Anti-Racist Reading Recommendations

Current Read: The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Current Listen: I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver

Hey all. I want to preface this by saying that I am BY NO MEANS an expert in anti-racism. I am just someone who is trying every day to learn more and become actively anti-racist. That being said, I feel passionately that white people should educate themselves and each other about racism and systemic oppression rather than relying on people of color to coddle them through learning about shit they deal with every day of their lives.

Some personal context.

I, like many white people, am almost completely unaffected by race. I am extremely privileged, what with my whiteness and middle class-ness and my straight-ness and my degree from a liberal arts college. I consider myself extremely progressive in my politics. But until very recently, I was EXTREMELY ignorant about the history of racism, particularly in the United States. I had no idea the extent to which that history had been hidden from me.

My journey toward anti-racism began after the election of 2016, when I read The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander. Reading about racism in the U.S. still felt like an intellectual exercise to me, though. Again -- privilege. Mass incarceration doesn't directly impact me.

I continued to dip my toe in the water through fiction and non-fiction, reading things like Between the World and Me, The Hate U Give, and The Fire Next Time. The moment it clicked, though, was White Fragility. I cannot stress enough how much the book White Fragility changed my life. The term "white fragility" describes the visceral reaction of defensiveness, guilt, and/or anger that happens in white people (ALL white people--I will fight you on that) when they are called out about their own personal racism or about their involvement in systemic racism.That book DOES NOT PULL PUNCHES. It calls you out, ESPECIALLY if you are a white liberal.

That book lit a fire under my ass. I began seeking out more opportunities not only to learn more, but also to apply it to my everyday life. My mother will attest to me hijacking her book group to talk about White Fragility, and my fellow teachers have heard me discuss it in full staff meetings. I ended up joining a school committee on Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, a teaching philosophy that applies social justice to interactions in the classroom. I obviously have SO MUCH MORE work to do. But I've come a long way. Because of that, and because of conversations I've had with other white people who don't know what to do, here are my suggestions.

1. STOP ASKING BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) WHAT TO DO.

PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE TOO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT SHIT TO WORRY ABOUT. I cannot even imagine the amount of rage, anxiety, and fear being experienced by people of color in this country in this moment (but really for their entire lives). Every time I hear about a white person asking a black person for a comprehensive list of what to do and what to read, I am COMPLETELY enraged. White people literally created the problem. White people should bear the responsibility of figuring out what the problem is and then fixing it.

2. LEARN

Since you should NOT ask BIPOC, fucking Google it. There are literally hundreds of books, documentaries, YouTube videos, blog posts...don't be lazy. Do the work. Some places to start:

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates - Part diary entry, part letter to his son, about race in America and police brutality. Just...read some Ta-Nehisi Coates. He's such a great fucking writer.
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander - The definitive work on mass incarceration, its history, and how it's a not-that-distant cousin of slavery. Also watch 13th, a Netflix documentary directed by the INCREDIBLE Ava DuVernay. 

So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo - A straightforward, well-written primer on race-related topics, from intersectionality through affirmative action. 
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo - Honestly why haven't you started reading this book yet?
The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein - An incredible, well-researched look at the various mechanisms of housing discrimination in the US. I thought I was really cool because I knew about redlining. There is SO MUCH more to it than that.
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson - Discusses the Great Migration, which I personally learned literally nothing about in any of my history classes, high school or college.
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum - An incredible look at racial identity development. I found this extremely helpful as a teacher, but it is helpful for everyone.

Those are just the more academic texts. I'll do future posts on memoirs, fiction, and children's books on race.

3. DO SOMETHING

Once you've done your learning, it's not enough to sit there. This was my issue until my White Fragility epiphany. It's not an exercise in making yourself feel better. If you feel any empathy for your fellow humans at all, doing this research will make you feel a LOT of feelings. You can either just sit there and feel sad and mad (don't personally recommend this, but I've been there), or you can figure out what to do. Some suggestions:

-Donate to BLM or the Bail Project or groups that help black LGBTQ youth or so many other community organizations
-Contact your legislators encouraging them to support anti-racist legislation
-Attend protests/sit-ins/lectures/allyship seminars in your community
And, most importantly
-FUCKING CALL OUT YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND ACQUAINTANCES AND STRANGERS WHO ARE RACIST.

Like...seriously. The research will normally even give you strategies for doing this. It's uncomfortable. It sucks. People might get mad at you. But honestly, if someone is more mad about you calling out racism than they are about George Floyd, or Philando Castille, or Breonna Taylor...that's their problem.

4. BE READY TO FUCK UP

This is the one that gets me sometimes. I am the ultimate people-pleaser. My therapist loves to point out all the times I have over-analyzed my future behavior to prevent making any of my loved ones or friends or co-workers or acquaintances mad at me for any reason. But when you are doing anti-racist work, you will make mistakes. You, especially if you are white, were raised in a racist society. You have been consuming racist messaging and ideas since you were born. But if you, like me, do not want to continue doing those things, you need to make yourself available to be called out. This might involve telling people directly that you WANT to be told when you are being racist. Do you know how many micro-aggressions your BIPOC loved ones have ignored or pushed aside to make their white friends and family feel more comfortable? Let yourself be called out, learn from it, and do better next time.

It is really, really, REALLY hard to be anti-racist. But if you are not being anti-racist, you are being part of the problem. I've not heard anyone put it better than Beverly Daniel Tatum did:

"I sometimes visualize the ongoing cycle of racism as a moving walkway at the airport. Active racist behavior is equivalent to walking fast on the conveyor belt…Passive racist behavior is equivalent to standing still on the walkway. No overt effort is being made, but the conveyor belt moves the bystanders along to the same destination as those who are actively walking. Some of the bystanders may feel the motion of the conveyor belt, see the active racists ahead of them, and choose to turn around…But unless they are walking actively in the opposite direction at a speed faster than the conveyor belt – unless they are actively antiracist – they will find themselves carried along with the others."

Black lives matter. And for now, that's all she read.

Quarantine Reads, Part 1

Current Read: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Current Listen: Sissy: A Coming of Gender Story by Jacob Tobia

Why hello there, fellow quarantine humans! Like everyone else, I have spent the past week and a half...adjusting. With varying degrees of success. As a teacher, being without my kids last week was really hard. My husband is a pharmacist and still working, so I've been home alone more than I'd like. But I've been reading and listening A LOT. I think I'm going to try to do an update every week or so, since I've been finishing a book every day or two. Here's what I've gotten up to so far.

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

This is my book club's black history month pick. I loved The Underground Railroad, so I was interested to see if I liked his take on a more modern story. The Nickel Boys is a fictionalized account of a real school, Dozier School. It chronicles the trauma that hundreds of black boys experienced and how it impacts one former "student" throughout his life. It was so, so beautifully written, as I've come to expect from Colson Whitehead. It was incredibly dark, though, and I don't know if I can recommend it if you're looking for something lighter for quarantine.

Click here to read more about Dozier School. 

Starsight by Brandon Sanderson

This is the sequel to Skyward, my first ever Sanderson. It's not typical Sanderson, though. This series is YA sci-fi when he normally writes adult high fantasy. But the characters are likable, the story is unique, the writing and the world-building are top notch. This is the story of Spensa, the descendant of a group of humans who crash landed on the planet Detritus. She longs to join the planet's air force to help defeat the alien race keeping them prisoner. The sequel introduced new planets, new alien races, and fun new plot twists.

Bygone Badass Broads: 52 Forgotten Women Who Changed the World by Mackenzi Lee

This was SUCH a fun little book. It came up as an Audible daily deal, and I picked it up based on its good reviews on Goodreads. Of the 52 women written about, I had heard of 3 of them. Considering how many books like this I've read, that's quite an achievement. Mackenzi Lee writes with wit and intelligence, and it's definitely the most diverse book of its kind. Highly recommend.

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

This is book 5 of the Mortal Instruments series and book 8 in the order that Cassandra Clare recommends on her website. I was told by several people who have read them all not to binge them, so I pick one up every 6 months of so. At this point in the story, which involves demon hunters and vampires and werewolves and warlocks and ALL THAT FUN STUFF, it's less about the plot and more about the romances for me. But the romances are SO GOOD that I keep coming back.

Honestly Ben by Bill Konigsberg

This was another sequel, to the book Openly Straight. I thought the first book was just slightly above average (I didn't like the main character much), but on the last day that our library was open I found the sequel on the shelves and decided to give it a go. I liked this one MUCH better. It was from a different character's perspective, and was a very cute gay boy romance that also dealt with issues of gender fluidity and classism while still being fluffy and fun. I will read more Bill Konigsberg.

Notes From a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi

I am not a Food Network person. I love fine dining, but I wouldn't call it an interest or a hobby. This one intrigued me, though, since I saw it nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award. Onwuachi is cocky almost to the point of arrogance, but based on his life story that's almost admirable. He literally went from selling candy bars on the New York subway to being on Top Chef, and he's only a year older than me. What I found most interesting were his experiences with racism and microaggressions in fine dining kitchens, as well as his attempts to create opportunities for other chefs of color. He narrates the audiobook as well, which is always a plus for me with a memoir.

That's it so far. What have you been reading during quarantine? Is there a particular genre that's helping you with the covid-19 blues? What else have you been doing to pass the time? For now, that's all she read!

Black History Month Reads

Current read: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
Current listen: Bygone Badass Broads by Mackenzi Lee

Hey all! I'm pleased to report that so far 2020 has been a DOPE reading year for me. My goal this year was to have...fewer goals. At least fewer number-related goals. I have gotten a little bogged down for the past few years, first with wanting to read 100 books, then 125, then finally 150 last year. Now that I've proven that I can do it, I'm trying to think less about quantity and more about quality.

That being said, one goal I did strive for this year was to read only black authors during the month of February. Obviously one should not read them ONLY in February, but I thought it would help me stay mindful of black contributions in all book genres. Here is a run-down of the EXCELLENT black literature I read in February.

Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

This was a short story collection that I saw on some 2018 best books lists. It was a WILD ride, let me tell you. Some masterful satire in here. Favorite stories were "The Finkelstein 5," a story about 5 black children who are brutally murdered "in self-defense" by a white man with a chainsaw; and "Zimmer Land," a story about a young black man who works in a theme park in which white people can live out prejudiced fantasies. Like I said, WILD.
Click here to read an interview with the author.

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

I had the privilege of seeing Elizabeth Acevedo speak last year, and she is just the fiercest slam poet and author.  This novel is about Emoni, a high school senior who wants to be a chef but finds herself balancing her dreams with the reality of raising her daughter. Acevedo writes with such incredible voice, and Emoni is a character you want to root for. Plus, every dish she makes sounds like MAGIC.

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson

I picked this up in an Audible sale and had no idea what to expect. It was revelatory. It was an in-depth look at three individuals who migrated at different times and had vastly different experiences. Ida Mae, who left sharecropping in Mississippi and watched Chicago become more and more segregated; George Starling, who fled the threat of being lynched after organizing on behalf of black fruit pickers; and Robert Foster, who ends up as Ray Charles' personal physician. I CANNOT BELIEVE how little I learned about this part of American history. Everyone read this.

Emergency Skin by N.K. Jemisin

This was a fun little cli-fi short story that was free on Amazon. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and badly need to read more N.K. Jemisin.

Becoming Billie Holiday by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Floyd Cooper

This was a lovely illustrated selection of poems describing Billie Holiday's early life and the beginning of her career. It was, as I said, lovely, but I wanted more. It ends before she even becomes famous. 

Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles

This is the YA debut of Jay Coles, an Indy native. It was very well-written and EXTREMELY sad. Very similar to The Hate U Give in its discussion of police violence against black youth, but it was a little more brutal. Definitely worth the read, just be prepared. 

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

This will end up on my favorites of the year list. I liked it even more than The Hate U Give. This book takes place in the same fictional LA neighborhood as her previous novel and stars Bri, an up-and-coming battle rapper. Every character is well-developed and interesting, the plot was not at all predictable, and the audiobook performance by Bahni Turpin was EVERYTHING. Highly, highly recommend.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Most of ya'll know I LOVE me a good romance novel. So I obvi picked this one as my Book of the Month. Chloe Brown is a privileged girl with fibromyalgia who hasn't really lived since her illness was diagnosed. She moves out of her wealthy parents' home to make her way, so OF COURSE she has a super hot apartment supervisor with a mysterious past. LOVED EVERY MOMENT.

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Yay for graphic novels winning the Newbery! Also, yay for a black man winning the Newbery! I had never heard of this before it won, but I'm so, so glad I got my hands on it. An incredible middle-grade story about a black boy who ends up at a mostly white private school. It uses humor and honesty to discuss microaggressions and other issues of race and class in a way that kids will relate to.

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

I read this article about fierce YA authors of color, and Akwaeke Emezi was the only one on the list I'd never read. This was a lovely allegory about a society in which all the "monsters" are gone. The main character, Jam, is a black transgender teen determined to protect her family and her best friend. The author is nonbinary, and I've never read an own voices story quite like this one.

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

I was saddened by the passing of Katherine Johnson, so I decided to move this one up in my TBR pile. I loved the stories of the women, but the author was clear that she had never written before, and it showed. It was just okay, especially after reading The Warmth of Other Suns, which was just so well-written.

To conclude, reading all black authors during February was an EXCELLENT experience that I highly recommend. I'll for sure continue to do this every year, and I'm hoping it makes me more aware of reading authors of color throughout the year. And for now, that's all she read!

Top Reads of 2019

Current Read: Wildcard by Marie Lu
Current Listen: Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole

Hello, reader family! Happy New Year! 2019 was a year of getting back to normal for me. I'm continuing to recover from the fallout of my ankle break, and we moved from our tiny apartment into a house. I decided to go for broke and set a goal of reading 150 books, up from 125 the year before. I'm happy to report that I exceeded my goal and read 165 books last year. Because of that, it was VERY difficult for my to compile the list that follows.

When I first started writing this post, I was pretty much writing a five paragraph essay about why I loved each book. I ended up switching to a Who/What/When/Where/Why format to make it easier to read. Let me know what you think!

Adult Fiction

1. The Bride Test by Helen Hoang 

Who does it star: Khai, a man with autism, and a Vietnamese mail-order bride, Esme
What is its genre: Romance
Where/How did I read it: Preordered the paperback because I adored The Kiss Quotient, then read it at the beautiful Cassady lakehouse
When did I finish it: June
Why you should read it: Come for the unique premise and the well-written characters with autism, stay for how FRIGGIN FIERCE Esme is

2. City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert 

Who does it star: Vivian, a 95-year old woman telling the story of her coming of age in a vaudeville theatre
What is its genre: Historical fiction with some steam and scandal
Where/How did I read it: On Audible (11/10 recommend this audiobook) while living my life
When did I finish it: August
Why you should read it: It takes place in the 20s in the New York theatre district. Every single character is incredible, and the voice of Vivian makes it seem like you're gossiping with a girlfriend.

3. Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid 

Who does it star: Daisy Jones and The Six, a popular band from the 70s being interviewed about their history
What is its genre: Historical fiction
Where/How did I read it: I read an ARC copy of this on the plane from Indy to New Orleans. The format makes it a quick read.
When did I finish it: March
Why you should read it: Sex and drugs and rock and roll. I didn't listen to the audiobook, but I've heard its incredible.

4. The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

Who does it star: Yale, a gay man in 1980s Chicago whose reeling from the impact of AIDS on his group of friends, and Fiona, Yale's best friend, who 30 years later is still dealing with the trauma of that time
What is its genre: Historical fiction
Where/How did I read it: Listened on Audible while sobbing and doing the dishes
When did I finish it: May
Why you should read it: To immerse yourself in the gay scene in 80s Chicago and honor the many who were lost so young to such a terrible disease

5. Bear Town by Fredrik Backman

Who does it star: The residents of Bear Town, a hockey-obsessed small town that is rocked by a violent, traumatic event
What is its genre: Contemporary fiction
Where/How did I read it: Read the paperback on my couch to fulfill part of the Pop Sugar Reading Challenge (read a book set in Scandinavia)
When did I finish it: December
Why you should read it: It's a really, really well-written look at the connections of a small town and how one person's choices can impact everyone around them. Just as good if not better than A Man Called Ove, in my opinion.

Young Adult Fiction

1. The Arc of a Scythe trilogy by Neal Shusterman

Who does it star: Two apprentice scythes, the only people permitted to permanently kill, or glean, others, since humanity has defeated death.
What is its genre: Dystopian science fiction
Where/How did I read it: I read all three books in this series on Audible while driving and doing the dishes. Very good narrator.
When did I finish it: November
Why you should read it: One of he best sci-fi series I've ever read. Such a well-built world that kept getting better and better.

2. The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

Who does it star: Celaena Sardothien, a fierce assassin with a mysterious past she'd rather forget
What is its genre: Fantasy
Where/How did I read it: Listened on Audible throughout the summer. Outstanding, oustanding narrator. I listened to the first one in 2017 and the second in 2018, but after book 3 I couldn't stop and kept going through the 7th and final book of the series. Would literally listen any time I had a free second. Listened at the store. Listened while working out. Did extra chores to keep listening.
When did I finish it: July
Why you should read it: Elves and magic and witches and evil kings and sex and violence and piles and piles of incredibly written female characters

3. There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon

Who does it star: Sweetie, a fiercely confident track runner who won't let other people's opinions about her body stop her from kicking ass
What is its genre: Romance
Where/How did I read it: Pre-ordered this and read it in the Cassady hammock at the lake
When did I finish it: June
Why you should read it: Sweetie is the gorgeous Indian-American body-positive feminist of my DREAMS. Also read When Dimple Met Rishi and everything Sandhya writes. She is fabulous.

4. Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell

Who does it star: Simon, a self-aware "chosen one" who is at a loss after the events of Carry On (book one), and Baz, his partner
What is its genre: Fantasy
Where/How did I read it: Pre-ordered the GORGEOUS hardcover and read it the moment it came out
When did I finish it: October
Why you should read it: Its magic system is completely beautiful and Baz and Simon are the most adorable

5. Nevermoor and Wundersmith by Jessica Townsend

Who does it star: Morrigan Crow, a girl who has been whisked away to a mysterious magic school
What is its genre: Fantasy
Where/How did I read it: Got the first audiobook on the urging of one of my favorite Youtube channels, then binged both of them
When did I finish it: July
Why you should read it: Really cool, unique world, awesome characters, and also MAGIC SCHOOL STORIES ARE THE BOMB

Non-Fiction

1. Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow

Who does it star: Ronan Farrow, a journalist covering the Weinstein sexual abuse scandal, and the private investigators, spies, and NBC executives working on behalf of Weinstein to kill the story
What is its genre: Investigative journalism/memoir
Where/How did I read it: Got the audiobook and binged it in two days. Could not stop listening.
When did I finish it: December 31st, haha. Barely made it.
Why you should read it: Powerful men try to silence vulnerable women, particularly victims of sexual harrassment and assault. This shit happens ALL THE TIME and we as a society have a responsibility to expose it and smash the patriarchy.

2. White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

Who does it star: White people, and the social forces that enforce white supremacy
What is its genre: Non-fiction
Where/How did I read it: Borrowed it from my friend Robbie, then immediately knew I had to buy my own copy so I could write all over it and lend it to others to read
When did I finish it: November
Why you should read it: It will change your life. Absolutely essential for everyone, but ESPECIALLY white people.

3. Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness

Who does it star: The beautiful fierce human known as JVN
What is its genre: Memoir
Where/How did I read it: On Audible, which was FABULOUS, because it was like having an 8 hour long conversation with JVN
When did I finish it: November
Why you should read it: JVN has overcome so much and has still managed to find this beautiful positive outlook on life. We need more books like this.

4. So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Who does it star: Ijeoma Oluo, a fierce commentator on race and gender
What is its genre: Essays, kind of. Essays that feel almost like a guidebook
Where/How did I read it: Via audiobook with Ian. Narrated by the incredible Bahni Turpin
When did I finish it: July
Why you should read it: This book breaks down every essential topic of conversation you could have with another person about race. There's a chapter about hair. There's a chapter about intersectionality. There's a chapter about affirmative action. There's a chapter about white privilege. And it explains everything SO clearly. It can help you explain these things without triggering white fragility.

5. Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe

Who does it star: The IRA, the British Army, and Jean McConville, a woman dragged from her Belfast home by masked intruders during the Troubles and was never seen again
What is its genre: History
Where/How did I read it: Via Audible in my normal life. Warning: The narrator has a THICK northern Irish accent, which added to the telling but...damn it was hard to understand for the first hour or so.
When did I finish it: August
Why you should read it: The way Radden Keefe takes one woman's murder and then weaves the entire history of the Troubles around it is masterful. I learned SO MUCH about the IRA.

Alright. That's it. Stay tuned in the next few days for a post on my goals for this year. :) That's all she read.

2019 Reading Update

Current Read: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Current Listen: The Rest is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century by Alex Ross
2019 Goodreads Reading Challenge Count: 121 out of 150 books

Hello, internet! It's been a looooooooooong time. In my defense, 2018 was a crazy, CRAZY year for me, and 2019 has mostly been me readjusting to my new normal. The crazy is still sort of ongoing, but I have the greatest people and they're helping me figure it out.

I gave myself a freakishly ambitious reading goal of 150 books for the year. I didn't set any goals other than the number this year--last year I tried to read a certain number of different genres and types of books, and I just found it to be too much to keep track of. If you're curious, though, here is the breakdown so far:

Illustrated children's books: 21
Middle-grade books: 19
Young adult books: 27
Adult fiction: 25
Non-fiction: 20
Graphic novels: 9

I have to say that I'm pretty pleased with myself. When I was counting, though, I noticed that more and more of what I read (and more and more of great fiction being written) defies being placed in one of these categories. For example, I powered through most of the Throne of Glass series this year. Those are always shelved with young adult, buuuuuuuuut are they really? They don't read like what you would expect YA to be. They are very well-written and there is so much violence and sex. And some adult fiction (romances in particular) are way easier to read than some YA. But this isn't what this post is about.

As I approach fall break, I want to hold myself accountable and let you know of some remaining books I would like to read before the end of the year. I'm going to list 5 and then--we'll see. 

Carry On and Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell
These are Rainbow Rowell's version of a magic school/Chosen One sort of narrative, but they are not just an HP rip-off. Carry On is a re-read for me in anticipation of the sequel which comes out NEXT TUESDAY!!!!

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
I can't believe I haven't read this yet. With the movie out right now, I figured it was finally time. This seems like a love it or hate it, and I love being able to have an opinion on things like that.

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Since I'm so far ahead of my goal, I figure I have time for a few gigantic tomes. I've heard awesome things about this one and it's just gorgeous on my shelf.

The Handmaid's Tale and The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
I'm really pumped about the sequel that just came out, and I figured I might as well re-read the first one since it's the bomb. Under his eye.

City of Lost Souls and City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
I love these books, and I liked City of Fallen Angels. I would love to finish that trilogy before the year is over. I also try not to binge these ones, though. I have heard from several people that they get repetitive if you read too many in a row.

So by 5 I apparently meant 8. Oh well. My other reading-related goal is to write a blog post every other week. Hold me to that, will you?

Let me know in the comments if you have read anything on my list and what you want to read before the end of the year!

Top Movies of 2018

Current read: The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
Current listen: The Poisoned City by Anna Clark

Hey gang! So I decided to do something different. This is still a primarily bookish blog, but if you know me, you know that in the months of October-February I set aside just about everything in my Oscar-buzz haze. I have a spreadsheet. It's color-coded. So people have been nagging me to blog about film more. I don't feel quite as qualified to talk about film, but I do love it. A lot. Over my winter break I went to the movies 13 times. Because of that, I decided to write about my favorite movies of 2018. These are in order, as much as it pained me to rank them. And there are a LOT of great movies that I couldn't include. Special shout-out to Roma. I already regret it not being on this list because it was outstanding and lovely and I want it to win things.

10. Love, Simon
Here's some bookish-ness! This movie is an adaptation of Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, one of my YA faves. I know this movie isn't art-house and it won't get nominated for any Oscars, but it was just so incredible to see a rom-com that centered around a same-sex couple. Also, this is the one that I will watch when I'm sad or stressed or want to regain some hope in humanity.

9. The Hate U Give
Another incredible YA adaptation, this time from the incomparable Angie Thomas. In my opinion, the movie's explorations of code-switching and how police brutality impacts communities of color are beyond excellent. Russell Hornsby gives the performance of his career, and Amandla Stenberg is definitely an up-and-comer to keep an eye on. If you haven't seen The Hate U Give, you best get your butt to the Redbox when it comes out in a few weeks. ESPECIALLY if you are in a position of privilege.

8. A Star Is Born
Gorgeous performance by Lady Gaga, both acting and singing. Incredible music. As far as directorial debuts go, this one is pretty fantastic. Also, I will never in my life forget Sam Elliott's face as he pulls out of the driveway. THAT is what great acting looks like.

7. If Beale Street Could Talk
This movie is the main reason that I didn't make this list until a week after the new year--it would be much easier to be a film buff if I lived in LA or New York. An unbelievably beautiful film. Every moment of it. The score, the cinematography, the acting, the story, the script...everything. Barry Jenkins is the future of film and I could not be happier about it.

6. Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse
As I write this, this film has just won the Golden Globe for best animated film. THANK GOODNESS. The most innovative animated film I've ever seen. One of those movies that is going to change how animated films are made. Great voice-acting, a great story, and a killer soundtrack.

5. Eighth Grade
A movie that was DEEPLY personal and made me cry almost as much as it made me laugh. I was that girl at the pool party. Bo Burnham wrote a masterpiece about what it's like to be young in a scary, changing world. So much of this movie is specific to 2018, but it also serves to remind audiences that the joys and the pains of growing up are completely universal.

4. Mary Poppins Returns
This. Movie. Made. Me. So. Happy. The music was incredible. The acting was great. Emily Blunt was FLAWLESS. The costumes. The animation. The photography. Everything. Gave the perfect amount of love to the original and had some truly incredible music, singing, and choreography. Those lamplighter silhouettes in Trip A Little Light Fantastic especially.

3. On The Basis of Sex
I just saw this movie. It's so important and everyone needs to see it. Felicity Jones is a fabulous RBG, and it's not just rehashing the content of the documentary, which I was very worried about. A timely reminder of the women who fought for the rights we take for granted. There are so, so many women alive today who lived in a time when they could not get a credit card in their name or go to college without being labelled a ball-buster or a shrew.

2. Black Panther
A game-changer. In so many ways. Representation matters, and this is a film about a superhero from Africa and the incredible strong women that he surrounds himself with. This movie paid attention to detail in the BEST ways. The costumes, the music, the sets, the language, the "what are those" joke. So much to love. So many ICONIC performances. This will be the movie of this year that has lasting impact.

1. The Favourite
I loved every second of this movie, including the ones that made me extremely uncomfortable. This is one that warrants multiple watches and lively discussions afterward. A story of three women surviving however they can in a world of men. It was just so nice to watch a movie in which the men are totally secondary and contribute almost nothing. I would like Olivia Colman to sweep best actress this year. In fact, I will be incredibly upset if she doesn't.

Alright. Welp. I have never noticed how much I like to capitalize adjectives for emphasis. This was a lot harder to write than a book review. Let me know what you think, and for now, that's all she...watched?

What A Year: My Favorite Reads of 2018

Current read: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Current listen: My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan
2019 Goodreads Reading Challenge Count: 0 out of 150 books

Hello internet! It's been literally a year since my last post. Most of my readers (hi Kelly, hi Mom) know that it's been a trying year. I had a really heinous ankle break that is still healing after three surgeries. Despite that, I also traveled pretty extensively, had a very active summer with Circle City Chamber Choir, continued teaching, and got married! So the blog kind of...got left behind.

Fortunately, I did manage to do a LOT of reading this year. I went through a bit of a slump right after the accident (I pretty much only read Ms. Marvel comics and children's books for awhile) but I eventually shook it off and read a lot of great stuff. I completed the 2018 PopSugar Reading Challenge, surpassed my Goodreads reading goal, and helped found a book club among some friends. That being said, here are my favorite books of 2018.

Adult Fiction:
1. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
I listened to this one on Audible. Normally I listen to audio books while driving or while doing chores, but for the last four hours of this one I was just sitting on my couch, crying much of the time. An unbelievably well-written character and a very beautiful story.
2. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
This was a book club read! Another one that I listened to on Audible. Another story centered around an incredible woman overcoming adversity. I would particularly recommend the audio book, narrated by Cassandra Campbell. She nails the accents and just does a fabulous job with everything she narrates.
3. The Power by Naomi Alderman
Another powerful audio book. This is a work of speculative fiction about a future in which all the women in the world develop the power to conduct and control electricity through their bodies. It explores all the societal implications of such a future and leaves no stone unturned. It is a powerful statement on issues being faced by women throughout the world today.
4. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne and The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
I am cheating a little bit with this one, but these two books are so similar and representative in a change in my attitude toward romance novels. I'm not sure when it happened, but I've been REALLY feeling contemporary, modern-woman-finds-love romance novels lately. I've got at least 3 more on deck to read in the near future. These are two EXCELLENT, steamy reads.
5. Still Me by Jojo Moyes
I never would have guessed that this would make my list. It was my last read of 2018, and I honestly only picked it up because it wouldn't renew at the library. It also, I found out, won the Goodreads Choice Award for fiction, and with reason. Jojo Moyes really focused on Louisa in this book and a lot less on the romance. There were some really great characters introduced and some truly moving plot lines. I think...I think it might be my favorite of the series.

Young Adult Fiction:
1. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
I finally read a Laini Taylor book! She's been on my radar for years, and I finally got to this one this year. It is, in a word, incredible. It follows Lazlo Strange, an orphan turned librarian who is obsessed with the mysterious city of Weep. Every character is detailed and complex, and the story is unlike anything I've ever read. The sequel, Muse of Nightmares, came out a few months ago, and you best believe it will be on my list for 2018.
2. The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
I've written about this series in reviews before. The final book in the trilogy, Obsidio, came out early in 2018, and I decided to marathon them while recovering from the ankle break. Man, oh man, are these an incredible adventure. Some great romances, awesome characters, some temperamental AI...a wild ride.
3. Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
I read this on a whim (it was on sale on Kindle), and ended up reading it until late in the night. Literally could not put it down. It follows Eliza, a girl who writes an incredibly popular web comic while coping with anxiety. The way Zappia writes about anxiety hit very close to home for me. After I finished it, I happily discovered that Zappia lives near Indianapolis and I got to meet her (albeit in a wheelchair, which was lame).
4. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo 
This was another recovery read. This book is written in gorgeous free verse poems. It is the story of Xiomara, an Afro-Dominican teen coming of age in New York City. The best stories told in poems can stir even more emotion than a novel, and this one certainly succeeds in that respect.
5. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and it certainly lived up to my expectation (though sadly some members of my book club did not like it as much as I). This is the first book in a new fantasy series that takes place in an African mythology inspired world. The world-building in this first book was incredible, and I'm very excited to see where the story goes.

Nonfiction:
1. Educated by Tara Westover
EVERYONE NEEDS TO GO READ THIS BOOK. Tara is a historian who was raised by Mormon survivalists in rural Idaho and had no formal schooling until COLLEGE. Seriously. It's incredible.
2. Hunger by Roxane Gay
One of my first reads of 2018, this one has stuck with me. I am a huge Roxane Gay fan already (last year Bad Feminist made my top books list), and this book is a deeply personal exploration of her relationship with her body. Feelings.
3. Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou
Bought this one on Audible knowing very little about it and it did not disappoint. I think I listened to the whole thing in two days. A story of a GIGANTIC fraud commited by a biotech startup called Theranos. So interesting.
4. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in The American City by Matthew Desmond
This one is a Pulitzer winner, and it just completely blew my mind. Changed my worldview. Check your privilege, friends. I apologize to my friend Jeremy, the only person I knew who had already read this book, who fielded at least a dozen texts from me while I read this.
5. Get Well Soon: History's Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them by Jennifer Wright
I got this one on Audible after it was chosen as one of their favorite listens of the year, and I loved it a lot more than I thought I would. Jennifer Wright is a very funny writer, but this book is also very well-researched. The Spanish Flu was really messed up, friends. Also, you know a book is good when my husband demands to listen to it.

Alright, friends. I've made you read enough already. Stay tuned in the next few days for some statistics on my 2018 reading year and some goals for next year.