What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

I've had a busy reading month! A good variety of reads, long and short, on audio and ebook, plus wrapping up a hardcover book I've been working through all year.

The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood: This would be a good airplane read. It's sweet and sad and a little bit funny and includes Life Lessons and characters with complicated feelings. I don't have any major complaints, but I also don't think it will stick with me much.

Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz: Once again, Horowitz has written a compelling murder mystery inside a compelling murder mystery, and I was here for the ride. The audiobook narration, with the dual narrators for the two stories, was excellent yet again, and I'd definitely recommend the series in that format.

How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective ed. by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor: This was a valuable read for learning more about the Combahee River Collective and the particular moment in history when they existed. Unfortunately I couldn't separate my reading experience from the less-than-ideal audiobook format, which is not the format I'd recommend for this.

More Than Two, Second Edition: Cultivating Nonmonogamous Relationships with Kindness and Integrity by Eve Rickert and Andrea Zanin: This was my July Best of the Bunch. Although it's specifically focused on the needs and challenges of non-monogamous relationship configurations, I think much of the book could be applied to any kind of relationship or would even be valuable for single monogamous folks to read. I highly recommend it.

No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister: This was a great listen as a multi-narrator audiobook. I'm not sure I took away anything profound from the book — it's not news to me that one book affects multiple people, each in their own way! — but I thought she did an excellent job conveying how most lives are made up of small moments, and what seems like an insignificant detail can have a profound impact.

Catfish and Mandala: A Two-Wheeled Voyage Through the Landscape and Memory of Vietnam by Andrew X. Pham: I'm glad to have finally read this memoir, which has beautiful writing and valuable reflections on identity and culture, though I was frustrated by missing details and inconsistent verb tenses, not to mention formatting issues with the ebook version.

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson: This was a little more self-help-y than I prefer, in that people are divided into a binary "emotionally immature" or "emotionally mature," but I do appreciate the detail with which the behaviors of each group were identified, though it took quite a long time to get to the "so what do you do about this" part of the book.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness: This is a beautiful book about grief and anger. It's about being afraid to look the truth in the face and how opposing truths can exist at the same time. You could write essays on the symbolism or hold book discussions on the complex, challenging characters who populate the book, but for all that it's a very fast read, told in a cinematic style interspersed with actual illustrations.

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi: This is a thoroughly researched and well written tome looking at the history of the United States through the lens of ideas about race. Although most of the historical figures and events Kendi discussed throughout the book were not new to me, this was an interesting lens through which to see all of them.

You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar: The book description says this book "tackles modern-day racism with the perfect balance of levity and gravity," and that's exactly right. If you're the kind of person who immediately tries to find a "reasonable," non-racist explanation for situations that Black people tell you are racist, I dare you to come out of this book with that instinct intact.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Jessica, How You Get the Girl, We Are Okay, and Nimona
Five years ago I was reading: The Color of Law and Still Life
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, Nervous Conditions, The Princess Bride, Madame Bovary, and Mr. Popper's Penguins

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

This was a decent reading month! Not many 5-star reads, but a nice mix of genres and topics and nothing too terrible.

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse: Despite the abrupt cliffhanger, I liked this book that defies an easy good/bad binary among its characters. Roanhorse doesn't give the reader an easy place to perch, which makes the story challenging and engaging, not to mention the beauty of rooting it in a world based on diverse indigenous cultures.

Amelia, If Only by Becky Albertalli: I love everything Albertalli writes, and I especially enjoyed being back in the world of Imogen, Obviously with a well-crafted commentary on parasocial relationships. Although I saw the major plot developments coming from a mile away, I still greatly enjoyed the journey getting there.

The Resilience Myth: New Thinking on Grit, Strength, and Growth After Trauma by Soraya Chemaly: I appreciated what I think is Chemaly's main point in this book, that what actually helps people survive and thrive in difficult times is not individual toughness but tangible support, and I think a better-organized, better-edited version of this book could have been something I recommended widely. Unfortunately, I found this to be scattered and hard to follow much of the time.

The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry by Jon Ronson: I kept waiting for this to coalesce into something that would bring all the different pieces together, but it never really did, but that doesn't mean that the pieces themselves weren't worth reading. I'd recommend this if you're interested specifically in the topic of what the subtitle calls "the madness industry" — essentially, how money is made on categorizing and diagnosing and treating individuals — but it's not one I'd go out of my way to recommend otherwise.

Jamie by L.D. Lapinski: This was exactly what I was looking for, a sweet middle grade read about kids making a difference. It can be a bit heavily didactic at times, but if the book itself is aimed at raising awareness about non-binary identities (much as Jamie and their friends try to do within the story), then I can forgive a bit of monologuing.

The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater: Maggie Stiefvater is very good at atmosphere, and she's very good at sentence-level writing, and yet she puts so much energy into immersing the reader in this West Virginia hotel in 1942 that the story is ultimately secondary to the atmosphere. No matter how well constructed the story is and how believable the characters are and how clever the little plot twists are, it lacked a driving force to propel me through the story.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Jessica, Loving Someone with Borderline Personality Disorder, The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating, and Crooked House
Five years ago I was reading: The New Jim Crow and Killers of the Flower Moon
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, Clockwork Angel, The Woman in White, and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

I was back on the reading train this past month after my little reading break at the end of April. It was a pretty good reading month, with a couple excellent reads and the rest solidly good.

Money for Couples by Ramit Sethi: I'd recommend for any monogamously married couple who shares a home (of any kind), especially those who are solidly middle class or above. I think Sethi struggles to envision what life is like for anyone outside of that model, but within it, he has concrete advice for talking about and using your money wisely to create the life you want.

Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler: This sequel to Parable of the Sower is centered primarily on the reality of growing a new religion, which made it more like a thought experiment or extended world-building than a compelling plot.

The New Bottoming Book by Dossie Easton and Janet W. Hardy: This definitely gave me a much better understanding of what people get out of kink (which was my goal in reading it). I'm not sure it's the best general intro to kink as that's not exactly its intent, but if you already experience interest in anything that could fall within the category of "bottoming" but aren't personally experienced in kink, this would probably be a good book for you.

Dream More by Dolly Parton: This was a sweet little audiobook narrated by Dolly Parton herself, an extension of a commencement address she previously gave, so it's framed as inspirational life advice, but it's primarily a collection of autobiographical stories grouped into four main themes. I liked the memoir-ish aspects of it; I struggled a bit with her downplaying her minimal need for sleep (and not being a parent/caregiver) as contributing to her accomplishments on top of her determination, commitment, etc.

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson: This was just fantastic. The heist-like plot was compelling, the world-building was stellar, and the plot twists were satisfying. The story's tragic moments had a purpose, and the climax felt earned. I'm really happy I gave this one a shot.

Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski: This affirmed my love of Emily Nagoski and her ability to translate science into a compassionate, conversational tone. Everyone should read this.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Jessica, Tiny Beautiful Things, and To Night Owl from Dogfish
Five years ago I was reading: Sadie and Women, Race, & Class
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, Angle of Repose, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, The Tale of Despereaux, and Little House on the Prairie

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

I'll be honest, the second half of April my brain needed a break and I mostly spent my usual reading time binge-listening to the Normal Gossip podcast. So three books is an all-time low since I started doing Quick Lit linkups years ago. But that's OK! Here are the three books I read this past month.

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser: This was a cute, heartwarming middle grade novel, though to be honest the majority of the book is pretty bleak as the kids try valiantly to convince their reclusive, curmudgeonly landlord to renew their lease and end up continually making things worse. I liked the characters a lot and thought the author did a great job pulling the plot together, but it was a bit challenging to get through.

All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks: I'm genuinely confused by how often I've seen this recommended because I thought it was full of sweeping, unwarranted overgeneralizations, including that all men think and talk about love differently than all women, everyone in our culture has given up on finding love, and drug addiction is caused by rampant materialization and consumerism. Her cental thesis about how to find love is muddied but seems to be heavily dependent on spirituality, with the entire last chapter focused on angels. It was... not what I expected.

Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World by Jessica Slice: This is one of those rare books that I wish I could compel every person to read. In telling the story of her own and others' disabled parenting experiences, she is not only showcasing the way that our society and our structures are biased against those with disabilities, but she's also making it clear how modern parenting is impossible for everyone without support. Be aware that there are some quite upsetting stories about the way disabled folks have been treated by the medical and child welfare systems. But those realities are important for anyone not yet aware to understand. Highly recommended!

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Self-Made Boys and Love by Design
Five years ago I was reading: Team of Rivals and Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, Gilead, Baby-Led Weaning, and Summer of My German Soldier

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

It was a decent reading month, with a couple of really great reads and the rest that I was glad to have read. Here's the list of what I've read this past month.

Killfile by Christopher Farnsworth: The mind-reading aspect of this gave it an interesting twist on your standard thriller, but ultimately it came down to more of the same: morally gray white men focused on money, power, and technology punching each other, blowing things up, and treating women as objects. Not badly written or plotted and an interesting thought experiment regarding how these kinds of special powers would work practically, but ultimately not really my thing.

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of September 11, 2001 by Garrett M. Graff: This was my Best of the Bunch for the month of March. It's an incredible achievement, both in its original construction and in the care that was put into the full-cast audiobook. Graff really tried to provide a complete history of the day from every angle, and I think he succeeded.

It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health by Robie H. Harris: On the positive side, this is quite comprehensive and non-stigmatizing. It covers topics ranging from anatomy, puberty, and sexual intercourse to masturbation, contraception, STIs, abortion, sexual abuse, and the challenges of young parenthood. The primary downsides to this book are its cisnormativity and heteronormativity, at least in the 2007 copy I had. We're reading You Know, Sex now and I think it's going to be a better option for 2025.

Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green: This is a genuinely excellent work of nonfiction contained in just over 200 pages (or 5 1/2 hours on audio). Green covers everything from the history of tuberculosis to the ways that our systems of injustice in medicine and beyond explain why TB still kills over a million people every year. The topic is important, the writing is engaging, and you'll definitely learn something new.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan: I can clearly see why this is frequently read in schools; between the historical setting, the plentiful themes and symbols, the coming-of-age elements, and the dilemmas with no clear right answer (e.g., should the characters strike or continue working?), it's rich with topics for discussion or essays. This would be a great addition to any middle grade bookshelf.

Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia by Sabrina Strings: I had a difficult time following Strings' immediate train of thought through the majority of this book, but I still think it's valuable in how Strings complicates the notions that thinness has always been valued, that it has always been related to health, and that it is unrelated to ideas of race. I wish she'd synthesized it a bit more to articulate and support these main points.

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy: This book had a lot of great elements that, ultimately, didn't hang together the way they deserved to. I'm not surprised this was made into a movie because it has the potential to be great if tightened up into a more cohesive plot and given actual on-screen chemistry between the characters. Murphy tried to do a LOT here, and the end result was that no single element grounded the book the way it needed.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: The Breakup Lists, The Polyamory Paradox, and Cemetery Boys
Five years ago I was reading: Team of Rivals and We Need to Talk About Kevin
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, Angle of Repose, Baby-Led Weaning, and Finding Your Own North Star

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

I blazed through a bunch of short audiobooks this past month, mostly nonfiction, which made a nice little spread of topics to sample! I also finished up the middle grade series I've been enjoying on Kindle.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus: I'm still not sure exactly how to describe this. "Feminist revenge fantasy," maybe? Except that the main character doesn't set out to get revenge on anyone, she just lives as if she's entitled to take up as much space on this earth as any man, and as a result, the world slowly reshapes itself to align with this vision. This isn't going to be a book for everyone, but I'm very glad to have read it.

The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall: If the first Penderwicks book had everything resolving a little too quickly and neatly, this one was a little too... real? This was still well done and I liked spending more time with these characters, who are now several years older than when we last saw them; it's just a bit darker and less madcap than the previous volumes.

Amateur: A Reckoning with Gender, Identity, and Masculinity by Thomas Page McBee: Through his story of becoming an amateur boxer to compete in a charity match — in the process becoming the first transgender man to box in Madison Square Garden — McBee explores the idea of "masculinity" and the extent to which he is or is not able to define it for himself. He's a journalist by trade, so it's not surprising that he can write well. This was a quick listen (under 4 hours) that would be valuable for anyone to read.

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown: I was struck by how my own life has changed since I first read this book. This time around, I will say that what Brown says here doesn't just make sense to me, but it resonates deeply with what I've experienced and found to be true. I think this is a great book to revisit periodically for a reminder of what truly matters when building a life.

What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon: This is one of those books that should be required reading. Gordon makes a strong case that the negative health effects traditionally associated with obesity are more likely tied to the negative impacts of weight loss measures and the daily harassment and discrimination that fat people experience. We could create a much better world if more people understood everything captured in this book.

Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness by Da'Shaun Harrison: I've found that there's a particular strain of activist writing that doesn't work for my brain, one that presents bold statements as self-evident and, inasmuch as they do present evidence, do so by quoting others at length. There are undoubtedly points throughout that speak powerfully to the intersections of race, gender, and body size, and I think Harrison could have gone further in exploring these intersections, but instead they fell back on sweeping, unclear statements.

The Penderwicks at Last by Jeanne Birdsall: I greatly enjoyed this conclusion to the Penderwicks series. It's not quite as madcap as the early books, but it's definitely not as dark as the prior book; mainly this is a last romp with some beloved characters while sending them off into a beautiful future, and I was satisfied with that.

To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers: This was a compelling novella that, at its essence, asks the reader a question about humans' role in the universe without itself answering it. This isn't something I'd necessarily rush to press into someone's hands (unlike most of Chambers' books), but if you're looking for a grown-up, more diverse version of those classic children's books where each chapter is its own adventure and ultimately it's about growing up, this is a great fit for that.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Elatsoe and We Are Not Free
Five years ago I was reading: Paradise Lost and Red, White & Royal Blue
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, Baby-Led Weaning, These Is My Words, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and Because of Winn-Dixie

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

This was a pretty good reading month! Not much in the way of 5-star books, but almost everything was 4 or 4.5 stars, which is a solid track record for the month.

Big Jim Begins by Dav Pilkey: Most of the story was pretty good for a Dog Man book, but then it kind of ran out of steam at the end with a lightning-fast resolution (besides the dangling plot threads that the characters themselves call out and name are an indication of an impending sequel). I'll happily continue listening to my kid read these, though!

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall: This was a sweet and charming children's book that might have been 5 stars for me at another point in time, but I wasn't quite in a space to have things resolve as neatly as they did each time a challenge arose throughout this book. I enjoyed it enough to continue with the series, though!

I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life by Ed Yong: Yong clearly communicates his key theses, from the small percentage of microbes that are true pathogens (and how difficult/inaccurate it is to label most microbes as "good" or "bad") to the ways that microbes work in tandem with other organisms in a multitude of ways. It's a dense work of nonfiction and I wouldn't recommend this to everyone, but I found it both interesting and valuable for better understanding the world around me.

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall: This was a sweet addition to the adventures of the Penderwicks. Predictable? Yes. But not in a way I minded. I didn't quite buy some aspects of the plot but the rest of the book was lovely and sweet, with everyone getting slightly embroiled in plots of deception, but not in a way that gave me anxiety like it normally would.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett: This was well done, though I don't think I caught whatever it was that led multiple folks I follow to rave about this one. The world-building here is excellent and the Scandinavian winter can be felt through the words, with a plot that hangs together well but in the end is a vehicle for showcasing the world more than an end to itself, or at least that's how it felt to me.

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers: I enjoyed spending more time with Mosscap and Sibling Dex and revisiting this gentle vision of community. It has even less plot than the first book, but then plot is somewhat antithetical to the message of being able to just be and have intrinsic value for existing.

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall: This was another charming installment of this series about the Penderwick sisters and their loved ones. There was a plot reveal near the end that stretched the limits of my suspension of disbelief, but outside of that, I greatly enjoyed spending more time with these characters.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler: Much has been made of what Butler did or did not "predict" about our present day, but like any good dystopia, I think the more important accomplishment is what it said about the time period in which it was written and how those elements are still relevant today. I'm glad to have finally read this, and I'll definitely read the sequel when my library hold eventually comes in.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Elevating Child Care, Elatsoe, The Secret Keepers, and The Bad Guys in The Others?!
Five years ago I was reading: The Boys in the Boat and Dreams from My Father
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, A Letter to My Congregation, and All-Of-a-Kind Family

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

This was a solid reading month for me. Not all the books were 5 stars, but all of them were worth reading, which is something.

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett: I was entertained and appreciated the reflections on the reading life, but I think I just never quite settled in to the tone, whether it was sincere or mocking, earnest or humorous, and that may be an artifact of the references and the humor being a bit too British for me personally.

Queer Windows: Volume 1 Spring: Four fantastical, queer love stories by Cay Fletcher: This was a cute little collection. The nature of the "fantastical," the "queer," and the "love" varies greatly from story to story. I think I could have focused better on the stories if I hadn't been perpetually distracted by the misuse of punctuation.

Passenger to Frankfurt by Agatha Christie: This was better than I expected for a late-in-life Christie, and a thriller at that. I think Christie had a decent overall premise, and some excellent observations, dialogue, and scenes, they just don't quite hang together into something compelling, probably because we spend too much time at the 30,000-foot view.

Nothing to Fear: Demystifying Death to Live More Fully by Julie McFadden, RN: In detailing everything from the way the dying body naturally stops wanting to eat and drink to how common it is for dying people to see visions of deceased loved ones and beautiful light, McFadden paints a picture of death as just one more step on everyone's journey of life and not something to be feared or avoided at all costs.

Only Love Today: Reminders to Breathe More, Stress Less, and Choose Love by Rachel Macy Stafford: This is best read as intended, in bite-sized pieces, and it's mostly geared toward parents. It won't give you any practical tips on how to rework your schedule or reorganize your space to ensure that your day-to-day life aligns best with your priorities. It's simply a consistent nudge in the right direction, in much the same way that you might continually refocus your mind during meditation each time it wanders. And for that goal, I think it works very well.

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes: This was a delightful look behind the scenes of a classic movie, even for someone who wasn't a superfan going in. I especially recommend the audio, both because of the many voices that contributed and because Elwes himself has a talent for accents!

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou: This was an utterly fascinating work of narrative nonfiction by the journalist who broke the story that led to Theranos' demise. It lived up to the hype for me and was a great book to kick off my 2025 reading!

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah: I appreciated the concept behind this book and certainly don't think it's that far-fetched that the United States could someday turn criminal execution into a reality TV show. The way the story was laid out, though, wasn't quite satisfying for me.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers: I loved this book just as much on reread. Although the philosophers and scientists may be right that humans need meaning and purpose in their life, through this story Chambers posits that it's equally important that sometimes you're able to just be. Sometimes you need someone to tell you that you matter just as you are, which is exactly what this book does, through the sweet and comical interactions between a monk and a robot.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Demon Copperhead and Last Night at the Telegraph Club
Five years ago I was reading: The Next Evangelicalism, There There, and Dreams from My Father
Ten years ago I was reading: The Garlic Ballads and Generous Spaciousness

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

It was another good reading month! Here's what I've been reading this past month, not including another one of the Usborne Puzzle Adventures books from my childhood that I've been working my way through.

It Takes Two to Tumble by Cat Sebastian: This was a delightful Regency-era M/M open door romance. All the characters felt authentic, as did the relationships between them. The audiobook narrator was excellent. I genuinely enjoyed this read.

Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram: I really love this book, and I enjoyed the read more on rereading it. Khorram captures so many things in this book, from the day-to-day reality of living with (medicated) depression to the complicated experience of seeing your grandparents in person for the first time as a teenager and trying to figure out where you fit into their culture.

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger: I wanted to like this more, and I liked it enough to finish it, but it wasn't really my cup of tea. Everyone has a heart of gold and talent oozing out their ears, and pursuing whatever you want — including women who have told you no — is both encouraged and rewarded. I can see why folks have enjoyed this one, but it wasn't for me.

Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun: This is everything you could want in a queer romance plus everything you want in a holiday special. It's a second-chance romance wrapped in a side-plot fake-dating trope, with a realistic handling of mental health challenges and family trauma. The Portland setting, clearly written by a local, was the final touch that made this a delight to read.

The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie: This book was a wild ride! I didn't know what to expect, and I think it's fair to say that this one is unlike Christie's other mysteries in many ways, so I really didn't know where it was going. I found the ending quite satisfying, even if not all of my lingering questions were completely addressed.

The Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts: I definitely would have loved this book as a kid: the supernatural elements, the air of mystery, the precocious girl considered strange by others who's trying to piece things together to get answers and find connection, the adult character who takes the kid as seriously as another adult. It was an engaging read that didn't quite stick the landing.

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger: This is not a graphic novel, but my 9-year-old was willing to read it with me, making this our first possible gateway book into reading standard chapter books together. It deals with the concerns of 6th graders — being seen as uncool, figuring out who like-likes whom, navigating the pressures of school culture — with an engaging through-line of trying to figure out if Origami Yoda is truly dispensing priceless wisdom or if he's just a hoax propagated by the deeply socially awkward kid who carries him around on his finger.

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson: Jackson had me guessing and trying to fit all the pieces together up until the reveal. I am more than willing to overlook the elements that didn't work for me in this one, as the main mystery/thriller plot kept me hooked the entire time.

Kill Joy by Holly Jackson: This prequel to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is essentially Pip's origin story: why she thought she might be capable of reaching a different conclusion about a murder than the police did, and why she decided to make that her senior capstone project. I think I would have enjoyed this more if I'd listened to it right after the original trilogy, but it was a fun, quick listen, and I'm glad I picked it up.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Hazeldine: Volume One, The Bad Guys in The One?!, Demon Copperhead, and Something Wild & Wonderful
Five years ago I was reading: The Next Evangelicalism, The Watsons Go to Birmingham, and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Ten years ago I was reading: Lamb and One Hundred Names

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

I had many good reads this month, from a variety of genres! Here's what I've been reading this past month. Not included are the Usborne Puzzle Adventures books from my childhood that I've been working my way through.

Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour: This story was like a train wreck I couldn't look away from. It was a painfully cringy look at both startup culture and what it can be like to be the lone person of color in a workplace making ham-fisted efforts to be inclusive. The plot became less coherent as the story went on and I disliked many of the characters' decisions, but the book is still worth a read for the very real problems it spotlights.

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki: This is a genre-bending, heartwarming story centering four women's stories: A violinist bargaining for her soul, a transgender runaway seeking a safe haven, a spaceship captain bringing her family to Earth to keep them safe, and a luthier trying to find her path after only the men in her family were considered worthy of apprenticeship. I found this to be an engaging reading/listening experience and enjoyed the way that Aoki cleverly solved some of the characters' most complex challenges, as well as the "found family" feel it had.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman: This was my October Best of the Bunch. It's always nice to read something that lives up to the hype. Be prepared to laugh and cry if you pick this one up.

Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie: This had a clever premise and a fairly satisfying conclusion. As with most Christie novels, I was not able to arrive at the solution on my own, even though the pieces were all there in retrospect. Aside from the unfortunate marks of its time (related to both adoption and a biracial character), this book is a solid Christie mystery.

Excuse Me, Sir!: Memoir of a Butch by Shaley Howard: This is primarily a memoir of Howard's experience using alcohol and opioids to deal with the pain of being closeted for much of her life and having an emotionally volatile mother. Unfortunately the writing isn't super strong (and the book badly needs a copyedit), which is not to say that her personal story isn't important or that her trajectory of healing isn't worth honoring, but I don't feel a strong drive to recommend this memoir over others that deal with similar topics and have more polished writing.

Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain by Shankar Vedantam: I liked the premise of this nonfiction work: Not all delusions are harmful. While truth, logic, and rationality are certainly important, we are still emotional creatures, and sometimes believing things that aren't empirically true makes for happier lives, better mental health, and stronger social connections. I found this book to be strangely uplifting in its emphasis on health and happiness over being on constant guard to ensure that everything you believe is literally true.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune: I felt roughly the same about this sequel as I did about the original, though for different reasons. I enjoyed spending time in this world with these characters again, but some of the larger themes/arcs didn't work for me that well.

She Come By It Natural: Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs by Sarah Smarsh: I really, really enjoyed this book, more than I expected. Originally published as a series of articles, this book (narrated on audio by the author) is not just a review of the life, career, and music of Dolly Parton but also an exploration of how these things speak to broader historical trends in women's rights, country music, and culture more broadly.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Hazeldine: Volume One, Dawn of the Underlord, and Once There Were Wolves
Five years ago I was reading: The Next Evangelicalism, Girt, and Demon Lord of Karanda
Ten years ago I was reading: And the Mountains Echoed, Cordelia's Honor, and Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

It's been another good reading month! Not only am I back to my regular reading cadence, but I also read a number of excellent and thought-provoking books, both fiction and nonfiction. Here's what I've been reading!

The Feather Thief by Kirk W. Johnson: This was a well-constructed work of nonfiction about a topic I knew nothing about. Johnson does a masterful job of concisely laying out the history leading up to the theft; since the thief had already been identified and confessed at the time he learned about the theft, the suspense comes from his efforts to find and recover the stolen feathers.

I'll Have What He's Having by Adib Khorram: This was my September Best of the Bunch. I really enjoyed this adult romance with two men trying to navigate real-life challenges and figure out what they each want and deserve.

The Mandalorian: The Rescue by the Walt Disney Company: This book my 9-year-old and I read was basically one story line from The Mandalorian told through freeze frames of the show with some sound effects and speech bubbles. Whole pages just had closeup shots of people's faces or various details in the scene, and you were apparently supposed to be able to figure out what was happening just from that. I wasn't impressed.

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty: This was undoubtedly longer than it needed to be, but I enjoyed it. Moriarty uses the stories of multiple passengers (and one flight attendant) receiving predictions of their age and cause of death to explore a range of ideas, from the credibility of fortune tellers to the ways that single events can change one's life trajectory. I liked this much better than Moriarty's last couple books and am very glad I picked this up.

Delusions of Gender: How Our Minds, Society, and Neurosexism Create Difference by Cordelia Fine: Fine is thorough in showing the issues with just about every type of research purportedly finding differences between women and men in skills, abilities, interests, and even brain structure. You don't have to know how to read academic research; she's compiled work from a variety of sources and made it accessible with the clearest examples and analogies. Published in 2010, it does feel a bit outdated and is not inclusive of trans and non-binary individuals, though it's well done within its narrow focus.

Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson: This was an exhaustive look at the many areas of life — work, relationships, politics, and more — where the impulse for self-justification has major effects. Their plentiful examples were a good balance of research studies, real-life events, and imagined scenarios that clearly demonstrated their points. I only wish the chapter on psychology (and its sarcastic jabs at clinical psychologists who aren't researchers) hadn't so clearly revealed the authors' own self-justification bias.

Monster by Walter Dean Myers: I can definitely see why this is a modern classic and an award winner, though personally I found the reading experience just OK. The same formatting choices and ambiguity that makes this perfect for a young adult classroom kept me feeling distant from the protagonist and his story.

Jessica by Bryce Courtenay: The writing kept me engaged in this long story of a young Australian woman's life, though the bleakness got to be too much. I don't regret reading this, but it was a bit too much of a soap opera for me to recommend widely.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Project Hail Mary, A Place to Hang the Moon, The Bad Guys in the Baddest Day Ever, and The Residue Years
Five years ago I was reading: Possession, An Untamed State, More Than Two, and Whistling Vivaldi
Ten years ago I was reading: Sister Outsider and Walk Two Moons

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

After my reading got kickstarted again last month from a bout of COVID, I've been back to my regular reading rhythm. Here's what I've finished in the past month!

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour: This was an excellent depiction of shock and grief following a trauma that's not revealed until later in the book. The alternating past and present timelines kept me reading, and the plot twist was well earned.

How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly: This was my Best of the Bunch for August. I adore Anita Kelly's writing, and this was no exception. This was a solid romance between two characters with realistic chemistry, a great depiction of an aroace spectrum character, and excellent side plots as well.

Ace Voices: What it Means to Be Asexual, Aromantic, Demi or Grey-Ace by Eris Young: Young could have compiled a book of full interviews, one for each chapter, but they decided to cut them up into quotations and organize them by theme. This could have been fine, but they didn't do nearly enough to narratively synthesize the interview parts with research and their own experience to do each theme justice. I liked some of what they had to say, but overall it was too stream-of-consciousness and the editing too sloppy for my taste.

Bi: The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of Bisexuality by Julia Shaw: This was a great deep dive on the topic of bisexuality, covering a broad range of areas. It's well researched and includes both reasons for despair and reasons for hope, the combination of which will hopefully spur readers to fighting for a more just world.

The Times I Knew I Was Gay by Eleanor Crewes: This was fine, a graphic memoir I read in under an hour. I think I went in expecting something different, like "Here are the experiences that solidified my gay identity for me," with some being serious and some being funny. Instead it was more like, "Here is a series of times that I came out as gay and then immediately went back to dating guys," with some unexpected mental health elements (eating disorder, panic attacks) interspersed.

The Little Book of Living Small by Laura Fenton: This was a practical guide to living in small spaces, with a collection of case studies (complete with photographs) followed by tips and tricks for every area of the house. It leans a little too hard on the assumption that you could live in a bigger place but are living in a smaller space and can use the extra money to have everything customized for your space, but the variety of options showcased in this book will likely give you at least a few ideas even if you don't have a lot to spare.

You Don't Have a Shot by Racquel Marie: This was a great enemies-to-lovers queer YA romance. What I especially loved was that it's our first-person narrator who's the self-centered, arrogant one when the book opens, and we get to see her transformation alongside getting a better understanding of why she is the way she is. Oh, and yes to alloromantic ace rep!

Destination Unknown by Agatha Christie: Christie's thrillers are never her best work; this is a middle-of-the-pack one, all things considered. The premise is pretty great and there were several satisfying twists, but the middle part of the book has the main character doing basically nothing but hanging around and occasionally having some conversations. So it was rather uneven and not something I'd particularly recommend.

Nimona by N.D. Stevenson: It's hard to put into words what made this book so good, but my kiddo and I both loved it. It's funny and devastating and action-packed and symbolic and queer and beautifully illustrated as well as being well paced. I would definitely read this again to dig into everything I missed the first time around.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Codependent No More and How the Word Is Passed
Five years ago I was reading: Possession, Everyday Bias, Let's Pretend This Never Happened, and Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes
Ten years ago I was reading: The Fire Next Time, The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, and Sister Citizen

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

Well, it took getting COVID for the first time in four and a half years to finally tick up my reading count and get me back on track toward my Goodreads goal! Plus before that, I was spending a good amount of time in the car and got through some shorter audiobooks in that time. Here's everything I've read in the past month.

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey: This quiet, lyrical book about the world of snails was a nice meditation on life, with the information on snails told alongside the author's own experiences with debilitating illness that led her to have occasion to observe a snail at close quarters over a long period of time. It wasn't exactly life-changing to read, but it was a nice chance to slow down and focus on one topic minutely, gaining a greater appreciation for this particular creature.

Crooked House by Agatha Christie: This one had an unexpected but satisfying ending. I can't say I liked the experience of reading it, only because Christie did such a good job of creating a tense, stifled atmosphere in the house where the story takes place that it was almost stressful to read. But well done on Christie's part, indeed!

Endless Night by Agatha Christie: While I will give Christie credit for writing something a bit different than her usual fare (kind of), there was a lot to put this low down on my list of Christie reads: The plot was predictable, there were clues shoehorned in that didn't make sense, the book relies heavily on the use of an ethnic slur, and the ending seemed out of character with the rest of the plot. Some people love this, but it wasn't for me.

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar: This was about average as far as the romance, but I liked the side plots about cultural appropriation, coming out to family, and bullying at school, as well as the sister and friend relationships. Bonus points for being the first YA romance I've read set in Ireland between two queer girls of color. Come for the romance but stay for the bigger themes about belonging, identity, and culture.

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki: I found this engaging despite the elements of magical realism, which aren't usually my jam. There were a number of powerful themes throughout the book, like the way that someone's life narrative can influence other people's lives, even if that narrative isn't entirely accurate. While a little too philosophical and fantastical to be a favorite for me, I did enjoy this read.

Loving Someone with Borderline Personality Disorder: How to Keep Out-of-Control Emotions from Destroying Your Relationship by Shari Y. Manning: This was a reread, and this remains an incredibly helpful book. My caveats from my prior read still stand, but I'm glad to have this resource to return to.

They Came to Baghdad by Agatha Christie: Thrillers are definitely not Christie's strong suit, but this one was enjoyable nonetheless, especially with Emilia Fox's always excellent audiobook narration. Although it wasn't a puzzle mystery, Christie brings that same cleverness to inventing ingenuous ways for her characters to get out of seemingly impossible scrapes. Unfortunately, there were aspects of the plot that didn't hang together, but it wasn't the worst of Christie's thriller/spy books.

Queer: A Graphic History by Meg-John Barker and Jules Scheele: This is, actually, not a graphic history of anything. This is an introduction to queer theory where every section is a couple of paragraphs and an illustration. I think the goal was to make it fun and easy to read, but the end result is both dry and oversimplified. It's a shame, because I think a graphic format could have worked for an intro to queer theory.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: What the Fireflies Knew, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle, The Bad Guys in Do-You-Think-He-Saurus?!, and McDonald's
Five years ago I was reading: Severance, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, and Guardians of the West
Ten years ago I was reading: The Cross in the Closet, Geek Love, and Someone Knows My Name

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

It was another light reading month for me, though I did finish two chapter books with my older kid this time. Looking forward to when my life settles down a bit and I can get back to more regular reading!

Dog Man: The Scarlet Shredder by Dav Pilkey: This was fine. I'm never going to say no to a book that my 9-year-old will voluntarily read independently. Plotwise, like some of the previous books, it's a weird mashup of silly jokes, heartfelt life lessons, action sequences, and social commentary mainly aimed at adults, among other things.

Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed: This was overall good. I definitely highlighted a lot of individual lines and passages. I appreciated Strayed's balance of compassion and tough love, and I didn't mind all of the memoir-ish stories, even if they didn't always seem fully relevant. It didn't really move me emotionally as much as I expected, but I think it was a good collection of advice on the whole.

To Night Owl from Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer: The two words that come to mind first for this middle grade epistolary novel are "sweet" and "madcap." Two girls from opposite coasts try to break up their dads' new relationship after being sent to the same summer camp, but things quickly go off the rails on all fronts. It's a big-hearted story about family, love, theater, summer camp, and second chances that asks you not to take its plot too seriously while taking its themes very seriously.

Cat Kid Comic Club: Influencers by Dav Pilkey: We started with number five in this series due to it being available at the library, but it didn't seem to matter much and we were already familiar with the characters from the Dog Man series. Like many of the later Dog Man books, this one tried to be entertaining while delivering Big Life Lessons, and it didn't quite stick the landing, but it was fine.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Parker Pyne Investigates, The Guncle, and McDonald's
Five years ago I was reading: There Are No Children Here
Ten years ago I was reading: A Suitable Boy, The Virgin Suicides, and Love in the Time of Cholera

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

Y'all, my life has been bananas in the last month with traveling, working, parenting, and trying to sell my house and buy a new one. So my list of completed books is pretty low again this month. Not that quantity matters, it's just a clear reflection that my reading time has been very limited as of late, plus my 3rd grader hasn't read through a full chapter book with me in a while. Here are the four books I've finished in the past month.

Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore: This was a creative, queer reimagining of The Great Gatsby that I liked only slightly more than the original (which, to be clear, I don't like very much). I enjoyed the various plot twists, not all of which I caught ahead of time, but thought some of the story threads didn't quite hang together as much as I would have liked.

Love by Design: 6 Ingredients to Build a Lifetime of Love by Sara Nasserzadeh, PhD: This is one of the better relationship self-help books I've read. For each of the factors that Nasserzadeh cites as research-based "ingredients" for satisfying romantic relationships, she includes detailed explanations, example stories, and exercises to help you self-reflect or put these principles into practice in your relationship. What I found especially unique was that it's not just about how to maintain trust or navigate conflict or have a fulfilling sex life, but actually how to continue to feel deep love for your partner, informed by but not reliant on whatever initially drew you together.

Setting Boundaries that Stick: How Neurobiology Can Help You Rewire Your Brain to Feel Safe, Connected, and Empowered by Juliane Taylor Shore: As the subtitle says, this goes beyond giving you the words to set boundaries with other people or within yourself; Shore uses neurobiology to help you develop practices that will engage with the "lower" parts of the brain so that you can feel safe and grounded enough to keep your prefrontal cortex online in order to be able to ask for what you want and protect yourself emotionally regardless of other people's decisions or emotions. I believe a lot more communication would be productive if everyone read this book!

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön: I'm glad this book has been helpful to so many people; it didn't do a whole lot for me. There were definitely lines and passages that I found intriguing or captivating, but on the whole, it seemed more like a guide to deeply understanding Buddhist philosophy and living more than anything more universal than that.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories, Nabokov's Favorite Word Is Mauve, The Bad Guys in the Furball Strikes Back, and McDonald's
Five years ago I was reading: The Warmth of Other Suns and Educated
Ten years ago I was reading: A Suitable Boy and Island Beneath the Sea

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

It was a lighter reading month, but I had a couple of really good ones!

Dog Man: Grime and Punishment by Dav Pilkey: I didn't like this one quite as much as the previous book. I appreciate that the author is trying to move the series beyond poop and fart jokes to something deep about grief and the destructive power of hate... it just felt like a major tone shift, and the other plot line with Dog Man wasn't entirely coherent.

The Polyamory Paradox: Finding Your Confidence in Consensual Non-Monogamy by Irene Morning: Morning provides concrete examples and exercises, along with her own personal story, to share a path forward for those who are drawn to non-monogamy but finding the practice of it to be wreaking havoc on their nervous system.

Ciel by Sophie Labelle: I enjoy Labelle's Assigned Male comics online, so I was disappointed that her talent doesn't really translate to book length. It seems this middle grade novella is intended to introduce cishet audiences (and more ignorant parts of the queer community) to the concept of non-binary identities, but beyond that it doesn't seem to have much of a plot.

I Am Ace: Advice on Living Your Best Asexual Life by Cody Daigle-Orians: I appreciate that this book is talking directly to aces (and those wondering if they may be ace), but because Daigle-Orians doesn't take for granted the knowledge anyone has coming in, it's also a great guide to asexuality for allosexuals. It's honest, encouraging, and affirming and covers everything from navigating relationships to dealing with microaggressions.

Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea by Dav Pilkey: This was fine as an action-packed plot, and my kid found the songs absolutely hilarious. I think the larger social message was a little heavyhanded and also not super clear in the context of the book by the end of the story, so I'm not really sure why it was included, unless as a direct message to the adults.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas: This was overall a great read and I'm really glad it's received so much positive attention. Through Yadriel's attempts to prove himself as a brujo, we see the intertwining of gender, culture, and family, while the importance of found family is shown through Julian's tight-knit group of kids on the street. There's also a mystery and a romance, both of which were fairly well done.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Piranesi, Snapdragon, The Mysterious Mr. Quin, and McDonald's
Five years ago I was reading: The Silver Chair
Ten years ago I was reading: Ivanhoe, Midnight's Children, and An Ordinary Man

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

I have a lot of personal stuff going on at the moment so I've been trending toward YA, novellas, and graphic novels rather than anything super heavy or literary, but I'm content with what I've been able to get to, even if it's been mostly middle-of-the-road reads.

We Are Not Free by Traci Chee: Through the stories of 14 teenagers, Chee tells the story of the forced removal and detention of those of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast during World War II. The shifting perspectives allows for a broader range of stories to be told but makes it harder to connect emotionally with any character (or to keep them all straight).

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger: I appreciated the way that indigenous elements were woven into an urban fantasy setup, and Little Badger can paint a picture with words very well, which made many of the scenes feel cinematic and the creepy moments even creepier. There were some unexplained elements of the way magic worked in this world and I thought the author botched the depiction of Ellie's asexuality (which I think was actually aromanticism), but if you're looking for a plotty fantasy book with an indigenous twist, this is a good one to try.

Dead in the Garden by Dahlia Donovan: It turns out this advertised "trilogy" is actually one mystery novel sold as three separate parts, so I essentially read the first third of a book. I think Donovan was most interested in depicting the ways wrongful imprisonment would affect someone with autism, and the mystery itself didn't quite hang together and left me uninterested in purchasing the other two parts.

Death Comes as the End by Agatha Christie: Christie's ancient Egyptian mystery was a chance of pace from her other works, albeit with an overly slow plot and characters that still felt a bit too British. I also figured out the culprit early on. That said, it wasn't badly plotted, and it was highly engaging on audio, so I enjoyed the listen, even if I wouldn't put this on my top Christie list.

The Breakup Lists by Adib Khorram: This was a cute queer romance from one of my favorite YA authors, even if a bit more predictable and trope-filled than his previous books. I especially enjoyed the well-researched deaf representation in this one. I am also a sucker for high school theater books, so that made it extra fun. Some aspects weren't 100% believable, but that's OK. I'd definitely recommend this one!

Dog Man: Fetch-22 by Dav Pilkey: My kiddo and I read the first book in this series and then they blew through the next six at school, so this was the next one we read together. At this point the books seem to have more of a coherent plot, and while this one was still ridiculous, it wasn't cringy so much as it was mindlessly entertaining, like watching a Looney Tunes cartoon. I'm not necessarily going out of my way to recommend these, but I don't mind them, especially not the fact that my kid wants to read the entire book themself.

Bingo Love by Tee Franklin, Jenn St-Onge, and Joy San: I really wanted to like this, and I love the representation of two Black women falling in love! The writing was just... not good. The dialogue doesn't sound like real people, the story beats are rushed, and there's no nuance to anyone's feelings or actions. I would love to see this same kind of story but more nuanced and fleshed out than this was.

Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast: This unflinching portrait of dealing with aging parents is softened somewhat by Chast's comedic style of cartoons, but her inclusion of photographs and hard financial figures mean you can't forget the reality of the situation she is describing. I appreciate Chast for sharing so openly about an incredibly challenging part of her life in a format that can be digested in just a few hours, and I recommend giving this a read.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: The Nobleman's Guide to Shipwrecks and Scandal, Carry On, and McDonald's
Five years ago I was reading: Storytelling with Data, We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families, and Harry Potter à l'école des sorciers
Ten years ago I was reading: Bring Up the Bodies, A Personal Matter, and War and Peace