December 2020 Reads

Dec 2, 2020

December 2020 Reads

Is it weird that whenever I write a post I want to start by saying hello? Just me? Okay…

November was a weird reading month, but the two books I did pick up were remarkable (The Round House and Elatsoe). 2020 has been easily my most insane reading year. My reading goal was 30 books and I have read 60, which just sounds crazy to me. Obviously there are many reasons for this, being stuck at home and trying to find any way to either distract myself or learn more about the world and people around me, which I have always done through books. I’ve had a rich reading year, and I joined this lovely community.

That being said I changed my goal to 65 books for 2020 and I think I can make it, but if not I am still very proud of myself. Here are some possibilities. I’m reading Sister, Outsider with my cousin as a buddy read, and the rest are books I really want to get to before the year ends. We’ll see! Have you read any of these? I’d love to know what you think!
#bipocbookstagram #SupportBlackAuthors #readersofinstagram #ReadWidely #AlwaysReading #ILoveBooks #SupportBIPOCAuthors #ReadMoreBooks #bookstagram #DiversifyYourBookshelf

Elatsoe Birthday Giveaway

Nov 27, 2020

Elatsoe

[CLOSED] Happy Birthday to me GIVEAWAY! It’s my birthday! Those who know me know I LOVE giving away my books. There’s no better feeling than giving a great book to someone you care about. So on my birthday I thought I’d do a giveaway of a book I recently finished and absolutely loved. Shoutout to @erins_library for putting this on my radar!

The world building in this book is fantastic. Imagine a different America where magic is real and is shaped by individual cultures and beliefs. Ellie is Lipan Apache and has the magical skill of raising ghost, something passed down through her family for generations. When her cousin gets in a mysterious car accident and dies she must use her knowledge and skills of her family and friends to find the murderer.

It is both a fantasy and mystery novel and at the center of it all it is about the love of family and friends. This was written by Darcie Little Badger and this is her debut novel. According to her author bio she is an “Earth scientist and a fan of the weird, beautiful, and haunting. She is also an enrolled member of the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas.” I can’t wait to see what she creates next. This book made me nostalgic in all the right ways. I’m so excited that this generation of young readers and writers have someone like her to look up to.

All you gotta do if you want to enter is write in the comments a book by an Indigenous author you have read OR one you’re excited to read. Personally I can’t wait to read Even as We Breathe by Annette Sanooke Clapsaddle who is a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. And of course feel free to share if you know others would be interested in reading this book!

Love you all. This community has inspired me so much!! I’ll close the giveaway Saturday 11:30 AM PST. Open to US and Canada. #bookstagram #ReadIndigenousBooks #ReadIndigenousAuthors #AlwaysReading #ilovebooks

Memorial Drive

Nov 22, 2020

Memorial Drive

According to TIME magazine this book is one of the best nonfiction books of 2020, and for good reason. I read it weeks ago but reflecting now I think I’m ready to share my thoughts.

Natasha Trethewey’s book Memorial Drive is one I’ll think about for a long time. Trethewey is a Poet Laureate and it definitely shows. She weaves metaphors into all the things she sees in her life as though they are somehow premonitions for the tragedy she would face at 19 years old, when her mother was murdered by her former stepfather. It made me look at the small instances in my life much more closely, as though everything is an omen and if you don’t look close enough you’ll miss the signs. At one point, Trethewey writes in the second person, which is hard to pull off, but it is done in such a way that you hold your breath with suspense and when it switches back to first person you gasp for air. At times I felt voyeuristic reading this, especially as the novel reaches its climax, because although you know what happens at the end it is still made all the more devastating when you finally reach it. I picked up this book because ever since I became a mom I’ve been interested in reading about other parental experiences, but if you are drawn to reading memoirs I hope you pick this up. It’s gorgeously written and is a testament to the love shared between a mom and daughter and also the love that can be lost or never found due to devastating trauma.

Sula

Nov 14, 2020

Sula

Hey #bookstagram! It’s been awhile. I’ve been focusing on my mental health but don’t worry I’ve been here enjoying all the amazing things so many of you have been doing in spite of it all. I have still been reading (the past two weeks though not so much) but this book right here is nothing short of genius.

Sula is one of the best books I have ever read. I know we get that a lot around here, but come on. It’s Toni Morrison at her finest, hard to argue with me here. I think about this book a few times a week. It’s a slim novel at just under 200 pages but it packs a SOLID punch. Although short, I savored every word of this book. I found myself putting it down frequently and just sitting with the characters. I wanted to enjoy it, so it took me a solid week to get through. I’m sad I didn’t read it sooner, but at the same time I think I read it at the perfect moment in my life. It’s definitely one I will come back to as I get older. There are so many interesting questions about feminism, sex, and what it is to be a woman, especially a Black woman. It was tragic, but also sometimes downright funny. But my favorite part of reading this, is that you get to bear witness to an artist creating something so spectacular. The whole time reading it you can feel Morrison just know that she is absolutely creating a masterpiece. It’s an honor and privilege to engage with her work. Have you read this? If not, I hope it’s on your TBR now! #bookstagram #ToniMorrison #ReadBlackWomen #Sula #bookstagrammer

Gideon The Ninth

Nov 11, 2020

Gideon The Ninth

How we doing bookstagram? I’ve been around but having a hard time posting. Work has been relentless and with the election looming it’s hard to say anything here that feels right. And on that note, this book has seriously been giving me life. I mean lesbian, necromancers in space? Consider me sold. On top of that this book has such a great mix of mystery, horror, sci-fi and most importantly humor. I find myself laughing out loud at Gideon’s biting wit. I’m obsessed. What about you? What are you reading to help you through the day?

#bookstagram #gideontheninth #bookaholic #halloweenreads #spookyseason #alwaysreading

Science Fiction #getlostinabook

Oct 15, 2020

Science Fiction #getlostinabook

Hey bookstagram. It’s been a minute since I have posted and I just want to say it’s because I’m not okay. Things of late have been really hard. My personal life and professional life leave me feeling unmoored and sometimes I feel like I have to remind myself to breathe. I’ve been reading which is nice but when I come here I just don’t have the bandwidth to write something that feels right. So here I am. Just telling the truth. Bc right now it is what it is. When I feel this way I tend to lose myself in a science fiction book. They’re pure escapism but not so totally mindless. (Even though mindless is still okay) It’s nice to get lost in the stars. Also you can love “frivolous” things and still be an activist. In fact you should because everyone needs to rest and frivolity can be recharging. It can remind you to smile. And feel warm. Maybe make you laugh. So how y’all doing? What do you read or do when you need to escape?

#bookstagram #sciencefiction #losangelesreaders #booklover #alwaysreading #escapebooks #relaxwithagoodbook #readersofinstagram #getlostinabook