Refuge: A Novel
Have you ever picked up a book and just known, just by looking at the first page, reading the first few lines, that it was going to be a good read? A read that demanded your undivided attention? That deserved it? That’s how I felt …
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Reads
Diversity in Black Greek-Letter Organizations: Breaking the Line
As if one dissertation-sized project weren’t enough, I did two. As a side project, Devon R. Goss and I conducted a study of non-Black members of historically Black Greek-Letter organizations, which eventually became Diversity in Black Greek-Letter Organizations: Breaking the Line. Starting in the early twentieth century …
The Miniaturist
After reading The Muse, I knew I had to find Jessie Burton’s first novel, The Miniaturist. Set in 17th century Amsterdam, The Miniaturist draws inspiration from Petronella Oortman’s nine-room dollhouse, which is a permanent collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. These elaborate dollhouses were cultivated and showcased in front …
Recap: The Food Writers’ Workshop
About a month or so ago, I was scrolling social media and saw a friend post about The Food Writers’ Workshop, a day-long conference about the ins and outs of food writing, that was being held in Brooklyn. I thought to myself: why not? I …
Goodbye, Vitamin
After reading Hello, Sunshine it seemed apropos that the next book on my list was Goodbye, Vitamin. Another story of a 30-something-year-old woman whose engagement comes to a seemingly sudden end. Unlike Sunshine though, Ruth, the protagonist of Goodbye, Vitamin, has not lost her job, friends, and reputation. …
Hello, Sunshine
From the opening pages of Laura Dave’s Hello, Sunshine, I knew I wouldn’t be able to put this book down. Hello, Sunshine is like talking to a girl friend with a really good story. One of those what-had-happened-was stories. The kind of story where you know it’s all …
The Leavers
When I selected The Leavers as my next book to read, I didn’t know that I was picking up a book about adoption. All I knew was that there was a buzz around Lisa Ko’s book, and it seemed like it would be an interesting …
My Korean Adoptee Bookshelf
As a child, the library was one of my favorite places. I loved the endless adventures at my fingertips. There was something comforting, and exciting, about knowing that anything I could ever want to know, and much that I could never even imagine, could be …
Three Strong Women
Intrigued by the title and the stories of strength and resilience it surely contained, I picked up Marie NDiaye’s Three Strong Women. Winner of the prestigious Prix Goncourt, a French literary award, Three Strong Women has been praised for its beautiful prose. With strength and beauty a backdrop for …
Behold the Dreamers
“And what do you think of this new person you’re becoming?” “I don’t know.” “Let me put this another way: Are you happy with who you’re becoming?” Imbolo Mbue tells a compelling tale of family, dreams, and sacrifice in her debut novel Behold the Dreamers. Set …