These are the books I read in May 2021 with a rating reflecting my opinion on them. I am leaving books not available in English out for your convenience. At the bottom, I will be sharing some recommendations that fall under the category fiction, non-fiction, or non-fiction political. These recommendations are books I have not read myself, so proceed with caution as I cannot speak to their actual quality.
Read
George by Alex Gino
A very cute middle grade novel about a trans girl taking the first steps towards living her authentic life. I really enjoyed how contemporary and casual this book was, the little touches, and the characters. Nothing too complex, but the brother, the best friend, and even initially unsupportive people like the mom were very well portrayed. I’m just a sucker for gender-affirmation! The school principal especially was *chef’s kiss*. A few bits were a little iffy, but overall this is just a wholesome read!
I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman
A dual narrative from a fan and a star that centers the positive and negative sides of fame, fandom, and friendships. I really loved the representation and the role race, sexuality, gender, and mental health play. There were some elements that didn’t work as much for me, especially near the end it felt like a bit too much was happening on too many fronts. Still, another great book by Alice Oseman!
Black Hole Radio by Ann Birdgenaw
A middle grade intergalactic adventure that fell flat for me. While some of the imagery used was pretty cool, the writing style was a bit clunky, and the story tension lacking. Most egregiously however was the fact that the protagonists, who are supposed to be 10 years old, didn’t sound authentic at all.
Désirée’s Baby by Kate Chopin
This story of a young mother with a mysterious past centers heavily on race. Désirée has just married and had a baby and is happier than ever when her child’s appearance leads her husband to conclude that she is not white. Following this confrontation Désirée and her son leave for her mother’s place and her husband burns all her old belongings, upon which he makes a discovery. Honestly this story is distinctly old-fashioned and racist in many regards, but the writing style and the twist at the end bring a lot more to think and discuss.
The Rich Girl by R. L. Stine
Man, what a twist-filled story! A few bits were a little far-fetched and the beginning was a bit slow, but the amount of tensions as well as the plot twists were incredible. A short but good book!
Like Two Peas in a Pod by Gorou Kanbe
This is a slice-of-life manga about two boys who are very similar and their relationship with each other over the course of one year. The art was cute, but I kept getting confused with the characters, certain plot points were really unrealistic, and the dialogue was trite. So little actually happens! I liked the casual gay/mlm representation, but there wasn’t much else to it for me. Will be released June 8th, 2021!
Rick by Alex Gino
Gosh, I loved this book! It’s a heartfelt story about a young boy recognizing a toxic friend, becoming his own person, and developing a closer relationship with his grandfather. It’s also a deeply queer story that sets a lot of its school-based scenes in a queer student group where very different kids come together. Having a questioning asexual and/or aromantic protagonist was an incredible and I loved the nonbinary and trans kids! Also I am thrilled to see more non-cis authors like Alex Gino publish in general, but especially queer stories. What an amazing middle grade read!
The New Girl (Elle(s) #1) by Kid Toussaint & Aveline Stokart
This story of a girl with multiple personalities and a mysterious origin wasn’t that original or compelling to me, but the art was absolutely stunning. I am a sucker for great art and color-coordinated characters! Otherwise not sure how to feel about this graphic novel honestly. It was a quick and decent read I suppose.
The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin
I don’t really know what to think of this book. The concept was really interesting and I loved the centeral child as a character, but pretty much every other character fell flat to me, the plot dragged a lot, and I found the unraveling of the mystery less compelling than I had hoped I would. Not a bad book, but not a standout for me.
The Little Book of Perfumes by Luca Turin & Tania Sanchez
I have really mixed feelings about this little book. Getting into it as a total perfume novice, I really loved the authors’ passion and feel like I learned a thing or two about the topic. Having never thought much about the smells wafting over from the perfume sections of the world, the level of detail and artistry definitely surprised me. But I can’t deny the fact that the language used is not always beginner-friendly or even accessible in general, and some of the descriptions were uncomfortably old-school or even outdated. On content this was 4 stars, but execution dragged it down.
Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde
This was such a joy to read! A story that centers friendship, sweet romance, diverse characters, and fan culture while being utterly delightful. Having attended a few conventions, I really loved the atmosphere and excitement. Especially in these times it made me feel all kinds of nostalgic! Sure, this isn’t the deepest or most complex story, but it doesn’t have to be. A pretty wholesome read!
A Simple Scale by David Llewellyn
Read for VC book club, this was a really interesting story. Told from three perspectives in three different times, the focus lies on two composers and their intertwined history. Sergey, a Russian composer with an originally promising career. Sol, an American composer who gets targeted by McCarthyism and whose complicated relationships cause a lot of trouble in his life. Natalie who in late 2001 is one of the caretaker’s of aging and dementia affected Sol, coming in contact with Sergey’s grandson who claims Sol stole a composition of his grandfather. This is a complex and emotional story with a destinct solemn atmosphere. Two of the three narrators are mlm and the amount of terrible things they experience related and unrelated to their sexuality is quite notable. Sometimes I did get a little confused with the POV and Natalie was definitely the least interesting character. I still really enjoyed this book!
The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
Man, the tension! It started a bit slow and the big cast of characters hadn’t settled in quite yet, but the atmosphere and the adventures were absolutely top notch throughout. I loved having Annabeth’s perspective and her having her own quest. Adored all the character development, action, intrigue, and mystery. Cannot wait for the next book, that clifhanger was unbelievable!
The Most Beautiful Woman in Town by Charles Bukowski
God, this story just made me uncomfortable. The violence, the sex, the way people are discussed, just aggressively uncomfortable. Never mind the strange and stiff writing style. It was interesting in the way a car crash is.
You Will Get Through This Night by Daniel Howell
A longer review can be found here.
I came into this book both because I like the author and because mental health is something I struggle with and have for several years. A lot of books focusing on similar topics have made me feel worse instead of better. From inaccurate claims to oversimplified solutions to a general lack of understanding and compassion towards those of us whose problems can’t be overcome by ‘just having a positive attitude’. This book is the exact opposite of that. Structured into immediate, short-term, and long-term aspects, the guidance in this book is science-backed (a psychologist collaborate), clear, realistic, and empathetic. Whether through humor or compassion, I never felt like a failure for my issues or for not having everything figured out yet. This was one of the easiest 5 stars I have ever given. I desperately hope it gets translated into German so I can give a copy to everyone in my life who doesn’t read English books, it is that good.
Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar… by Thomas Cathcart & Daniel Klein
Read for VC book club, this little journey through philosophy was mostly a joy to experience. Using jokes as a vehicle to make complicated subjects more approachable is a brilliant idea and generally well executed throughout this book. The only things that bothered me that some of the text was light orange making it hard to read and a few elements were a little outdated (no surprise for a book more than a decade old). Overall a fun read whether you know a lot about philosophy or not.
To Night Owl, From Dogfish by Holyy Goldberg Sloan & Meg Wolitzer
I really wanted to love this book. A middle grade novel about two girls whose dads fall in love? Summer camps? Told through letters and emails? So many elements I absolutely adore! Yet, this one wasn’t as enjoyable as I had hoped. The writing style, while fun and witty, was also too surface-level and overly quirky. The characters were alright, but some of the conflicts seemed manufactured for drama. The pacing was very off and a lot of developments were too dramatic and rapid to feel realistic. I actually liked the main characters’ relationship a lot, it was my favorite part of the book, even if the surrounding parts weren’t.
D-39: A Robodog’s Journey by Grace Lau
This verse novel about a girl and a robotic dog in an apocalyptic civil war setting was trying to be a lot of things. A story about the future, family, love, escape, survival, violence, and nature. I appreciated the directness of the main character and the relationship between her and her neighbor/travel companion a lot. But I was also incredibly frustrated by this book. The plot developments were often either trite or boring. I found a lot of the side characters annoying or underdeveloped. The plot twists were underwhelming. Most of all, however, I absolutely hated the neologisms used extremely frequently throughout. They serve no real purpose and just annoyed me. Maybe others will feel differently about this book, but I believe you absolutely have to love neologisms to enjoy it.
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki & Rosemary Valero-O’Connell
First off, this graphic novel is absolutely stunning. The illustrations, the incorporation of pink, the different body types and visual looks, simply beautiful! Story-wise this explored a lot of subjects, some more surface-level than others. I was glad to see Freddy learn and grow throughout the book because her decision making wasn’t very sound a lot of the time. The story wasn’t that deep and definitely messy, but also unapologetically queer. A charming if tragic read with a thankfully happy ending.
Americca by Aimee Bender
Read this for a theme book club which focused on Magical Realism this month. I found this short story kina boring and indirect. The concept was interesting but executed way too vaguely. Story can be read freely online here.
Recommendations
Fiction
Time of White Horses by Ibrahim Nasrallah
“This gripping, comi-tragic fictional-factual saga takes place in the environs of Jerusalem, from late Ottoman times to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. With the colorful strokes of his pen, Ibrahim Nasrallah paints a vivid picture of Palestinian villagers’ preoccupations and aspirations-their ties to their land, to their animals, and to one another.”
The Sea Is Salt and So Am I by Cassandra Hartt
“West Finch is one hurricane away from falling into the sea.
Yet sixteen-year-old Harlow Prout is determined to save her small Maine hometown. If only she could stop getting in her own way and find someone, anyone, willing to help. But her best friend Ellis MacQueen “fixes” problems by running away from them―including his broken relationship with his twin brother, Tommy. And Tommy’s depression has hit a new low, so he’s not up for fixing anything.
In the wake of the town’s latest devastating storm, Tommy goes out for a swim that he doesn’t intend to survive. It’s his unexpected return that sets into motion a sea change between these three teens. One that tests old loyalties, sparks new romance, and uncovers painful secrets. And nothing stays secret in West Finch for long. “
Political
How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States by Daniel Immerwahr
“A pathbreaking history of the United States’ overseas possessions and the true meaning of its empire.
We are familiar with maps that outline all fifty states. And we are also familiar with the idea that the United States is an “empire,” exercising power around the world. But what about the actual territories–the islands, atolls, and archipelagos–this country has governed and inhabited?”
On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon Reed
“Weaving together American history, dramatic family chronicle, and searing episodes of memoir, Annette Gordon-Reed’s On Juneteenth provides a historian’s view of the country’s long road to Juneteenth, recounting both its origins in Texas and the enormous hardships that African-Americans have endured in the century since, from Reconstruction through Jim Crow and beyond. All too aware of the stories of cowboys, ranchers, and oilmen that have long dominated the lore of the Lone Star State, Gordon-Reed—herself a Texas native and the descendant of enslaved people brought to Texas as early as the 1820s—forges a new and profoundly truthful narrative of her home state, with implications for us all.”
Nonfiction
Things The Grandchildren Should Know by Mark Oliver Everett
“How does one young man survive the deaths of his entire family and manage to make something worthwhile of his life? In Things The Grandchildren Should Know Mark Oliver Everett tells the story of what it’s like to grow up the insecure son of a genius in a wacky Virginia Ice Storm-like family. Left to run wild with his sister, his father off in some parallel universe of his own invention, Everett’s upbringing was ‘ridiculous, sometimes tragic and always unsteady’. But somehow he manages to not only survive his crazy upbringing and ensuing tragedies; he makes something of his life, striking out on a journey to find himself by channeling his experiences into his, eventually, critically acclaimed music with the Eels. But it’s not an easy path. Told with surprising candor, Things The Grandchildren Should Know is an inspiring and remarkable story, full of hope, humor and wry wisdom.”
This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Key
“Welcome to the life of a junior doctor: 97-hour weeks, life and death decisions, a constant tsunami of bodily fluids, and the hospital parking meter earns more than you. Scribbled in secret after endless days, sleepless nights and missed weekends, Adam Kay’s This is Going to Hurt provides a no-holds-barred account of his time on the NHS front line. Hilarious, horrifying and heartbreaking, this diary is everything you wanted to know – and more than a few things you didn’t – about life on and off the hospital ward.”
The Congressional Report 