Quarterly Reading Favourites January-March 2021

 

Quarterly Reading Favourites January-March 2021:

 (sorted by last names of the author)

I've read a lot of good books this year so far here are some of my favourites and who I would recommend them to:

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston: 

Who would you recommend this to? Anyone 8 and above who likes magic and adventure. Amari and the Night Brothers follows Amari a young girl who's genius brother has mysteriously gone missing, while the rest of the world has given up on him Amari is determined to find him, and her only clue leads her to attend the 'Bureau of Supernatural Affairs' summer camp  (think Hogwarts meets MIB). Its a really fun read that manages to tackle some difficult to talk about subjects without breaking stride such as bullying, classism and even systematic racism in a way that is both comprehensive for younger readers as well as seamless.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Who would you recommend this to? Anyone over 16 who is looking for a accessible literary book that is still complex and nuanced, 'The Vanishing Half' follows the Vignes twins, a pair of very light skinned African American girls who run away from their colourist hometown to New Orleans where their lives eventually diverge, one going on to have a very dark skinned daughter and returning home and the other choosing to live her life as a white woman. We follow them from childhood to adulthood and their respective daughters though the mid-late 20th century.

Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant

Who would you recommend this to? Anyone who likes Sci-Fi horror movies and doesn't mind a bit of gore. 'Rolling in the Deep' follows the crew of the Atargatis and the film crew they are transporting through the tragic misadventure of trying to find mermaids in the Mariana Trench. The story is a prequel to another book 'Into the Drowning Deep' set seven years later when 'The Imagine Network' sends another ship to investigate and confirm the events that take place in 'Rolling in the Deep', and while both books are in my opinion excellent I'm glad I read 'Rolling in the Deep' first.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Who would you recommend this to? People who love adult romance books or are looking to get more into them. 'Get a life,Chloe Brown' is the first in a series of companion contemporary romance novels following the Brown sisters. It is an enemies to lovers story and our protagonist is Chloe a web designer who lives with chronic pain and as a result has somewhat withdrawn from the world, it also follows Red the superintendent of her building, artist and domestic abuse survivor. The story is really cute and the characters are lovable and realistic, and the banter between the two feels natural.

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

Who would you recommend this to? Anyone over the age of 14, I believe the book is mainly aimed at LGBT+ teens and young people who want to be better allies but I think everyone could gain something from this memoir. The book explores George M. Johnson's life growing up black and queer it follows him from the age of 5 through to today. Johnson is a fantastic writer and he is incredibly candid when telling his story and the result is an extremely powerful piece. 

Passing by Nella Larsen

Who would you recommend this to?  People who like historical fiction and a bit of tension in their reading. Though 'Passing' is a very short book Nella Larsen establishes early on with high stakes for both her main characters a tension that runs from almost the first page till it's climax. 'Passing' follows the relationship of two light skinned black women in Harlem in the 1920's one of whom has chosen to 'pass' and the other who has not. As it is a short book I don't want to give to much away but it follows them as they reconnect after years apart. It's a book that I couldn't stop thinking about for the days after finishing it.

Underland, by Robert Macfarlane

Who would you recommend this to? Armchair explorers and pretty much everyone with itchy feet … unless you suffer from claustrophobia then you might want to skip the chapter on the Paris catacombs... 'Underland' is beyond beautiful, it explores the world we cannot always see as the title suggest in the 'underland' the world that is sometimes just beneath our feet. This was my first time reading Macfarlane’s work and I was completely in awe, the way he expresses his wonder and excitement is contagious as he expertly describes the world below the surface in wonderful detail with stunning writing. I found I was captivated the entire book and I believe almost anyone interested in nature writing or armchair travel would enjoy it.

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 By Cho Nam-Joo

Who would you recommend this to? Anyone and everyone over the age of 15. This book blew me away, I don’t know how to properly articulate the range of emotions this book inspired in me for the many different women featured in this story but I will be recommending this to pretty much anyone who will listen. The book covers the lives of woman in all stages of life in Korea and the systemic misogyny that effects them through their lives, it is a very short book but I could not put it down if I tried, I definitely plan to reread this soon.

The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill

Who would you recommend this to? Appropriate for all audiences to read and have it read to them, The Tea Dragon Society is like a hug from a loved one it's absolutely adorable and wholesome with a diverse cast of characters and beautiful art. It’s about a young blacksmith discovering Tea Dragons, a creature that grows different teas on their horn and the people that care for them. It has all the warm and fuzzy vibes.

Happiness by Shūzō Oshimi

Who would you recommend this to? People who like vampire horror stories and horror manga, 'Happiness' is a manga series following a boy who one night survives an attack from a vampire and how his life changes along with him after the night he is bitten. Thought the story seems pretty straight forward I really love the artwork of this series, the cast of characters, how they are developed and I love a good vampire story.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Who would you recommend this to? Parents, children and people who want to reawaken their inner child.  The little prince is incredibly charming and beautifully written. The story follows a pilot who after crashing his plane in the middle of the desert encounters a small boy from space who shares with him all of the wisdom he gained during his travels through the universe. I loved how it was told, the illustrations, the narrator’s voice and the overall story, What can I say it's a classic for a reason.

When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo

Who would you recommend this to? To adults and young adults who like folklore and a little magic in their life. ‘When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain’ is the second book in Nghi Vo’s ‘The Singing Hills Cycle’ this story like ‘the Empress of Salt and Fortune’ follows the cleric Chih, this time follows them as they tell the story of Ho Thi Thao and her courtship of Dieu in a hope to stall their audience long enough to survive the night… kind of in the spirit of Shahrazad. I absolutely love Nghi Vo’s writing style I find it lyrical, grounded and simply enchanting. 

Trigger Warnings for each book are below in black since some are spoilers so highlight the book if you need to check.

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston: Bullying, Racism, Grief, Kidnapping, and Murder

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett:  Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Dementia, Hate crime, Violence, Sexual content, Racism, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Transphobia, Murder, and Drug use

Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant: Death, Blood, Body Horror, Grief, Ableism

Get a Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert: Sexual Content, Chronic Illness, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Toxic Relationship, Ableism, Physical Abuse, Medical Trama, Domestic Abuse, Mental Illness

All Boys Aren’t Blue by  George M. Johnson: Sexual assault, Homophobia, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Death, Grief, Deadnaming, Violence, Hate crime, Transphobia, Cancer, Drug use, Terminal illness, Incest, and Bullying

Passing by Nella Larsen: Racial slurs, Racism, Infidelity, Toxic Relationship, Murder, Suicide, and Death

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 By Cho Nam-Joo: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Stalking, Abortion, Miscarriage, Body shaming, and Suicide

Happiness Volumes 1-4 by Shūzō Oshimi : Violence, Blood, Death, Bullying, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Sexual Content

When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo: Death, Animal Death, Blood, Infidelity, Violence, Sexual content