The Sympathizer is a first novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen, which won last year’s Pulitzer Prize for literature. It’s a fascinating look at the Vietnam War and its aftermath from the perspective of the Vietnamese. Right away it makes you realize how much Americans only see the Vietnam War from our own perspective, not those … Continue reading
A Raisin in the Sun is a play by Lorraine Hansberry that debuted on Broadway in 1959. The New York Drama Critics’ Circle named it the best play of 1959. I read this powerful work for the Classics Book a Month challenge. It’s the story of the Younger family, an African-American family living in … Continue reading
Both of these books were on this year’s Bailey’s Prize for Women longlist, although neither made it to the shortlist (in addition to Hag-Seed). The winner of the Bailey’s Prize will be announced June 7. Though quite different, these two books had several things in common. Both are historical fiction, both have a main character who … Continue reading
Warm weather means outdoor reading, and if you’re looking to pick up some new science fiction or fantasy, these links will help. If you’re looking to diversify or change up your science fiction and fantasy reading, here are two links with recommendations. SFF Book Reviews has a two-part list of favorite diverse science fiction and … Continue reading
This was a difficult book to review, because it’s 1) about slavery, which is hard to talk about; and 2) it won the Pulitzer Prize. So I’m a bit intimidated, but I’ll give you my thoughts. The novel begins on a slave plantation in Georgia, in the early 1800’s. Cora is a young woman whose … Continue reading
March was a big month for literary award nominations! The Bailey’s Prize longlist honors the best novel written by a woman in English. You can find the Pen/Faulkner Award Finalists here (honors the best work of fiction published by an American in 2017) and the Man Booker International Prize Longlist here (awarded to the best … Continue reading
This is a beautifully written book. Woodson is known for writing award-winning children’s books; this is her first adult novel in twenty years and was a finalist for the National Book Award. In it she tells the story of August, who returns to Brooklyn for her father’s funeral and runs into an old friend. This … Continue reading
I had heard so many good things about this book (it won the 2016 Bailey’s Prize) that I was nervous it might not live up to expectations. It absolutely did. I was immediately drawn into the story of Ryan, a fifteen-year-old boy with an abusive, alcoholic father who is experiencing love (and as he tells … Continue reading
Pleasantville is part of a series about a Texas lawyer named Jay Porter. I try never to come into a series in the middle, but this book was on the Bailey’s Prize longlist so it seemed worth a try. Although coming in at Book 2 makes it difficult to write a good review, since I … Continue reading
The Portable Veblen is my favorite book of the year, so far, and easily my favorite among the Bailey’s Prize nominees I’ve read. I was worried going in that this book was going to be too cute for me. I’m not a fan of books that are self-consciously quirky – just give me a good … Continue reading
Thank you, Kate Atkinson, for this fantastic book. I’ve been a fan of Atkinson for years, but while I could appreciate Life After Life, the multiple-life plot device made it hard to really get into the story. A God in Ruins was exactly what I’d hoped for, and more. It’s about the life of one … Continue reading
The Bailey’s Women’s Prize for Fiction is an award given by the UK to the best novel each year written by a woman. Authors may come from any country. Each year the Bailey’s judges nominate a longlist of 20 books and a shortlist of 6 books. Bailey’s Prize winners include some books I’ve really liked … Continue reading
