My spring in reading (continued)

Did April truly exist? It felt like no time at all, but it must have happened—I read so many books!

So. Many. Books.

When I went to the inaugural Tin House YA Fiction Workshop last November, I found this novel tucked into the tote bag they gave me. I love a good campus novel, and this one was no exception. Set in 1979, it tells the slow, spiraling story of a romantic relationship between Aviva Rossner and Seung Jung, narrated by their jealous yet engrossed classmate Bruce Bennett-Jones. The lovers’ continuing virginity is fraught, of course, and leads to disaster. (Not necessarily the disaster you’d think.) Because it’s a story about a young woman narrated through the POV of a young man who’s in love with her, where he imagines what she’s thinking and feeling, this novel made me think of R.O. Kwon’s The Incendiaries, even though they’re very different stories.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

One good thing that’s come out of shelter-in-place is Phoebe Judge’s new podcast Phoebe Reads a Mystery, in which the Criminal podcast host does just that—reads us one chapter of a classic mystery each day. The first book she selected was Agatha Christie’s first-ever published novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles. I’d never read a Poirot book before; for some reason I always thought I’d find the character annoying. And I do? But in a funny way. Even funnier was the narrator, Arthur Hastings, who thinks he’s way smarter and more attractive than he actually is. I enjoyed all the dry humor. And it was a good mystery, too! Kept me guessing the whole way through.

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

I was thrilled when Phoebe Judge selected this as the second book for her podcast, because I LOVE SHERLOCK HOLMES. I’ve read all of them multiple times, so I was happy to revisit this novella. Ugh, Holmes and Watson. I just love them. Cute little detective besties. Anyway, if you haven’t read the Sherlock Holmes stories, you’re missing out.

Claim Your Space by Minyoung Lee

Sadly for all of you, this debut chapbook is completely sold out—but hopefully they’ll reissue it someday! It’s composed of these little flash pieces, many of which initially seem disconnected, until characters and images begin to recur. Have you ever watched somebody juggle scarves? How the fabric floats into the air, falls slowly, then is snatched back by the juggler and starts its cycle again? That’s what reading Claim Your Space felt like.

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

I’ve been meaning to read this book for a while, and my digital copy from the library finally came in. I can see why so many people say it should be assigned reading—Kendi’s thesis that racist policies come before racist thoughts and actions (not the other way around) because racist policies are beneficial to those who enact them is really important and directs us to a different approach for addressing racism in society. The book was way more of an autobiography than I expected it to be—not a bad thing, just a surprise.

The Illness Lesson by Clare Beams

I love a good gothic novel just as much as I love a good campus novel. Set in 19th century Massachusetts, the novel’s protagonist is Caroline Hood, daughter of Samuel Hood, a philosopher and educator whose Utopian community failed miserably, and whose popularity has been waning ever since. In a last attempt to prove the importance of his ideals, he and his protege David open a girls’ school and invite Caroline to teach there as well. Of course, things go horribly wrong—and the flock of mysterious red birds known as Trilling Hearts are the perfect harbinger of disaster. This dread that permeates the pages of this book is perfect. Can’t recommend it enough.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

I did not know how much I needed this romance novel in my life. The son of the President of the United States falls in love with the Prince of England. It’s pure joy. The dialogue—incredible. I aspire to write dialogue even half that well. Two enthusiastic thumbs up for the sex scenes. The world is so sad right now—read this book and it will make you happy.

And that’s it for now! I started on some others in very late April, but I haven’t finished yet. Shelter-in-place is terrible in so many ways, but I can’t say I regret the increased reading time.