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To say that I am mildly obsessed with the Banned Book scavenger hunt would be something of an understatement, and pretty much most of my week outside of work has been devoted to locating this year's volumes. I'm happy to say I've been far more successful than in years past, and many of my finds are represented in this week's reading.
What I Just Finished Reading
The Power – Naomi Alderman
What I love most about this book is how Alderman shows (and that’s shows, not tells) how “truths” about who is capable of violence and who is doomed to be its victims are anything but immutable and preordained. My initial criticisms remain, as well: is it really so far-fetched to conceive of women constructing functioning governments, or functioning autocracies, or everything in between?
The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears – Dinaw Mengetsu
This book is at its best when Mengetsu describes, with crushing restraint, the cataclysms that compact people of any nationality, background, or intellectual capability into the sole, straitjacketed identity of “refugee.” His protagonist’s bipolar disorder was also expertly depicted—so much so that it’s often as exhausting to read about as it is to actually interact with someone with illness. Unfortunately, these strengths are weakened by a contrived love story that unfolds just as predictably as you hope it won't. End verdict: this was very much a first novel, but I will certainly check out the next one that Mengetsu writes.
What I Am Currently Reading
Seedfolks – Paul Fleischman
Set in Cleveland!
The Warmth of Other Suns – Isabel Wilkerson
This incredibly well-written book has been promoted to the coveted dedicated weekend reading slot.
蟲師 5 – 漆原 友紀 (Mushishi vol. 5 – Urushihara Yuki)
The first chapter in this tankoubon tells the story of an island community that throws its nearly dead residents into a deep sea crevasse, after which they believe they reincarnate as the next generation. It was neither the creepiest nor most atmospheric thing Urushihara's ever written, but it was bittersweet and the illustrations made me nostalgic for Okinawa.
What I'm Reading Next
This week I picked up N.K. Jemison’s The Broken Earth, Mengetsu’s The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears Fleischman’s Seedfolk, and Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan--all Banned Book finds--of which I have already finished two and started on the third.
これで以上です。
What I Just Finished Reading
The Power – Naomi Alderman
What I love most about this book is how Alderman shows (and that’s shows, not tells) how “truths” about who is capable of violence and who is doomed to be its victims are anything but immutable and preordained. My initial criticisms remain, as well: is it really so far-fetched to conceive of women constructing functioning governments, or functioning autocracies, or everything in between?
The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears – Dinaw Mengetsu
This book is at its best when Mengetsu describes, with crushing restraint, the cataclysms that compact people of any nationality, background, or intellectual capability into the sole, straitjacketed identity of “refugee.” His protagonist’s bipolar disorder was also expertly depicted—so much so that it’s often as exhausting to read about as it is to actually interact with someone with illness. Unfortunately, these strengths are weakened by a contrived love story that unfolds just as predictably as you hope it won't. End verdict: this was very much a first novel, but I will certainly check out the next one that Mengetsu writes.
What I Am Currently Reading
Seedfolks – Paul Fleischman
Set in Cleveland!
The Warmth of Other Suns – Isabel Wilkerson
This incredibly well-written book has been promoted to the coveted dedicated weekend reading slot.
蟲師 5 – 漆原 友紀 (Mushishi vol. 5 – Urushihara Yuki)
The first chapter in this tankoubon tells the story of an island community that throws its nearly dead residents into a deep sea crevasse, after which they believe they reincarnate as the next generation. It was neither the creepiest nor most atmospheric thing Urushihara's ever written, but it was bittersweet and the illustrations made me nostalgic for Okinawa.
What I'm Reading Next
This week I picked up N.K. Jemison’s The Broken Earth, Mengetsu’s The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears Fleischman’s Seedfolk, and Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan--all Banned Book finds--of which I have already finished two and started on the third.
これで以上です。
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