Tiny reviews from my tiny book nook.
“The Best of Me,” by David Sedaris
Words are magic.
No one crafts a story quite like David Sedaris. In this greatest hits album of a book, he managed to weave familiar stories into a wholly new, deeply moving tribute to his family.
“The Lying Life of Adults,” by Elena Ferrante
Devastating, as always.
I know I’m not alone in saying this, but damn. Elena Ferrante’s lyrical prose never fails to work its way into my heart and crack it open.
“Sing, Unburied, Sing,” by Jesmyn Ward
Heart-wrenching beauty.
This story, difficult as it may be to take in, beautifully paints the picture of a multigenerational family and the burden that shared history can have on our youth.
Seasonal Quartet by Ali Smith
Masterful, in more ways than one.
Four novels, each evoking the intangible feeling of the season for which they’re named, bringing complicated characters to life, and ultimately weaving them together into one nuanced story.
“The Vanishing Half,” by Brit Bennett
A life-altering choice.
This novel plastered my Instagram feed for months for a reason. Bennett shows the power of defining yourself before society can define you, for better or worse. It’s a nuanced, heart-breaking, only-in-America kind of story.
“First Person Singular,” by Haruki Murakami
Morsels of genius.
My first Murakami, I found each entry to be witty and strange and full of life. A few stood out as having the same quality as some of my favorite movies – beautifully told stories where nothing actually happens.
“wow, no thank you,” by Samantha Irby
A well-timed LOL.
A few months into the Covid-19 lockdown, Samantha Irby’s collection of ridiculous, relatable short stories gave me exactly what I needed. Genuine laughter, alone, in my one-bedroom apartment.
“Friday Black,” by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Damn.
I probably said that out loud to myself after each installment in this collection of short stories. Violent, angry, darkly funny, Adjei-Brenyah uses surrealism to paint a very real picture of being Black in America.
“Luster,” by Raven Leilani
Dark, funny, intimate.
Sharp, witty, gut-wrenching story about a young Black woman and a very strange white family. One sentence stuck with me in particular: “Imagine living life so carefully that there are no signs you lived at all.”
“Bowlaway,” by Elizabeth McCracken
Oddly satisfying.
A strange book about the many strange people whose lives were brought together by a candlepin bowling alley. Lots of death. Even more bowling.
“Stoner,” by John Williams
“The perfect novel.”
That review makes an appearance on the back cover of this edition, and sets the bar as high as it gets. By the end, I got it. “Stoner” is a thoughtful, empathetic story of one very ordinary man’s life, start to finish.
“The Dead Are Arising,” by Les and Tamara Payne
No detail spared.
This book is one of the most thoroughly researched biographies I’ve read. Les Payne’s life’s work, finished by his daughter, explores the life, the contradictions and the many forces intent on silencing the voice of Malcolm X.
“In the Lake of the Woods,” by Tim O’Brien
Wait. Is this… real?
Despite a page one disclaimer, everything in this novel felt pulled from a newspaper. Something about O’Brien keeps pulling me back in, this well-worn find from a used book store in northern Washington was no exception.
“The First Bad Man,” by Miranda July
WTF just happened.
One of the strangest books I’ve ever read, I couldn’t put it down. Each time I described the plot to a friend, I was accurate while feeling like a failure. I won’t try here, but I would like someone else to read it so we can discuss.
“The Book of Speculation,” by Erika Swyler
Whirlwind family saga.
One part travelogue of a 19th century circus, one part desperate rush to break a curse before another life is lost, this book drew me in from the start. Strange, beautiful and a bit frightening. Just as a circus should be.
“Is This Anything?” by Jerry Seinfeld
It’s actually everything.
Personally, I’m not one to keep books on the back of my toilet. But if I did, it would be this one. A complete anthology of any joke Jerry Seinfeld has ever written that he deemed worthy of hanging onto.
“Intimations,” by Zadie Smith
Quarantine reflections.
Written and published in the early months of lockdown, this became a constant companion for me. One beautifully relatable line: “…I do feel comforted to discover I’m not the only person on this earth who has no idea what life is for, nor what is to be done with all this time aside from filling it.”
“Untamed,” by Glennon Doyle
Watch out world.
Glennon’s latest book (we’re on a first name basis in my head) is a siren call to women everywhere to do whatever the hell they want to do. I had to sharpen my pencil two or three times from all the underlining.
My favorite way to choose my next book is a personal recommendation.
Got one? I’d love to hear it.