Here are the poems from this month that I found impactful.
1. Robeson at Rutgers by Elizabeth Alexander
2. Summer by Chen Chen
3. Recreation by Audre Lorde
4. Something Like We Did II by Tim Seibles
5. The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes
6. Gratification to the Survivors of Daily Damnations by Oladejo Abdullah Feranmi
Here’s the books I started or finished in February. One thing I forgot to mention in January’s post is that I have an account on Storygraph if anyone wants to add me on there! My username is madelinerm.
1. The Burning God by R. F. Kuang
2. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
Translated by Eric Ozawa
3. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
4. The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
5. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a fast paced story about a collection of days in a woman’s life that she spends at her family’s bookshop. After a failed romance, Takako moves into the room above her uncle’s used bookshop. The bookshop is located in Jimbocho, Tokyo. This neighborhood is known for streets teeming with book stores, all specializing in different genres. Our MC spends quality time with her Uncle, overcomes her broken heart, and learns a little something or two along the way. This book is great for a peaceful read that can be completed in an afternoon. I just found out there is a second book as well that I think I will give a chance soon. This is a book translated from Japanese to English, which I think explains how simple the story reads, and I wish I could experience it in it’s original language. Maybe one day.
The Burning God is the final book in the Poppy War trilogy by R. F. Kuang. I have now read every book she has written, and have preordered her next story, Katabasis. She has quickly become my favorite author over the past two years. The Burning God is a fitting and heartbreaking end to a remarkable series. The first book came out in 2018 and the final book was published in 2020. I discovered a new genre, grimdark fantasy, while reading these books. Kuang draws inspiration from mid-20th-century China, more specifically the Second Sino-Japanese War, and an atmosphere inspired by the Song dynasty. I’ve said it before, but Kuang does a brilliant job creating imperfect anti-heroes that you can’t get out of your head. Fang Runin is problematic, hot headed, and abrasive most of the time, yet we get to see her at her most vulnerable, and we get an inside look as to why she does what she does. All the characters fit together so seamlessly that in the end you really don’t want any of the possible outcomes, because you know you will be crushed regardless. The world building, the magic system, the character development and the storytelling all play a part in making this series so addicting. You hate almost everyone, and yet you love them just the same. I have not decided if I want to read the Nezha POV scenes yet, as I am not sure my heart can take it. We also just got word that the Dragon Republic (book two) will get the new cover design this June. Can’t wait to order that!
The God of the Woods was interesting. I enjoyed it, but also I did not really care for it. The story is told through multiple characters POVs and flips between the past and the present to solve two mysteries, a mission person and a murder. Overall the plot is good, but it’s not great. I think Moore was trying to add to the mystery of it all by switching to a diff POV at the right moment to keep you on the edge of your seat, but I just found it annoying because the stories didn’t have the same draw. Oft I would skip ahead to the chapters I wanted to read because others were boring. Or I would play one I wasn’t too excited to read via audiobook while taking a shower or making a snack. Then I would save the chapters I preferred for reading before bed, etc. The characters were fully developed, I did want to know what happened, but the pacing didn’t work for me.
The final book I completed this month was an indirect recommendation from my friend Seydou. The Sirens of Titan was another sci-fi book that once I actually started reading it this go around, it was very fast paced. The story never gets any less confusing, considering its told in a very odd way. Everything does end up making sense, though. it’s basically a story about a rich man who is told that the prophecy has him getting married and moving to mars for a bit, and then he will end up on Titan, one of Satrun’s moons. There’s a godlike character that is basically the one facilitating everything. There is life on Earth, life on mars, war, detours, and a plot twist at the end. Nothing is BAM in your face shock value, but there is some humor, some satire, some uncomfortable and sad moments, and its a unique story. Guess I am a sci-fi girly after all. I was told this is a deep cut by Kurt V, and that I should try a different one next. Maybe I will!
The House of the Spirits is our bookclub book, which we have two more weeks of so I will post my thoughts on that one next month!
Book Goal Tracker: 6/30
Madeline Daily 