“But that’s the problem with the present, it’s never the thing you’re holding, only the thing you’re watching, later, from a distance so great the memory might as well be a spill of stars outside a window at twilight.”

I love a book that forces you to slow down and reckon with its pages. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good page turner as well, but there is nothing quite like that feeling when all the right notes just hit: great characters, interesting plot, and beautiful writing. Sharks in the Time of Saviors had it all. A story about a family from Hawai’i grappling with grief and disconnection from their land due to colonization and tourism. It is told through each members POV (always a favorite of mine when done well). There is so much to love about this novel. There are so many things it gives the reader to think about. What does home mean? What does it mean to come home after time spent away? Who are you without the thing that makes you great? What if the thing that makes you great just ends up destroying you? What if you can’t live up to it? What are the things you leave unsaid when you talk to family about all the hurts you have put each other through?

A lovely novel, if you like family epics told with multiple points of view I highly recommend this backlist gem.

[ID: My hand holes up Sharks in the Time of Saviors against a backdrop of a beautiful Tahitian beach.]

#backlistbooks #backlist #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #familyepics #multiplePOVS #Greatfiction #alwaysreading #literaryfiction

THICK is a standout, and it’s a collection I will keep in my library. If you haven’t read it, this is the one that is the must read.

THE NIGHT WATCHMAN was fantastic. Patrice is a character that will stick to you. Erdrich is an author that stands apart.

WILDSEED, was well, wild. I can’t wait to discuss it with my two girlfriends when we get a chance! Butler truly has an unmatched imagination. This is my third work by her and they are all SO DIFFERENT.

NINTH HOUSE was a reread to prep for HELL BENT, glad I reread it too. HELL BENT was pure popcorn, all plot, no real character development but I enjoyed it. I wished there was more explored in the central relationship between Darlington and Alex, because you don’t go to hell TWICE for someone and just not have a come to Jesus conversation. There was time for some emotional reckoning and not having that here was a major disappointment, but again this was a popcorn read so whatevs. Thanks @paigerragerreads for talking about it with me!

I was underwhelmed by Tx3. I found it emotionally manipulative. I’m a gamer too, so I thought I’d love it more.

AGE OF VICE was great at first, but then the ending was truly perplexing. It dedicated way too much air time to this random character and it left me scratching my head. I will read the next book though, so that’s saying something.

UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN was great. Shifted a lot of my thinking about religion in general, not just Mormons.

#MGlit: I would recommend all of these. They each meet my criteria for middle grade lit: under 300 pages with short chapters. I’m reading A ROVER’S STORY with my class now and they are loving it. EDEN’S EVERDARK is perfect for kids who love spooky stories and PAX:JOURNEY HOME is great for kids dealing with grief.

#bookstagram #middlegradebooks #middlegradefiction #fiction #booksbooksbooks #alwaysreading #readmorebooks #february #februarywrapup

I am exhausted and it is only Monday. I didn’t buy a single book in January, please clap. Hopefully I will get around to these two in the coming weeks. I know Ninth House is problematic (The MC is supposed to be of Latine Heritage, but Leigh Bardugo is not. And no this is not me saying white authors shouldn’t write characters from the global south, but there were some VERY cringe moments in Ninth House because of this. Heard Hell Bent does not have the same issues, which is great because maybe that means Bardugo is listening and actually taking the feedback, instead of you know just listening) I want to reread it ahead of Hell Bent based on @paigerragerreads review!

Seven Moons of Maali Almeida caught my eye and after reading the first page at the library I decided I was sold.

How is everyone’s February shaping up? What are you reading? Any of y’all implement a book buying ban, I am in solidarity with you! And if you broke it, hey you probably deserved that little book. #bookstagram #library #librariesarethebest #useyourlocallibrary #booksbooksbooks #alwaysreading

I don’t remember where I saw this quote, so forgive me, but it went something like “I wish everyone understood that being non-disabled is temporary.” We all age, and things can happen to our bodies or minds that are not within our control, literally at any moment.

Tessa Miller’s WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU, was an illuminating memoir/nonfiction book. I know I’m going to keep it on my shelf forever because she has some really helpful tidbits about how to fight for proper healthcare and how to best support people in your life that are chronically ill. It was a sobering read, because our capitalistic society does not value human life, only money. The horrifying stories she shared about fighting for life saving procedures and the hoops she had to jump through one million times over in order to get insurance to cover it or even just to approve it were truly dystopian. But this is her reality, and the reality of millions of people across the United States. I think this is a really valuable book for everyone to read, whether or not you are disabled.

[ID: The nonfiction book What Doesn’t Kill You: A Life with Chronic Illness, Lessons from a Body in Revolt by Tessa Miller is held up by Viv’s hand against a tree’s stump.]

#nonfiction #memoirs #alwaysreading #learnmore #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #readmorenonfiction #readmorememoirs

Here we are again, new year, bigger TBR. I know my partner will laugh in my face, but I am determined not to buy any new books, for a long time. So many of these books have been influenced by you lovely people. So where to start? Can’t promise I’ll listen, but I’m excited to dig in. I may have to mute 2023 new releases on this damn app though. Anyone know how to do that? Ha!

[ID: Two stacks of books sit side by side.]

#Nonfiction #happynewyear #TBR #ReadMoreBooks #Fiction #Bookstagram #Bookstagrammer #BookRecommendations #BookRecs #somanybookssolittletime