Hey reader fam!
Thank you to everyone who signed up for my very first newsletter! This has been so much fun so far.
This week, I’m going to be talking about books that I don’t hear or see talked about much on public platforms. Whether it’s because they are published independently and simply do not get the press that other more “hyped” titles receive, or because they slipped under the Bookstagram/BookTube radar, I want to give these books some extra love this week.
But first, as per usual, let’s first talk about what I read this past week, and what I am reading now!
What did I read last week?
The Beauty in Breaking by Michele Harper: The more I read memoir, the more I wonder why I don’t read memoir more. This book covers topics of medical racism, sexism in medicine, brokenness and recovery, and ultimately, it’s a narrative about forgiveness, letting go, and finding peace with our past. This was a February favorite for me, no doubt. I think if you love memoir, this has to be one that you consider adding to your TBR! (There are graphic descriptions of racism, violence, child death, and many ED scenarios that might not be the kind of content every reader can manage.) Bookshop.
What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons: I listened to this one via Libro.fm on audio. I am a huge advocate of audio listening, but I think this one lost me a bit through this format. This story is ultimately about a young woman grappling with her grief in losing her mother. It’s about finding her identity, and choosing to live after loss. It’s told in a non linear fashion, with an unusual stream-of-consciousness narrative style. Normally, I can handle dual timelines via audio, but I think because of how quickly the protagonist jumped timelines and even ideas within her storytelling, it just felt chaotic and disorganized to me. Bookshop.
Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi with Curt Gentry: I started this one in January, and finally knocked it off my unread shelf this week. My dear friend, Sophie, has been encouraging me to read more true crime since we became fast friends in 2015 (you can find her instagram here!). Helter Skelter is a bit dated, but one that Sophie said was fascinating, and she did not steer me wrong. Although this narrative is noticeably dated in terms of language use, this account of the Manson murders is meticulous and detailed, and gives the reader more than everything they might have wanted to know regarding the Manson murder trials. I have recently discovered that Bugliosi is not a top tier human, and look forward to reading more about the Manson murders through other works of nonfiction that bring to light some of Bugliosi’s arrogance when it came to the Manson trials. Bookshop.
I’m currently reading…
The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare: Still reading this one with a friend, and taking my time. Reading books in print always takes me a bit longer, and that’s okay! Bookshop.
Lakewood by Megan Giddings: A novel about race and class, this debut novel tackles the moral dilemmas and horrors that Black, working class families face, in the name of science and medicine. I am only 10% into the audio of this one, which I bought for $5 at Libro.fm (Link here if you want to purchase this audiobook while it’s still on sale). Unsure how I feel about it quite yet, but I love horror that takes on real world themes. Bookshop.
Before we get into some “underhyped” books that I think more people should read, I wanted to share some links that I have been loving lately!
Links I love:
My Famous Bookcart! I’ve had this bookcart for 3 years now, and recently it’s exploded a bit in the online bookish community. It’s a gorgeous, gold wire basket, 3 tier Antonia rolling cart, that I originally bought at World Market as a diaper cart for my newborn. As my child is no longer a newborn, I use it to store my immediate TBR books!
Marraketch Tiger Twin Sheet Set: My toddler recently graduated to a twin bed, and she’s been loving the ability to pick out her own bedding. We recently bought this bedding from Crate and Barrel, and it was pretty affordable in comparison with some of their other sheet sets.
Bruschetta Grilled Chicken: Meals at home have really needed some spice up lately, but I like to cook with minimal ingredients during the week. This meal has been really fast, delicious, and the kiddo enjoys it as well, which is always a plus (we make it on the stove, not on the grill).
Underrated Gems To to Add to Your TBR
Perfect Little World by Kevin Wilson: This might have been the first fiction book that I listened to on audio, making me realize that I needed to listen to more fiction on audio in the future. Perfect Little World follows our protagonist Isabelle Poole, as she is met with an opportunity to take part in a utopian experiment called The Infinite Family Project. Young, motherless, and pregnant with her art teacher’s child, she knows she can be a good mother; but, without the money or resources to parent, she feels she has no other choice but to accept this unique offer. Bookshop.
Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore: I listened to this one the summer after I had my daughter. She was going through a season of sleep troubles, and I was having to take her for a walk every evening to lull her to sleep before bed time. During this time, I listened to several audiobooks that were such a wonderful solace to me. Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore was one of those books that completely captivated and transported me, in a season where I really needed a fictional escape. This twisty tale has the added benefit of being set partially in a cozy bookstore, but it is certainly not a cozy mystery. In the opening scene, a bookstore patron has committed suicide in the bookshop. It is up to our protagonist to uncover the secrets that he has left behind. This one is dark, compelling, and filled with dramatic suspense. Bookshop.
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan: This book is so fascinating, and the premise really ended up working out for me in its execution. When She Woke is set in a not so distant future, when the separation between church and state has been eradicated, and convicted felons are no longer imprisoned but genetically altered so their skin color matches the class of their crimes. They are then released back into society, to survive as best they can. Hannah’s skin color is red. Her crime is murder. This book tackles themes on women’s rights, politicizing faith, and sexism. I read this back in 2016 and I think it’s time for a re-read! Bookshop.
Some concluding thoughts…
I’m planning to launch my Patreon site this Spring season. I’ll have an exact date ready for you soon, but I wanted to share with you some things that you could benefit from if you decide to sign up once I launch.
Reading recaps including my Momma! She’s a big reader, and it might be fun to discuss the books we read separately and together. She’s a really cool lady, and I know everyone will love getting to know her.
Monthly reading recaps in which I read 3-5 of another Bookstagrammer or Bookish Friend’s favorite reads, to see how our tastes line up.
I’ll be bringing back the Worth The Hype book club! But it will be for patrons only! We will vote on a “hyped” book that has been released within the last 24 months, and in a monthly bookclub discussion, decide whether these books are worth the hype or not!
I’m sure I will add more as I learn to navigate the Patreon space, but for now, that’s what I’m willing to commit to. These reading recaps will be more expansive that the ones I give for free via this Newsletter.
As always, thanks for following along on my bookish journey.
Xoxo,
Hannah