Let the Right Book In

Stamped is a fantastic starting point for anyone looking to learn more about the history of racism within America. It’s a remix of the comprehensive book Stamped From the Beginning, meaning that the book has been condensed and made more accessible for a younger audience. I fully intend to go back and read Stamped From the Beginning, but this one gave me the foundation I really needed. “But the thing about being Black is that just being can bring bloodshed.” To put it bluntly - this book blew my mind. There was just so much I didn’t know, that I wasn’t even aware of, and Reynolds presents all this information in easily digestible bite-sized chunks. The history of racism is told chronologically, which makes the most sense of course, taking us from the story of the world’s first racist in 1415 up until Obama’s presidency. The most eye-opening chapter for me was the one about the War on Drugs and how it was implemented to target the Black community. This has been referred to in a few podca...

First of all, HUGE thank you to @orionbooks for this review copy! Chalk it up now: Tiffany McDaniel is a REAL bonafide talent. The Summer That Melted Everything was not a one-off masterpiece - McDaniel is here to stay. “Boys are like that. Always tryin’ to pretend they’re savin’ girls from somethin’. They never seem to realize, we can save ourselves.” Betty is a coming-of-age tale based upon McDaniel’s mother’s upbringing in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Heavily infused with the stunning storytelling and culture of the Cherokee people, Betty is the story of the Carpenter family. In a nutshell, if you loved TSTME, there’s a great chance you’ll fall head over heels for this story too. Once again Tiffany manages to explore a multitude of heavy themes including rape, incest, sexual abuse, racism, poverty and so forth, through her beautifully poetic prose. But as you can see, there are many trigger warnings for this one! One of my favourite things about McDaniel’s work so far ...

Me to this book: I will NOT remember you. In fact, I’ve already forgotten quite a lot since I finished this one. Memo to self: please do better at writing reviews soon after finishing a book. “They screamed as loudly as each other when a small hand reached around the corner. Four pale, yellowish fingers appeared, gripping the wood, then disappeared just as quickly.” It’s not a BAD book, don’t get me wrong. It’s actually quite frustrating because the potential is there, but it’s never fully realised. A brief synopsis: three friends go out to an abandoned house in an isolated village in the Icelandic Westfjords to start some renovations. But they might not be alone in this village after all... *eerie music plays* There are two main storylines in I Remember You, one of which focuses on the friends in the village, the other follows a man back on the mainland who lost his son a few years before. The chapters alternate back and forth, which can only really be successful if both narratives ar...