What I Read in June
June seemed to really fly by. With racism, police brutality, and the pandemic, I found myself super distracted and stressed. I’m continuing to recognize opportunities to be more politically active, from setting up recurring donations to signing petitions and emailing representatives. The work goes on, and one way actually enjoyable way to be anti-racist is to read more books by Black authors. I read two incredible ones this month. I also participated in #blackpublishingpower and purchase two new books by Black authors; stay tuned for July reviews. Also, all links to books in this post will lead to Black-owned bookstores, if you’d like to support them!
Ok, diving into June reads: I finished seven books, but four of them were on audio. Like in May, I just found myself too agitated to sit still for very long with a book, so audiobooks were the way to go. However, I did wish I’d had a hard copy of the two nonfiction reads so that I could highlight passages and return to them. All in all though, a great month’s worth of reads!
Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin
5/5 Stars
“I love America more than any other country in the world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.”
I don't really know how to critique this book except to say everyone should read it. James Baldwin has the unique perspective of a Black man from America but who moved to Europe, therefore holding the dual insider/outsider view of racism in America.
The strongest essay in my opinion is the titular one, where Baldwin recounts his father's life and death and relates it to how the Black community has changed and not changed across generations. Being a novelist, he writes scenes and memories vividly, and that was most enjoyable to me.
The last essay, Stranger in the Village, explores how Europe has seemingly been "let off the hook" for racism compared to America because its history of slavery and racism is not as ingrained there as it is in America. In America, Black people are not strangers; white Americans cannot look away from Black Americans. Baldwin contrasts this with a small Swiss village that still has "the luxury of looking on me as a stranger." Baldwin argues that black history plays an undeniable part in American history, but the same can't be said for European history. Because of this, Black people are treated differently in Europe than in America.
Note that the first few essays critique some literature works: Uncle Tom's Cabin, Native Son (by Richard Wright) and the opera Carmen. You should familiarize yourself at least with the plots and characters to understand Baldwin's essays on them.
It's What I Do: A Photographer’s Life of Love and War by Lynsey Addario
5/5 Stars
An excellent narrative nonfiction book that explores both the professional and human experience of covering war. Her travels, from getting kidnapped in Libya to visiting refugees in Darfur, were all riveting. As someone who enjoys travel, I gained a new perspective of how one can yearn to travel for reasons other than fun. I think that Addario's genuine calling to be in conflict zones and tell the stories of those places is something I don't think I've ever come across. It was a fascinating look into an unconventional life. What really came through was Addario's work ethic, desire to prove herself even after winning a Pulitzer and MacArthur fellowship, and sense of duty to tell the stories of war so that the world must pay attention.
We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates
5/5 Stars
I am drained after this book. It is exhaustive and researched to the nines. Each essay was eye-opening, from the exploration of Black conservatism to the decades-long agenda of Black incarceration.
Coates expertly examines why Obama was successful and where he fell short. My biggest takeaway was that Blacks have to be "twice as good" to be as successful as white people, and even then they'll face criticism and hardships. On the other hand, Coates uses Trump as the example that white people can get away with being "twice as bad." He argues that because a Black person was able to become president, it lowered the bar for white presidents to follow. No matter how many racist, sexist, illegal, or downright idiotic statements or acts a white candidate could make, he'd still be better than a Black candidate in the eyes of many American voters.
This book will probably dishearten you because it demonstrates how racism is an undeniable part of American identity and history. It will take so much work to undo it. "An American Tragedy" indeed.
A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler
3/5 Stars
A single mother and her biracial son, Xavier, clashes with her privileged neighbors. Racial tensions come to a head when Xavier grows close with the neighbors’ daughter.
This was a heavy story, but the good kind. It has something important to say, and I really connected with the characters. The tone is heartfelt and weighty, and the pace was excellent: never a dull moment. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
That being said, I have read similar novels to this, most notably Little Fires Everywhere. This isn't the book's fault, but it didn't help that I had recently finished LFE and so it was fresh in my mind as I read A Good Neighborhood.
I would also compare this book to The Mothers by Brit Bennett, not only thematically but stylistically with the use of a Greek chorus to give social commentary. Again, not the book's fault, but I've seen it before.
Lastly, I have to say regarding themes that this book is not subtle. Quite often I felt hit over the head with the significance being explained to me. Rule number one in fiction is "show not tell." This book is like 90% telling, and it is frustrating to have the narrator tell me exactly each character's world views, opinions, greatest desires, fears, etc. rather than showing details for me to then put the pieces together myself.
Long Bright River by Liz Moore
5/5 Stars
A Philadelphia cop investigates the disappearance of her sister, one of many affected by the opioid crisis.
Wow! I really enjoyed this one. Excellent character development, twists I didn't see coming, and heartfelt emotions all running through.
On par with the best detective mysteries, especially Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series in my opinion. Most detective novels have the case at hand as the main storyline with a personal side story supporting. But Long Bright River is unique in that it flips that hierarchy; the story spends more time with the main character's personal issue, and the police investigation is secondary. Because the main story was more personal, I felt more connected and invested. However, it did make the investigation feel unimportant; not much info is given about the victims or the killer.
The strongest point for me was the theme of parenthood and abandonment. There were many scenes
that had me almost tearing up as the main character grapples with her own parents' abandonment and her vow to not repeat the same tragedy with her son.
Overall such a heartbreaking but ultimately heartwarming novel.
Axiom’s End by Lindsay Ellis
3.5/5 Stars
In 2007, a government whistleblower leaks that the US has had first contact with an extraterrestrial species. Cora wants nothing to do with her father’s bombshell of information—that is, until the alien species choose her as the key to communicating with humans.
I loved the level of action and adventure in this novel. I also totally believed in and rooted for the relationship between the main characters. The theme of humanity's need for connection was very strong. The plot had some fantastic twists as well.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to, and I believe that is because I found the main character underdeveloped. I couldn't tell you what her greatest desires/fears/motivations were. Because of this, I did not feel invested in her story. But as I said, I was invested in the relationship between her and the other main character; that was well formed and kept me reading until the end.
Another reason I didn't enjoy this book as much is because there were several unbelievable happenings that didn't align with our world's reality. For example, without going into too much detail, minor human characters seemed very unconcerned about strange events that would raise the alarm in any rational person. The reader just has to go along with it, and I found that frustrating.
But overall, the solid plot and high-action pace made for a decent debut. I received an advanced reader's copy through a Goodreads giveaway.
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
4/5 Stars
A small town is shaken by “the year of the suicides” when the four Lisbon sisters all kill themselves. The boys who grew up with them try to piece together why 20 years later.
Eugenides's writing is simply spectacular. So many sentences that were just perfection. Incredible, hyper-minute imagery throughout and a surreal tone just made for an amazing read. This book is truly one of a kind and unlike anything I've ever read. Sure, themes are similar to The Sound and the Fury or The Bell Jar, but they still don't really compare.
There's so much to unpack in terms of meaning. I know that the whole point of the novel is to not give a real explanation for the suicides, but that still didn't make for satisfying reading. And I think you can take that two ways: one is to acknowledge the universal hardships of adolescence and precariousness of youth, which for some can be so painful as to lead to suicide, or two, it trivializes adolescence, like one character who says, "I'm a teenager. I've got problems!" Does Eugenides mean to laugh at teenage angst/suicidal tendencies? I seriously can't tell with that quote.
It was frustrating to me that no character was fully fleshed out. The narrator is unnamed, and the Lisbons are all enigmas. Again, I sense that's the point, and it's an interesting experiment to purposely keep every character nebulous, but I felt held at a distance because of it. Despite the extreme level of detail and description, I never felt fully a part of this world.
I'm also struggling to read this through a feminist lens. I can't help but despise all the male characters for somehow at once being obsessed with girls but also not caring at all for them. The girls are objectified, the men are also reduced to a carnal focus, and what the hell is wrong with the parents? And why were these girls brought up so protectively/possessively? In the end, this book is not at all interested in answering the why, but that's exactly what kept me reading: to find out why. So in the end, when that isn't answered, I'm left wondering what was the point? Is that the point, that there is no point? If so, at least it was beautifully written.
