It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? 2-13-23

Picture of bookshelf with text: SPEAKING OF BOOKS

Currently Reading

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

Romantic Comedy (Random House, Apr. 4, 2023) by Curtis Sittenfeld

“Three cheers for Curtis Sittenfeld and her astute, sharp and ebullient anthropological interest in the human condition.”—The New York Times Book Review

I received an advance copy of Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld and decided to read it in honor of Valentine’s Day this week. (As well as to try and keep up better with the books on my NetGalley shelf!) The setting is a live TV comedy show like Saturday Night Live, with Sally, a writer with the show, – whose whole life is the show, really – surprised by her reaction to the handsome, unexpectedly funny pop star singer, Noah, who is that week’s guest host and musical performer. I love it!

The Talking Drum by Lisa Braxton

The Talking Drum (Inanna, 2020) by Lisa Braxton

The Talking Drum, set in the early 1970’s, deftly weaves the stories of three young, struggling couples living near Petite Africa, a community of African and West Indian immigrants. Issues of gentrification, race, gender politics, and class inform this propulsive story, but at its heart, this is a novel about who you love and who becomes your home. A moving and skillful debut.” – Stephanie Powell Watts, author of No One Is Coming To Save Us

This is a sad, but unfortunately realistic story about redevelopment forcing out low-income and middle-income residents of their homes, neighborhoods, and livelihoods. Hope and optimism are still present in the story about three-quarters of the way along, but getting harder for the characters to maintain. A good book by a local author!

Recently Read

The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt

The Last Samurai (Miramax Hyperion, 2000) by Helen DeWitt

The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt is an amazing book! If you’re interested in ideas, Akira Kurosowa films, foreign languages, ancient languages, math, science, and in questioning commonly held beliefs about learning, parenting, and education, you should definitely give this book a try. Especially if you don’t mind having to look up a lot of stuff as you read!

Currently Listening To

A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny

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