Author: Kit

Categories
Fiction

The Office of Historical Corrections

by Danielle Evans, Book 3 of 2021

“Midwest nice was a steady, polite gaslighting I found sinister, a forced humility that prevented anyone from speaking up when they’d been diminished or disrespected, lest they be labeled an outsider.

Danielle Evans, The Office of Historical Corrections

It hurt to read these stories. And NOT because they were bad, but because they were so good. Danielle Evans is a deeply talented writer crafting thoughtful expressions of American life and race relations with just a few short stories. As a white woman, I found myself responding somewhere between cringing and crying throughout these stories. My favorites were “Richard of York Gave Battle in Vain”, “Why Won’t Women Just Say What They Want?”, and “Anything Could Disappear”. I’d recommend this collection to nearly anyone and I’m looking forward to reading what Evans writes in the future. 

Recommended for: Anyone. Just read these. Note: Audiobook lovers, each story has a different narrator and they are all excellent. 

Actions I will take in response to this book: 

  • Reconsider the way “midwest nice” impacts people who don’t fit in with the cultural norms and instead work for meaningful dialogue about differences.
  • Read more short story collections. 

Content Warnings: Violence, Death, Abduction, Racism, Hate Crime

Categories
Blog Fiction

The Divines

written by Ellie Eaton, Book 8 of 2021

“What am I supposed to tell him? That since becoming a mother I exist in a state of perpetual unease? That the world seems to me overwhelmingly dangerous and chaotic. How of all the multitudinous threats posed to him and the baby: earthquakes, rising sea levels, drunk drivers, melanomas, pandemics, zealots with semi automatics. It’s something else I’m most afraid of; the past slowly coiling around us, the snake in the crib.”

Ellie Eaton, The Divines

This book is unsettling, eerie, and deeply compelling. The story in The Divines is told by a woman named Josephine in alternating narratives. Some chapters are told from Jo’s perspective as a teenager at a failing all girls boarding school in the 90’s, and others as Sephine in her adult years as she struggles with marriage and motherhood. Listening to this story brought me back painfully to the sensitive years of teenagehood when everything feels so much more visceral than it does as an adult. It raises questions about how one sees oneself versus how one is seen and how we are all unreliable narrators in our own memory. Ellie Eaton is able to distill some of the common experiences of teenage girls and highlight how the disastrous effects of the self focused narrative can unravel themselves into adulthood.

I’d highly recommend reading this as an audiobook! Imogen Church is a wonderful narrator for this dark and dramatic story. As an American, the distinction between accents and tone was striking to listen to and added so much depth to the story that I otherwise would have totally missed. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Audio for providing early access to The Divines! 

Recommended for: Drama and Suspense Lovers, people who enjoy great narration. 

Actions I will take in response to this book:

  • Consider the impact my childhood friendships and relationships have on my present self
  • Reminisce on the feelings of being a teenager and empathize with teens in my life

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers): Bullying, Adolescent Trauma, Drugs, Sexuality, Body Image Issues, Substance Abuse 

Categories
Uncategorized

Fishing for Birds

by Linda Quennec, Book 7 of 2021

“The only literature worth reading is the kind that comes close to killing you a bit at a time. The kind that tells the truth. Life is a marriage of pain and happiness together they make joy, if you can see it.”

Linda Quennec, Fishing for Birds

I wholeheartedly agree with the quote above and found that in most ways this novel fits the description. Each of the three narrators provide insight into both universal pains felt by all people and the specific pains each woman feels at different phases of life in a way that made me question how I see my own life and the roles others play in it. I would highly recommend this book and don’t want to spoil it for anyone. 

P.S. I want to be Ivy when I grow up

Other thoughts about this book:

Things I love: Everything listed above and… that the book took place only on islands and the unique challenges and supports of being enclosed in a community. I loved the Canadian accent of the narrator and northern culture that was highlighted, it felt familiar and authentic to me (living in Northeast Wisconsin). I loved the historical and natural details and research that went into the writing. 

A few things I didn’t love: Some of the chapters felt a bit unnecessary to me. Though the prose was enjoyable and I enjoyed the description of island life.

Recommended for: Pretty much and person who identifies as a woman. It was an engaging and accessible read that I feel like would speak to different women in different ways at different points in life. Would make a great book club read! 

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers): Adoption, Death of a Spouse, Death, Familial Conflict

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Uncategorized

The Rib King

written by Ladee Hubbard, Book 5 of 2021

“All of this requires effort on my part. This effort is called work. And when I work I expect to be paid. Paid? That’s right. Cash.”

Jennie – The Rib King by Ladee Hubbard. 

This book was not at all what I expected in the best way. I’ve been reading a lot of historical fiction from African American perspectives but this was a truly unique story. It centers on Mr. Sitwell, a groundskeeper for a wealthy white family who over the course of the first half of the novel, rediscovers some unsettling memories from his past that lead to some unsettling repercussions.

I found myself unable to unplug from the story, needing to find out where the characters would end up. I enjoyed the split structure of the novel. The first and second half are told by two different narrators separated by several years. My one complaint about this was that it felt like it left some key questions unanswered. I’ve seen some reviews compare it to the Academy Award winning film Parasite and I do see some interesting parallels that could make for a great book club discussion. Honestly, I could see a lot of ways this book would make a great book club choice. I’ll be thinking about this one for awhile… 

Thank you to the publisher for providing me an early copy of this audiobook in return for my honest feedback. 

Recommended for: Anyone wanting a new take on historical racial injustice and its intersection with capitalism. Anyone interested in considering the role our biological and chosen families play in our lives and what we owe each other. 

Actions I will take in response to this book:

  • Constantly monitor how the legacy of white supremacy continues to this day and interrupt its modern manifestations. 
  • Pay black women for their work and support black owned businesses.

Content Warnings: Death of a Parent, Violence, Death, Race Violence 

Categories
Uncategorized

What Would Frida Do?

written by Arianna Davis, Book 4, 2021

“Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.”

Frida Kahlo

I have been a Frida Kahlo fan for a long time. My interest in her began in high school when I studied her life and work in both art and Spanish courses. She’s always been a trailblazer that I’ve loved for her unapologetic authenticity.

Thoughts about on book:

Things I love: This book has tons of lesser known stories and excerpts from her personal correspondence. In some ways my appreciation for Frida grew after reading this and in other ways this brought her back down to earth from the pillar she’s been placed on. This book provides a lovely perspective on how to truly live during difficult times. The cover! I know it’s superficial but the cover is joyful and just makes me happy. 

A few things I didn’t love: I enjoyed the lighthearted biographical nature of this book but I do think others may be disappointed that it’s less of a guide than the title would hint at. Many of the stories and historical facts are repeated multiple times and become annoying with each retelling.

Note: This is my first ARC (advanced reading copy) thank you very much to the publisher for sharing the audiobook with me in exchange for my unbiased opinion. 

Recommended for: Anyone feeling limited by their personal circumstances (illness, heartbreak, etc.). Frida Kahlo was an exceptionally resilient woman and could be a source of inspiration for anyone going through challenging times. 

Actions I will take in response to this book:

  • Continue to reaffirm the contradictory and complex nature of all people. 
  • Foster my own creativity and authenticity. 
  • Celebrate my health and appreciate it! 

Content Warnings: Alcoholism, Abuse, Infidelity, Illness, Vehicle Accident, Depression, Abortion

Categories
Blog Fiction

The House on Mango Street

written by Sandra Cisneros, Book 2, 2021

“Friends and neighbors will say, What happened to that Esperanza? Where did she go with all those books and paper? Why did she march so far away? They will not know I have gone away to come back. For the ones I left behind. For the ones who cannot out.”

Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street

I am glad I finally got around to reading this. I feel like it was one of the few books I didn’t read in elementary and middle school. I picked this up in both Spanish and English and read each tiny chapter in Spanish and then in English to check my understanding. I was able to get the general idea even with my limited Spanish language skills and I really enjoyed the mini stories within the greater narrative. Esperanza is an easy to love narrator and I liked the gentle rollercoaster of adolescent problems in comparison to the current state of the world. Ultimately, what I’m most impressed by is the beauty in the simplicity of the writing. It’s widely read for a good reason, if you haven’t already read it, you may want to. 

Recommended for: I’d recommend this to any middle school or late elementary school kids in my life. I’d recommend it to other folks looking for something accessible to read when practicing Spanish. 

Actions I will take in response to this book:

  • This story made me think about what we owe to our communities of origin. As an adult who lives in the same city I was born in, I alternate between wanting to move somewhere that is more aligned with my current values (a progressive city) and my desire to stay here and enact the changes that will make this place better for those who are growing up here now. 
  • I’ll continue to work on local projects that encourage safe, healthy, and inclusivity in my community (not just for those who fit the mold, but especially for those who don’t).


Content Warnings: Drugs, Incarceration, Abuse

Categories
Blog Fiction

Dune

written by Frank Herbert, Book 1 of 2021

“There is no escape —we pay for the violence of our ancestors.”

Frank Herbert, Dune

I am going to be real honest on this one, the only reason I chose to read this was because I saw it was being made into a movie. My love for movies is nearly as great as my love for reading so anytime I see an adaptation that looks promising I’ll scramble to read the original story. 

Again I must be honest, I didn’t love this book. Science fiction lovers please don’t hate me. I’ve been dipping my toes in more science fiction and fantasy over the last year and I’ve loved it. Who doesn’t want to escape reality these days? I thought the premise was pretty interesting but I never grew to like or even get attached to any of the main characters. The most interesting characters, Alia and Chani in my opinion, were secondary and barely given any substance. I did love that the characters who are children had great agency and were the changemakers.

The story’s major protagonist, Paul Atreides is the teenage son of a Duke engaged in an escalating conflict with another noble family in the distant future. This book was written in the 1960’s, and for the time, I’m sure it was novel and radical (space travel, futuristic technology…powerful women characters). Unfortunately, it feels pretty lackluster today. 

The good news; I believe this will make a much better movie than book. I don’t expect deep character development from movies. A movie will silence the relentless repetitive monologues that all the characters engage in. A movie will have beautiful people and places to distract from flat characters and a predictable plot. 

Recommended for: Anyone looking to escape to another world and has a lot of time on their hands, this is a long book.

Actions I will take in response to this book:

  • This story made me think about contemporary climate change, land ownership, and the conflicts around those issues. My biggest takeaway was the reminder that children really are the future and that as an adult it’s my responsibility to the best I can for them.
    • Ally myself with younger generations to improve societal conditions that are unacceptable and harmful to both our our current situation, but especially their future. 
    • Watch the I am Greta Documentary to learn more about Greta Thunberg’s mission.
    • Recommend the book “A Children’s Bible” by Lydia Millet to anyone who wants to read something dystopian about the future we’re heading towards. 

Content Warnings: Drugs, Addiction, Death of a Parent, Violence, Displacement

Categories
Blog Fiction

Deacon King Kong

written by James McBride, Book 45 of 2020

“If I didn’t have Jesus and his cheese, I’d kill somebody. That’s what Jesus did for me 67 years, he kept me sane and on the right side of the law.”

Hettie, Deacon King Kong

For a book that starts with a shooting in the New York City projects, I laughed a lot more than I had I thought I would. This book has it all: murder, mystery, history, romance, and large amounts of holy cheese. I wrote an exceptionally long essay on my thoughts on this book, all the things I loved about it and the themes and as I wrote I realized it all sounded so very depressing. I even tried to explain it to my husband and he could not see how any of the plot could be funny but I can assure you both, it is. 

The more I think about this book, the more depth it gains. I could talk for hours about this book, unfortunately I’m on vacation for a few days with just my husband here at home with me. Please read this book and talk with me about it. Save my dear precious husband from having to listen to me say things like … “I know you didn’t read Deacon King Kong but …” or “You know in the book I just read…”. He will appreciate it and love you forever. 

A note on Dominic Hoffman’s narration of this book: It’s great, it’s emotional, it’s well timed, and I suspect contributed significantly to my enjoyment of this book. At times he seems to say things in the wrong accent, understandably as he flips casually through several, which was a bit confusing. 

Recommended for: Anyone looking for something with social commentary that will still make you laugh out loud (a tall order these days). 

Actions I will take in response to this book 

  • Prioritize reading, listening, and sharing concerns and experiences of BIPOC. 
  • Leverage my privilege in the service of others. 
  • Exercise empathy for marginalized groups who are hesitant to trust the government and bureaucracy due to histories of exploitation and neglect. 
  • Continue to work toward implementation of policies that allow all people equitable access to health and wellness. 

“And no resident in their right mind would go over their heads to the mighty Housing Authority honchos in Manhattan, who did not like their afternoon naps disturbed with minor complaints about ants, toilets, murders, child molestation, rape, heatless apartments, and lead paint that shrunk children’s brains to the size of a full-grown pea in one of their Brooklyn locations, unless they wanted a new home sleeping on a bench at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.”

― James McBride, Deacon King Kong

Categories
Blog

Read, Think, Act

Do your hobbies make you a better person?

This question was posed to my Intro to Ethics class over ten years ago during my first semester of college. At the time my primary hobbies were overthinking things and white knuckling through my crippling social anxiety. So I mean, no? maybe? yes? Over the many years since this question was posed, I have pondered the purpose of our hobbies. I do believe since we’re only given a undetermined and limited time to live, it would be ideal to spend it on activities that we enjoy and make ourselves better people. I don’t oppose the idea of having hobbies that one simply enjoys doing (looking at you Animal Crossing), but there is something to be said for that sweet spot that combines both. My verdict on the question posed: I’d like them to. But you may be wondering, why are we here?

My one enduring lifelong hobby has been reading. I competed in Battle of the Books competitions in grade school, finished all the YA literature in the local library before high school, and after my college hiatus returned full force to reading. It’s safe to say I’ve always enjoyed reading for the personal benefit of providing me a safe place to explore both this world and many others. But does reading help me develop as a person? The science points to higher levels of empathy, increased levels of life satisfaction and resiliency, and various other benefits. Personally, the perspective given to me by reading has been extremely grounding during this tumultuous and challenging year.

I picked up How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi in January of 2020 aftering seeing its eye catching cover displayed at a local bookshop the previous fall. I devoured the book and Kendi’s unique way of mixing personal and empirical narrative. My day job is to prepare my local public health department for accreditation (a.k.a align our workflows with best practices). I realize that doesn’t sound particularly engaging but I love it. It means pushing our wonderful team to do better for all members of our community but especially those disadvantaged by racism and other forms of discrimination.

I didn’t realize at the time how much I was going to lean on Kendi’s insights over the year, especially after George Floyd was killed on May 25th in Minneapolis while being arrested for using a counterfeit bill. It was never enough to simply not be racist, it’s essential to be actively antiracist. It’s not enough to read the books, it’s essential to take action. This stream of thought lead me here, to this blog. Do I want my hobbies to make me a better person? Yes, and in today’s world I need them to.

I guess all of this is to say, I’ll be doing something new this year. I’m going to be documenting what I’ve read, what I think about it, and what actions I’m going to take as a result.

Cheers to 2021! Cheers to making another year count!