Behold the books I read in September!
By the numbers: 7 total, 5 by women, 3 by POC, 2 nonfiction, 1? YA, 0 middle grade, 1 5 Stars. Of note, the two nonfiction titles were also the two works by male authors. I’ll have to pay attention to that potential correlation. Click on titles to find books on bookshop.org (no affiliation links).
We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry
A high school lacrosse team follows in the footsteps of the teens of Salem, MA, indulging in Dark Magiks to improve their gameplay and make it to the state championships. Maybe. Or it’s a story of friendship and hair and anger and sexuality and power and sports. Or both.
Two things that I wish I’d known going in: 1) this is a comedy. you don’t have to read filled with anticipatory dread, for example. 2) it’s told in the collective first person, which works fantastically well; give it a few pages to get the rhythm.
4 stars
this must be the place by Kate Racculia
Kate Racculia is my Author Discovery of 2020. I have read two of her novels, each very different from the other, each very delightful. ‘this must be the place’ explores themes of grief, home, creation/creativity, family, the (in)accuracy of memory, how you form your identity, what (and how) to let others know of your identity. Also, one (arguably three) of the main characters is a misunderstood teen girl who blossoms. So, Lauren catnip. Oh, and there is a persnickety cat! And baking!
4 1/2 stars
Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
Did you know that I really enjoy the ‘productivity’ sub genre of businessy self-help books? Much of it is poorly written drivel (see my July #quaranreads on Instagram…) but there are some writers who can actually write who engage in topics that are actually thought-provoking and/or helpful. Cal Newport is one such writer.
‘Digital Minimalism’ lays out the evidence for radically reorienting your relationship with digital - and particularly social - media. I found his case convincing. Then Newport provides guidelines for doing so, which I can report can in fact be implemented and have a huge impact. Goodness, I’m drifting into work-speak.
Translation: do you spend too much time, by your own accounting, on your phone? 1) it’s not (entirely) your fault, 2) it’s messing with your brain, and 3) it’s probably the right time to change some habits.
Also, and this is just me, have a cup of tea. It’s going to be fine.
3 1/2 stars
Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James
It’s several years after the events in ‘Pride and Predjudice.’ A death…a MURDER?!?…occurs on the grounds of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy’s estate. Whatever is to be done?
All of your favorite and favorite-to-hate characters from P&P have cameos (or more). For example, this reader was tickled to learn that Mary is happily married, though still insufferable to her siblings. And Mr. Collins sends a dreadfully long and boring letter. The drama is driven by the MURDER, though there are some mild misunderstandings between characters. Smartly plotted, with some twists I saw coming and some I missed (though well-laid out in retrospect). I was particularly struck by the complete lack of urgency on any of the characters - police, magistrates, gentry - in solving the crime. The book is well-paced for the reader - it never feels slow - but the decisions and discoveries happen over the course of weeks and months. I assume this is accurate to the time period (early 1800s) and honestly, it was quite amusing. I think intentionally.
3 stars
I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong
Ed Yong is my go-to journalist for COVID-19 science. If you have not read his long-form articles about pandemics generally and COVID-19 specifically, especially this prescient article from ActualMarch 2020 (as opposed to now, ForeverMarch 2020) I would actually prefer you to stop reading this blog and go to The Atlantic and catch up.
THIS book has nothing to do with COVID-19. It is about the billions of bacteria that live all over and inside us. It is hilarious. It is joyful. It finds and celebrates the humanity of research scientists. You will learn so much, and maybe you will also quote the footnotes to your husband. It may also influence your behavior, as you strive to become the best possible environment for your microscopic cohabitors.
Or maybe you’ll be grossed out? Nah, you’ll love it.
5 stars
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
OK, this book is beloved by many. It has a detached-yet-spiky writing style well-suited to its narrator and features some really good tips on how to clean blood off things. Korede, the narrator, seems somewhat unreliable (#Lauren’sFavoriteTropes). It’s compelling and a fast read. Yet it left me pretty cold.
There were just a few too many defensive layers over the trauma and rage roiling deep within the characters for me to connect with their emotional journeys, and I closed the book wondering if indeed any arcs or journeys had been taken at all.
2 1/2 stars
Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
Linda Holmes is the co-host of Pop Culture Happy Hour, and one of my best friends who does not know who I am. She is a great twitter follow.
‘Evvie Drake Starts Over’ is a sweet (NOT saccharine) book that lends itself well to post surgery recovery. Or to, you know, wanting to feel warm and cozy, to feel loved and lovely, to believe in your heart that this world is full of decent people who will take care of each other even after and as they hurt each other with their very human flaws.
It is also about recovering from emotional abuse and living in a small town and kinda about sports injuries.
3 stars
My rating scale, for all media:
1 star - Did Not Like
2 star - Fine
3 star - Liked
4 star - Loved
5 star - Personal All Time Classic
All images link to titles at bookshop.org, similar shipping to <ahem> larger retailers, but with products sold by indie bookstores; they also have their own eReader. For audiobooks, I recommend libro.fm. And most of all I recommend being a frequent patron of your local library. Most libraries also loan out digital texts, and the Libby app for reading library eBooks is as good or better than Kindle/Nook.