Expectation: A family mystery-thriller akin to Alice Sebold’s “Lovely Bones.”
Reality: Not so much a mystery, but a slowburn exploration of the Lee family dynamics, which have a solid foundation of secrecy.
All tagged recommendations
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands – Kate Beaton
Beaton is a phenomenal storyteller, and I was captivated by this memoir and its images from the first page. While she covers heavy topics - gendered violence, rape, drug abuse and death - she also infuses warmth and humor into the pages, which help the reader understand how she survived the ordeal.
The Office of Historical Corrections – Danielle Evans
Expectation: A collection of stories exploring different facets of American history that were misrepresented.
Reality: A top-to-bottom solid collection that takes you on several intriguing and understated journeys that force the reader to question “what would you do?”
The Complete Maus – Art Spiegelman
You can disagree or dislike decisions Spiegelman made, but you cannot deny that this is a powerful series that needs - no, it demands - to be read, taught and discussed.
“The Glass Menagerie” and the Other Classics I Read This Year
My scope of what is deemed a “classic” has shifted over the years, and it has made diving into the back catalog of literature a lot more fun. Today, I view a classic as any novel published three decades ago that has developed a legacy. The classics I read this year - about 10 percent of my total reading - spanned the genres of science fiction, young adult and literary fiction by some authors well-known and lesser so.
Demon Copperhead – Barbara Kingsolver
Expectation: An epic journey through the horrors of Appalachia.
Reality: Funny, poignant and utterly engrossing, it’s a blockbuster book that delivers - even if the last third feels a tad trite.
The Art of Fielding – Chad Harbach
Expectation: A “sports bro” book full of men suppressing emotions.
Reality: A contender for the modern “Great American Novel,” I was surprised by the depth of character development and the queer subplot.
The Help – Kathryn Stockett
Expectation: Cringe-level disappointment that I found the film so entertaining given the hindsight view of its problems.
Reality: Deeper characterization and discussion of the socio-political realities of the time period made this an excellent, if still flawed, novel.
Reprieve – James Han Mattson
Expectation: Teens trying to survive a haunted house where the actors can actually do harm.
Reality: A dark exploration of the horrors that lie within us and around us.
Kindred – Octavia E. Butler
Expectation: A science fiction/horror classic with historical elements.
Reality: A no holds barred exploration of the horrors of slavery through the lens of 20th century sensibility. It was devastating and utterly engrossing.
My Policeman – Bethan Roberts
Expectation: A part-romance, part-revenge tale made more heartbreaking due to the time period.
Reality: A simple, yet effective story with no clear villain or hero.
The Town of Babylon – Alejandro Varela
Expectation: A dramedy about revisiting the people and places you left behind.
Reality: More politically focused than anticipated, there’s a sense of urgency and relatability in the text, especially for middle-aged queer men.
My Government Means to Kill Me – Rasheed Newson
Expectation: Yet another take on the Great American AIDS novel.
Reality: A propulsive page-turn that expertly marries fact and fiction. It’s more plot driven than character driven but that’s okay when a story is this entertaining and informative.
Marrying the Ketchups – Jennifer Close
Expectation: A family drama infused with Chicagoland ethos (think part “Happy Endings”/part “Shameless”).
Reality: Funnier and more thought provoking than anticipated, I was absolutely engrossed by the story and felt seen in the pages.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow – Gabrielle Zevin
Expectation: A romance novel rooted in the world of tech and gaming.
Reality: Nuanced and gorgeous writing, paired with a genre-melding plot made this one of the most immersive and surprising stories I’ve read all year.
Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love 1850s-1950s – Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell
Arranged by theme or poses (i.e. military, beach, picnic, kissing, etc.), Nini and Treadwell show us that for as much as times have changed, very little has in the ways we show affection – subtle touches, warm embraces, lazy days snuggled together or candid captures of two people at their most vulnerable and pure.
Edinburgh – Alexander Chee
Expectation: High-brow gay fiction with tear-inducing scenarios and redemption.
Reality: Well-written and engaging, but the last act will make or break this story for readers. I’m still on the fence about it.
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup – John Carreyrou
A meticulously researched and expertly written novel about one of the biggest frauds in American business history. So much of the story is absolutely bonkers.
Sea of Tranquility – Emily St. John Mandel
Expectation: Highbrow science fiction.
Reality: Science fiction almost takes a backseat to this moving examination of relationships and fate.
A Place for Us – Fatima Farheen Mirza
Expectation: A family drama heavy on religious guilt and first-generation American children defying parental expectations.
Reality: An initially confusing beginning unfolds into a layered, understated and deeply moving portrayal of the danger of secrets, carrying shame and failed second chances.