The List Pt. 2
skepticism, escapes, and weird
Hello again!
I’m continuing my list of recommended books today and sharing part two (of at least six parts) of that list. Part one is here. These were some of my top fiction recommendations: speculative fiction, magical realism, and all the weird.
A note on links: All the links will take you to Bookshop, and if you purchase from there, I may get a small commission, but I recommend purchasing from your local bookstore (which you can also maybe do on Bookshop!), renting from your library, or even more accessible: using your library card to acquire from the Libby App!
In Case You Missed It
If you’re skeptical about innovation…
The Museum of Human History by Rebekah Bergman: “Time is a piece of dust landing in a girl's left eye while she is riding a bicycle.” A mother who worked in biotech who dies a mysterious death. A culture obsessed with staying young. An identical twin frozen in time. An ancient cave that housed the remains of an indigenous tribe. Bergman meanders through bits and pieces of the narrative as she explores questions and philosophical concepts around time and our relationship to it. I liked this book when I read it, but it wasn’t an immediate favorite. It’s more of the fact that I still think about it over six months later.
The Membranes by Chi Ta-wei: My friend Tatiana buys this tiny book for everyone. First published in 1995 in Taiwan (and one of the first queer novels to be published in Chinese!), the novel is set late in the twenty-first century when humanity has been forced to move to the bottom of the sea due to climate disaster. The second half of the novel is filled with so many unexpected twists as our protagonist Momo begins to ask questions about identity, gender, memory, and self. I still think about this ending.
The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson: This book was recommended as a take on our near climate future. I went to it without much understanding, and the beginning is far more dire than the subsequent chapters. Overall, it’s an optimistic fictional picture of people coming together to address the disastrous changes in climate that we will soon face.
No One is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood: If you’re skeptical about social media (referred to as “the portal” in this book) and the lives we live through it, this one is for you. "Are we in hell?" the people of the portal ask themselves. "Are we all just going to keep doing this until we die?" The second half of the novel is about the collision of real life and what matters. Both very funny and very real at times.
If you want to escape reality…
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow: This book was a cozy read about January— a young woman who is unaware of the power she holds. It’s a much easier read than the books above, but it still examines the powers that be, the stories we are told, and the unfolding of our own. Soon after I read it, another friend picked this one up and began recommending it to everyone. If you’re looking for something cozy to get lost in, this is a strong contender.
The Poppy War series by R.F. Kuang: A historical military fantasy (or anything with military) is not usually something that would go on my TBR, but I had read Babel, and wanted to read more from R.F. Kuang. At the heart of it is a war orphan, a girl who no one expected much from, a “dark-skinned peasant girl,” who becomes the hero(?). Kuang brings a fictional story that pulls from some of China’s history and touches on difficult and dark themes like the cruelty of war, colonialism, and the toll it all takes on our humanity. Not an easy read.
Rebel Folklore by Icy Sedgwick: I have a deep fascination with folklore and myth. The fact that some stories can make their way into a culture to be passed down both through oral tradition and written tradition means something about those stories. I snagged this book at my local bookstore and have been working my way through fifty of folklore’s outcasts and villains from across the world.
If you think “weird” is a compliment…
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata: I got this odd little book via Roxane Gay and found it so endearing. It’s a simple portrait of the simple life of Keiko, a woman who took a job at a convenience store at the beginning of her adult life. She doesn’t know who she is outside this role, but she is happy with her life in a way that reminds me a little of Macabéa in Lispector’s The Hour of the Star. Perhaps a good book to read if you’re pondering what a successful life means for you.
The Book of Love by Kelly Link: I love magical realism, and I loved how chaotic and absurd this book was. That being said, it’s clearly not for everyone. One review on goodreads said: “This book was like when someone tells you about their weird dream except it was 600 PAGES.” Which, they’re not incorrect, and I think that may have been what I admired about it. The commitment to the bit, and the entirely outlandish narrative Link crafted. I can say for sure— I haven’t read anything like this.
Shark Heart by Emily Habeck: If you want a sad love story about your partner turning into a shark and you loving them through their cartilaginous transition, this is the book for you.
Death Valley by Melissa Broder: “Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.” I feel like I can’t have a weird category without including Melissa Broder. This one features a mystical cactus with a door, a Best Western, a dying father, and grief. Enjoy!
That's it for now. Until next time.
P.S. If you're new here, I'm Lex. I write about life, loss, creativity, and trying to make sense of this whole being-human thing. You can join this little community by clicking the subscribe button below!
Much love to you all.
