For the first time in years, I made the decision to not set a quantitative goal for my reading this year. I set and hit my highest goal yet last year, and really felt the pressure of having to churn through books constantly. One reason I wanted to slow down this year is that I wanted to experiment with other types of reading.
One format of reading that has been of particular interest to me is visual novels. As I understand them, they’re video games that are largely story/reading based. I’ve tried a few now and want to report back on my recs!
Doki Doki Literature Club
Watched a livestream playthrough, available on Xbox, PS, Switch, & Steam
This was my first visual novel, thanks to watching the co-hosts of Reading Glasses play it. It begins as a more traditional experience, with very little required of the gamer until the very end, and mostly just reading text boxes and choosing folks to interact with. That being said, it tells one of the most bonkers stories I’ve ever read. It starts as a cute dating sim with the gamer making connection with other characters in an after school club. Please check content warnings on this; it goes places you won’t expect.
What Comes After
Played on Switch, available on Switch & Steam
A cute side-scroller about a lonely person who is feeling really disconnected from life. She talks to other passengers on this mysterious subway and discovers a lot about them and herself. Content Warnings: depression, suicidal ideation, dark stories.
Lost Words: Beyond the Page
Played on PS5, available on Xbox, PS, Switch, & Steam
This is the cream of the crop, the gold standard of all visual novels in my opinion. The art style is breathtakingly beautiful; the story is poignant and easy to understand. You play as a small character in a girl’s journal. Some of the game involves roleplaying her stories, some just hopping around as she writes on the page. The gameplay is minimal compared to most video games but does involve the gamer in telling the story; definitely more gameplay than the average visual novel. I absolutely adored this game and want 15 more just like it.
Coffee Talk
Played on Xbox One, available on PS, Xbox, Switch, & Steam
I’ve only just started this one – I really need to pay for a Switch copy since that is my preferred platform and I keep avoiding playing it on the Xbox. It’s set in an alternate 2020 (no pandemic, add orcs and other fantasy elements) in a 24hr coffee shop. You play as a barista. Mostly text scrolling with some crafting and coffee art (my weakness). Interested to see where the story leads!
Have you played any visual novels before? What were your favorites, or what is holding you back from trying them out?
Oh hi! It’s been a while since I posted! I wonder what could have happened in the spring of 2020 that made it suddenly difficult to concentrate on creating content? Weird. I’m back today with a post about wheelhouses and books I love.
In my favorite podcast, Reading Glasses, the co-hosts talk about books being in “wheelhouses.” Like if you’re a person who always picks up a book about werewolves, that means werewolves are in your wheelhouse. It’s the thing in a book, whether that be trope, author, style, etc. that makes you pick up a book every time. Understanding what things are in your wheelhouse can help you find books you will love and enjoy reading. Since the last time I posted on this blog, I’ve discovered a number of new exciting things in my wheelhouse. Today’s post will be focused on what’s new in my wheelhouse and what books I love that fit those wheelhouse items!
Teens Save the World with Activism
I discovered We Didn’t Ask For Thislast June and devoured it in one night. I picked this book oddly right as I was trying to decide whether to attend a protest against gun violence on my day off. I was tired, and not sure if my presence would matter much. Then I read this fictional story about teens who stage an eco-conscious protest during a socially important school lock-in. Spoiler: I went to the protest the next day. This book hits so many sweet spots for me: idealism, but make it useful, large cast of fully developed characters, inept parents trying but not really getting it, social traditions that hold legendary sway over the populace. So so many wins for me. Notable Content Warning: confinement.
More recs for this wheelhouse item:
The (Un)Popular Vote by Jasper Sanchez – trans masc high school student who is passing for cis witnesses his more visibly queer friend being bullied by the current front-runner in the race for high school student body president. He decides to run for office; extreme references to The West Wing and Scandal ensue. Notable Content Warnings: transphobia, deadnaming, disappointing parent.
Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu– teenage girl starts a feminist revolution at her high school using zines. ZINES, PEOPLE. This is not a drill. This book also has an excellent film adaptation on Netflix; both merit your time. Will influence new generations of fans for Bikini Kill, guaranteed. Notable Content Warnings: sexual assault, misogyny, sexism.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas – Black teen witnesses her unarmed friend killed by police. As she processes that trauma, she engages in some amazing political advocacy and resistance. The film adaptation is genuinely just as good as the book if not better; both merit your time! Notable Content Warnings: racism, police brutality, gun violence.
Dear Martin by Nic Stone – Black teen is involved in an unjust police stop that threatens his life and the life of a friend. He turns to the words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to help him process what has happened and guide him forward as he grapples with being a young Black man in America. Notable Content Warnings: racism, police brutality, gun violence.
Nonfiction with a Certain Quality?
So, before the fall of 2022, I really struggled with reading nonfiction. I could do it if I treated it like homework, but I just did not devour it like I do fiction. Then, something changed. Please don’t ask me what changed, because I have no idea, but suddenly, I craved Knowledge. I’m still struggling to articulate what types of nonfiction I love. Currently I only seem able to point at what I have loved in the past and usually I can tell if I won’t like a nonfic before picking it up. So, here’s some that I have really enjoyed:
The Rise of Wolf 8: Witnessing the Triumph of Yellowstone’s Underdog by Rick McIntyre, first in The Alpha Wolves of Yellowstone series – an account of the behaviors of wolves in Yellowstone, including details on the Yellowstone wolf reintroduction project. Rick is not the most skilled writer, but he has spent more time watching wild wolves than basically anyone on the planet. The entire series is great, and you don’t have to read them in order. McIntyre does a great job of clueing you into what you need to know in each volume.
Into Every Generation A Slayer Is Born: How Buffy Staked Our Hearts by Evan Ross Katz – the first book I have seen on the lasting legacy of Buffy the Vampire Slayer while still interrogating Joss Whedon’s problems. Much has been said about Buffy, but there isn’t much content out there that engages with the power of the show while not downplaying Whedon’s issues and how it affected those who worked on the show.
Do It Anyway: The New Generation of Activists by Courtney Martin – a collection of essays on the work of various activists. Martin is a journalist, and she does a great job of presenting the information on these activists and their work, while still making the argument that anyone can help effect change. I saw Martin speak at my alma mater years ago and really loved reading her book much later. Still incredibly relevant and interesting.
The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth by Beth Allison Barr – really excellent history on why and how the more misogynistic interpretations of Scripture were born and gained traction. My only caveat for those reading this from a historically informed perspective is that the author does not address the relevant fact that the most damaging of Paul’s writings were likely not written by the actual person, Paul, but were in fact written by those who used his name, a common practice at the time. I think that’s important info when considering Paul’s words on women in Scripture, but the author is from a tradition that doesn’t really acknowledge that argument. All told, this was an excellent read and I highly recommend it.
PS if you can find a common theme in these nonfic reads, let me know! I’d like to better articulate what I enjoy about these nonfiction books. For now the best I’ve got is: I liked them?
Well, y’all, it’s been a long 3 months since I last posted. We’re 11 weeks into quarantine and for the first time since the end of February, I finally feel like I have words worthy of writing.
I remember logging on to Tumblr and Twitter as a young adult in 2014 with a fresh bachelor’s degree and watching as the news reports and social media updates rolled in after Michael Brown’s murder. I watched as protests erupted in Ferguson and eventually throughout the United States in response to a long history of violence on innocent Black folks perpetuated by the police. It was really the first time my eyes had been opened to systemic racism in the country I loved, and I remember hoping desperately that things would change.
Today, as I scroll through Twitter and read the reports of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis, I watch as protests erupt again. I still follow many of the Black activists I got connected with in 2014, and I’ve seen their reactions over these years to every new hashtag. My heart is so, so heavy.
I worship a God who tells us over and over again that we are beloved, precious, priceless, and worth dying for. I believe those words apply just as much to the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) children of God as they do to me. So, my heart hurts as I see an entire community of folks who are aching for change and peace. I believe God’s heart aches for them as well.
Over the past week, I’ve felt hopeless and powerless and restless. I’ve stayed up late, unable to get to sleep because I’m so overwhelmed with an emotional response to this unjust world. One thing that has always brought me solace is books, and one surefire way to help people empathize with the experiences of others is reading. So, I’ve compiled a list of the books I’ve read by Black authors who have helped me understand some of the pain, outrage, and fear they feel. These are largely fiction since that is my wheelhouse, and there are many lists out there with nonfiction essays that can educate in a more traditional way. I’m only recommending books that I personally have read and appreciated. I did my best to provide some content warnings (CW) based on what I could remember, but you should absolutely do your own research to protect yourself as mine are certainly not exhaustive. Links to purchase each book can be found in the heading of each section by clicking on the title and author listing. Each link goes to bookshop.org, a new way to shop online and support indie bookstores. I also encourage you to purchase these books at any Black-owned indie bookstore from a list here.
The Hate U Give is a YA fiction book with CW: language, sexual content (for YA audiences), and police violence. This book is hyped as hell, and there’s a reason why. It’s the best fictional narrative I’ve seen that addresses police brutality in America today. The main character witnesses her childhood friend killed by police while he is unarmed and does not pose a threat. The narrative contains enormous nuance as she struggles to deal with the aftermath of that traumatic event. If you’ve already read the book or are not a book person, the film is incredible. One of my all-time favorite film adaptations.
The kindle cover of Dear Martin with the text “Really appreciated this read” at the bottom.
Dear Martin is a YA fiction book with CW: language and police violence, not very graphic. This book is somewhat similar in premise to The Hate U Give, but in this one, the main character copes with the changes in his life by writing letters he never sends to The Rev Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., thus the title “Dear Martin.” It’s a short read and is totally worth your time.
The Deep is an adult novella, another short read. It focuses on the mermaid-like creatures who live in the ocean after untold horrors were exacted against their kind years ago. There is one person in their society who is charged with keeping their history. The rest of the populace lives without knowing the details of how they came to be because it is too painful of a heritage for them to own, with the exception of one day a year when their historian tells the story, which is where this narrative begins.
Slay is a YA fiction book with CW: language and emotional abuse. This is a rare book, in my opinion, that tackles the different ways to be Black in America, and how much pressure that places on each individual. The main character has created a virtual reality game that is considered a safe space for people of color, but none of her IRL friends and family know she is its creator. It still touches on many important political discussions while incorporating a really beautiful fictional VR game that adds an element of science fiction to the story.
A selfie of myself and Bryan Washington holding a copy of Lot.
Lot is a collection of short stories for the adult demographic. It’s an unusual book and a quick read. Washington is from Houston, Texas and the stories are set in that city. They vary in themes from family, belonging, loss, and identity. I recommend the audio book, which is partially narrated by the author!
Long Way Down is pictured on the bottom left of this photo. Also included is The Poet X , another poetry book that focuses on a person of color.
Long Way Down is a middle grade poetry book. The main character’s brother has just been killed and the entire story takes place in the elevator on the way down to the ground floor from the apartment they lived in. It’s a beautiful story that interrogates how we define who we are in the midst of a world that seems to have already decided without our input.
March: Books 1-3 are graphic novels that cover the civil rights protests in the 1960s, largely from the perspective of Rep. John Lewis, with CW: language, violence, and police violence. These are beautifully made books that are perfect for someone that wants to know more about our history without reading a typical nonfiction book.
Their Eyes Were Watching God is a classic for the adult demographic. I studied it in college (Thanks, Dr Johnston!) and have always deeply appreciated its story and Hurston’s authorial voice. While most of the stories on this list focus on modern-day racism, this book and the next throw it back to older manifestations and are both written by revered and famous authors. I love this story especially because it follows a woman who is seeking her own place in the world, somewhere she can belong and be safe, and I’m a sucker for that kind of story.
Out of all the books on this list, this is the one I am most weary of recommending. Don’t get me wrong, it’s very very good at interrogating and exposing how dehumanizing racism is. However, I read it without any trigger warnings and was pretty traumatized by this story my freshman year of college. I believe if you go in knowing what to expect, you can glean from it all you need to without being deeply, unhealthily wounded by the content. CW: graphic sexual assault involving a minor.
Have you read any fictional stories that have helped you recently? Let me know in the comments below.
What if I told you there are hundreds of thousands of free books out there just *waiting* for you to read them? They’re in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. You can pick your poison! For free! It’s not even illegal! If you’re reading this blog, I can assume you’d be interested in some free books. I love a free book! But first, let’s mutually complain about the price of books.
In Defense of The Cost of Books
I constantly hear from people who say they don’t have enough disposable income to spend on books. I get it. An adult hardcover can range from $27-35 currently and a YA hardcover is usually around $18. That’s a lot for a new release! (And it’s not like general cost of living is going down anywhere.)
Before I get into your best free books resource, though, I do want to defend the price of a book real quick. Proportionally, it’s a fairly low cost entertainment experience. Movie tickets are $5-12 for only 2ish hours of entertainment and you have to pay again to rewatch it. A book is almost guaranteed to last much longer depending on your reading speed and book length with infinite cost free re-readability! So whenever you next pick up a book at your local indie bookstore, remember you’re making an investment in your entertainment options!
Back to Those Free Books
If you live in the US, you can probably guess your best resource for free books is your local library. If you live outside of the US, I’m sorry; this blog post will be useless for you but I appreciate you reading! Your local library has loads of physical (hardcover and paperback) books and they are literally just waiting for you to walk through the door and claim one! This alone is awesome, but y’all probably already know about this well-known library resource.
One thing I hear from friends a lot is they just don’t have the time to go to the library. This is where e-catalogues come in. Your library subscribes to an e-catalogue of ebooks, e-graphic novels, and e-audiobooks. The most popular catalogue is Overdrive or Libby, which is the newer app that is a little easier to use than Overdrive, but uses the exact same catalogue. Other popular services are Hoopla, RBDigital, CloudLibrary, and I can all but guarantee your local library pays for access to one if not more of these services for their patrons. All you need to be able to check out these e-books is a library card. Your local librarians would be more than happy to help you set up an account and understand how to use it.
I prefer ereading because my ereader is physically easier for me to read on so having access to thousands of free ebooks is such a relief. The audiobook selection is also hugely helpful for anyone who struggles to set aside time for the physical act of reading. Any time you currently spend listening to music or podcasts could be devoted a free audiobook!
I’m currently reading The Ten Thousand Doors of January on my ereader thanks to my library’s e-catalogue!
Love Your Libraries, Y’all
Your local public library is a treasure trove of knowledge and services you can access just by living in the area. If your local library is lacking in variety or specific services you’d like to use, you can always pay for an out-of-area membership to a larger one, and it’s usually not very expensive. Go here for more information on your options.
Do you utilize your local library’s resources? Let’s talk libraries in the comments!
I haven’t finished many books lately. That’s mostly because I’m in the midst of reading a LOT of books and splitting my time and resources between reading and the rest of my life takes time. So, let’s talk current reads!
Current Books for Fun
My physical signed copy of Call Down the Hawk next to a raging fire!
I’ve been listening to Call Down The Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater on audio for a few months. I’m in the homestretch now and I should be finishing with it soon. I don’t have a strict audiobook reading practice, so I sometimes take a long time to read a book that way OR I binge it in just a few days. There’s not really any in between. CDTH is the beginning of a trilogy about Ronan Lynch, a boy that can pull things from his dreams. It’s a spinoff trilogy from The Raven Cycle and I adore everything about this world. If you haven’t read TRC, feel free to try out CDTH on its own first. It’s written to be approachable for new readers in the universe.
I just started The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow on my ereader. I chose this one because I’ve had it on hold from the library for a while and needed a fun book to read in the bath. (My ereader is waterproof and I don’t take physical library books into the bath for reasons related to hygiene and community public property.) I deliberately did not read the summary before starting, but so far it’s set in the early 1900s and seems to include a fantasy element about magic doorways. I’m not sure how I feel about it yet other than that it has some clear parallels to The Starless Sea which I wrote about in a previous blog post.
Current Books for Work
1) Multiple books spread out over my bedspread, including my two copies of Confessions next to my lovely #DemandingDanvers. 2) Simple Church on my ereader in the bath.
I’m reading several books as research for work. The first is Simple Church by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger on my ereader. Our staff is trying to work on understanding how we make disciples at our church, so this is our reading homework for that purpose. I’m over halfway into this and it’s helpful and readable if you can ignore some of the statistics content. The next two books I’m slowly annotating and reading are two translations of Augustine’s Confessions. I meet with a spiritual director regularly; it’s like a therapist for my prayer life. We decided we could both use some deeper theology studying, so we’re reading sections of the Confessions together. The Oxford’s Classics translation by Henry Chadwick is the gold standard for most, but I want to compare it to a newer edition translated by a woman, Sarah Ruden, and see which one speaks to me more. I’ve only read the intro for each, so no thoughts yet on this experiment!
A Brew, Of Sorts
During the winter, I tend to want to bask in the luxury when it comes to beverages. Something about wearing multiple layers and battling the weather makes me say, “You know what, I’m gonna treat myself today” and indulge in a fancy drink. My favorite homemade luxury is a Chocolate Martini. I’m passing on our beloved recipe to y’all today, because self-care is important. Drink responsibly! #TreatYoSelf
1/2 part vodka
1 1/2 parts chocolate liqueur (We use Godiva)
1 1/2 parts Creme de Cocoa
2 1/2 parts half and half
Combine all ingredients into shaker. Shake with 1 cube of ice. Pour into a traditional martini glass and enjoy! Recipe makes 2 glasses if you use a shot glass as “1 part.”
What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!
A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a fantasy retelling of the Beauty and the Beast. (I really love retellings if you couldn’t tell.) The main character, Harper, is a girl with cerebral palsy living in modern-day Washington D.C. She witnesses a strange man trying to abduct a young girl, steps in to confront him, and ends up whirled away to a fantasy land called Emberfall, where she meets Prince Rhen and gets to know her original captor, Guard Commander Grey. Emberfall is battling a terrible curse cast by a cruel enchantress. Harper’s actions and presence have important ramifications for the fate of Emberfall and that story continues in A Heart So Fierce and Broken.
A Heart So Fierce and Broken is visible in the bottom right corner of this photo, amidst other books I am reading and casually perusing, plus a cameo from #DemandingDanvers.
My Review
One of the reasons I love this series so much is because of the vivid characters. I believe their actions; I buy their motivations. I also love the depiction of Harper dealing with her disability in the context of a fantasy world. It’s fascinating to see the differences in how she is perceived in our world vs Emberfall as people come to recognize her disability and the assumptions they make about her afterwards. A similar process happens later in the series with a doctor who travels from our world to Emberfall. His skills and knowledge are treated very differently in the eyes of the characters around him. I think that comparison is something unique this series offers.
Another thing I love is the CHEMISTRY. Hoo boy the ships S A I L in this series and my smol shipping heart loves to see it! It’s the perfect YA romance arc for a fantasy series. I feel all the things they feel and that, after all, is my purpose in reading, so it’s a rewarding experience. Readers that want to see a romance (PG-rated) sizzle will love this series.
Finally, I’ll address the plot. I know some of my followers are plot-driven folks, but I am not, so characters will always be the first thing I mention. However, I do really love the way the plot is revealed in this series and it does go to some unexpected places! I was definitely intrigued until the last page.
I highly recommend this series to folks that love YA fantasy. If you were a fan of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas, I think you’d love this series. It’s similar in premise with enough complications to keep it feeling fresh.
I spent some of my day today partaking in my “chosen brew” and finishing this great book at a local brewery and coffeehouse!
My Chosen Brew
I had the chance to try a new beer today and I think it fit perfectly with the tone of this book. The Hindsight Dark Chocolate Raspberry Stout from Redhorn Coffee House and Brewing Co is currently available and, in my opinion, delicious. You can find it at the Redhorn website under House Seasonals and Rotating Taps. This series is deliciously dark which matches perfectly with this brew. If you don’t have access to this specific beer, I’d recommend a porter or stout available near you. Make sure you drink a glass of water afterwards to stay hydrated! Book reading is a physically demanding task! :]
My vinyl of Adventures of the Heart by Frank Sinatra.
My Chosen Soundtrack
To combat some of the darker tones in this series, and to match some of the more romantic ones, I recommend the album Adventures of the Heart by Frank Sinatra. This is a great record I picked up a while back at my favorite record store in Austin, Breakaway Records. A quick perusal of my Spotify library doesn’t immediately turn it up, so if you don’t have convenient access to this one, I’d recommend September of My Years as an alternative album to listen to! Frank has a timeless quality to me, so I appreciate hearing his music while I read a series that straddles between what seems both modern and medieval.
Do you read much fantasy? How do you feel about my brew and music pairings? Let me know in the comments!
In trying to recover from my book slump which I wrote about last week, I read a scary thriller which I loved and then picked up a YA romance. I’m happy to say I binge read this delightful book in one sitting. I selected it as my YA of the month, a new Book of the Month membership option, which is how it ended up on my TBR.
This is a modern retelling of Mansfield Park, which I have to confess, I haven’t actually read. I’ve read other Jane Austen classics, but not this one I think. Comparing the broad strokes of the plots, I think this is an excellent interpretation of this classic, and it’s accessible if you don’t have the original text to compare it to. I read this book really quickly. I started it at about 11 pm just to begin a book before bed and ended up staying up past 2 am to finish it! Needless to say, it’s immensely readable and the perfect book to break my book slump.
My copy of the Book of the Month edition of this book.
My review:
I thought the way Firkins handled the love triangle was really well done. This reader definitely fell for both love interests and felt torn by the ending and the choices made, which is what a good love triangle should do! In the past I’ve read YA romances and enjoyed a sweeter, more innocent look at love and infatuation. Normally, when I think of a YA romance, I picture a book with a lower level of sexiness and steamy scenes than I’d expect from an adult romance. I think this book was on par with some milder adult content I’ve read; the thing that makes it YA is the way the main character handles these developments inside of a coming of age story. I was really impressed with the way the author framed it all within that coming of age search for identity. That search is the hallmark of a YA demographic story, so I was pleased with the marketing of this book.
I highly recommend this book for anyone in search of a quick read with some more steamier content inside the framing of a coming of age story.
My Chosen Brew:
For a book that reinterprets a classic, it’s only fair that we indulge in a brew with a fresh take on a classic. My recommendation is a cup of Earl Greyer from Republic of Tea. It’s easy to brew, in contrast to my last recommendation. Simply pour boiling water into the mug with the tea bag and steep for about five minutes. I’d recommend fixing this cup of tea similar to however you take your coffee– I like a smidge of cream and sugar with mine. It doesn’t require much brainpower to fix up which is good because you’ll want to devote all your energy towards reading this book!
Do you read much romance, YA or otherwise? Has this book already been on your radar? Let me know in the comments!
Am I a reader if I’m not reading? Is my value affected by my successes and failures?
I’m in my late 20s, so in some ways, I feel like I have an okay handle on my identity and where I belong in this world. I say “okay” because I still have doubts and I second-guess myself a lot, but if you’ve seen the mess I was when I was in high school and college, comparatively speaking, I’m doing pretty darn good. Books and reading, as you might imagine from the existence of this blog, are pretty important to my identity. My only tattoo is a quote from Harry Potter. My favorite small talk question is “Have you read anything interesting lately?” The number of books I’ve read this year is always in my Instagram bio (that one probably isn’t healthy tbh and I might reconsider). So what happens when I can’t summon the energy to read? Who am I if I haven’t picked up a book in X weeks?
What I’m describing is a book slump. It’s a period of time where you just can’t quite pick up a book or if you do, you can’t seem to get interested. Maybe you quit after 5 pages or maybe you struggle through it and still don’t feel connected to the story. It has nothing to do with the quality of your reading material. I’ve had to put down plenty of excellent books because I was in the midst of a reading slump and for whatever reason, I couldn’t engage with the story. I’ve lived through many slumps. Some are small, lasting only a couple of weeks (this month). Some are worse, lasting until I finish rereading all my favorite YA series (last summer). Regardless of how long they are, I can’t help but ask myself the questions with which I opened this post. Am I a reader if I’m not reading? Is my value affected by my successes and failures?
I wrote a blog post two weeks ago about The Starless Sea. It’s a beautiful book with a ton of hype and it took me a while to get through it. I don’t know why it seems to have caused a book slump. Right after I finished it, I managed to read a graphic novel and a fast-paced thriller. After that, nothing. I spent two weeks lugging my next book pick to every meeting, appointment, and cozy reading spot without any progress. I didn’t even make it past the first LINE. The whole time, there’s this little voice in my head saying “You can’t just stop reading for two weeks, Kelsey. You have a book blog to keep up with! You haven’t posted on #bookstagram in a week! You have a reputation to uphold!” (BTW– Goodreads reminding me “You’re 6 books behind schedule” was not helpful in case anyone wanted to know.)
When in a book slump, my best advice is to read something outside of your usual wheelhouse. I can easily read a YA fantasy or dystopian YA story without stretching myself; those books fall very squarely into my wheelhouse. Most recently, I tried and failed to get past the first line of A Dream So Dark by L.L. McKinney, — the second book in a YA fantasy series that feels like if Buffy the Vampire Slayer fell down the rabbit hole into Alice’s Wonderland — but it just wasn’t exciting me in that moment. (Even typing those words makes me cringe. What is wrong with me that I wasn’t connecting with that book? It sounds awesome!) But, I set it aside and started reading The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James — an adult mystery involving a missing persons cold case and a bunch of ghosts at an old rural motel. I devoured this book, even though it was really trying to scare me, and I normally do not enjoy scary things. I’m not sure what it is about a new genre that shakes something loose in me, but I always feel more free and excited to return to my favorite, comfortable genres after reading them.
If you find yourself in a book slump, I hope my advice for how to switch up your reading might help. However, if you’re struggling with a reading slump, there’s one message I’d want you to hear loud and clear, even more than any practical tips I might be able to give:
Reading stats, book culture, and all the other fun nonsense I spend my time on sometimes just feels like another way to cage my identity into something small and easy to understand. I think basing our value on some external achievement or validation is something to which many of us can relate. At least I hope so, because otherwise my therapist and friends have been lying to me. ;] Questions of my worth and belonging come up a lot in my thoughts and sometimes it makes living in my head deeply uncomfortable. I’m writing all of this to say that if you feel this way too, you’re not alone. There’s no shame in being unable to read for any period of time. If you’re reading my blog and you haven’t finished a book since you graduated high school, that’s okay too. Our worth and value are not based on our reading stats or anything else that is external and reliant on our own accomplishments.
I really love talking about books. I love reading and losing myself in a story. That will always be true. But more importantly, I love when someone knows who they are and where they belong. I really love when people know their worth. I haven’t really figured that all out yet myself, but my prayer for you, dear reader, is that you will truly know your worth this week and always.
Let me know in the comments if any of this resonates with your experience or if you’ve learned the secret to being confident in your self-worth! I would appreciate both your solidarity and wisdom!
Part 1 of this blog series can be read here. It’s time for me to continue screeching about my book recs! My! Favorite! Thing! To! Do!!
Romance
1) The Kiss Quotient on my ereader via the library’s e-catalogue! 2) A fuzzy shot taken like 4 phones ago of a library copy of Anna and the French Kiss. 3) My audiobook copy of Red, White & Royal Blue read via libro.fm
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang is an adult romance with a nuerodiverse protagonist! It has the cutest premise– The main character is a successful adult with a great career who has not dated often or with much success. She decides to hire a male escort to teach her properly about seduction. I do so love a fake dating trope and this one is sweet, steamy, and thoroughly enjoyable.
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins is an adorable YA romance. Anna’s plans for her senior year are unexpectedly changed when she must head to Paris for boarding school, where she meets Etienne St. Clair. You know basically everything about him based on the name alone, but trust me when I say this is the foreign exchange student romance you didn’t know you needed. This is an excellent book for younger readers. It talks openly about the infatuation teens can feel early in a relationship but stays away from sexually explicit content that a parent might find inappropriate depending on the age of the reader. Plus, it’s charming to read as an adult and is perfect for adults that might shy away from the steamier content romances. This book does it all!
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston is a new adult* LGBT+ romance that I’ve already highly recommended in my Best Books of 2019 post, but it deserves another shout-out because it really is that good. The First Son of the United States has to work out his issues with the Prince of Wales and their awkward, hilarious conversations and outings eventually develop into something more meaningful and romantic than expected. The audiobook had me laughing out loud multiple times. I plan to re-listen to it as soon as I finish my current audiobook. This book is a DELIGHT and I cannot recommend it enough.
Realistic Modern Fiction
1) A hug between myself and Laurie Halse Anderson. 2) My copy of her lastest book, Shout, signed by the author. 3) A duplicate paperback copy of Speak that I purchased at Half Price Books the day of the event when I realized my copy was in Colorado with my best friend!
TW**: Sexual assault Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is one of those books that I read in high school, reread as an adult, and became even more convicted in its importance and relevance to all audiences. It’s also one of the only books I will consent to read on the topic of sexual violence. This is the story of a teen girl processing and surviving her own sexual assault in the midst of going to high school. It’s a searing narrative about depression, finding your voice, and growth. I wish I could put it in the hands of every educator, counselor, mentor, parent, minister, etc. Anderson also recently published a collection of poetry called Shout on the same topic, but I must confess I have not found the courage to read it. Some books are too heavy for our hearts, and that’s okay. Please be gentle with yourself if you choose to pick up either of these books.
1) My copy of The Hate U Give signed by both the author and her mother who was on tour with her! 2) Meeting Angie Thomas was such a neat experience!
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is one of those books where if you haven’t heard of it, I have to assume we exist on different internets. As of this blog’s writing, THUG has been on the NY Times best sellers list for 151 weeks–nearly three years!! Starr, a sixteen year old black youth, witnesses the fatal shooting of her unarmed friend, Khalil, by a cop. She struggles to grapple with the trauma of the event and learns to use her voice in the aftermath. Thomas based her fictional story on several real world cases of unarmed black men shot by the police that have made headlines in recent years. It’s a must-read book that tackles a difficult subject really well. If you’ve already read and enjoyed this book, or would like to experience the story differently, the 2018 film is one of my all-time favorite book-to-film adaptations.
Graphic Novels
1) A library copy of Paper Girls travelled from Seguin, TX to a remote camp in the Colorado mountains in 2018! 2) My treasured copy of Bitch Planet and the nail color I picked to match the cover.
Paper Girls written by Brian K Vaughan, art by Cliff Chiang and Matthew Wilson is a graphic novel series about a group of teen girls who work to deliver papers by bike in the ’80s until one night when they encounter a mysterious otherworldly entity. This is basically the graphic novel for fans of Stranger Things who wished there had been just a few more women in the cast. The art is gorgeous and the narrative will take you to unexpected places with the familiar girl gang to keep you anchored. There are six volumes out currently, so it’s not too long or short, though I will say you’ll want more when they finish! This series also includes LGBT+ character representation.
Saga written by Brian K Vaughan, art by Fiona Staples is one of the most popular graphic novel series in recent years. Each new volume has been nominated every year for the Goodreads Choice Awards as long as I’ve been paying attention to them. It’s a scifi series about an alien love story that seems destined to end in disaster as it is narrated by their child. It’s delightfully weird and I recommend it if you’re interested in pushing your scifi horizons! There are nine volumes out currently, each collecting 6 individual comics, so there’s plenty of source material if you’re looking for a good binge read! This series does include LGBT+ character representation.
Bitch Planet written by Kelly Sue Deconnick, art by Robbie Wilson IV and Taki Soma is an adult LGBT+ graphic novel series with my favorite premise yet! Women are required to be compliant, happy accessories to the men of the world. All women that don’t comply are sent to a prison planet commonly called Bitch Planet, which is where the majority of the story takes place. There are only two volumes of the main storyline out currently, so it’s approachable if you’re looking for a small series to dip your toes into.
Historical Speculative Fiction
1) Bright We Burn, the conclusion to the And I Darken series, with my Dungeons and Dragons character sheet as I was reading it during a D&D session. 2) Willow flopping happily near the River of Teeth sequel, Taste of Marrow, on my ereader.
And I Darken by Kiersten White is the most criminally underrated YA historical fiction trilogy you can get your hands on. It’s a gender-flipped story about Vlad the Impaler, starring Lada Dragwyla, a very stabby woman on a mission, and her soft gay brother, Radu. This series is brutal, dark, and fascinating. I enjoyed the first two books and felt like the third one spoke to my soul in a way the others hadn’t. The real historical backing of this story was also interesting to learn, which I remember White covering in the afterword of the final book.
River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey is an adult novella based on real almost history! At one point in American history, the government contemplated importing hippos into the Mississippi River to eat and serve as domesticated animals. It never came to fruition, but this book gives us the story that might have been! It’s a western with hippos and LGBT+ rep. Plus it’s super short and has an equally delightful and short sequel!
Alright y’all! That completes my best 20 recommendations across the genres I most commonly read. Have you read and enjoyed any of these? Any favorites I failed to mention? Let me know in the comments!
*Lingo Definition: New Adult (NA) is a new demographic that bridges the gap between YA and Adult. In a lot of circles, NA means the protagonist is an actual young adult 18-30 years old (as opposed to the 12-18 year old “young adult” publishing demographic), and the text usually includes sexually explicit content. There are YA books that have sexual content, but their characters are teenagers. Since it is a new demographic distinction, the publishing world is still sussing out what it means and what books belong in that category. In the case of Red, White & Royal Blue, the author has been consistently vocal about messaging this book as NA. **Lingo Definition: TW stands for Trigger Warning. It’s also interchangeable with CW for Content Warning. Its purpose is to alert the reader of common potentially triggering subjects that could be especially distressing for people with trauma or intense fears. I will try to respect those triggers and provide content warnings when I can. Please contact me if you have a specific one for which you’d like to see me provide warnings.
Recommended to me by: The Internet? Honestly this book is so buzzy, I’d be impressed if you told me you’d never heard of it. Book Twitter adores it; podcasters love it; NPR is singing its praises. I placed a hold on it at the library in December, but it became apparent that I’d be waiting until June if I stuck with that plan, so I added it to my Christmas list and overemphasized to my husband how important it was that I receive it on Christmas morning.
Observe my stack of books that I received for Christmas (including my at the time current library read, Slay).
Anyways, I got my hands on it, finished my current read, Slay, on Christmas Day and then got down to the business of reading this large, buzzy book. I had expected to binge through it, but in actuality, I read it like I was tasting the morsels of a very, very good dessert. I legit would read a chapter, smile to myself, and then put it down in a better mood than before.
This is a book for book lovers. The physical copy is absolutely gorgeous. The pages are solidly thick and good quality. The diction seems intentional and hand-chosen for each sentence. Honestly, it’s just beautiful. This is one of those books that I’m glad I chose to read in physical format because it was such a lovely experience, though I’ve heard wonderful things about the audiobook as well!
I mean, look how pretty it is next to my BookBeau! *heart eyes emoji*
The Starless Sea is about a boy who was given the chance to enter a magical, secret world. He denied that invitation but gets a second chance to enter this world as an adult. It’s a book about hidden, magic doors, how special story telling is, and the importance of books, all of which is very much My Jam.
As expected, I really loved this book. I did read it a lot slower than I anticipated, but every page felt like a treat. There are some scathing reviews online and I agree with one aspect of them in general– the plot is not exactly the point of this book. If you’re a plot-driven reader, I can’t guarantee you’ll love it. The story simply unfolds as the characters stumble on new information, and I feel like whatever you gain from reading this book is the point, not the plot. There are story-chapters interspersed like fairy tales in between the true book content and I loved how ingenious and creative all of it was. In some ways, I wish there had been a little more intention set into the plot and character choices, but I loved the way the interspersed fairy tale chapters added meaning to what you were reading. Overall I’d recommend this book to readers who love books, brews, and persian cats. Lucky for me, I love all of those things.
My Chosen Brew
While reading this, I paired it with the Turkish Delight tea from The Steeping Room, which is basically my favorite food/drink establishment in the state of Texas. Turkish Delight is a blend of green and black teas, and, when it’s steeped properly, doesn’t need any sweetening or other additives to make it palatable. You might also recognize Turkish Delight as the name of the sweet that Edmund receives from the White Witch in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. It seemed like the perfect pairing for a book about magic portals to another world! However, 0/10 would recommend selling out your family for a taste, just saying… #DontBeAnEdmund
Steeping Notes: If you purchase and steep this tea, make sure you follow the steeping instructions. If you’re steeping with an electric or digital kettle, set it to heat to 180*F and steep the leaves for only 2 minutes. If you’re like me and prefer to brew with a stovetop kettle or something equally low-tech, heat until it whistles or reaches boiling, pull it off the heat, and let it rest for two minutes. Then add the water to the tea leaves and let it steep for 2 minutes. It’s important that you don’t use boiling water (212*F) because it will scorch the delicate green tea leaves and leave you a bitter cup of tea. Trust me; you and this tea deserve better than that!
A mug of Turkish Delight, my #DemandingDanvers reading partner, and some background music!
My Chosen Soundtrack
I hinted in my Instagram post on Dec 30, 2019 that I had a special soundtrack playing in the background while I read this book. The secret is that I was listening to a Spotify playlist made for this book! The only song I didn’t enjoy on this playlist was the Harry Potter theme, only because it’s so recognizable and took me out of the reading experience when it came on. Otherwise I thought this was a great playlist for background while I read The Starless Sea.
Listening to book-specific playlists one of my favorite things to do when I really want to feel the atmosphere of a book I’m reading. I’ll search through Spotify to find a playlist that someone has made, and for the big buzzy books, there’s usually one already out there waiting for me. I like to play it while I’m reading, because I feel like it increases the quality of my reading time. If there’s not a book-specific playlist for whatever book I’m reading, there’s usually a great genre-specific one that I can find instead.
I know many folks can’t focus on reading while there’s background sounds, and if that describes you, my recommendation is to play the music during your daily routine, but not when you’re reading. The music is typically chosen for these playlists because it has a similar vibe to the book or because the lyrics convey similar themes, so listening while you do chores around the house or get ready to wind down for the day can help put your mind in the atmosphere of the book before you ever pick it up!
That wraps up my thoughts on this popular, hyped book. Have you had a chance to read it? Please share your thoughts with me below in the comments (spoiler warning for the comment section) and let me know if you’ve tried this brew or music pairing before!
Books and Brews 