Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

4/5 stars

What's it about? In a not-so-alternate America, incarcerated people can win their freedom by fighting to the death in gladiatorial matches. The novel centers on lovers and beloved fighters Loretta Thurwar and Hamara “Hurricane Staxxx” Stacker, with diversions to other characters to round out the brutal landscape of bloodsport: fellow participants killing to save themselves, fans Wil and Emily, protestors Kai and Nile, and the suits and ties behind the horrific Criminal Action Penal Entertainment (CAPE) program. A page-turner about humanity, survival, and oppression in America.

How’d I find it? Excitedly awaiting this book’s release after enjoying Friday Black, I picked up a copy at Solid State Books.

Who will enjoy this book? Those who enjoyed the horror and competition of The Hunger Games and Battle Royale will like this debut novel.

What stood out? Adjei-Brenyah’s world-building in Chain-Gang All-Stars generates a society both horrific and believable, bolstered by writing that is crisp and at times gorgeous. He makes his characters lovable; you’ll root for all of the CAPE fighters (except for Simon J. Craft perhaps). The sense of surveillance permeates the book: cameras flit around heads, “hard-action sports” announcers await their cues, viewers at homes binge series on wall-sized screens. My only beef is the heavy-handedness of the novel’s social justice bent; the statistics about the current prison system can feel like finger wagging.

Which line made me feel something? From the chapter titled “Sing-Attica-Sing”: “Does disappearing one person from the earth clean it some? I seen men I knew were a danger to the world and they too deserve better than this. A shame for me to hope for better, but I know it’s better that can be done. Ain’t no magic potions for these bleeding human hearts.”

Girlfriend on Mars by Deborah Willis

4/5 stars

What's it about? Environmentalist and former evangelical and aspiring Olympian Amber Kivinen abandons her boyfriend of fourteen years to compete on a reality show for the chance to join the first manned mission to Mars. A tender, funny, and at times didactic debut about ambition, love, and human greed.

How’d I find it? This book found me. While shelving at Solid State Books, I discovered this fabulous cover and had to have it.

Who will enjoy this book? Lovers of reality TV will adore this book and its satire.

What stood out? You know what? My enjoyment of this book gets 5/5 stars. I read all 300+ pages over the course of three days while working full-time and could not get enough of the hilariously obnoxious cast of characters: restless Amber, her boyfriend Kevin, the MarsNow contestants, slimeball billionaire Geoff Task, and Kevin’s stoner besties. Willis completely sticks the landing (hehe) in a surprising and satisfying way that absolves the novel of some clunky bursts of sentimentality and climate change warnings. It took me awhile to warm to Kevin’s narration every other chapter, as the breaking of the fourth wall and persistence of his gloom distracted from all the fun of the reality show’s taping.

tl;dr — read this one.

Which line made me feel something? “She chose this barren place and now she’s scraped out, empty, mourning everything. The smell of a red pepper when you cut it open. The pattern of rain on a window. The feel of water on her skin. She misses birdsong, even a crow’s cackle. Her dad’s voice. The smell of her mom’s hair.”

Sonnets to Orpheus by Rainer Maria Rilke, translated by Christiane Marks

4/5 stars

What's it about? In a span of days, Rilke composed these heady, dreamy sonnets about phases of being, inspired by the death of a young dancer. Brilliant in their form and drenched in gratitude, these poems celebrate life in all its forms, rendered delicately by Marks’s translation.

How’d I find it? A thoughtful gift from my beloved.

Who will enjoy this book? Fans of Greek classics and Seamus Heaney should enjoy.

What stood out? Just as impressive as the burst of inspiration that birthed these poems is the lyricism of every piece, which Rilke intended to be enjoyed aloud. This book is therefore best consumed in heard form — serenade a friend or yourself as you go. You will wish you spoke German to fully appreciate Rilke’s rhyme scheme.

Which line made me feel something? Sonnet 2:1 is a gorgeous meditation on the marvel of breath and opens thus: “Breathing—you invisible poem! / Outer space, continually / exchanged for my own pure being. Counterweight, / site of my rhythmical realization.”

Open Throat by Henry Hoke

4/5 stars

What's it about? A mountain lion contemplates identity, desire, and connection as they struggle to survive in the Hollywood Hills. Scarcity (interpreted by the lion as “scare city” from snippets of conversation between hikers) and curiosity drive the lion into human interactions with strange and violent consequences. A smart and mighty novel.

How’d I find it? A bookseller at Solid State Books uttered the words “queer mountain lion,” and I was sold.

Who will enjoy this book? Lovers of writing about Los Angeles (“ellay” in the novel), queer themes, and short experimental reads (think Fernanda Melchor or Olga Ravn’s The Employees) should appreciate, though the uniqueness of this book makes exact read-alikes difficult to pinpoint.

What stood out? This is anthropomorphism done right. Hoke doesn’t attempt to explain the lion’s psyche; even their name is “not made of noises a person can make”. The text is appropriately bereft of punctuation and capitalization, and people’s conversations are rendered in the lion’s own understanding, offering chuckles and fresh perspective. You’ll read this slim novel in one sitting, as it’s impossible to put down once you tuck in.

Which line made me feel something? Some of the best lines appear in the lion’s experience of fire: “my lungs are full of ugly” and “fire is the only future”. Look out for other beautiful snippets in the lion’s telling of their life before Hollywood.

The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman

4/5 stars

What's it about? In the riveting conclusion to His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman reveals what happens after Mrs. Coulter kidnaps Lyra and Will meets his father. The fate of the universe is resolved in this satisfying page-turner. It would be unfair to say much else about the plot. Read it!

How’d I find it? A dearly loved friend gave me a set of His Dark Materials books as a thank you for participating in her wedding. Yeah, she’s the best.

Who will enjoy this book? I mean, if you enjoyed the first two books...

What stood out? Mary Malone's storyline was my favorite, mainly because of the mulefa's charm. This book contains some real nail-biters: the Battle on the Plain, the fight with Metatron, and the excursion to the land of the dead. While I wept several times towards the end of the book, I found the evolution of Lyra and Will's relationship rushed and a bit corny, but this is a small complaint given the series' excellence and its emphasis on love and kindness. I tip my hat to you, Mr. Pullman.

Which line made me feel something? The angel Xaphania on imagination as travel: "...that does not mean making things up. It is a form of seeing."

Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music by Alex Ross

4/5 stars

What's it about? A thorough deep dive into the art of German composer Richard Wagner and the ripple effects of his life and work in culture, politics, and society. Alex Ross has undertaken a mammoth cataloging that impresses and engages.

How’d I find it? Pure kismet while browsing at East City Bookshop. There’s nothing I love more than finding a book I’d never heard of.

Who will enjoy this book? This tome isn't for slouches, so fans of classical music and Wagnerites would be the best suited to enjoy.

What stood out? Ross cleverly arranges this book, grouping themes into chapters (occult Wagnerism, for example) titled according to some aspect of a Wagner opera. I found this an approachable entry point into the density of the subject. Despite the comprehensive index and frequent mention of works with only peripheral or assumptive links to the composer, I was surprised the following didn't make the cut for Ross's analysis (as I wanted to hear his thoughts!): the Irish series Love/Hate, in which Luke kills a swan à la Parsifal, and Lars von Trier's 2011 film Melancholia, which showcases the prelude to Tristan and Isolde.

Which line made me feel something? "Wagner's misogyny, like his racism, can dissipate in the face of an unexplained force that erases distinctions and brings about transcendent unity. This force was music itself - the uncontrollable factor that foils any attempt to sum up what Wagner means, or, indeed, who he was."

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

4/5 stars

What's it about? Seventeen-year-old Catherine Morland enjoys an eventful summer in Bath with family friends, where she makes new acquaintances, attends the ubiquitous balls of Georgian England, and experiences heartache. As Austen's first book (though not her first published), Northanger Abbey differs from its successors in tone and style, but it's a welcome, if predictable, departure.

How’d I find it? I ordered this handy pocket edition from East City Bookshop. In general, I want the tiniest version possible of a book so that I can slip it into my coat for a long walk à la Elizabeth Bennett.

Who will enjoy this book? Austenites and Bridgerton fans, of course

What stood out? The author inserts her own commentary throughout the novel, explaining her reasons for leaving out or including certain aspects of the story and making clear her thoughts on Ann Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho. The surprise of Austen's own voice within the book was a delight to discover. I also loved Mrs. Allen's ludicrous obsession with fashion; Austen never disappoints when it comes to arch humor.

Which line made me feel something? The first sentence of the book tells you all you need to know about the lighthearted read ahead: "No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine."

Skinship by Yoon Choi

4/5 stars

What's it about? In this debut collection of short stories, Yoon Choi delves into the joys, disappointments, and secrets within relationships. Each of the eight stories is a tender and intimate portrait of family, the Korean diaspora, and the American experience.

How’d I find it? I obtained this copy from Politics & Prose, a happy purchase with a gift card. Is there any better gift card than a bookstore gift card?

Who will enjoy this book? Literary short story lovers (think The Best American Short Stories) and readers who enjoy Jhumpa Lahiri, Alice Munro, and Karen Tei Yamashita's Sansei and Sensibility

What stood out? Choi's writing is elegantly restrained, clever, and absorbing. You will root for her characters and wish you had more time with them as each story comes to a (sometimes abrupt) close. I found myself enveloped by Skinship's microcosms. "A Map of the Simplified World" and "The Loved Ones" were particular bright points. As a nurse, I chuckled at how perfectly Geneva, the hospice nurse in "The Loved Ones," was written. Of course she has two tuna sandwiches. Of course.

Which line made me feel something? From "Solo Works for Piano" (which reminded me of Kazuo Ishiguro's Nocturnes), when Albert is questioned about his happiness: "She demanded evidence. What evidence? Here is his life. It wakes in the morning and sleeps in the night. It has its routines: the appointments it keeps, the paths it travels. It has meaning, whether or not that meaning can be articulated. It does. It has."

Dark Matter by Aase Berg, translated by Johannes Göransson

4/5 stars

What's it about? Honestly, this is a tough question to answer. Strange, creepy, and savage, Aase Berg describes a transformed world in which the rules of body and boundary have changed. The surreal and consuming poems of Dark Matter challenge the definition of being.

How’d I find it? I bought directly from Black Ocean, the publisher, because I’m fancy sometimes.

Who will enjoy this book? If you appreciate Jeff Vandermeer's Dead Astronauts, Olga Ravn's The Employees, or the body horror of Alex Garland's film Men, you'll get a kick out of Dark Matter.

What stood out? The aftertaste of the poems linger in your mouth — fitting, as mouths are a common theme. I felt unsettled in the best way by this book. Dark Matter portends encroachment and uncertainty that is hard to shake. A bit like Jeff Vandermeer's Area X trilogy.

Which line made me feel something? This stanza from "Strong Bodyfault's Orbit:" "There is no space now for the hold / There is no eye for the hold / the skeleton is beshivered / with surfaces with barbs / hold catatonia"

Watership Down by Richard Adams

4/5 STARS

What's it about? A group of outsider rabbits works to start a new home and avoid the dangers of the wild, including predators, man-wreaked havoc, and territorial rabbits. Interspersed with rabbit lore, rabbit language, and the weight of danger, Watership Down is an epic, action-packed tale of survival.

How’d I find it? At a book sale at Rust Library in Leesburg, I came across this copy, which happens to be the exact same edition I had as a child, red sprayed edges and all. The joy!

Who will enjoy this book? The closest read-alike is Henry Williamson’s Tarka the Otter (an excellent NYRB read, by the way), though similar books for readers of all ages, like Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty, should also appeal.

What stood out? Adams does a stellar job of crafting unforgettable characters: Fiver, the prescient loner; Bigwig, the burly fighter with a soft spot for a helpful gull; and even General Wormwort, the hardened tyrant of Efrafa.

Which line made me feel something? The descriptions of setting in this book are universally lovely, but the following treatment of the turning of the season was particularly sumptuous: “In July the still blue, thick as cream, had seemed close above the green trees, but now the blue was high and rare, the sun slipped sooner to the west and, once there, foretold a touch of frost, sinking slow and big and drowsy, crimson as the rose hips that covered the briar.” Ugh.