Review: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Published by: Bloomsbury on September 15th, 2020
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: ★★★★☆
Description: Piranesi’s house is no ordinary building: its rooms are infinite, its corridors endless, its walls are lined with thousands upon thousands of statues, each one different from all the others. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; waves thunder up staircases, rooms are flooded in an instant. But Piranesi is not afraid; he understands the tides as he understands the pattern of the labyrinth itself. He lives to explore the house.

There is one other person in the house—a man called The Other, who visits Piranesi twice a week and asks for help with research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. But as Piranesi explores, evidence emerges of another person, and a terrible truth begins to unravel, revealing a world beyond the one Piranesi has always known.

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I’ve read some other reviews that recommend that you avoid the summary and jump straight into the book. I disagree. I was confused enough having read the summary, and if I had dived into the book with no warning or hint as to what I would find, I think I would have abandoned it about 10% in. The opening chapters (the first third of the book really) are opaque and rather difficult to connect with; I needed all the background context that I could get.

The first half required energy. To follow the narrator’s jumbled thoughts, to imagine the soaring, endless halls of the labyrinth, to even attempt to divine meaning out of the many littered metaphors and symbols. But at some point — perhaps about halfway through — I fell into the book, and as the puzzle pieces came together, it flowed into a captivating read.

The main character — named Piranesi by the only other inhabitant of the House — is a pure, naive soul who believes deeply, spiritually, in the power and beauty of the House. It is the only world that he knows, one of vaulted halls lined with statues depicting everything ranging from Greek mythology to scenes of everyday people (and more than one blatant reference to Narnia). He doesn’t remember how he came to be in this strange House, where the basement halls are flooded with the sea and the upper halls are misted with clouds. Yet he knows every nook and cranny, jotting notes and observations into his scientific journals. His enthusiasm for documenting the House and sheer solemnity are first amusing, then a bit sad later on as more context is revealed.

Scattered parts of Pirenesi’s experience in the House reminded me a bit of how a reader falls into a fantasy world: Enraptured by the beauty, a feeling of being spoken to, the thrill of exploring unseen corners. On the other hand, I also felt a powerful sense of claustrophobia and isolation, particularly later in the book. It reminded me of Plato’s famous cave allegory: Piranesi believes that the empty House is the whole world, surrounded by mere reflections of the greater reality that he is unaware of. At the same time, the book also reflects on the nature of belief systems and spirituality.

Clarke’s imagery and symbolism are broad enough that different readers will surely find a myriad meanings and interpretations.

I love the way that this novel visualizes magic. I thought its conception of certain fantastical elements was quite unique. And the pacing was, in hindsight, satisfying. At the beginning, the book places you right at the center of a bewildering present — and asks you to bear with it for a while — but the tight plot unspools at a decent clip over just 250-ish pages. Piranesi demands your full attention, but only for a short while.

Verdict: Piranesi has all the elements of a captivating fantasy book: An utterly unique premise, a bewildering plot, and bittersweet ending that leaves you mulling it over for a long while afterwards.

Find it on Amazon and Goodreads.

Review: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Published by: Viking on September 29th, 2020
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy
Rating: ★★★★☆
Description: Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?

In The Midnight Library, Matt Haig’s enchanting new novel, Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.

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First, I want to discuss what this book wasn’t, because I was admittedly taken aback by the first few chapters.

When I first read the description, I was enchanted by the premise. I had high expectations: Magical realism, a whimsical style of writing, a beautifully written journey through a new world at the edge of our universe. I opened this book looking for immersive escapism. So when I actually began reading The Midnight Library, and found sheer misery in the opening pages, I was rather unpleasantly surprised.

Here is what it was: The true plot of the book follows Nora, an unhappy woman in England, who is overcome with regrets about her life, and attempts suicide. Through her suicide attempt she ends up in the Midnight Library, filled with books that each represent a different path her life might have taken, allowing her to traverse the multiverse and revisit her various regrets. Far from being a fantasy world, the Midnight Library is a metaphor for the roads not taken.

Once I had reconciled myself to the rather depressing premise, however, I truly enjoyed this book. As a character perhaps, Nora is not very relatable (at least not to this young American college student), but I think her central dilemma is absolutely universal. For anyone who has ever wondered if their life is enough, if it has meaning, if they are living up to their potential and making the most of their cards, this book provides a beautiful perspective.

Throughout the bulk of this novel, Nora opens different books and lives out the lives she might have had. She becomes a glaciologist, an Olympic swimmer, a rock star, an Australian beach bum, a loving mother, and more. Her goal is to find the “perfect”, fulfilling life that she can settle into. She ruminates over different decisions in her life, big and small, and discovers the myriad people she might have been. The author dealt with topics of suicide and depression in a compassionate way, clearly informed by his own experiences with the issue. The author also fleshes out her character well. Nora could have fallen into a caricature — as a perfect person done dirty by life, or conversely a deeply misguided person who made all the wrong decisions in her life — but ultimately she is something much closer to us. A flawed person who is more loved than she thinks, who needs a fundamental shift in perspective and will to continue on.

The Midnight Library is a quick read, but one that will stay with you far longer after reading it. The prose is dynamic, flowing quickly, and making the book feel like an odyssey into the multiverse. But my favorite part by far was the central theme — of coming to terms with the choices that you make in your life, of accepting that there are so many different ways for a life to hold meaning, and of realizing that we’re all just specks in the universe anyways; life is too short to hold onto regrets. Despite the depressing beginning, the ultimate message of the book is both enlightening and inspiring.

Verdict: This book is an insightful, uplifting read that inspires reflection into the possibilities that life holds for all of us; I do wish the description and premise were more honest about what to expect.

Find it on Amazon and Goodreads.

Fall TV Round-up | chess, hauntings, paris, and more!

If I’m being perfectly honest, the past few months haven’t been very book-filled. What with virtual college, slogging through a never-ending workload, a deluge of final exams and projects, and – ahem – the global pandemic, I’ve lately been taking refuge in some delightful TV binges.

Since I don’t have much in the way of books to review, I thought I would instead take a closer look at some of my latest Netflix (and Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc) indulgences.

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The Queen’s Gambit

I think this is one of the best dramas I’ve ever watched. I watched the show over two breathless evenings and was completely captivated by the plot, the acting, the characters, everything just came together flawlessly.

This show follows a young chess prodigy, Beth Harmon, as she navigates the thorny world of international chess competitions along with addiction, loss, and more. The writing and directing are simply on another level, while the costumes/design are clever and cohesive. It’s visually stunning with well-chosen close-ups, but the best part is definitely the characters and the writing. Anya Taylor-Joy is a marvel, and the supporting cast is fantastic. From her adoptive mother, to Jolene, to Benny Watts, every character was perfectly fleshed out. And the chess sequences were gripping and suspenseful.

Maybe the best part is that while show itself is quite serious, it ends on an uplifting note — it left me optimistic, satisfied, and excited for the future.

The Haunting of Bly Manor

I’m quite faint-of-heart when it comes to horror. The first horror book that I ever read was Carrie. I spent half the night tearing through the book, and the other half cowering under my blankets with the lights on. So this Halloween I decided to prove to myself that I could handle horror by binging this show. Turns out it wasn’t actually that scary; instead it was ABSOLUTELY TRAGIC.

Objectively speaking it was a great, ambitious show with an unnervingly twisty storyline, wonderfully developed characters, and a very sweet love story. Episode 5 in particular is fantastic. It explores themes of guilt and grief, and the dark mood is anchored by a strong heart and wonderful acting. I just wasn’t prepared for the ending because I’m such a clown I forgot that no romance can end well in a gothic horror show. I do recommend Bly Manor, but maybe keep a box of tissues handy for the finale.

Emily in Paris

Let’s be honest — this show probably wouldn’t have gotten a quarter of the attention it received if we hadn’t all been trapped in our living rooms for the past eight months. Like everyone else I binged it basically the day it came out. It’s light-hearted, funny, and mindless with enough beautiful shots of Paris to be everyone’s fall escapist travel fantasy.

The Morning Show

I haven’t yet watched a show produced by Reese Witherspoon that I haven’t liked. The Morning Show was simultaneously intensely watchable and very heavy-handed. It tackles an important topic, but isn’t nearly as thought-provoking as I hoped it would be, and at times the message is obscured by the more WTF elements of the plot. Overall though, its a good binge and a nice showcase for Jennifer Aniston’s acting.

The Crown (Season 4)

The Crown was probably one of the most anticipated releases of the year. And this season was the one that everyone, from avid fans to casual viewers, was waiting for. Anyone who claims otherwise is lying.

A lot of expectations rode on this season. This is when we finally enter the “modern” era — the time that many if not most viewers lived through and remember vividly. This is when we finally get the payoff that Season 3 carefully built up to. This is when we finally get Margaret Thatcher and Princess Diana!

This was, in my opinion, the best season of The Crown so far, and I’m not just saying that because it had the juiciest drama. This season is when the show finally draws back the veneer of intrigue and takes a hard look at the darker sides of the royal family, depicting them with a pointed clarity that was missing from previous seasons. The show casts aside the nostalgia from previous seasons, and instead offers a front row seat to witness how an imperialistic relic of an institution slowly crumbles.

Gillian Anderson and Emma Corrin both turn in fantastic performances. Anderson is perfect as the polarizing, forceful Thatcher, adding wonderful shades to her relationship with the Queen. Meanwhile Corrin is breathtakingly fragile as the young Diana, portraying her with such empathy, emotion, and implicit tragedy that as the viewer you just must root for her.

Derry Girls

I’m closing with this one because I absolutely ADORE this show. It’s a sitcom about five crackpot Irish teens amidst the backdrop of the violence and turmoil of ’90s Ireland. It’s short — each season is about the length of a long movie — but possibly the funniest show I’ve ever seen. It has everything — raunchy humor, lightning quick dialogue, ridiculous situational humor, warm sincerity, and dumb yet lovable characters. As a bonus, you’ll learn some fun Northern Irish slang.

Review: These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly
Published by: Delacorte Press on October 27, 2015
Genres: Historical fiction, YA
Rating: ★★★★☆
Description: Jo Montfort is beautiful and rich, and soon—like all the girls in her class—she’ll graduate from finishing school and be married off to a wealthy bachelor. Which is the last thing she wants. Jo dreams of becoming a writer—a newspaper reporter.

Wild aspirations aside, Jo’s life seems perfect until tragedy strikes: her father is found dead. The story is that Charles Montfort shot himself while cleaning his revolver, but the more Jo hears about her father’s death, the more something feels wrong. And then she meets Eddie—a young, smart, infuriatingly handsome reporter at her father’s newspaper—and it becomes all too clear how much she stands to lose if she keeps searching for the truth. But now it might be too late to stop.
 
The past never stays buried forever. Life is dirtier than Jo Montfort could ever have imagined, and this time the truth is the dirtiest part of all.

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This book is set in New York City in the 1890s, smack in the middle of the Gilded Age. I loved the descriptions of the city and sense of context and time. Of course I have to discuss our main character Jo, the classic strong-female-character-stifled-by-her-era. The author doesn’t pull any punches in describing her caged life; the restrictions, expectations, and lack of freedom. The poor girl has to fabricate an elaborate lie that she is writing a book about Jesus Christ just to be able to leave the house on her own.

Donnelly does a great job depicting her restless longing to do something more with her life than just be a high-society uptown wife, yet also her privileged naivete about how the other half lives (she has no idea what a prostitute is, for instance). She was born into a rich life of privilege, yet she romanticizes the “common life” as one of alluring freedom.

Her romance with Eddie was extremely predictable and a little fast, but that’s expected for a YA novel. Ultimately it’s nice to see how they bridge the gap between their social classes, and thankfully the slight love triangle plays a very, very small role.

The mystery itself was complex and winding, with lots of twists and turns. Some aspects were a bit predictable, but other reveals were a total surprise! The climax is quite thrilling, and the ending ties up loose ends plot-wise while still leaving it open for the characters. It doesn’t tie everything up neatly with a bow, it’s actually a little messy, which suits the story and the characters perfectly. It’s especially perfect for Jo, and I’ll leave it at that to avoid spoilers.

Verdict: Jennifer Donnelly delivers with a gripping historical mystery that is surprisingly mature for a YA novel.

Find it on Amazon and Goodreads.

(Guest Post & Cover Reveal) 400 Years of New York History: A Pictorial Guide by Sasha Vosk

Today, I’m excited to welcome author Sasha Vosk, with a guest post to accompany the cover reveal for his upcoming book: 400 Years of New York History: A Pictorial Guide,

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Guest Post:

My love affair with New York started a long time ago.

As a young man living in the Soviet Union, I dreamed of traveling the world and settling in America. I was especially attracted to New York City, because to me it represented the ultimate environment of an abundance of world culture with no limits on creative self-expression (that was important to me as a performer and a fine artist), as well as the opportunity to become well-off financially. Intuitively, I felt that only there could I find fulfillment.

I stubbornly carried my dream through the years of school, the College of Architecture, service in the Air Force, and the long, torturous wait for permission to immigrate to the US. Finally, in 1981, my dream came true, and I found myself wandering in awe on the streets of New York with the broadest smile on my face. My romantic long-distance love transformed into a life-long relationship.

I was educated as an architect and fine artist, and I also studied theater and variety arts. Greatly enjoying my newly-acquired freedom of professional choice in New York, I successfully pursued several career paths, ranging from being a sought-after illustrator and a muralist to an award-winning filmmaker and entertainment producer. Life in New York seemed to be as good if not better than I was imagining it… almost. One thing saddened me though: all these years, from the first time when I looked for wonderful sites from the past, I was shocked that most of them had disappeared. I’ve always believed that the past and present are inseparable because they are parts of the same progress towards the future. But looking at New York then and today, that connection seems to be lost under the skyscrapers. As someone who understands the feeling of losing his roots, since I had to leave Russia in search of a better life, I can relate.

Today, after almost 40 years being a New Yorker, and achieving expert status in photo-realistic imagery with more than 30 years of experience, I put everything aside to write this book 400 YEARS OF NEW YORK HISTORY: A PICTORIAL GUIDE which reconstructs and brings to life New York’s distant past through its amazing illustrations. My professional experience as an architect, realistic illustrator, and producer/director, as well as my enthusiasm for New York history, gave me a strong creative arsenal to reconstruct what is a largely unknown visual past of the world’s capital city, and the people that made it their home.

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Cover Reveal:

Get to Know the Historical New York that You’ve Never Seen Before.
A Time Traveler’s Journey through the Streets of 17th Century Manhattan.

Sasha Vosk is an expert in photo-realistic imagery with over 30 years of
experience. He created this book for everyone who wants to know much
more about New York’s history than meets the eye on the streets
of Manhattan.

The first book in the VOSK TIME TRAVEL GUIDE series, this one-of-a-kind
illustrated guide offers readers an opportunity to view the city’s
history in a manner that has not been possible until now with the
benefit of 21st century art technology.

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Author Links: Facebook | Website

 

Friday Favorites: Non-Fiction

Welcome to a new Friday Favorites post! This week I’ll be discussing a genre that has never before been mentioned on this blog: Nonfiction!

I’ve enjoyed non-fiction increasingly over the last few years. When I was younger I tended to mentally categorize nonfiction (with the exception of memoirs) with schoolwork and textbooks. Which is to say, I wasn’t crazy about it.

Since coming to college though I’ve really come to love nonfiction, especially narrative truth-is-stranger-than-fiction type books. I learn plenty from fiction books, but nonfiction uniquely gives very direct insights into the world around us. I think the best, most riveting nonfiction books are those that are not just engaging, but where the author sets out to argue a specific point. Even the most dry, esoteric topic can become fascinating when viewed through the right lens. Passionate authors plus books that generate their own momentum are an unbeatable combination in this genre.

It’s so satisfying to finish a truly enjoyable book and also know that I learned something important from it. With that in mind, here are some of my favorite nonfiction reads from the past few years!

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Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
(John Carreyrou)

This book tells the story of Elizabeth Holmes. In 2014 she was Silicon Valley’s brightest star, thanks to her startup, Theranos, that claimed to be able to run hundreds of medical tests on a few drops of blood. But plot twist! It was all a scam! Bad Blood has the whole sordid tale, told by the reporter who exposed the fraud in the first place.

I obsessed over this book for a full semester. So much so that I was even inspired to write an article about it (and Theranos generally) in my school’s campus magazine. So much that I ran through the rain on a stormy October afternoon to make it to a book talk that Carreyrou gave at a neighboring university (meeting him was so cool!). I am generally interested in all things related to entrepreneurship, and as a woman in tech, was especially drawn to the story of a young woman who managed to attain mythical founder status, only for it to all come crashing down.

The scale of Holmes’ fraud was so massive, stretching across over a decade, and the story itself is so insane, I promise this is an absolutely riveting read. It’s still one of my favorite books of all time, and in my opinion should be required reading for anyone involved in startups or tech.

Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators
(Ronan Farrow)

This is another phenomenal work of investigative journalism. Here, Ronan Farrow details how he chased down and put together the explosive 2017 New Yorker expose about the sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein. It’s intriguing, fast-paced, and very eye-opening.

Just as a warning, this is a somewhat distressing book to read. Farrow doesn’t hold back; he dives under the hood and offers sharp insights into the rampant abuses and cover-ups in the entertainment industry. Ultimately this book sheds light on a dark but truly important topic.

She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth
(Helen Castor)

I’m a history buff, and I especially love learning about overlooked powerful women in history. This book dives into England’s medieval history from a new perspective. Its thesis is that queen Elizabeth — one of the most famous women who ruled a world built for men — didn’t come out of nowhere. She represented the culmination of a series of powerful women who, over several centuries, sought the crown and struggled to challenge male power. From Queen Matilda, to the ultimate medieval bad-ass Eleanor of Acquitaine, to Margaret of Anjou, one by one they failed in some way or another to claim ruling power. Until finally, England had absolutely no choice but to name a female monarch (enter Elizabeth).

For such a dense topic this book is incredibly readable! The author, Helen Castor, writes in a narrative way — which is impressive considering how limited the historical evidence is — that brings the Norman conquerers, the Tudors, and everyone in between to life.

The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World
(Melinda Gates)

Regardless of how you feel about the Gates family (and I know some people have very strong opinions) this is an eye-opening, thought-provoking read about what it really takes to lift women — especially in communities where their oppression is deeply woven into the societal fabric.

It’s a data-driven book; she demonstrates exactly how lifting women lifts society as a whole, and advances developing economies. She proves why — especially in developing countries — issues like contraception, girls’ education, and women in agriculture impact everyone, and why addressing them should be at the top of the priority list. She shares so many touching stories of remarkable people uplifting women in communities that are already themselves marginalized.

The combination of personal stories and stark data is very compelling. And her stories of supporting local NGOs rather than trying to directly intervene made me think a lot about what truly impactful philanthropy means. I think it’s rare to find a book about global issues and activism that so clearly articulates what exactly it will take to solve them, and then backs it up with such clear evidence.

The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz
(Erik Larson)

Disclaimer — I’m not actually quite done with this book yet, but I already know it’s one of the best history narratives that I have read.

World War II is probably one of the most saturated genres of nonfiction history, especially the iconic Winston Churchill, but somehow Larson manages to put his own spin on it. Through Churchill’s diaries, the writings of his family and most trusted aides, and recently released intelligence reports, Larson reconstructs a fascinating day-by-day view of Churchill’s leadership during the Blitz. The research is meticulous, but like She-Wolves the writing is what really causes this book to transcend from interesting history to a true page-turner. The colorful cast of characters comes to life; we become acquainted with Churchill and his army of private secretaries, but also his daughter Mary, his wife Clementine, and his rather quirky air minister Lord Beaverbrook. Larson clearly has a talent for writing history like a novelist!

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It was pretty hard to narrow this down to just a few books — I had to leave some amazing ones off the list. What are your favorite nonfiction reads? 

Review: This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
Published by: Atria Books on September 3, 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction, Coming-of-age
Rating: ★★★★★
Synopsis: 1932, Minnesota—the Lincoln School is a pitiless place where hundreds of Native American children, forcibly separated from their parents, are sent to be educated. It is also home to an orphan named Odie O’Banion, a lively boy whose exploits earn him the superintendent’s wrath. Forced to flee, he and his brother Albert, their best friend Mose, and a brokenhearted little girl named Emmy steal away in a canoe, heading for the mighty Mississippi and a place to call their own.

Over the course of one unforgettable summer, these four orphans will journey into the unknown and cross paths with others who are adrift, from struggling farmers and traveling faith healers to displaced families and lost souls of all kinds. With the feel of a modern classic, This Tender Land is an en­thralling, big-hearted epic that shows how the magnificent American landscape connects us all, haunts our dreams, and makes us whole.

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The tale I’m going to tell is of a summer long ago. Of killing and kidnapping and children pursued by demons of a thousand names. There will be courage in this story and cowardice. There will be love and betrayal. And, of course, there will be hope. In the end, isn’t that what every good story is about?

The characters are the glue that hold this book together. These. Children. Ugh, I just wanted to give them all hugs. “The Vagabonds” are bound by friendship and a common desire to escape their awful lives at the Lincoln School, but they also each have their own individual struggles and journeys.

Odie, the main character, is a gifted storyteller and musician, desperately searching for home. Albert, his brother, struggles with the responsibility of protecting his brother and finding his place in the world. Mose, the only Native American of the group, struggles with loss of identity; he’s grown up in an environment that stamped out his heritage, including his given name. Then there’s Emmy, a sweet, naive young girl dealing with a huge loss.

There’s a fifth main character though! And that’s the landscape.

The synopsis makes us readers a promise. It vows that this book will carry us through “the great American landscape” — speaking for myself that’s a large part of why I even picked it up — and it absolutely follows through. This book is not just a coming-of-age story; it’s a journey through a vast, rolling landscape with an iron will of its own. The rivers, lakes, and fields materialize in Krueger’s heartbreakingly beautiful prose; through his words, the American Midwest becomes a driving force of the story.

The landscape is where Odie’s physical and spiritual trials intertwine. Just look at the title of Part I: God is a Tornado. Without giving away spoilers, nature is what precipitates some of Odie’s worst losses. Yet it’s also his escape and his refuge; whenever faced with trouble, the quartet escape down the river. In learning to love the land around him, Odie comes to love the people, and comes to terms with his own grief and desperation.

This device — mirroring a coming-of-age story with a physical journey through a unique landscape — is one of the oldest in literature. In Odie’s journey Krueger evokes Odysseus (in more ways than one, that’s Odie’s full name!) and Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn. It’s kind of like the Odyssey but with major Mark Twain vibes, and set in the Depression-era Midwest.

The plot took a little while to start moving, but once it did the book was hard to put down. As Odie and his friends journey down the Gilead river to the Minnesota river, dangers lurk around every corner. The story is paced well; the Vagabonds bounce from one circumstance to another, visiting all manner of colorful characters, some showing unexpected kindness and others posing major threats.

In terms of themes/motifs, this book packs in A LOT:

• The US’s horrible legacy of oppressing Native Americans and destroying their culture
• Searching for family/home
• Maintaining faith in the face of tragedy
• Evangelism and homelessness during the Great Depression
• The healing power of music

Usually I don’t like it when books try to cover so much ground; I prefer it when authors pick a theme to delve deeply into. But in this case I think it works because the scope of the plot and story itself is so sweeping, it naturally encompasses many big ideas.

If I had to point out a few nitpicks: The book is dramatic, the philosophizing parts of the narration are a bit on the nose at times, and some plot points definitely stretch credulity. Overall though, the plot and vivid descriptions tell an engaging story with a lot of heart.

Verdict: This Tender Land is a hopeful, sweeping coming-of-age story filled with vivid descriptions, meticulous historical detail, and heart-warming characters.

Find it on Amazon and Goodreads

Friday Favorites: Summer Reads | is seasonal reading even a thing?

Welcome to my first Friday Favorites post! I wanted something to write about besides book reviews, so I’ve decided to try a prompt (I got the idea from this blog post). Since summer is just around the corner, this week I’ll be listing some of my favorite “summer reads”. I don’t necessarily mean books that have to be read in the summer (see below for my thoughts on this). These are all books that either remind me of summertime, give off summer vibes, or that I strongly feel deserve to be read on the beach!

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Summer of ’69

I guess this is a somewhat obvious choice because, well, it takes place in the summertime. But even beyond that, the setting — Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard — the scenes of beach fun, country clubs, tennis lessons, summer romance, and the vintage feel (1969!) just ooze summertime. Even the title is a reference to one of the iconic summer songs.

Ironically I read this in the middle of the freezing Boston winter, but it’s definitely a beach read all the way.

Big Little Lies

The plot points seem dark at first glance — a murder, abuse, lots of secrets and lies — but everything is tempered by the darkly comedic writing style and humorous touches. It’s fast-paced and funny, with a rising tension that keeps you turning the pages until the final twist. Accessible, entertaining, and kinda thought-provoking! The perfect beach read.

The Tuscan Child

Part of the reason I listed this is because the cover just looks like an idyllic summer vacation. The book itself is full of lush, languid descriptions of the Tuscan scenery and food. It’s half-mystery, half-travel guide. The writing isn’t amazing, but this book made me want to jump on the next plane and jet off to central Italy for a month. Really, it can be summed up by sunshine, bread, olives, and wine.

The Martian

Honestly I think this one belongs on everyone’s reading lists, regardless of whether its summer or not! But I digress. This is the story of Mark Whatney, a brilliant scientist stuck on Mars, and how he innovates his way out of every crazy disaster that hits him. Full of snark, insanely accurate science, and humor, this is perfect for sunny day when you just want to escape to another world.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Honestly, just for this line –

“Summer was our best season: it was sleeping on the back screened porch in cots, or trying to sleep in the treehouse; summer was everything good to eat; it was a thousand colors in a parched landscape; but most of all, summer was Dill.”

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*Some thoughts on the whole concept of “summer reads”:

I interpreted this as books that remind me of summertime or feel like beach reads, but honestly, I’m kind of conflicted about the whole concept of a summer read. Every May, a plethora of online lists are published, recommending the books that just have to be read that summer. But I’m not convinced that books must belong to specific seasons? I think some books definitely ~vibe~ better with different settings (for instance, Harry Potter always makes me think of curling up under a blanket while it’s snowing outside). But my book choices usually just depend on what mood I’m in.

Do people tend to adjust their reading choices, even subconsciously, based on the time of the year? Do publishers time book releases differently because of that?

Quarantine Baking | SO MANY CAKES

I’m taking a break from book-blogging to write about my other obsession: Baking! I’ve always loved baking, but in the past few months in particular, what with being stuck at home and the increased stress of daily life, I’ve been on a baking spree. Something about the world ending just gave me the urge to bake as many things in as short a time as possible. Baking equals stress-relief, a way to procrastinate on virtual classes, and delicious treats all in one! Quarantine has been a tale of cakes, biscuits, pastries and more — so many that I had to split them into two blog posts to avoid this getting too long!

Birthday cake #1
It all began with my brother’s birthday. Since I was unexpectedly home a week before spring break — having been evicted from my college due to the pandemic — my parents naturally assumed that they no longer bore responsibility for producing a birthday cake. I happily took charge because it gave me something to do besides sit around and mope about the dumpster fire that is 2020. This two-layer, heavily frosted/decorated, double-chocolatey goodness was the result.

I used this recipe for the sponge, and a simple chocolate buttercream for the frosting!

Birthday cake #2
Just a few days later it was my mom’s birthday! So I jumped back into my apron and whipped up a lemon-berry cake. I mostly used this recipe for the sponge but added a few tablespoons of lemon juice for some more flavor (you can also use a few teaspoons of lemon extract). For the frosting, I used vanilla buttercream, but once again with lemon juice added. Then I topped it off with some berries and voila!

Coconut tea cake

I actually don’t have a picture or a recipe for this one; it was a really old recipe that I got from my Grandma’s old baking book (which has pretty much fallen apart at this point oops). It was pretty much a two-layer sponge cake but with SO MUCH COCONUT added — coconut milk, coconut flakes, you name it. I’ll admit I was skeptical at first but it turned out delicious, perfect to eat with a hot cup of tea.

Lemon poppyseed muffins

It’s something of a tradition that I bake these whenever I’m home on break, and then eat as many as possible before my brother finds them. These are an absolute delight! This recipe produces about twelve light, fluffy, delicious muffins with a taste that floats somewhere between a lemon cake and a sour cream cake. If you’re interested in trying these out, check out the Tasty-style video I made of how to bake them!

Victoria Sandwich Cake 

In my humble opinion, The Great British Bake-off is one of the most delightful shows to ever grace our screens. The Victoria Sandwich cake is both a staple of the show and Mary Berry’s specialty. After several quarantined weeks worth of binging,  I realized I just had to try out this cake using Mary Berry’s own recipe! I think my favorite part was the homemade jam.

Vegan Tres Leches cake with dulce de leche

What possessed me to attempt a vegan version of one of the most non-vegan baked goods in existence? Temporary madness brought on by the prospect of many, many virtual midterms? But in the end, this light, airy cake, made of a combination of almond, coconut, and cashew milk, tasted delicious!

Cinnamon rolls

This recipe plus a vanilla glaze produced 14 sweet, fluffy, absolutely GORGEOUS cinnamon rolls filled with a cinnamon brown sugar filling — perfect for an indulgent morning.

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So those are some of my favorite treats that I’ve baked over the past few months. Look out for part 2 and feel free to drop any recipe recommendations in the comments!

Review: Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah

Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah
Published by: Lake Union Publishing on March 1st, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: ★★★★☆
Description: After the loss of her mother and her own battle with breast cancer, Joanna Teale returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois, determined to prove that her recent hardships have not broken her. She throws herself into her work from dusk to dawn, until her solitary routine is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious child who shows up at her cabin barefoot and covered in bruises.

The girl calls herself Ursa, and she claims to have been sent from the stars to witness five miracles. With concerns about the child’s home situation, Jo reluctantly agrees to let her stay—just until she learns more about Ursa’s past.

Jo enlists the help of her reclusive neighbor, Gabriel Nash, to solve the mystery of the charming child. But the more time they spend together, the more questions they have. How does a young girl not only read but understand Shakespeare? Why do good things keep happening in her presence? And why aren’t Jo and Gabe checking the missing children’s website anymore?

Though the three have formed an incredible bond, they know difficult choices must be made. As the summer nears an end and Ursa gets closer to her fifth miracle, her dangerous past closes in. When it finally catches up to them, all of their painful secrets will be forced into the open, and their fates will be left to the stars.

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Where the Forest Meets the Stars has a tight cast, centering around three characters: Jo, a Ph.D. student researching bird nesting patterns; Gabe (otherwise known as the egg-man) her reclusive neighbor; and Ursa, the small girl who turns up one night in Jo’s backyard claiming to be an alien. Jo is convinced that Ursa is a lost child, perhaps escaping abuse, and enlists Gabe’s help in handling her. The three quickly end up forging a bond. I thought the characters and their bonds were beautiful, and their backstories (for the most part) felt fully fleshed out. Part of the reason that I couldn’t put the book down was that the author made me really care about Jo, Ursa, and Gabe from the outset.

The writing was also beautiful, especially the descriptions of nature that created a strong setting for the human interactions that took place. The first three-quarters or so of the book had a feeling of magical realism. The author really makes you feel how healing it can be to immerse yourself in nature and share intimate bonds with other people in that setting. From Ursa’s delight in little things that others might deem ordinary to the positive impact that she has on everyone that she meets through sheer love and kindness, all of the beats in the story are poignant and uplifting. The book deals a lot with trauma, loss, and love, and pretty much all of it was beautifully handled.

So why only 4 stars? I had some nitpicks — I didn’t love how Jo handled Gabriel’s depression; I think she could have been more empathetic and receptive rather than pivoting rather quickly into trying to force him into getting over his fear of social interactions.

Also, while I thoroughly enjoyed most of the book, the ending was a bit of a disappointment. I can’t quite pinpoint whether it was the turn the plot took — unrealistic without the charming feel of the earlier parts — or the tone, but it felt oddly dissonant with the first three-quarters or so of the book. It felt a bit like the book was trying to reinvent itself into something different from what the earlier parts had promised, leading to a jarring ending. Overall this book reminded me so much of Where the Crawdads Sing, but I think the latter was more polished, with an ending that felt like it rang true more so than Where the Forest Meets the Stars. 

Verdict: Where the Forest Meets the Stars is a unique book that takes its time with gorgeous descriptions of nature and magical bonds between the characters, delving into powerful themes of love and loss, but the ending prevents it from being a truly standout novel.

Find it on Amazon and Goodreads.