When I’m not writing, I’m reading … or doing other stuff. But let’s go with reading.
It seems like I’ve been reading a lot of dark, surreal takes on the world lately, which maybe speaks to the times. Please see my recent Goodreads reviews below, and let me know in the comments if you’ve read any of these books or recommend others (Maybe something lighter, like Utopia PR)
The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValleMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Ballad of Black Tom is an engaging Lovecraftian tribute with a refreshing Black perspective. While running errands for purveyors of the dark arts, protagonist Charles Thomas Tester shows us the unfair prejudices and dangers he experiences in everyday life just because of the color of his skin. This novella by Victor LaValle may contain a demonic Sleeping King, but its true horror comes from police who shoot first and justify their violence after the fact. It was a quick read but not a story that will be forgotten fast. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
The Memory Police by Yōko OgawaMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A beautifully bleak and surreal dystopian novel. The concept of people unwillingly forgetting objects, animals and more everyday things is compelling, and the disappearances become more horrifying as the book goes on. I enjoyed the natural and small village imagery — it was a nice contrast to the typical futuristic city in the genre.
The book reminded me a little of Kafka in the way that the people of this world seem frustratingly helpless to fix their situation. A novel within the novel similarly follows an utterly trapped character.
The conclusion left me with more questions than answers. Luckily, I read this with a discussion group — there’s certainly a lot to discuss here! It’s not exactly a book to lighten one’s spirits, but it’s a haunting story that will keep you thinking about it long after you finish.
Lakewood by Megan GiddingsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
In the way that The Handmaid’s Tale used the dystopian genre to address women’s issues, Lakewood taps the horror genre to probe a lesser known history of medical experimentation on African Americans.
In an impressive debut, Megan Giddings shows how poor-paying job options and high medical bills can combine to leave people vulnerable to exploitation. Giddings writes in an approachable style with likable characters that pulled me into the story and kept me excited to read more.
Fans of socially aware scary movies like Get Out will certainly dig Lakewood. I’m excited to see what Giddings writes next.
Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max BrooksMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A fun summer read if you’re into monster stories. Follows the classic horror trope of people getting trapped somewhere with a monster, but the sasquatch mythology and found-journal / non-fiction approach makes it a lot of fun. It also feels pretty relevant to current events that are happening now after Max Brooks wrote the thing. Prescient!
I’d read it at the beach if I felt comfortable going during a pandemic! (Note: I wrote this review in September 2020. Feeling better about the beach now!)
Check out my Goodreads page for more views and visit my bookshop to buy these and other books I recommend. Happy reading!
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