I read Andy Weir’s first book, The Martian, years ago, but hadn’t read any others until my book group picked his 2021 Project Hail Mary. As the book opens, an unnamed man is awakening without knowing who or where he is, and he slowly realizes he is alone on a spaceship, the medical robot havingContinue reading “Project Hail Mary”
Tag Archives: fiction
The History of a Difficult Child
The History of a Difficult Child (2023) is Mihret Sibhat’s first novel, and I wish there had been more buzz about it, as it is so inventive and original, and the primary character–the “difficult child” Selam Asmelash–has such a strong voice! Sibhat uses multiple perspectives to tell Selam’s story, beginning before her birth to DegituContinue reading “The History of a Difficult Child”
The Cemetery of Untold Stories
Julia Alvarez’s newest novel, The Cemetery of Untold Stories (2024) was a delight! I so loved her In the Time of the Butterflies and Afterlife that I knew I couldn’t miss this one. Alma, the celebrated writer known as Scheherazade, is in the twilight of her career, and has boxes and boxes of unfinished draftsContinue reading “The Cemetery of Untold Stories”
The River We Remember
I loved The River We Remember (2023) by William Kent Krueger, which was a selection for my library book group. I didn’t have any previous knowledge of the book or the author, but I devoured it after the last line of the prologue, which describes the story as how the channel catfish in the riverContinue reading “The River We Remember”
Camp Sylvania
I loved reading Camp Sylvania (2023) by Julie Murphy, as an adult with a child who is now also an adult. I so wish that there had been books like it when I was a fat child or even a fat parent of a child. Books like Camp Sylvania are so, so needed, so thatContinue reading “Camp Sylvania”
My Big Fat Fake Marriage
I enjoyed the ride of My Big Fat Fake Marriage (publication day March 11, 2025) by Charlotte Stein, although there weren’t any surprises. The banter, though, is superb!! Set somewhere in England, Hazel, who goes by Connie as an adult, works for a marketing company and is somewhat jaded, although she is close to herContinue reading “My Big Fat Fake Marriage”
All the Water in the World
I absolutely loved All the Water in the World (pub. date January 7, 2024) by Eiren Caffall! This literary climate story is told from the perspective of Nonie, a 13-year old girl who has lived on the roof of the American Museum of Natural History for eight years, with her father, and older sister Bix,Continue reading “All the Water in the World”
The Last Bookstore on Earth
In The Last Bookstore on Earth (pub. date January 7, 2024), by Lily Braun-Arnold, the immaturity and poor choices made by the narrator indicated that it was clearly for a young adult audience. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this queer post-apocalyptic climate fiction, Narrated by Liz, a teenager who is living alone in the bookstore where sheContinue reading “The Last Bookstore on Earth”
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
I was thrilled to finally get to read The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store (2023) by James McBride, as I’ve loved his writing since reading his memoir The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother and the brilliant pre-civil war historical fiction The Good Lord Bird. In The Heaven and EarthContinue reading “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store”
How to Get a Life in 10 Dates
In How to Get a Life in Ten Dates (publication date December 10, 2024), I loved meeting Jenny L. Howe’s newest characters–Haleigh and Jack–who live in the same world with some of the same characters from Howe’s first two books–On The Plus Side and The Make-Up Test. Twenty-five year olds Haleigh and Jack have beenContinue reading “How to Get a Life in 10 Dates”
Reading While Fat 