10 Books I’ve Loved Lately
I’m a voracious reader, and I always have been. Though I spent my childhood obsessed with adventure and historical fiction, I now read everything from sci-fi to religion to romance to biography. This perfectly positions me as a recommender of your next read!
There is room for all things good on my shelf. At least, my digital shelf. Lately I’ve become a Kindle person. I bought one last summer to make travel-reading easier, but it turns out that I love it. In the time of Corona, the option to virtually visit the library and grab a few books is unbeatable. Now, I only buy physical copies of books that I would want to re-read or share.
Several of these books have qualified, but all of them are worth your time. So without further ado…
For Those New to Social Justice
This book is a must-read, especially if you’re operating under the assumption that the American justice system is, in fact, just. (I sure used to.) Stevenson writes with a moral clarity that is deeply needed in today’s world, weaving together stories of injustice, pain, and hope during his work founding and running the Equal Justice Initiative here in Alabama.
This book was the gateway to a lot of learning for me. If you’d like to support EJI in its efforts to end mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the US, you can do so here.
For the Mythology Lover
I’ve always loved Greek and Roman mythology. While I’ve never gotten too deep into the specifics, there’s something so fascinating about the breadth of stories. I love the way they overlap and interweave; the petty fights and brutal revenge are what the best dramas are made of.
This book takes a minor mythological character and puts her at the edges of millennia of mythological drama. I couldn’t put it down.
For the Home Cook
This one stretches the definition of “lately”, because it’s been on my shelf for almost two years. But I return to it often, and I want everyone to read it. It’s part textbook, part cookbook, and full of joy the whole way through. (Have you seen her Netflix special? The book radiates that happiness.) The choice to illustrate rather than photograph food makes the whole thing more approachable.
I credit this book for teaching me the fundamentals of cooking - not just what food is good, but why it’s good.
For the History Lover
Homegoing follows two branches of a family tree, starting in Ghana in the 1800s. One sister will marry an Englishman, the other will be captured in a raid, sold, and taken to America. It’s a novel that leaves many stories unfinished as it moves from one generation to the next. Gyasi’s characters are so vivid that any chapter could have been its own book, and I would have loved it.
This book is not just good - it’s excellent. I’m not the person who gets to decide, but it should become a classic. Gyasi’s new book Transcendent Kingdom, was recently released, and it’s on my list to read. I’m looking forward to many years of reading her books.
For the True Crime Fan
Murder, drug cartels, weapons deals, mercenaries, hit men, and more. The story of international criminal mastermind Paul Le Roux is so bonkers that I frequently forgot that this is a work of journalism, not fiction.
I don’t want to give too much away, because as it unspools, you’ll be Googling for more details. It’s a wild ride.
For the Fantasy Lover
This book is a fairy tale all grown up. Or, maybe more accurately, it’s a fairy tale returned to its creepy origins. The story sits right on the edge of magical realism, bending reality into something spooky and dark. It’s probably just what you want to be reading as we head into spooky season. The sequel was released earlier this year, and I’m just about ready to step back into this world.
For the Romance Lover
When you pick up a romance novel, you know where you’re going to end up. But it’s the middle part that makes for a good romance story.
I love the middle part of this book. It dodges a lot of cliches, leans into a few more, and is both fun and funny the whole way through. I think Linda Holmes (a co-host of Pop Culture Happy Hour) hits the perfect tone, and I can’t wait for more of her books.
For Royal Fans + History Lovers
I used to read a lot of historical fiction novels. Many play pretty fast and loose with the facts. Given the cover and the subject matter, I assumed that would also be the case with this novel, but I was wrong. I kept Wikipedia open while I read, and I could not believe this story. The author was fascinated with her main character - Napoleon’s ex-girlfriend (yes, that Napoleon), who kept showing up as a secondary character all over European history.
The drama is fun, but the book is an interesting reflection on the power of women, the making of dynasties, and who gets to tell the story.
For Those Who Would Like to Reimagine Public Safety
I believe in engaging with the best arguments of both sides of an issue. This book was oft-cited in the early weeks of the current debate on defunding the police, so I picked up the ebook from the publisher. Vitale goes into great detail about specific issues in policing such as policing homelessness and the school-to-prison pipeline. He also discusses specific reforms that have been attempted around the US and why many of them haven’t succeeded.
I think the book falters a little in addressing how policing presence affects crime, specifically violent crime. I found this critique and rebuttal by Matthew Yglesias very useful.
For Those Who Love a Drama
It’s possible that everyone in the world has read this book, especially since it was adapted into a Hulu series this year. But I would be remiss if I didn’t include it, because it’s one of my favorite books ever.
The nuances of class, race, motherhood, and belonging are all masterfully woven here. Ng excels and writing every character in a way that feels fully human and complex. I wish this book was being read and discussed in every high school. And by you.
Even if you’ve seen the series, read the book! They’re beautiful companions.
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