re: LOOT, I suspect "a statue of a tiger eating someone's face" is a depiction of a tiger attack? but it reminded me of when I was a kid and my hometown got its very own NFL franchise and erected a statue of a jaguar at the stadium and all the elementary schools took field trips there and one kid got his head stuck in the jaguar statue's mouth and had to be rescued with the jaws of life....so there is a part of me wondering if this statue of a tiger....ate someone's face.
"The Westing Game" was one of my three favorite books as a child ("Harriet the Spy" and "The Mixed-Up Files..." the other two)! I read them all recently, and they all held up. (As did my favorite YA, Lois Duncan's "Down a Dark Hall.")
I want to read THEM ALL!!! (And am actually kind of embarrassed that I don't know them, but also really excited because now, wow, all these new books to add to the towering and precarious pile next to my bed.) Thank you for making this list. Really.
Everything is Tuberculosis is a great read and one that I'm making my teenage son read this summer (he is not generally a reader but wants to try to become more of one before he goes to college and BOY I HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT THIS) so looking forward to talking to him about it at some point.
Instantly added Big Girl to my reading queue, so thanks for that suggestion
I read and reviewed The Stone Home. Harrowing but important. The Buddha in the Attic <- great recommend. I'll lookup some of the others , including Villette (who knew?) and Laughter, since I could use some right now. Thanks for being a trustworthy source!
When I saw your "new" book was on that summer reading list, I wondered how I'd missed it. Isn't there a part of you that secretly wants to write "Boiling Point?"
You got a well-deserved shout out for your reading list in the Reno (yes, that one) News and Review today. Someone in Reno is as enamored with you as I am! There is hope, after all.
Thanks so much for this list. I’ve long been interested in the sociology of disease so the TB book was a real find for me. It’s a real gift to get recommendations from someone like you who doesn’t have an agenda to promote other than “read good writing.” The breadth of these titles is wonderful.
I have always loved and learned from Judi Otsuka's The Buddha in the Attic. I wish it were more widely known. I also loved her first novel, When the Emperor Was Divine. Her books are little gems that take you to a different time and place. Thank you for included her work here.
re: LOOT, I suspect "a statue of a tiger eating someone's face" is a depiction of a tiger attack? but it reminded me of when I was a kid and my hometown got its very own NFL franchise and erected a statue of a jaguar at the stadium and all the elementary schools took field trips there and one kid got his head stuck in the jaguar statue's mouth and had to be rescued with the jaws of life....so there is a part of me wondering if this statue of a tiger....ate someone's face.
That is amazing.
"The Westing Game" was one of my three favorite books as a child ("Harriet the Spy" and "The Mixed-Up Files..." the other two)! I read them all recently, and they all held up. (As did my favorite YA, Lois Duncan's "Down a Dark Hall.")
Thanks, you gave me some new YA books to read.
May I suggest Phillip Pullman's new trilogy, The Book of Dust?
It is as captivating as the previous one, The Dark Materials.
I loved Harriet the Spy and The Mixed Up Files of Mrs..." too!
I loved The Most. I didn’t get out of bed until I finished reading this novel.
I want to read THEM ALL!!! (And am actually kind of embarrassed that I don't know them, but also really excited because now, wow, all these new books to add to the towering and precarious pile next to my bed.) Thank you for making this list. Really.
Signed, a human reader.
I'm with you when you describe the precarious pile(S) of books around my desk.
Everything is Tuberculosis is a great read and one that I'm making my teenage son read this summer (he is not generally a reader but wants to try to become more of one before he goes to college and BOY I HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT THIS) so looking forward to talking to him about it at some point.
Instantly added Big Girl to my reading queue, so thanks for that suggestion
❤️❤️❤️❤️
I read and reviewed The Stone Home. Harrowing but important. The Buddha in the Attic <- great recommend. I'll lookup some of the others , including Villette (who knew?) and Laughter, since I could use some right now. Thanks for being a trustworthy source!
So glad to see Crystal Hana Kim's The Stone Home on your list. It should be paired with We Do Not Part to encourage understanding of Korea.
When I saw your "new" book was on that summer reading list, I wondered how I'd missed it. Isn't there a part of you that secretly wants to write "Boiling Point?"
Placed a bunch of these on hold at the library, so I expect they'll all come in at once now! 😂
You got a well-deserved shout out for your reading list in the Reno (yes, that one) News and Review today. Someone in Reno is as enamored with you as I am! There is hope, after all.
https://renonr.com/newsletter/from-the-rnr-need-a-palate-cleanser-after-the-chicago-sun-times-ai-generated-reading-list/
This is a great list. And yes, I am a Villette fan also--I prefer it! Much weirder and more interesting!
Thank you! (written by a human)
Thanks so much for this list. I’ve long been interested in the sociology of disease so the TB book was a real find for me. It’s a real gift to get recommendations from someone like you who doesn’t have an agenda to promote other than “read good writing.” The breadth of these titles is wonderful.
I have always loved and learned from Judi Otsuka's The Buddha in the Attic. I wish it were more widely known. I also loved her first novel, When the Emperor Was Divine. Her books are little gems that take you to a different time and place. Thank you for included her work here.
Thank you! These look great, I haven't ready any of them, and I just put four of them on hold in my local library.