Book Stack #16
A little bit of all things fiction: Short stories, comics, romance, thrillers, and novels
I’m back in your inboxes and feeds already; it’s a been a very reading-centric month to get through rainy days (…I say like I won’t use the coming sunshiny days to say the same, but that I couldn’t help but spend all my time reading in a park). Let’s dig in to this month’s stack!
The Best of Roald Dahl by Roald Dahl
I want you to take a moment and think of your favorite Roald Dahl book for children (Matilda, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, James & the Giant Peach) and think about how dark, twisted, and funny it is. Now understand that he was absolutely filtering himself to be vaguely appropriate for children when he wrote it. These stories are completely wild, disturbing, and hilarious; the collection feels long but enjoyable.
Thirst by Marina Yuszczuk
This two sections of this book felt mashed together. That may have worked if the order had somehow been flipped, but starting with half a novel of mystery and sex centering a female vampire and ending with a woman grappling with her mother slowly dying just felt disappointing.
The Best American Poetry 2024 edited by Mary Jo Salter
Like the “Best American Essays” collection I read last month, I loved reading this for exposure to new writers and styles. I often have a hard time knowing what poetry collections to pick up, and this had me add Elaine Equi, Billy Collin’s, and Emily Simon to my Want to Read list.
The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
Groff’s Fates and Furies is a favorite of mine, and I found it fascinating how different this novel was from it. Vaster Wilds is the story of a young girl fighting to survive in the woods after escaping from an early American colonial settlement. The style is lyrical and written like someone verbally telling an old story, and I enjoyed how unique this was more than enjoying the novel itself.
Paper Girls, Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan
Paper Girls is the first in a series of comic books about a group of preteen paper delivery girls in the 80s on a dark sci-fi adventure. The art in this is gorgeous and the story is rad.
Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
This is a very graphic, disturbing serial killer story (I’m sure many of you have seen the movie, I have not), but it made me remember how fun it is to read thrillers. Definitely couldn’t put this down.
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
This book is both hot and messy as hell. If you can suspend your disbelief about characters making vaguely realistic choices and want to dive into excellent romantic tension, this delivers.
Worry by Alexandra Tanner
I really liked this novel about two sisters living together in New York, caring for one another and making each other crazy while they attempt to grow up. I found a lot of the book really funny (the main character is obsessed with following tradwives in pyramid schemes on Instagram), but a heads up that it takes an upsetting turn.
Two short stories to share this month that I loved:
A woman navigating the fraught relationship with her mother, who for years has been part of a cult focused on her health: “The Cult” by Mel Kassel
The dynamics of race within a marriage: “Evidence” by Kaitlyn Greenidge
Sazerac literally couldn’t keep his nose out of a book this month. What are you reading? What is or was your favorite Roald Dahl book? Are there romance books you recommend that aren’t distractingly unrealistic?