Hello hello!

My last four posts have all been literature-related, so I hope you’re not getting too bored 😉 Not much else going on in my life during busy season!! February felt so long but also felt like it sped by… as I’m writing this post, it literally felt like years ago when I read some of these books!! I’m pretty happy with the amount of reading I was able to squeeze in despite my 70-hour work weeks…

FIVE TUESDAYS IN WINTER by Lily King

A short story collection about love and finding your way in adulthood. I thought this collection was cozy with a touch of wack – all the stories were just a liiiiittle quirky, which made them unique. I’m not a die-hard fan of King like most readers are (I wish I was) – something about her books don’t 100% do it for me but I’m still open to reading her work.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

CULTISH by Amanda Montell

All about how linguistics are a huge component in how cults are formed + developed. A really interesting exploration on cults and Montell nailed it in the head: cults are so captivating to learn about. I definitely got some goosebumps on the Heaven’s Gate and Jonestown chapters. I was surprised on the analysis for CorePower Yoga – I’m a big fan (follower?) and don’t think everything Montell mentions is accurate – none of my classes and observations were like what she noted. Maybe I’ve just drank the CorePower Kool-Aid..(!)

Rating: 4 out of 5

MY BRILLIANT FRIEND by Elena Ferrante

Two girls grow up in Naples right after WWII. The plot of My Brilliant Friend is quite simple – it’s really all about the character interactions that make the story. I really enjoyed this story – what a strange/abrupt ending though. I thought it was fascinating to look at a childhood friendship where you put your best friend on a pedestal, and culturally, what growing up in Naples was like post-WWII. I’m definitely intrigued by the show on HBO – I love all things Italy!!

Rating: 4 out of 5

THE HEART PRINCIPLE by Helen Hoang

The third in the Kiss Quotient trilogy! Of course I had to squeeze in a couple of romances in the month of February – I had a great time with Hoang’s other two books, and this one was no exception. It was fun and I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again: we need more books like Hoang’s with the diverse representation!!

Rating: 4 out of 5

BELOVED by Toni Morrison

A woman and her child are haunted in post-Civil War Ohio. This is my first Morrison after having read Song of Solomon wayyy back in high school for IB Lit, and her writing style really came flooding back to me when I read Beloved. An important story looking at slavery and race with a paranormal/magical realism twist. I think Morrison’s work is always chock-full of thoughtful themes and well-crafted symbolism.

Rating: 4 out of 5

THE UNHONEYMOONERS by Christina Lauren

A wedding goes awry when the bride and groom are unable to attend their honeymoon – so their respective siblings go in their place. I can’t believe it took me so long to get to this one! This was so so fun – it’s your classic enemies-to-lovers story, and while it took a bit for the chemistry to really build up, I thought the plot was just really well thought-out and entertaining.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5

OLGA DIES DREAMING by Xochitl Gonzalez

A wedding planner and her politician brother come to terms with their Puerto Rican roots in the midst of Hurricane Maria. I sooo enjoyed this one – the twisty and entertaining story, the characters, the intrigue… I also feel like I learned so much about Puerto Rico, a topic of which I don’t feel like I learned much about in school. Again, stories like these that help amplify voices of the underrepresented are crucial – thank you, Gonzalez!!

Rating: 4.25 out of 5

THE MATTER OF BLACK LIVES by Jelani Cobb + David Remnick

Essays from The New Yorker by Black writers throughout history. This one was hefty but I finally got through all the essays! This collection is so important – it really highlights and reminds me how much unlearning and re-learning work there is to be done. I thought the procurement of essays was strategically done, covering a wide array of topics on race.

That’s a wrap for now! What books have you been reading & loving lately?

Hope you’re safe and doing well to take care of one another!!

Jen x