Not sure if you saw the whole back and forth last week, but Scholastic booted themselves in the ass by first asking Maggie Tokuda-Hall if they could license her gorgeous book, Love in the Library, but only if she removed the references to racism in the author’s note. Anyway, I read the book this week, and it is fantastic, and truly important. The illustrations by Yas Imamura are incredible.
I don’t often cry at books, but this week I’ve been devastated twice. Briana Loewinsohn’s graphic memoir, Ephemera, is a beautiful story about a young girl and her troubled relationship with her mother, somewhat rescued by a mutual interest in plants. I stared at some of the beautiful pages for ages. One of the many reasons I love graphic novels/memoirs is that you can turn a page and literally gasp at the beauty of an illustration.
The second book to leave me in tears is Emily Habeck’s debut novel, Shark Heart, which is brilliant. You can read my full review here.
I also finished Unquiet, by E.Saxey (my favorite novel of the year so far), as well as Mothered, by Zoje Stage. I also enjoyed Agony’s Lodestone, by Laura Keating, which is a horrific tale of getting lost in the woods. I wish I could unsee Trevor Henderson’s illustrations in this book. Tenebrous Press is putting out some interesting stuff.
I was struggling to connect with an audiobook, so decided to listen to the somewhat familiar Misery, by Stephen King. King is a like a comfort blanket for me. I’m about halfway through Augustina Bazterrica’s short story collection, Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird. I’m also reading Spring’s Arcana, by Lilith Saintcrow (what a name!), because it’s got Baba Yaga in it.
Hope you’re having a wonderful week so far, and let me know if you’re reading something amazing!
California Reading 