Calling for a Blanket Dance

This is the fourth Aspen Words Literary Prize 2023 longlist read that I've gotten around to this year. Even though the shortlist has already been announced, I'm still planning to read the ones that have seemed most interesting to me, regardless of whether they moved on or not. I don't think I have it in…

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The Cloisters

This was an ALC from Libro.fm, which is what had me picking it up so quickly, if I'm being honest. But also, after I read that it was tarot cards and divination...that had me fully interested in seeing what it was all about more deeply. Because I have a weird soft spot for books with that…

Age of Vice

There was a bit of buzz around this one as it came out, just recently, which had it on my radar. And I also got an ALC version of it from Libro.fm, which helped keep it there. I was in the mood for something more...I don't know, entertaining, I guess? Like, I know that gangster books…

The Haunting of Hajji Hotak and Other Stories

This is my third Aspen Words Literary Prize 2023 longlist read. And honestly so far this longlist is next level. All three (this, How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water and The Town of Babylon) so far have been 5-star reads. I wasn’t planning to read the whole longlist this year, but I…

The Swimmers

This is not a book that was originally anywhere on my radar, but after seeing how much @thestackspod loved it (and she is pretty discerning in the fiction books that get her recommendation), I decided to give it a try. Plus, it's just so small - so definitely worth the short reading time to see what…

People Person

I read Carty-Williams' debut novel, Queenie, a few years ago when it came out, and I really enjoyed the messy, genuine titular character. So this sophomore novel was on my TBR longlist as soon as I heard about it. I was actually able to grab an ARC copy from my library's "up for grabs for staff" pile…

Honey & Spice

This was an ALC from Libro.fm a few months ago that I maybe wouldn't have gotten to quite as quickly otherwise. But sometime during the cold January weeks, the heat from this cover really spoke to me, and I decided to give it a go. Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola “…I’d been walking around…

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

Alright, everybody was doing it, so I did too. But for real this book topped all the popular-vote-based "best of" lists for 2022. And you know I always want to see for myself what the hype is about. Plus, I had a few people that I know well recommend it to me (from a variety…

The Town of Babylon

I was already on the library waitlist for this one when the 2023 Aspen Words Longlist was announced and this one was on it! Love when that happens. As I said in my review for How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water, I am not sure if I’m doing to full longlist reading…

Melissa

I don't read a lot of middle grade/juvenile fiction. But every once in a while, I feel like I need to, because I have to see what the fuss or hype is about. And here is a big one. I have been hearing a lot about Melissa, as the wave of ridiculous book-banning has swept the…