I think if you choose to read a book called The Eyes are the Best Part, which features a bloodied eyeball held between chopsticks on the cover, you probably have a good idea what you’re in for. Reader, this novel is thrillingly bonkers, gruesome, and incredibly gratifying. Ji-won is having a rough time. Her father … Continue reading Review: The Eyes are the Best Part, by Monica Kim (Erewhon)
Review: The Woman in the Sable Coat, by Elizabeth Brooks (Tin House)
Elizabeth Brooks is one of my favorite authors of “normal” books. As someone who reads a lot of genre books, it takes a special writer to make me take a break from the weird. So I’m thrilled to report I thoroughly enjoyed Brooks’ latest novel, The Woman in the Sable Coat. The titular woman in … Continue reading Review: The Woman in the Sable Coat, by Elizabeth Brooks (Tin House)
Book Blatherings – March 31st
Book Surprises I got a lovely surprise this week. I finally bought a copy of Rachel Swirsky's collection, How the World Became Quiet. When it arrived, it was an immaculate ex-library book (which sadly looked unread), and when I opened the cover, I saw this: I love it when something secret appears in a used … Continue reading Book Blatherings – March 31st
Bookish Witterings – March 21st
Short Story Recommendations Looking back through the favorites tab on my short story spreadsheet, it would seem I favor a harrowing, post-apocalyptic short story. Not so bloody intriguing now we're living it though, is it? Anyway, here are some recent favorites of mine, on the themes of apocalypse, isolation, and endings in general. Probably not … Continue reading Bookish Witterings – March 21st
Bookish Ramblings – Feb 29th
Subscription Boxes I LOVE a good subscription box. I'm lucky enough to live in a place where you can essentially get anything you want delivered to your door, so thoughtful, bespoke book services are very much my jam. I've subscribed to Powell's magnificent Indispensable for a year or so. Each box contains one gorgeous signed, … Continue reading Bookish Ramblings – Feb 29th
Book Review – Come Along with Me by Shirley Jackson
I was introduced to Shirley Jackson's work a number of years ago, and have been slowly savoring her entire works since. I'm aware I only have a limited amount of pages left, so I'm trying to make them last as long as I can. Come Along with Me is a little curio I was unaware … Continue reading Book Review – Come Along with Me by Shirley Jackson
California Reading 