Poems (8)
1. The Monster in the Lake by Martín Espada
2. Obligations 2 by Layli Long Soldier*
3. Trans/figuration by Sanam Sheriff
4. The Brainfever Bird, Confused by Seasons by Tishani Doshi
5. No. 21 by Victoria Chang
6. My Father Gave Me a Gift by Mikeas Sánchez translated by Wendy Call
7. Famous by Naomi Shihab Nye
8. I Go Back to May 1937 by Sharon Olds
Books (3)
1. The Story of B by Daniel Quinn
2. Flesh by David Szalay
3. Brightly Shining by Ingvild H. Rishøi translated by Caroline Waight
Alrighty, not sure if you all recall, but I read Ishmael earlier this year. I have now taken down the second book in this series, The Story of B (TSOB). I was reading this on Libby, so I read it all just in page order. However, after seeing some reviews on StoryGraph, it appears people went to the back and read the lectures after the “*” appeared in the story, and then they would flip back to the next chapter or section of the book. I think I would have enjoyed that, but then again, I was able to zoom through the lectures at the end and it felt like I was actually prepared for class (unlike the old days). You’re probably wondering what the hell I’m talking about, and that’s fair. This story is about B. Who is B? Well B is whoever B is. I may as well be B now, but I don’t think I would be prepared quite yet to be B. This book will take all the uncomfortable and unfamiliar questions from Ishmael, and send you one step further. I realize last time I was extremely vague in explaining the story to you, but I simply didn’t want to spoil anything. The first story is really an introduction and kept a rather tame tone looking back, compared to TSOB. Ishmael involves a student and a teacher. TSOB involves people discovering the student, who has now become a “teacher” of sorts as well. The message we were given the first time around is now considered a threat. The lectures I mentioned earlier are coming from B, and we are trying to figure out why the message is so damning. There’s a third book that I will be getting in line for soon.
Szalay and I finally connected, and Flesh became available just in time for a drive to West Texas for the holiday week. Perfect timing because I was in line for the audiobook that whole time. I was also able to figure out why the wait was so long: it was a new book and just won the Booker Prize. Service95 really ate with that pick. Because of the news, this book has been in conversations all across the internet in both positive and negative manners. The topic of masculinity has come up, and I’ll leave it at that. No need to open that can of worms here in my blurb. I can’t say I loved it but I also can’t say I hated it. I think reading it in print (the author takes creative liberties with spacing) would have impacted my review of the book. It’s about the unspoken words and the unknown periods in his life, that make this book unique. We follow István from adolescence to adulthood, from Hungary to England, and only get a handful of moments in time to understand him. I will say, there are moments when you know a man wrote this, but it’s still an incredible book besides. Whether you love it or you hate it, you will finish this book with those thoughts a thinkin.
Well Dua, you would be proud of me! For all the times I failed you for book club, I have actually already finished December’s book. If you’re in the know you get the book early, and this one had no wait on Libby. A short, maybe three hour audiobook that I popped on for the drive home. Lily is probably glad it was only three hours and that I could put music on after that since she had a rowdy night the night before. As advertised, this was a holiday and winter themed book, but it was darker than you may be thinking. Brightly Shining draws inspiration from The Little Match Girl (iykyk) and paints addiction in a way I personally haven’t seen very often. A very quick read. Ambiguous ending. Give it a go.
I’m just now realizing I didn’t read November’s book yet…
Book Goal Tracker: 35/30
Madeline Daily 