March 2021 Book Recap
A great month with four repeat authors. Still debating on a four or five star rating for Stephen King’s *Later.*
“Narrating what you remember, telling it to someone, does something else. The more a person recalls a memory, the more they change it. Each time they put it into language, it shifts. The more you describe a memory, the more likely it is that you are making a story that fits your life, resolves the past, creates a fiction you can live with. It’s what writers do. Once you open your mouth, you are moving away from the truth of things. According to neuroscience. The safest memories are locked in the brains of people who can’t remember. Their memories remain the closest replica of actual events. Underwater. Forever.”
— Lidia Yuknavitch, The Chronology of Water
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*Writing into the Wound: Understanding trauma, truth, and language* by Roxane Gay (NF) // [Feminism; memoir: I’m a big fan of Gay’s nonfiction, and this small yet mighty Scribd Original does not disappoint.]
*The Practice: Shipping Creative Work* by Seth Godin (NF) // [Business; productivity: Great book, great timing, and my 11th Godin read. Along the same lines as Steven Pressfield’s *Do the Work.*]
*The Chronology of Water* by Lidia Yuknavitch (NF) // [Memoir; feminism: Evocative, effervescent, out of control, and traumatic, water is beautifully woven throughout. “In water, like in books—you can leave your life.”]
*The Nightmare* (Joona Linna #2) by Lars Kepler (F) // [Nordic noir; thriller: Exciting, fast paced murder mystery set in Stockholm—love this series and can’t wait to finish (I’ve read 4 of 8, out of order).]
*The Strength In Our Scars* by Bianca Sparacino (Poetry) // [Because I love @RainbowSalt on Instagram.]
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*Later* by Stephen King (F) // [Horror; thriller: Classic SK take on The Sixth Sense, but better—campfire ghost story vibes.]
*Behind Her Eyes* by Sarah Pinborough (F) // [Thriller; mystery: Totally ridiculous with a unique hook that will either piss you off or make you laugh. The Netflix adaptation was kind of a let down as the book was so much better.]
*I'm Thinking of Ending Things* by Iain Reid (F) // [Horror; thriller: A suspenseful exploration of the depths of the human psyche with lots of dread and unease. Another case of the book is better—couldn’t even make it through the Netflix adaptation.]
*More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say)* by Elaine Welteroth (NF) // [Memoir; feminism: I came in with no previous knowledge of Welteroth, and still enjoyed this book immensely.]
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*The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another* by Ainissa Ramirez (NF) // [Science; history: Random and very niche at the same time; acceptably interesting yet overly simplified with subjective opinion and thus easily forgettable.]
*Blowout: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth* by Rachel Maddow (NF) // [Politics; history: Intriguing and research packed, this could have done with a tighter edit.]
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*California* by Edan Lepucki (F) // [Post apocalyptic; dystopian: Ridiculous and illogical and not in a good way.]
