May 22, 20203 min read

Friday Book Debrief Vol 25

Every week we’re sharing what our some of our writers are currently reading.

For all of our US readers, we now have our own Bookshop! You can find the full list of the below books here and with every purchase you will be helping local independent bookstores! If you do not live in the US please support your local independent stores, lots are now doing local deliveries and they need your help more then ever in these uncertain times. - ❤️

This Will Be My Undoing by Morgan Jerkins - Mel

I slammed down the first chapter and knew this book is going to be as good as everyone says. I love how she addresses all women, men, everyone to pay attention to her story because while hers doesn’t represent everyone, it isn’t necessarily unique and should be heard so some women of color can feel less alone, and so white women in particular can do better.

Buy it here.

White Tears/Brown Scars by Ruby Hamad - MAGGIE

Always looking to expand my anti-racism work and so I’m really excited I get to review this book for The Book Slut! This book comes out in October 2020 on Catapult and I hope to put it on a lot of white people’s radar. It blows open the inconvenient truth that when it comes to race, white entitlement is too often masked by victimhood and it needs to stop to truly dismantle white supremacy.

Pre-order it here.

The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri - Marian

I love anything by Jhumpa Lahiri and this is my latest foray to get caught up on her fiction works. The book’s so-named physical feature—the lowlands—in the neighborhood in Tollygunge, Calcutta, India where two brothers, Udayan and Subhash Mitra grow up, is a feast for the senses. Lahiri writes of the region forming a stunning imprint in your brain; however, it is the singular experience of older brother, Subhash, that anchors most of this beautifully written novel.

Buy it here.

We Are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby - Lauren

This book of essays has me laughing out loud on every page! Samantha makes even the most mundane parts of life hilarious, and has a very relatable sense of humor. I can’t wait to read more!

Buy it here.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins - Melissa

I wasn't quite sure about this prequel, but I'd give anything by Suzanne Collins a chance because I worshiped The Hunger Games series! I'm only on chapter 3, but this reminds me of reading The Hunger Games for the first time, but with a twist. I'm so excited to continue.

Buy it here.

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood - Courtney

“Ten days after the war ended, my sister Laura drove a car off a bridge.” What an opening line! This line stole my attention and the readability of the story has maintained it. I knew I would like this book, but I haven’t been motivated to truly devote every possible waking hour to a read like this in a while ♥️

Buy it here.

The Broken Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin - Nikki

I went straight into this after finishing its predecessor The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, and wow. I get the N.K. Jemisin hype. These are layered and epic — fantasy storytelling at its best.

Buy it here.

Your Ad Could Go Here by Oksana Zabuzhko - Karla

I'm currently reading this collection of short stories that centers around women living in the Ukraine. I'm really enjoying reading each story as the women in them go about their lives making decisions that women everywhere have to make everyday and what it's like to have to sit with those decisions.

Buy it here.

The Likeness by Tana French - Victoria

I am utterly absorbed! I can't even remember the last thriller I've read (Gone Girl in 2012?) but this series is converting me.

Buy it here.

The Incendiaries by R.O. Kwon - Jessica Maria

I heard a lot about this book a couple of years ago and now that I've cracked it open I didn't know there was such interesting prose awaiting me. It's a little mysterious in terms of narrative voice, but I'm diving deeper for sure this weekend...

Buy it here.