Elizabeth

Stunning read - part memoir, part letter to her son, the author tells the story of growing up in Afghanistan just before, and then during the takeover by the Taliban. Beautifully written account that feels even more important as my own country seems intent on stripping more and more rights from it's own women. Recommended.

So glad I finally picked this one up - rich, full, brimming with life, it was a pleasure to lose myself in this world. A completely modern love story, with just enough heartbreak to be real. A fascinating look at race and culture and how those words mean different things in different parts of the world. An excellent, rewarding read.

I've seen this marketed as a domestic thriller, and I take some exception to that - this novel reads much more literary than thriller. It's a fairly sharp indictment of the way “nice women” can actually be awful to each other behind closed doors, and each of the three main characters have moments of being nearly unbearable, and moments where they are almost redeemed. Enough twists to keep the plot propelling forward, and solid writing that kept me eager to continue. Definitely will read more of this author's work.

It is, to be honest, a bit sacrilegious. It's definitely subverting the intent of the original author. And yet, somehow, just a sweet romance between two characters I've grown up enjoying just really felt satisfying. I think, in all the weird times we are experiencing, spending time with Jo and Laurie - and giving them a happy ending - just felt comforting.

First book finished in 2022 and it was incredible. The author has a fascinating way of weaving together history and culture, and.then tying both into his own personal life. Nearly every essay found me researching online to find a performance, or a picture, or more information about a topic. The writing was strong and poetic and tender and alive. An absolutely fantastic read.

Very strong collection. Bilal does an excellent job of illuminating the regular people behind the Nation of Islam, which is a demographic I've never before seen addressed in fiction. She doesn't shy away from the hard parts of the faith, but doesn't paint it as all bad - this faith, and these people, are complicated and confused and hurting and loving and strong and very, very real. Enjoyed this and would recommend. (Aspen Words longlist 2024)

Really enjoyed this novella. Set in the same part of northern Minnesota that my mom grew up in, the names of small towns and bigger cities were immediately recognizable to me as places we drove past/through on my way to visit my grandparents. Knowing her seemingly idyllic chidlhood took place in the same part of the state that was forcibly removing indiginous kids from their homes and sending them to boarding schools or white foster families makes the story of Cash more immediate and powerful for me. This is a murder mystery, of course, but it is also clearly setting the stage for something deeper - the story of a young indiginous woman, brutalized by the system, trying to decide what she is going to make of her life. It can be tough to read - Cash lives a hard life, and resorts to many destructive numbing behavoirs. But it is impossible not to root for this brash, imepetuous, smart, reckless young woman. I am excited to see this series progess, and will definitely be reading more. 

I think for someone who has not read extensively about the Partition of India (see:me), this is probably an excellent starting place. I was quite wrapped up in the story throughout, and hoped along with the characters for resolutions to their broken relationships. This books holds a lot of trauma, and the sadness is palpable through the author's words. I found it to be an emotional and rewarding reading experience.

Terrifying and all too real

This was the fifth time I've read The Handmaid's Tale, and it continues to be as gripping on its fifth read as it was on its first. Atwood is an absolute master, and her portrayal of a future oppressive patriarchal society feels eerily like the future we are carving for ourselves. One of the great works of contemporary literature.

Let's be clear: The Testaments is no Handmaid's Tale. As a sequel - even as an individual work of fiction - it doesn't measure up to the brilliance that is its predecessor.

What it is, however, is closure. For all of us who have yearned to know what happened - did she make it out - did Gilead ever fall - The Testaments brings answers to our questions. And it does so as a strong, engaging, fascinating work of fiction.

Atwood uses three voices to tell Gilead's continuing story, and while I found them all engaging, the voice of the Aunt was the most compelling for me. I found this novel to be a quick read - I was entirely engaged from page one, and didn't want to put it down until I had reached the end.

I think, for those of us who have loved this novel over the years, The Testaments will be satisfying. It doesn't reach the same levels as some of Atwood's previous work, but it is still a solid and welcome work of fiction.

I don't think anything I've read for RIP this year has felt as perfect for the challenge as this slim graphic novel. This is Lord of the Flies in a fairy-tale world, it is eerie and creepy and unsettling and challenging. This is much less about the plot and much more about the layers of horror, unwrapping before the readers' eyes. This is a gorgeous piece of art, wrapped around a completely terrifying story.

Like all good graphic novels, there is much to uncover behind the first glance, and this is the type of story than can be read many times, with the reader finding something new upon each subsequent visit to this dark world. I know I'm being vague, but part of the impact of the story, for me, was not knowing very much about what I was getting into when I started. More than anything I've read in the past couple of months, this is the book that has stayed in my mind, lingering in my thoughts, popping up in my dreams. It's good, scary stuff. Recommended for readers who can deal with dark.

“But if we continue walking toward this mirage, if we change our shells even this one more time, I am sure in my blood we'll doom ourselves to always live exactly as we have lived, inhabiting whatever corner of the world isn't nailed down, never staying anywhere long enough to make anything real. We will the the ghosts that feed off the edges of life.” (page 89)

Very capital-L Literary, this work of metafiction has some fantastic writing and highly complex plot layering that made the reading experience confusing and also exciting. I admit that i am not 100% sure I followed every path the narrative took - at some point I definitely just gave up trying to figure it out and went with it. Would be a great book for a college class or serious book club - lots and lots to discuss. (Giller Prize shortlist 2023)