. I loved this.

Always trepidatious of re-workings of classics that are near to my heart, but I am very much enjoying Banville's James impression in this one!

There was someyhing sweet and vulnerable about this strange little entry in the Kingkiller world, even if it was a little disappointing not to actually learn much more about Auri's story.

Caveats: Short stories are not my main squeeze. I unabashedly love Tom Hanks.
Those things being said, these were good. While the subjects of each of these were not always my favorite, they were far more than competent, often funny, and frequently elegant. I occasionally wished for greater depth or scope, or a few more women's stories, but this was made up for by the fact that I couldn't help but hear Hanks' voice in my head as I went along.

An iteresting, often strange novel from Finnish writer Sofi Oksanen. After we spent a few days in Hesinki a few summers ago, I have tried to pick up some Finnish lit in translation when I can. Such fantastic, creative, and completely unique stuff going on! In this one, powerful rumination on ownership of women's bodies, a heroine with super-powered hair, and the underground world of trade in hair extensions and surrogates. And some cool cover art!

There are some things that I absolutely love about this series, but this volume got a little too "side-quest"-y for me. Also, I just can't with Denna. There are so many great women in this series. Why must we fixate on the only one that is an infuriating collection of stereotypes!?

I really loved this hard-to-pin-down little novel that reads as a love letter to books and reading. Part memoir-style narrative, part fantasy, part school story, with more than a dash of the fantastical, Walton's world is utterly singular. This book is artfully written and profoundly sincere, especially for lovers of books who have always found in them a way to belong and a place of safety. A beautiful novel.

Seconded. ❤ libraries, and also this sweet little book--borrowed from my local library!

On to book 2 of this series, after an emphatic recommendation by my hubby, who has very little time to read. He devoured both of these in a few weeks and is now on to bemoaning the wait time for no. 3! They are creative and avoid a lot of the high-fantasy pitfalls! (Denna, though, ugh!)

Surprising novel about the rise and fall of a female friendship played out across complex lines of race and class barriers in London.Two young girls of color bond over a love of dance and Hollywood musicals. Their lives diverge, but neither is able to shake their early experiences together. An effecting meditation on performance of various kinds- of identity, race, wealth -and how difficult it can be to hold onto genuine connection in this world.

Read this as a meditative practice during the liturgical season of lent. Some heady, interesting things as well as beautiful imagery but certainly not an easy or idle read.

Gay tackles taboo subjects with aplomb in this deeply personal memoir, with writing that is vulnerable and honest but also sharp and so painfully true. Issues surrounding weight, body, sexual violence, sexual identity, and depression are treated with openness, veracity, and sometimes humor in this little sunner of a book. It left me grateful for a work that makes people think about how we treat one another as we move throughout life in our bodies.

I love books that inspire me to fill in knowledge gaps. This electric little tome deals with the slave uprisings in Haiti and the country's first black monarch, Henri Cistophe. Brutal and fascinating.

A relentlessly powerful little book. This was thought-provoking and uncompromising, a timely reminder of how potent the legacy of oppression and the ubiquity of white privilege are in our country. A beautifully reasoned and fiery indictment of white complacency, fear, and hate as well as an impassioned plea for us to acknowledge and uplift the value of black lives, black bodies, black thought. An important read, and one I will not soon forget!

We have seen a ton of great art this year! Anyone else unable to resist a good exhibit catalog? Problematic for budgets, but so pretty!

"Democracy might well be a wounded bird incapable of flight without the poultice of black forgiveness pressed to its wings. When we confront racial catastrophe, black folk insist on fighting back. We have given this country the spiritual will and the moral maturity it lost in the bitter divorce of principle and practice our nation can only reach its best destiny when that recognition grounds our shared culture and existence."

#resistancereading

An atmospheric historical thriller set in 1920's Berlin. The cabarets glisten while intrigue brims in the gritty streets. Read this shortly after my first trip to Berlin and really enjoyed it. The late Arianna Franklin, whose "Mistress of the Art of Death" series I also loved, is greatly missed.

This one was as beautiful as its cover. A glorious meander through the ancient forests of Britain that is part memoir, part poetry, and part meditation on the tragic writers of England's lost generation and the necessity of the woods and the wild to the very identity of Britain. Such a sincere and wonderful book full of woodland magic!

Beautiful and heartbreaking so far. An unapologetic call to action.

Seriously, just go and read anything by George Mackay Brown. This in particular is brutal, funny, heartbreaking, and just achingly beautiful in a wild, Orcadian way.

Beautiful illustrations, important positive message. This was excellent!