July 2023 Reads

The screen capture from Bookmory (a new app for tracking reading that I've been trying) shows the books I read in July - 9 total. It is always interesting to note which books stick in your mind as time goes by and which ones fade away. 

Fourth Wing was by far the most memorable read. This romantasy has gotten a lot of hype lately and it definitely worked for me. I think people who hated it just forgot what it's like to have fun. For me personally, it re-created the feeling I got while reading Hunger Games and Divergent back in the day: the same need to keep turning the pages, anticipation of the next installment and a desire to find another book that can have the same effect. I am eagerly anticipating book 2 which is due to come out this November, and will most likely be re-reading Fourth Wing before then.

Another great read this month was The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox. This was a very atmospheric historical fantasy with some elements of thriller/mystery. I have two more books by the same author in my home library and will definitely be reading them soon.

The Antiquity Affair is great for Indiana Jones fans. It is a fast paced adventure that takes us to an archeological site in Egypt. Unlike the Indiana Jones films, it features two strong female characters. I would definitely recommend this as a palate cleanser between some heavier reads.

Babel by R.F. Kuang was a bit of a disappointment. I was promised a dark academia, instead it was a commentary on colonialism done in a historical fantasy setting. And that would be fine, except the commentary was kind of applicable only to the historical time the novel is set in (mid to late 19th century) and is very one-sided. I would have loved a commentary that is more contemporary and nuanced in nature. Immigration is such a complex notion and its impact on individuals and society is immense. I expected more. 

Daughter of No Worlds is a often slotted into the fantasy romance genre. However, I would argue that it is heavier on the fantasy than romance. I started book 2 a few days ago, and the world is very interesting and unique. I would definitely recommend this series especially to readers who are just starting dipping their toes into fantasy. There is magic, war, fey, lots of political intrigue.

Picture in the Sand focuses on one of the subjects I almost never pass by: radicalization of youth by militant Islamic groups. It is written mostly in letters from a grandfather who grew up in Egypt to his grandson who flees his comfortable suburban life in the US to fight jihad in Syria. It is poignant and nuanced - I highly recommend it.

The other three books I read in July were not memorable enough to deserve a mention here. So I will leave it at that.

Mid-Year Updates

2022 was a tough year. Unbelievably, 2023 has been even worse. I won't go into any details, but I think absence of new posts is usually the best indicator that life challenges have been all-consuming. Things are getting a bit better now, so here I am with my mid-year update on reading. In hindsight, I am very glad I did not set any reading goals for myself for 2023. It is good to be able to just read whatever I want and frankly enjoy the escapism that books allow. 

1. Number of books read so far this year: 

50 - my Goodreads goal is set at 100 for the year, so I am right on target!

2. Best book you’ve read so far in 2023: 

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano. It touched me enough that I actually posted a review of it on my blog despite going through a lot of emotional turmoil at the time. 

3. Best sequel you've read so far in 2020

I have not read many sequels this but, I must say, Aurora's End was a very satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. I highly recommend it for Sci-Fi fans.

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. This is a fantasy romance that is insanely popular at the moment. A lot of book bloggers I follow say it is fun and takes you back to the feeling you got reading Divergent and Hunger Games, but with DRAGONS (!!). I could definitely use some fun and have actually just started this book last night. I am only 20 pages in and already loving it.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

I have not really been focused on following upcoming releases, but if I like Fourth Wing, it's sequel is coming out this fall.

5. Biggest disappointment

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni. I just don't understand why this trilogy is popular. Book 1 had major plot holes and I barely got through it.

6. Biggest surprise

Do NOT be fooled by the cover! Yes, this is fantasy romance, but the world is complex, the plot is interesting - it really felt like reading an epic adventure than anything else. I will definitely be reading the sequel.

7. Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you)

Hands down Hester Fox. I just finished her new release The Last Heir to Blackwood Library and absolutely loved it. Set in post-WWI Yorkshire in a remote Abbey, it is a gothic story complete with ghosts, mysteries, an unreliable narrator and even some romance. I can't wait to dig into Hester Fox' backlist.

8. Newest fictional crush

I am hoping Xaden from Fourth Wing will be in this spot. Right now, it is Wynter Atrialan from The Winter King.

9. Newest favorite character

Khamsin Coruscate, Princess of Summerlea and summoner of Storms, from The Winter King.

10. Book that made you cry

Group by Christie Tate and Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi. Both of these books are going to be my favorites of the year. Both are heartbreaking and poignant. Definitely recommend them.

11. Book that made you happy

I love the series about the Vanderbeekers family and every book is a delight!

12. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

On my immediate TBR are 

Babel  by R.F. Kuang

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Picture in the Sand by Peter Blauner, and

Briefly, A Delicious Life by Nell Stevens

"Transcendent Kingdom" by Yaa Gyasi

Yaa Gyasi is a genius. I loved her debut novel Homecoming which tackled the topic of slavery. This newest book from her takes a look at race in America, African immigrants in America and also the subjects of addiction and depression. Gyasi excels at taking on difficult, hard-breaking topics, but also somehow bringing them to a hopeful conclusion. In Transcendent Kingdom the main character Gifty is raised in Alabama by a single mother who is originally from Ghana. Gifty is raised evangelical Christian. As a child, she has a deeply personal relationship with God, her faith is strong and pure, and she genuinely feels called by God and in fact, starts each of her journal entries with "Dear God". 

But then, her life is turned upside down when her older brother, a talented athlete, overdoses on heroine and tragically dies. Her mother descends into the tunnel of depression, and Gifty feels betrayed and abandoned by God. The narrative unfolds along two timelines: the present day, where Gifty is a graduate student at Stanford doing research in reward-seeking behavior and looking for a cure for addiction. The second timeline is Gifty's childhood memories of growing up in Alabama and the tragedy surrounding her brother's death. 

This book that is under 300 pages packs a powerful punch. It absolutely crushed me. At times, I was not sure I could keep reading because Gifty's pain felt so personal and real to me. Her search for God also felt very genuine and relatable. I loved this book. It is not the easiest read, but really important one. When I read Gyasi's books, I remember WHY reading is important. 5 out of 5 stars, phenomenal.

"Dear Edward" by Ann Napolitano

Dear Edward is so far the first 5-star read of 2023. I was a bit apprehensive about this book. It deals with an airplane crash (this is not a spoiler, you read about this right on the book jacket).  For an anxious flyer like myself who travels a lot, there seemed to be no perfect time to read this. So I picked it up right after coming back from a trip and knowing that I wouldn't need to fly for a while. I definitely do not recommend bringing this book with your on the plane! In the book we follow 12-year old Eddie, who along with his mom, dad and older brother is moving from New York to Los Angeles. The narrative alternates between the chapters on board of the plane and chapters focused on Eddie's recovery and life after the crash. It is definitely a heart-wrenching story, but one that is so masterfully written, you can't help but fall in love with it. After I finished the book, I looked up Ann Napolitano's interviews and apparently the book was inspired by a true story. I highly recommend this book, but be aware of the emotional triggers: grief, loss of family, survivor's guilt to name a few. 5 out of 5 stars. 

"A Dowry of Blood" by S.T. Gibson

A Dowry of Blood has been quite popular recently. It is basically a vampire romance, but the vampires are akin to those you find in Dracula or Interview with the Vampire. I have never read the former and I was not a fan of the latter. There is something about vampires that deeply disgusts me. I guess I do not find blood drinking or playing with victims to be attractive or sensual. The book is beautifully written. It is written as a letter from a female vampire to her sire/husband. Because many passages are so reverent, the language is often almost biblical. Overall, I definitely agree with those who consider this to be a beautifully written story. However, I am not fan of the characters, the plot or the subject matter. 3 out of 5 stars.

First Read of the Year: "The Prison Healer" - what a disappointment

I started 2023 with a YA fantasy novel called The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni. I must preface this by saying that this book (or rather trilogy) was not on my radar at all. I had seen the book around but had no intention of reading it. However, going through my bookshelves at home, I discovered that I owned a special edition of book 3 in this trilogy and rather than get rid of it, I decided to first give this series a chance.

This book embodies pretty much everything I do not like about young adult fantasy books. First of all, as far as the setting, you can tell from the title that our heroine is a prison healer. She was imprisoned along with her father when she was just seven years old. Right off the bat, I felt that the author was not giving us all the background information needed. Because the reader feels the need to find out what happened, they are compelled to keep reading.

Secondly, the pacing of the narrative is awful. There are pages filled with the main character's indecisive inner monologue when literally nothing happens. This monologue also repeats itself every few pages - I ended up skim reading towards the end.

Finally, and this is my biggest gripe with this book, crucial information about the main character is withheld from the reader until the very end. Mind you, the book is written from one point of view, we are literally in this character's head the entire 400+ pages and yet critical information about this character that explains her motives is disclosed on the last page. Perhaps, younger, less experienced readers are wowed by such a revelation, but I felt cheated by the author. This was a cheap literary trick that I did not appreciate, in fact, it frustrated me to no end.

As you can tell, at that point, I already firmly decided I would not continue with the series, however, I did look up the reviews of books 2 and 3 and they follow a predictable story arc of a YA fantasy romance - lots of self-doubt, angst and poor communication until the very happy end. What an utter disappointment 1 star (and I almost never give such low ratings to books).