The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Memory Police is a dystopian novel following the story of an unnamed author living on an unnamed island. One by one, things disappear on the island, though no one knows why. As objects such as perfume, birds, books, and hats disappear, the memory of these objects also recedes. Some civilians retain their memories, however, and are hunted by the Memory Police, a government organization determined to rid the island of these “dangerous” individuals. 

I loved this book from start to finish. Some of my favorite books don’t have specific plots and are more character studies, which is something I also really liked about The Memory Police. I love being introduced to a character in the middle of a story already in the process of taking place. For this book in particular, we begin the story at a time where the disappearances and the Memory Police are very familiar to our narrator. 

The relationships in this book are realistic and one of the strongest/most important aspects of the story. The Memory Police emphasizes the importance of human connection, our relationship to the past, memories, and the strength we gain from those we love. The thread to which our souls are tied to our memories is so fragile, yet so detrimental to our personhood. 

I read that Yoko Ogawa was inspired by Anne Frank’s diary and the story definitely reflects Nazi Germany and the S.S. Guards, but I was really impressed by the author’s ability to build a unique world for the Memory Police to operate in. 

Overall, I really loved this book. Metaphors live and breathe in The Memory Police and the story affected me on a deep, emotional level. The Memory Police is filled to the brim with loss, love, friendship, and pain, so I only recommend this if you are in the mood for a sadder story with a lot of heart. It’s definitely one of my favorite reads of the year!

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Washington Black introduces us to Wash, an eleven-year-old slave on a sugar plantation in Barbados, right as a new master comes to take control of the farm. The master's scientist of a brother, Titch, arrives alongside him. Titch takes a liking to Wash and takes him under his wing as an assistant and apprentice. Through Titch, Wash learns how to read, write, and draw, the latter of which Wash seems to have a natural talent for. As their bond grows, there is a tragic event on the farm, causing Titch and Wash to go on the run. Washington Black chronicles these events as well as Wash's experiences of becoming a free man and finding the identity that was stolen from him the day he was born.

Washington Black is a subtle yet profound story that really left its mark on me. I can't express the pure genius of this story and the finesse with which it was written. Esi Edugyan not only gives us a heartbreaking and realistic tale of slavery, but she also gives us an intimate look into how difficult freedom was for the slaves who were able to escape captivity. Throughout the story, Wash questions his identity and existence, not knowing who he is or what his purpose is, having been taught his whole life that his is an unnatural existence and that he belongs in chains. 

The relationship between Wash and Titch was so impressively nuanced. Edugyan was able to portray Titch's clemency whilst shedding light on white saviorism and the very harm it does to the people you are wishing to help. To witness Wash go from putting Titch on a pedestal to coming to terms with Titch's egocentric ideology was emotional but also very thought provoking.  

Some people didn't like the science and mystical elements of the story, but I found them vital to the narrative as it was clear to me that Edugyan put an incredible amount of effort into the metaphors used throughout the book. Every moment has a purpose, and it was a great experience as a reader to discern the deeper meanings. The characterization was amazing and your opinions on the characters change as you watch Wash's opinions change at the same time. It was a wild and emotional rollercoaster of a ride, and this is one of those books I wish I could read again for the first time.

Overall, Washington Black is one of my favorite books I've read this year! I highly recommend it! Wash's journey was incredible to experience, and I think he will stay with me for a long time.

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hamnet is Maggie O’Farrell’s interpretation of the parts of Shakespeare’s life that the history books unfortunately cannot provide to us. Not only does this book take a deep dive into Shakespeare’s marriage and family life, but also the death of his son and how this loss inspired him to write one of his most famous plays, Hamlet. 

This is one of those books that is entirely characterization and not much plot, which I personally adore! With that being said, this narrative is incredible. I really loved that Shakespeare remains unnamed in the story; instead, it focuses more on his wife Agnes, how they met, the evolution of their marriage, and Agnes’ role in the family. 

Hamnet is an incredible dialogue on grief, and Maggie O’Farrell’s commitment to depicting the different forms of grief is so appreciated. Of course, the main grief discussed in Hamnet is child loss and how this affects parents and siblings as they try to pick up the pieces of their lives. In addition to this, the grief of the past, of the future, of hopes/dreams, and of motherhood are also chronicled in this story. Not only are these examples of grief realistic, but they are also heartbreaking. 

There were also mystical elements mixed into the story, which added a lot of depth and emotion that maybe would have lacked due to unknown historical facts surrounding Shakespeare’s life and relationships. Agnes’ abilities in particular were interesting and I really enjoyed those parts of her character. 

As the cover of this book mentions, Hamnet is a plague story, focusing on the Bubonic Plague in particular. Maggie O’Farrell was able to paint a very real and disturbing version of the Bubonic Plague without being gory or disrespectful to its victims. She was able to use the plague almost like an additional character, and the finesse with which she did it shows the talent she possesses. 

Overall, if you enjoy historical fiction, this isn’t just a recommendation - this is a must read for you! It very quickly became one of my favorite books this year! It really is incredible. As someone who has lost a sibling, this story really hit me. I loved it.

Babel by R.F. Kuang

Babel by R.F. Kuang
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Robin Swift, born in Canton and orphaned by the Cholera pandemic, is brought to London by Professor Lovell, a professor at Oxford's Royal Institute of Translation (Babel). Robin is ruthlessly trained day and night in the subject of languages and translation to fulfil Professor Lovell's orders of his enrollment at Babel. Years later, Robin is ready for Babel and learns just how the magic of language can change the world - but soon, Robin realizes that there is a cost to the knowledge and power that Babel holds. 

This is one of the most extraordinary books I have ever read. The amount of work, knowledge, research, imagination, organization, and CONFIDENCE that R.F. Kuang had to have had in order to put this together far surpasses my understanding of what humans are capable of. Babel is genuinely incredible. There is so much genre-meshing here - Babel is fantasy, dark academia, historical fiction, and political! This is, by far, one of my favorite coming of age stories I have ever read. 

I really grew to love these characters and the setting absolutely envelops you - I swear I could see everything Kuang described. Some of the criticisms that Babel has received are valid, although I don't agree with all of them. Some have said that this book reads like a textbook. That's true, but it's something I adored about the story. I loved learning about the history of translation as well as the political repercussions that go along with the gathering (and hoarding) of information and resources. 

I rated Babel 5 stars for all of these reasons, although I do have a few personal criticisms. Firstly, I feel like the supporting characters needed/deserved more. Poppy War is a great example of secondary characters having fully fleshed out histories/origins. Secondly, I hated the ending. I just really wasn't happy with it, though, admittedly, it was a good way to end the book.

Babel is a masterpiece. I need a sequel ASAP! I highly recommend this for fantasy lovers and/or history buffs. The political content is beautifully done, which is always expected from R.F Kuang at this point. Wow. Just wow - I adored this book!

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Piranesi was an incredible reading experience. As I was moving through this story, I was constantly feeling amazed that an actual human being could create something like this just by using their mind. It was completely phenomenal. 

Firstly, I read this book very quickly - I literally couldn't pull myself out of the world of Piranesi. The book consists of a series of journal entries composed by a nameless man who refers to himself as Piranesi. He lives in a castle-like building that has no beginning or ending. Inside of this building, an ocean, an endless amount of statues, and random skeletons can be found. Sometimes, Piranesi is visited by a man he calls "The Other." One day, The Other tells Piranesi that danger is imminent and they defeat it before it can wreak its havoc - but are they on the same team?

The only criticism I can come up with for this story is that the ending is somewhat predictable, but it really does not detract from the book whatsoever. Otherwise, this book was such a pleasure to read and experience. Piranesi is surreal, well planned, and effortlessly put together - it's honestly such an inspiration!

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
by Ocean Vuong
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ocean Vuong's debut novel, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, opens up as a deeply moving letter to his illiterate mother, but by the end, we realize that this is more of a letter to himself, to us, to the powers that be, to all of mankind, and to the past. In this relatively short memoir/novel, Ocean encapsulates some of the rawest wisdom I have ever encountered, all while developing his own definition of humanity by reliving (and reshaping) his past. 

I struggled writing this review at first. What else is there to say other than that it is one of the most profound pieces of writing I have had the pleasure of experiencing? What else is there to say other than that this changed my perspective on grief and trauma? 

Admittedly, it took me a while to finish this book. It sat heavy on my heart each time I picked it up. I would read, cry, process, and read again. These pages bleed with trauma, loss, love, but most of all, hope, the kind of hopeless hope that hits you in the chest, leaving you breathless because how do we carry our accumulative corpses if we can't wish for a day in the future where we can set them down? Every time I picked up On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous,  I left with something new and heavy imprinted onto my soul

Subjectively speaking, this is one of the most important novels/memoirs to exist in my opinion. Ocean's pain is substantial and his longing is a longing that I, and many others, can resonate with on an incredibly deep level. Objectively speaking, Ocean's real life experiences spark a discourse on the coexistence of negligence and care, hate and love, authenticity and insincerity - all in the name of survival. Ocean also discusses his relationship with colonialism, sexuality, queerness, drug use, and racism, all while setting a phenomenal example of what effect beautiful prose and lyricism can have on us emotionally. 

This book might be little, but she is fierce - she packs a punch. I would highly recommend any of Ocean's work for the world to read. His is a voice that belongs to an entire generation and I believe also to a future literary legend. I adore him just as I adored this book. 

White Oleander by Janet Fitch

White Oleander by Janet Fitch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I have had this book for well over ten years and every time I tried to pick it up, I put it back down. It has been a book that I have longed to read but it never felt like the right time. I am so grateful that I waited. If I had read White Oleander at any time prior to this year, I don't think I would have understood it as deeply as I do now as a 26 year old woman. I believe everyone could read, enjoy, and carry this book in their heart, but I think it is especially important for every woman to experience Astrid's story. 

White Oleander follows the journey of Astrid before, during, and after her Mother Ingrid is sent to prison for committing murder. Being only 12 years old at the time of her mother's incarceration, Astrid is sent into the foster care system. 

This is a story that takes place over several years and in many different settings. We also meet a plethora of characters, each coming from polar opposite worlds and experiences. There are so many aspects to this book and I really don't know where to begin with my thoughts. That's how you know it's a favorite of mine. I loved this book. From the very first page, I knew this was going to be a forever favorite.

Not only is this a difficult coming of age story centered on surviving trauma, but it is also about how each and every person we encounter in life, whether a positive or negative influence, leaves a mark on us. We are covered in the bruises and scars from all the hands that have ever touched us. This is a story of finding mothers in strangers, and sometimes, even in ourselves. 

White Oleander is pain, hope, love, friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness all combined to create a mesmerizing and heartbreaking tale of survival. This entire book reads like one long poem and there were so many tabs and annotations by the end. If I could rate this more than 5 stars, I would. This comes extremely, passionately, and highly recommended by me! Please keep in mind that White Oleander contains many triggering topics, such as abuse, pedophilia, grooming, substance abuse, etc. so be prepared beforehand if you'd like to read this one!

Survive the Night by Riley Sager

Survive the Night by Riley Sager
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Surviving the Night was a rollercoaster ride worth taking! Charlie’s best friend Maddy was murdered by the so-called “Campus Killer.” Charlie, lost in grief and guilt, chooses to leave university and return home. Feeling like she needs to flee as quickly as possible, Charlie enlists a stranger’s help to make the long drive home. However, the strange man that took Charlie’s offer so eagerly could be a dangerous psycho or a knight in shining armor. 

Thrillers these days, whether novels, film, or television, struggle to create a story that has depth, emotion, and real suspense - it’s a difficult genre to find success in. Oftentimes, we rely on cheap thrills, random twists, and frequent plot holes in order to create and maintain suspense. I was so relieved while reading Survive the Night that this book did not fall victim to this trend! 

I must be honest and say that in the beginning, as we meet Charlie, I was very skeptical. Immediately we learn about her past, which is riddled with trauma. Without spoiling anything, I will say that Charlie has a very interesting coping mechanism for when her brain is overloaded by stress. It is a coping mechanism that causes her to float in and out of reality. For the first 100 pages, I felt very neutral about the story. My feelings were that the characterization and portrayal of mental illness and trauma responses was rather dramatized. By 150 pages in, my feelings changed and I was hooked. 

Every decision, twist, and plot device in this story is intentional. The suspenseful energy is maintained until the very end and the character development gives this story the emotional depth that thrillers often lack. The ending was exactly what this story needed. It was well thought out and planned - every twist made sense and aided in enhancing the narrative as well as the experience for the reader. 

Survive the Night is a highly recommended book! It was absolutely superb! Great characters, great twists, great story, and great writing. I am definitely looking forward to further exploring the rest of Riley Sager’s catalogue!

Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie

Fifty Words for Rain
by Asha Lemmie  
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It is rare to find a book that haunts you - that completely envelops you in heartbreak and leaves a lasting impression. Fifty Words for Rain sucked me in from the very beginning. 

Set in Kyoto, Japan during the 1940's, this story deals a lot with the themes of misogyny, servitude, sexual assault, trauma, belonging, but most importantly - love, and how it can intertwine itself in all of your trauma and hatred. 

Nori was a special main character, a colorful girl in a bleak, gray world. When it comes down to it, one of the many reasons this novel has stuck with me is that Asha Lemmie was incredibly successful in her portraying how life is unapologetic in its choice of victims. Asha did an amazing job writing such a soft, wonderful character and then damaging her (or more like breaking her) beyond recognition. 

I will not get into spoilers, but I can say that there were a few moments throughout the story that left me wanting more. Certain moments shared between Nori and her older brother, her friends, her grandparents could have been focused on a bit more, as well as the coming and going of important supporting characters (who should've been involved for a longer amount of time in the story). And finally - what everyone can probably agree on - the ending. The ending is NOT satisfying in the least, but it IS realistic and that is something that I can appreciate.

This book is definitely on my list of recommendations, but I would avoid it if you are not prepared for the constant exposure to intense emotions, abuse, sexual assault, or grief. Fifty Words for Rain was wonderful, but genuinely in the most painful of ways.

Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour

Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour  
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Watch Over Me by Nina Lacour is a must read for everyone! It is simple, yet profound and beautiful in all of its sorrow, joy, and pain. 

In this story we meet eighteen year old Mila, who has recently aged out of the foster care system. She has no friends or family - only her dark past littered with trauma to keep her company. She finds a job at a farm run by Julia and Terry, two foster parents who have created a home for hurt, lost, and “unwanted” children who have not yet found their forever homes. Mila is hired as a teacher and a farmhand, but the farm is not all it seems at first glance. There are ghosts haunting the farm, just as the past haunts many of those who find themselves there. 

I found myself resonating with Mila a lot more than I thought I would initially. The best way I can describe this novel would be to say: it speaks volumes in whispers. It is a story of trauma, of healing, of love, of belonging, of survival. It is a lesson in healing your inner child - finding joy in pain.

Just like the farm, this story is haunting. It finds its way into you. As a trauma survivor myself, I feel that this story should become mandatory reading. I took so much away from Mila’s story. Nina Lacour is a brilliant and imaginative writer. I will definitely be picking up more of her work to enjoy!

Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe

Say Nothing
by Patrick Radden Keefe
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

As an American of Irish descent, I have often heard about the Troubles and the IRA, but admittedly, it has always been in passing and never in much detail. That being said, a lot of what happened and is chronicled in Say Nothing was a complete surprise to me! From the very first chapter, this book was a page turner! 

The sheer volume of research that Keefe must have done for this book is massively impressive. The attention to detail is what makes this historical novel so outstanding. Not only is this book teeming with information, but Keefe did an impeccable job with not overwhelming you. At no point in this book does the author simply list facts in sentence form (which is unfortunately quite common in this genre), nor does he force so much down your throat at once that you cannot follow the story easily. From beginning to end, Say Nothing is a masterpiece of historical recollection. 

The best part of this book by far was Patrick Radden Keefe's ability to humanize the terrorists belonging to the IRA. He gives a background to every individual that had a role in these awful events (that took place over the course of 30 years!). He gives you insight into how the IRA consisted of many members who had humble beginnings as Socialist Pacifists. The road to terrorism was a wild one, but it becomes clear, as you read through the chapters, just how easily groups such as the IRA are able to suck in those who are blinded by their desperation. 

I would highly recommend Say Nothing to anyone interested in the general topic of history. I personally believe that stories about homegrown terrorism have become incredibly vital as white terrorism is becoming more and more prevalent in the United States. This is definitely a must read!

The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

The Angel's Game
by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story is a prelude of sorts to the first novel (The Shadow of the Wind), and follows David Martin, an aspiring author who writes penny dreadfuls for the newspaper that employs him. He has a dream of being a world-renowned novelist and when one day he gets fired from the newspaper, he devotes himself to writing the novel of his dreams. Shortly after he moves into a decrepit (and believed haunted) house, he finds himself slowly wasting away and is concurrently told of a tumor growing in his brain. David reluctantly accepts his oncoming death and gives up his dreams of authorship until one day he is approached by a supposedly famous French publisher. This publisher promises David that he will grant his wishes and give him an unimaginable sum of money if only he will complete one project over the course of one year's time - a religious text that will impact Barcelona's culture for the rest of time. There is a lot more to this synopsis, but I would spend the next three days explaining it! Set in 1920/30's Barcelona, The Angel's Game is a mixture of historical fiction, dark academia, fantasy, and love story. 

The Shadow of the Wind is one of my favorite books. It's enchanting, magical, and so beautiful in every way. The Angel's Game is just the same. From beginning to end, I was hooked to this story - I never wanted to put it down, and by the end, I was so emotionally attached to the world of David Martin that I really missed him after finishing this book. Martin's story is much darker than the story of Daniel Sempere in the first book, but still there were moments of love, warmth, and humor, although my heart was breaking all throughout this tale. Not only did I fall in love with David, but I fell in love all over again with the character of Sempere and his son Daniel. We also have an utterly amazing strong female supporting character in this novel and she is just wonderful and hilarious. 

As can be expected from Carlos Ruiz Zafon, the lyricism, prose, imagery, and atmosphere of this novel is breathtaking and unlike any other. I will always recommend this series. It is pure magic and one of my forever favorites!

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

 *TRIGGER WARNINGS* sexual assault, gore, death, themes of violence, child abuse, substance abuse

Her Body and Other Parties
by Carmen Maria Machado 
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Her Body and Other Parties is one of the best collections of short stories that I've ever read. Generally speaking, I'm not the biggest fan of short stories, but every so often I feel the urge to read a collection like this. To say that I enjoyed this book would be a massive understatement!

Her Body is every surrealist, horror obsessed feminist's fever dream. These stories bleed divine femme energy in the most amazing way, though there are definitely many trigger warnings that go alone with this book. 

At times cathartic, healing, powerful, disturbing, empowering, violent, subtle, loud, magical, unapologetic, and philosophical - these stories are so unique and refreshing. Not to mention the prose!! The prose in these pages was astounding and breathtaking, I annotated this book to death. 

Her Body and Other Parties is very dark and intense. It's not at all for the faint of heart. If you like fem lit, horror, or disturbing surrealism, this comes highly recommended from me! I've never read anything quite like this before and I loved every second of it!

Death In Spring by Merce Rodoreda

 *TRIGGER WARNINGS* sexual themes, ableism, gore, themes of violence, domestic abuse, child abuse, animal cruelty, death, suicide, themes of mental illness

Death In Spring by Merce Rodoreda
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Death in Spring is a story told from the perspective of an unnamed narrator as he recounts his experiences growing up and living in his village, also unnamed. The village has very disturbing traditions and rituals, though to the inhabitants, these rituals are necessary to their survival. We follow the narrator from childhood to adulthood as he tries to make sense of his life in the village and finds for himself his own meaning of life. 

Truly, this book left me speechless. Yes, this book is dark and disturbing, oftentimes a beautiful and fascinating example of surrealism - kind of like a fever dream that you don't want to wake up from. This is less of a story and more of a stream of consciousness, but Merce Rodoreda weaves this tale together with purpose and passion. There are moments of profound philosophy and the prose in these pages took my breath away. 

There are various trigger warnings that should accompany this novel, so please be aware of anything that may trigger you. The content in this book can be disturbing and a lot of times, these topics are so naturally included (because in the village, these things are normal, every day occurrences), that it can be unexpected and pretty jarring. 

Death in Spring has become a favorite of mine. It was a really intense and special experience as a reader. I am very excited to read more by Rodoreda - her writing is absolutely extraordinary. I don't think I can recommend this book to everyone because it's definitely one of a kind, but if you find yourself intrigued by the synopsis, then it is totally worth it!

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

 I don't know how or where to begin with this review so I'm going to try to keep it short and simple. 

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wolf Hall follows Thomas Cromwell, arguably one of the most important people in the history of British Royalty. I'm going to paraphrase here. Essentially, King Henry VIII wants to divorce Queen Katharine, his wife of nearly 20 years, because she has failed to give birth to a male heir. Henry sets his sights on Anne Boleyn and thus begins a domino effect of chaos that changes the course of history forever. Thomas Cromwell is the man who works tirelessly for nearly seven years to make this annulment and remarriage valid in God's eyes. The story in Wolf Hall is everything that takes place within these seven years... but that's not the only story being told in this book. There is a story within and underneath Henry VIII - hidden but obvious at the same time.

Wolf Hall is more about the question of God's will and whether it is more important to live your life to the best of your ability, or live your life in constant preparation for what comes after. How firmly do you hold onto your principals - at what point is your life more valuable than your ideals? It's much more complicated than that, of course, but that's the gist of it. This novel is very philosophical in all regards and Hilary Mantel is a master of layering these little nuggets of theology, philosophy, humanity, and history together and the finished product is a book that is unlike any I've ever read

Hilary Mantel's version of Cromwell, Henry, and Anne's story is complicated for sure. There is an almost constant use of the pronoun "he," which honestly confused me at first. I had to reread the first 50 pages once I realized that "he" refers to Thomas Cromwell like, 95% of time. Once you pick up on that, reading goes much more smoothly. 

There is a lot in this book - incest, miscarriages, adultery, blasphemy, sexual assault, brutal executions, and (worst of all) royal tantrums - but Mantel has given us a version of Cromwell who, though masterfully manipulative, calculating, and often told that he looks like a murderer, is filled with love and family. Cromwell's ability to hold tightly onto the people he loves and feels loyal to despite his rise in the ranks of the hierarchy, is truly aspirational and impressive.

Cromwell as a character is hilarious. He is so funny that there were moments where I laughed out loud at his sarcasm in moments of extreme tension. This is such a great book. It's long and there are so many characters. We move forward in time constantly and new people jump into the fray all the time. Even though it is a more complicated example of historical fiction, Wolf Hall 100% lives up to its reputation. I loved it and I loved my time in Thomas' mind. I already miss him... maybe I should order the sequel real quick.....

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

 *TRIGGER WARNINGS* rape, death, racism, political injustice, abuse, cruelty

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Poppy War's synopsis is pretty convoluted and if I tried to explain exactly what the story is about, we'd be here all day! So instead, here is my paraphrased version - Rin, a war orphan, escapes her abusive foster family by being accepted into Sinegard, a military school made to turn children into cutthroat soldiers. What comes next is war, death, gods, special powers, friendship, fantasy, and devastation. I mean, the world, races, and story that R.F. Kuang built for this story is kind of mind blowing!

Rin's story contains so many important issues that are real in our world - political injustice, civil rights, genocide, war crimes, racism, and so much more. At surface level, this book is an amazing fantasy story, but if you look a little deeper, there is so much written into these pages - friendship, loyalty, love, humanity. There are parts of this book that are lighthearted and funny, and there are parts that are so devastatingly disturbing that they will probably stick with me for a while.

Please be aware - there are many trigger warnings needed for this story - it can be absolutely brutal at certain points. 

The Poppy War is currently in first place for my favorite book so far this year. It is simply brilliant. R.F. Kuang has not only invented her own world, races, society and culture, but she has also created her own unique mythology and history that adds an intricate depth to Rin's world. And the character development! The relationships in this story and how they evolve! This book burned its marks into me, pun totally intended. 

If I could rate this more than 5 stars, I would. Fast paced, haunting, beautiful, and unique - The Poppy War absolutely blew me away!

Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou

Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the kind of book that I wish was written when I was younger. I realize that at the age of 26 years old, I still have no plans or ideas as to my future or how I want to spend my life, but reading this book showed me that I could have been spending the last ten years or more enjoying my freedom instead of waking up in the middle of an existential crisis on a daily basis... but enough about me. 

In all seriousness, this book is really poignant and profound, all whilst being hilarious, educational, and a page turner all at once. 

Ingrid Yang is a Taiwanese American who, at 29 years old, is a PhD student in the process of finishing her dissertation on the famous Chinese poet Xiao-Wen Chou. She is engaged to her soul mate and has never needed to second guess her life, love, race, or profession. That is until one day, she stumbles upon a secret. Xiao-Wen Chou does not exist and as this discovery unravels her professional life, her personal and love life soon follow. 

Everyone needs to read this book. Every word is perfection and the ending is the best that I have read in a very long time. It's so educational and my favorite thing about this book is the fact that Ingrid is 29 years old. This is a coming of age story, or rather, it shows that we are all always coming of age, regardless of how old we actually are. We are constantly evolving, growing, and learning. 

I love female written books with strong and interesting female characters. I highly recommend Disorientation - it's such a politically intriguing story that brings issues of race, gender, morals, ethics, love, and conventional success into a conversation that is both funny and endearing. It's such a unique book and I just adored it!