Whatever you’re going to say about me not being consistent, keep it. I know, I know, but this time I have a good defense but I didn’t feel like I read enough during July and August to justify two separate posts. I’ve been so weird about reading lately. I haven’t had much of a drive to write (a whole month of editing short stories will do that to you), and the books I picked up were… Honestly, I don’t know what they were. Heavy? Dense? Intense? I definitely wasn’t speeding through things like I usually do. Things were Sticking to Me, and when you see what I’ve read, I’m sure you won’t be surprised by why!
JULY, in which there was Fonda Lee and two translations
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf by Ntozake Shange, 5 stars
When I say this book is mandatory reading for anyone and everyone I’m not kidding. It taught me to love poetry and spoken word, and made me realize that I usually can only connect with poetry from other Black people… You must follow up a reading of this book by watching the play performed by Ntozake Shange herself, along with Alfrie Woodard and a whole cast of phenomenal Black women!
The Employees: A Work Place Novel of the 22nd Century by Olga Ravn, 4.75
Storygraph review: No, I'm fine. I'm just really grappling with my humanity at 1:07pm, it's fine though.
I found this book through a booktoker who I enjoy, and I was thrilled to find that this book was as deep and moving as she promised. Set on a space ship, peopled (?) with humans and humanoids, this is a book about what makes a human being in a society that values work and productivity over humanity. Reviewers compared it to Ursula K. Le Guin’s work, and they’re right. I would also say it reminded me of World of Tomorrow, directed Don Hertzfeldt.
My Annihilation by Fuminori Nakamura, 4 stars
Storygraph review: I was confused then I was more confused then I was horrified then I was grinning so big I LOVE a story
I’ve had this on my TBR for a while now, so I was THRILLED when I popped into the Decatur Library and found that they had it! What an insane book! Anyone you think is someone is someone else, and the people you think aren’t anybody are ACTUALLY somebodies, and it’s so unusual and twisting, and I honestly need to read it again!
THE GREEN BONE SAGA by Fonda Lee, 4.6 stars
Jade City review, 5 stars: No it’s fine, it’s gonna take over my whole life but it’s fine
Jade War review, 4 stars; Suffers a little from second book in a trilogy disease, but I’m willing to forgive anything and everything for how good it was. So many delicious moments, so many amazing shifts in story and character! Really excited to read the final book in the trilogy!
Jade Legacy review, 4 stars: Finished Jade Legacy...it's LITERALLY all about breaking generational curses and attempting to right the wrongs of the past im...ALSO IS THAT DRIVER SAMPA??? IM SO?
Wig. I have had multiple friends suggest this to me, have seen people gushing and screaming about Hilo and Sen and the Jehns, and it was only this year that I discovered the genius that is Fonda Lee. Brilliant series spanning generations, showing the harm of war and of prejudice, as showing the fight for tradition versus progress. There were times in the second and third books that I was a little ??? because I didn’t quite understand Fonda’s politics, but you really have to take the ?? with the good.
Barefoot Gen, Volume One: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima by Keiji Nakazawa
I read this the day after I saw Oppenheimer knowing it would make me want to scream, and it did make me scream. Death to America, death to imperialism and war, and a big ol’ fuck you to Oppenheimer, evil fuck.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang, 3 stars
Storygraph Review: Girl, I guess. Idk I'm at the point where I'm like "people who are brutally oppressed and genocided out of existence get to wreck havoc upon their oppressors and killers" but maybe kuang wasn't ready to hear all that in 2018. Mid.
This one is a double whammy because it’s the first R.F. Kuang book that I actively disliked and it made me angry with everyone who recommended it to me. What the fuck guys? The tone was off, the vibes were off, it read like Draco x Hermione fanfiction at points, I’m shocked and flabbergasted. Does the series get better??
AUGUST, in which i was relieved to have Toni Morrison
Animorphs: The Discovery by K.A. Applegate, 4 stars
Storygraph review: Tensions rising and a CLIFFHANGER
This is the one where David is introduced and I’m NERVOUS, this kid makes me nervous. What is his problem, oh my god?
Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller, 4 stars
Storygraph Review: A real win for murderous, delusional girls
I’ve read Our Endless, Numbered Days by Fuller so I was pleased to see that the library had some of her other stuff available. This was a good read! Nothing to scream about, but worth the time! As I said, a real win for the delulu women, like yes he does love you, omg his wife is keeping you apart!
Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller, 3 stars
Storygraph Review; Uhmmmmm sure! I thought it was kind of boring near the end
Unfortunately, this book was way too slow and plodding for my liking. I like a book that contemplates and I love a book that’s not about anything, but if you’re not going to be about anything, at least have the decency to have interesting characters. My non-professional opinion? Mid.
Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt, 3.75 stars
I’ve wanted to read this book for ages, and it only worked off as a glasses-off-night time read. Simple, easy to read, but ultimately not for me. Raising a glass to the plucky middle school white girls this was written for, I know y’all loved this.
Battle Royale: Remastered by Koushun Takami, 4 stars
Storygraph Review: The blueprint, the masterpiece, the iconic mother of House Forcing Children to Fight, OH YES
This was a re-read and a buddy read I did with my friend, Ari! I had such a good time coming back to this book. There were moments where I was a little … disgusted at the way Takami was talking about teenage girls, but other than that, stunning book, iconic book, mother to The Hunger Games…Icon…
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, 5 stars
When I say this is a book that will have you standing very quietly and contemplating yourself…a book to change to…a book that changes you… Literally transcendent, slow and quiet as a river and just as cleansing. When I get a Barry Jenkins adaptation…
The Sluts by Dennis Cooper, 3.75 stars
Storygraph Review: I... there aren't enough words in any language to properly convey the absolute roller coaster I was taken on. I just... What the actual fuck? What the actual holy fuck, holy fucking fuck God in heaven?
I need... I'm gonna write another substack, an addendum to Filthiness is Next to Godliness.Content Warnings: Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Trafficking, Addiction, Confinement, Excrement, Hate crime, Terminal illness, Torture, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Violence, Death, Murder, Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, Medical content, and Vomit
I looked up Dennis Cooper, afterwards, to see what kind of person he was. The way he talks about other gay people, in one interview saying he hates feminine gay men ( he uses the f-slur here…) so much he wants to kill them… It’s giving fantasies of violence, fiction allowing terrible people to be terrible under the guise of expression. I’m revolted. Intrigued but revolted, and genuinely horrified.