The Forty Rules of Love

I have been meaning to read something, anything, by Shafak for years. She's a prolific author, and everything she writes seems to have really solid reviews. Plus, I follow her on social media and her advocacy and activism for feminism is really inspiring. I know this isn't one of her most well-known books, but I…

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Trust

Look, I'll be honest, the description of this book really didn't sound that interesting to me. But then it made a ton of awards lists and I saw some glowing reviews from trusted readers and really, I ended up wanting to see what it was really like for myself. Plus, sometimes it's the unexpected books…

We Measure the Earth with Our Bodies

I'm not actually sure how this one came across my radar. I don't think I've seen anyone else review it, which is normally how I find books. Nor has it been on any lists, I don't think. Perhaps this is one that I talked to a patron at the library about? Usually book recs go the…

Babel: An Arcane History

This was one of the most "no brainer" books I have ever read. After reading and loving Kuang's debut series (The Poppy War, The Dragon Republic, The Burning God) she officially put herself on my list of favorite authors. And so just knowing this was another historical fiction-fantasy style read, I was hype. And as I watched review…

The Monsters We Defy

This was an impulse grab from the library a week or so ago, and, after finishing it, I am thrilled by that decision. The cover is really eye-catching and after skimming the synopsis, it just felt like it would be different from anything I had really read before...which turned out to be absolutely true. Plus, I…

Joan

Fun fact about me: I was obsessed with the story of Joan of Arc when I was in elementary school. I went to Catholic School through 6th grade and honestly, there are not a lot of actively inspiring women in the religious mythology of Catholicism. Like, men who were saints had stories about fighting dragons…

Book of the Little Axe

I don't really want to tell you how long ago I got this book as an ARC from NetGalley. It's embarrassing. I also don't want to tell you that the only reason I finally picked it up was because I saw it at one of my local library's "Friends" book sales and it jogged it…

The Immortal King Rao

I had never heard of this one, had no idea what it was about, when I saw it as one of the free ARCs that the library sometimes receives, out on the break table as a first come, first served situation. The title intrigued me, so I looked up a quick blurb, and it caught…

On a Night of a Thousand Stars

Thanks to a random confluence of events, I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and then was actually able to pick up a physical ARC from the library (we randomly get sent ARCs that are set out for employees to grab, which is a deeply wonderful job perk). While my Kindle is great…

Of Women and Salt

This has such an intriguing and poetic title! Plus, I'm always interested in small/short novels like this - it seems like there is not enough space to make an impact and yet often these are some of the most intense and insightful reads. (I'm thinking of Convenience Store Woman as another that, for all its…