Tag: fiction
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Dietland by Sarai Walker
Dietland by Sarai Walker Dietland was recommended to me by a colleague, Eve Vawter (she ended up doing an amaaazing interview with Walker, too.) “You are going to love this book,” she said. I’ve been pickier than usual with my reading lately, opting for fast-paced plot-driven books over the meandering literary stuff I sometimes enjoy. “Is…
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Euphoria by Lily King This book was such a pleasure to read. Equal parts travel exploration and love story. It’s the kind of book you get lost in, the descriptions of New Guinea, the intrigue of anthropological studies and theory, the intensity of the relationships between the three main characters. It’s also probably the smartest…
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The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez Well, this book just about tore my heart open. Most of the book is a very balanced, paced exploration of one family’s life after moving to the U.S. so their daughter, who is suffering from a brain injury, can get better education, as well as the lives…
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Ruby by Cynthia Brown
Ruby by Cynthia Bond I picked this book up after both Oprah and Ann Friedman highly recommended it. The book tells the story of Ruby Bell, a young girl who experiences horrific acts – physical abuse, rape, human trafficking – and it drives her to madness, and the love story/redemption story between her and a…
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Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng A favorite daughter dies, and her family reels from the loss. A beautiful portrait of grief told in a compelling, page-turning manner. From a craft perspective, I love that each and every character detail in this book helps to answer the question, What happened to Lydia? Even…
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Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill
Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill This book was stunningly beautiful. Succinct, specific, heart-wrenching. A woman tells the story of her life and her unraveling marriage. It’s like the most heart wrenching short story you’ve ever read, but book-length. Beautiful.
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Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh I was familiar with the comic but not a dedicated reader. This was fun to read, I laughed out loud several times. I continue to be a little perplexed by the blogs-into-books thing but this is the second one I’ve purchased (I also have Tiny Beautiful Things although…
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The Love Wife by Gish Jen
The Love Wife by Gish Jen Took me quite a long time to get through. Didn’t connect with these characters as much as I did in Typical American or Mona in the Promised Land. Still good. In a lot of ways this book is more about a well-meaning white lady trying to best care for…
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I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson I really loved the beginning of this book. It felt raw and real and dealt with adult-type things in a teen-like way. It was great. The language was sharp and funny and insightful. Once you get about a quarter of the way in it starts becoming more…
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A Man Came Out of a Door in the Mountain by Adrianne Harun
A Man Came Out of a Door in the Mountain by Adrianne Harun This was one weird book. Basically a tale of good vs. evil with a little bit of poverty and race politics. It was OK. I didn’t feel compelled enough the unfurling evil to put up with the flowery, detailed language and ended…
colleen stinchcombe 