Waiting for the Barbarians by JM Coetzee
Third reading. As I've previously mentioned, the word barbarian comes up dozens of times in this novel. The implication as we watch the commandant slowly becoming more and more disillusioned with his position, with his empire, and with himself, is that he is becoming more and more a barbarian. This … [Read more]
Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse
Black Sun (and its cover) was one of my favorite books of 2020. It’s no surprise that I’ve been eagerly anticipating the next book in the trilogy, though the lackluster cover definitely gave me pause. Luckily, the book itself, while most certainly a middle book, met my expectations. As you’d expect, … [Read more]
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
In one word: Dogged This was precisely the book I needed to read while in the clutches of a chilly and downright RUDE Midwestern spring. Spring is my least favorite of the seasons, and this year it's earning its rank at the bottom of the list. It is April, and it is STILL cold, and I STILL have … [Read more]
Kiss Hard by Nalini Singh
Nalini Singh's contemporary romances are among my favorite. They each are like a beautiful cupcake that is beautiful and sweet, but also a nutritious and with a memorable flavor. Daniel Esera and Caiti River met as teens when their older siblings, Sailor Bishop and Isa Rain, started dating (and … [Read more]
The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song by Henry Louis Gates, Jr
As a practicing Christian, I've been trying over the past couple years to add more voices into my understanding of my faith, both theology and history, and this book, the companion to PBS's recent documentary miniseries of the same title, was part of that slow ongoing project. It paired … [Read more]
Songs of Achilles by Madeline Miller
This is the love story of Achilles, the fighting demigod, and Patroclus, the exiled, his confidant, lover, and closest companion. Patroclus is our narrator, and through his eyes, we see Achilles grow from a smirking boy to the greatest warrior the Greeks have ever seen. It's equal parts classic … [Read more]
