Red Sister–Mark Lawrence (the first book in the Ancestor Series). I’m a sucker for books about orphan children with special talents at magical schools. So I’m a sucker for this book. I’m starting book two tonight. A
The Invisible Library–Genevieve Cogman (first book in a series). Steampunk? Libarians? Sexy demons? Cogman’s book has all the things I usually love, but I was underwhelmed here. It’s a fast read, and there’s even a twist or two, but it didn’t really capture me the way I wanted it to. B-
People of the Book–Geraldine Brooks. Brooks writes beautiful prose. Here, in a multi-protagonist, time-sweeping narrative, she explores a famous illustrated Jewish text. This is based on the true story of a rare manuscript, a Jewish text illustrated in a medieval Christian style, protected by Muslim scholars. A+
How to Marry a Werewolf–Gail Carriger. A disgraced American and a prideful Werewolf? Everyone around them can see it’s love at first sight. This little novella captures all the things that makes Carriger’s books popular. B
I’m Just a Person–Tig Notaro. I knew a lot of this story, since I’ve seen all of Tig’s comedy and One, Mississippi, the series based on her life. I read this all in one sleepless night. It’s funny and moving, just like Tig. A
Above the China Sea–Sarah Bird. A former student who just returned from a trip to Japan recommended this to me. Two stories overlap in this story of Okinawa: a multiracial military brat grieving her sister in the current time, and a teenage girl working as a nurse in the Imperial Army’s cave hospitals during the American invasion (WWII). Both stories are compelling, but I was drawn to the historical tale more, which is impeccably researched. A
