We Ride Upon Sticks

You know that feeling when you see a book and the cover just calls to you, and then you read the description and you just know it’s a book you have to read? Maybe? Well, that’s what happened here for me. And that’s really all the intro I have. We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan…

Sharks in the Time of Saviors

I first, and really only, saw this one posted about by @readingismagical on bookstagram. And there was something about the vibe of the title/cover/blurb, plus her super positive review, that made me feel like I was going to like it. Additionally, I don't think I've ever read anything by a native Hawaiian before. And now that…

Earthlings

Last year, I read and loved Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, it’s quirky questioning of societal expectations and small celebrations about being different. In fact, it was one of my Top Ten Books of 2019. So, when I saw this most recent translation of one of her works available on NetGalley, I requested it…

What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky

This collection has been on my radar for a while. With a title like that, it’s one that sticks out and sticks with you. But I am not often in the mood for story collections, so it stayed on the periphery for quite some time. However, I have to say, I think I am coming…

The House of the Spirits

I have read a number of things by Isabel Allende over the years, starting with Zorro, when I was really probably to young to appreciate Allende’s prose, because my brothers and I were obsessed with the movie The Mask of Zorro, starring Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. I cannot tell you how many…

Nothing to See Here

I was sent a review copy of this one a few months ago (thanks ECCO books!) and am just now getting to it. To be honest, I can’t say it sounded overly much like I’d be into it. So, I wasn’t rushing to get to it. Plus, I’ve been working hard to focus on female…

When the Moon Was Ours

I’ve wanted to read something by Anna-Marie McLemore for awhile now. I love magical realism and all her stories sound so wonderful. Over the years, the book I wanted to start with changed, but the wanting itself never did. And this Hispanic Heritage Month seemed like the perfect time to finally pick one up. Why…

Like Water for Chocolate

I read this more years ago than I’d like to admit, in a Spanish class at some point. Having taken Spanish from middle school all the way through majoring in it in college, I cannot remember exactly when. I any case, many years have passed and, since I first read it in Spanish (not my…

Things We Lost in the Fire

This was my choice for the August Just One More Pa(i)ge Reading Challenge prompt: Women in Translation month. It was a great chance to both read something totally different and, in this case, to work on my side goal of reading more books by Latinx/Spanish-speaking authors. And this was such a good choice. Completely different…

The Pisces

When I originally read the description for this book, I wasn’t sure it was for me. When it started making the rounds on bookstagram, I still wasn’t totally interested in it. But over time, I started to get intrigued by the love/hate reactions I was seeing in reviews. I am a sucker for a controversial…