https://www.brutallybookish.com/bookish-musings-and-recommendations daily 0.75 2024-10-15 https://www.brutallybookish.com/bookish-musings-and-recommendations/books-to-read-for-indigenous-peoples-day-2024 monthly 0.5 2024-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/b49df53d-7b23-4ec5-8b4b-6010762c760f/coucilofdolls.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Books to Read for Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024 - A Council of Dolls, Mona Susan Power, Mariner Books Historical fiction, family saga, magical realism About: Longlisted for the National Book Award, this deeply moving novel by PEN Award–winning Native American author Mona Susan Power, explores three generations of Yanktonai Dakota women from the 19th century to the present. Set against the backdrop of Chicago, ancestral Dakota lands, and Indian boarding schools, the story unfolds through the dolls each woman carries. Sissy, born in 1961, navigates a tumultuous relationship with her mother, finding solace in her doll Ethel, who offers guidance and even saves her in a crisis. Lillian, born in 1925, clings to her sister Blanche and her doll Mae as they face the hardships of an Indian school, where Mae becomes a symbol of resilience amid tragedy. Cora, born in 1888, confronts the legacy of the Indian Wars, and after her beloved doll Winona is destroyed, she discovers that Winona's spirit endures. With lyrical prose, A Council of Dolls illuminates the lasting impacts of Indian boarding schools and the resilience of Indigenous people, weaving a narrative of love, healing, and hope. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/545a6446-b9d4-4afd-a496-730190933c94/THERETHERE.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Books to Read for Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024 There, There, Tommy Orange, Vintage Urban Indians, contemporary, debut, ceremony About: Lauded as one of the best books of the year by The New York Times, listed as one the Great American Novels of the past century by The Atlantic, and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Tommy Orange’s novel is a must-read. The book follows multiple Indigenous people living in Oakland, California, as they come together for a pow wow.The novel explores themes of identity, land dispossession, disconnectedness, alcoholism, and unemployment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/ae53cdcf-2c15-437f-92b6-ffa6e45ca118/REDNATION.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Books to Read for Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024 Red Nation Rising: From Bordertown Violence to Native Liberation, ed. Border Town Violence Working Group, PM Press Land dispossession, borders, political struggle About: Red Nation Rising is a collection of academic essays that explores violence within border communities in relation to Indigenous lands. It engages with the history of state violence against Indigenous communities in both the creation and maintenance of national borders.Importantly, in highlighting the political and material struggles of Indigenous peoples, the book seeks to create a new path for Native resistance, building on the wisdom and knowledge of past anti-colonial activists working towards Native liberation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/8a9b3ce3-8559-441d-99ba-dede2dac0e6d/WHERETHEY.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Books to Read for Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024 Where They Last Saw Her, Marcie Rendon, Bantam Books Mystery, Amateur detective, MMIW About: Quill has spent her entire life on the Red Pine reservation in Minnesota, acutely aware of the dangers facing women like her. After witnessing Jimmy Sky jump from a railway bridge as a girl and running for help, Quill realizes she has never stopped running. While training for the Boston Marathon one morning, she hears a scream. When she returns to investigate, all she finds are tire tracks and a single beaded earring. Now, Quill is no longer the lonely girl she once was. With friends like Punk and Gaylyn, who never back down, and her loving husband Crow and their two children, she strives to be better every day. When she learns that a second woman has gone missing, Quill is determined to take action, starting with the group of men working on a pipeline construction project nearby. As she dives deeper into the mystery of the missing women, another person disappears. In her pursuit of justice for the women of the reservation, Quill confronts harsh truths about her community and those who claim to protect it. How many more neighbors, friends, and family will she lose? As she risks everything to make a difference, the novel poses difficult questions about bystander https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/40c53e80-05f7-46a9-89a5-bdd535d5771d/LOSTNATION.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Books to Read for Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024 - Sisters of the Lost Nation, Nick Medina, Berkley Publishing Mythological horror, thriller About: In this atmospheric and deeply moving debut, a young Native girl’s quest for answers about the mysterious disappearances of women from her tribe leads her to explore the myths and stories of her people, all while grappling with her own haunting presence. Anna Horn constantly looks over her shoulder — whether it's for bullies, entitled visitors at the casino, or a nameless, ancient entity that seems to follow her, intent on consuming her. As strange and sinister events unfold around the casino, Anna suspects that the horrors on the reservation are not just relics of the past. With girls going missing and the tribe desperately seeking answers, she struggles to find her place while searching for clues in her tribe’s legends. When Anna’s little sister Grace disappears, she will do anything to bring her home. However, the demons—both ancient and modern—afflicting the reservation are powerful, and sometimes, the most important stories are the ones left untold. Blending thriller and mythological horror, Nick Medina crafts a poignant novel about life as an outcast, the dangers of forgetting tradition, and the courage to embrace one’s true identity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/bf160244-370f-43a2-8202-7a0f32d914b5/THETRUTHACCORD.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Books to Read for Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024 The Truth According to Ember, Danica Nava, Berkley Romance Contemporary romance, open-door About: In the first ever traditionally published romance novel by an Indigenous author, a Chickasaw woman finds herself caught in a web of little white lies that spirals out of control. Ember Lee Cardinal hasn’t always been dishonest—at least, not about anything significant. But after facing rejection for the thirty-seventh time in her job search, she decides to get “creative” with her resumé. To answer the ethnicity question, she opts for a half-truth: while no one wanted a Native American candidate, "white" Ember secures her dream accounting job on Park Avenue (in Oklahoma City). As Ember thrives in her corporate role, her love life takes a turn when she catches the eye of Danuwoa Colson, the IT guy and fellow Native. Despite concerns about the company's no-dating policy, they begin a secret romance that only intensifies their attraction. However, when they’re caught in a compromising situation during a work trip, a manipulative colleague blackmails Ember, threatening to reveal their relationship. As the situation escalates, so do Ember’s lies, forcing her to choose between silence and the truth—potentially at a great cost. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/1d61d5ec-c157-4fa5-b937-35b69feb529b/TEENSLASHER.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Books to Read for Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024 - I Was a Teenage Slasher, Stephen Graham Jones, Saga Press Slasher horror, late 1980s About: In 1989, Lamesa, Texas—a small town driven by oil and cotton, where everyone knows each other's business—seventeen-year-old Tolly Driver, a good kid with untapped potential, is faced with a dark fate: he’s about to be cursed to kill for revenge. In this novel, Stephen Graham Jones explores the Texas of his youth, capturing the unfairness of feeling like an outsider through slasher horror. Told from Tolly’s perspective as he writes his own autobiography, the story invites you to root for a killer in this summer teen movie turned blood-curdling tragedy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/52ed73bc-5abb-498e-b8ae-6801b3e3dd2d/image0.png Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Books to Read for Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024 - Make it stand out Books to Read for Indigenous Peoples' Day 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/ee74e0a2-fd5c-4697-ae1e-7d69fbf75360/2SPIRIT.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Books to Read for Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024 A Two-Spirit Journey: The Autobiography of a Lesbian Ojibwa-Cree Elder, Ma-Nee Chacaby with Mary Louisa Plummer, University of Manitoba Press Memoir, LGBTQIA+, addiction About: A Two-Spirit Journey is Ma-Nee Chacaby's powerful memoir as an Ojibwa-Cree lesbian. It recounts her difficult upbringing in a struggling Ojibwa community marked by poverty and abuse. Chacaby learned cultural traditions from her Cree grandmother and survival skills from her Ojibwa stepfather, but also faced severe abuse and battled alcoholism in her youth. At twenty, she left an abusive marriage for Thunder Bay with her children. Despite ongoing challenges, including racism, she sought help and supported others. Over the years, she achieved sobriety, became an alcoholism counselor, raised her children, and embraced her identity as a lesbian. In 2013, she led Thunder Bay's first gay pride parade. Chacaby's journey reflects resilience, faith, and compassion, offering vital insights into the ongoing struggles of many Indigenous people. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/8379f378-c30d-4fba-ae66-1082daf61d74/REDISCOVERYOF.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Books to Read for Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024 The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of US History, Ned Blackhawk, History-from-below, nonfiction, inspirational About: Winner of the 2023 National Book Award for Nonfiction, Ned Blackhawk’s book is essential reading for everyone living in the United States. While most US history books acknowledge the presence of Native peoples, they are often written as footnotes. Blackhawk’s work is an important intervention, retelling the history of the country from the perspective of Indigenous peoples. More importantly, Blackhawk’s book demands we take seriously the significant impacts Indigenous peoples have had on the shaping of modern America. Rather than relics of a bygone era, Native peoples are still here, continuing to fight for their right and lands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/3f125855-6a5b-4eed-a6e6-895b33d04324/BLOODSISTERS.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Books to Read for Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024 Blood Sisters, Vanessa Lillie, Berkley Publishing Investigative mystery/thriller, MMIW About: In this gripping mystery, Cherokee archeologist Syd Walker is summoned to rural Oklahoma to investigate the disappearance of her sister, Emma Lou, amidst troubling secrets tied to their homeland. Now working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Rhode Island, Syd is haunted by a violent past in Oklahoma she vowed never to revisit. When a skull is discovered near the crime scene from her youth, she feels compelled to return. Determined to address her sister's disappearance and the ongoing neglect of missing Native women cases, Syd faces hostility from locals as she uncovers a dark history that threatens her safety. To save her sister, she must confront the town's buried secrets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/8a8d5c0e-a938-4f1f-956d-f9322d279858/9781626727465.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Books to Read for Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024 - Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story, Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal, Roaring Brooke Press Picture book, debut, modern Native families About: Filled with heart, Fry Bread is a beautifully written and illustrated picture book about contemporary Native families, told through fry bread (a staple food in many Native communities following the loss of land and traditional agricultural practices). It’s an endearing story of love, community, and connecting through food. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/67b13680-33a6-471c-9957-18be144c9def/WHISKEY.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Books to Read for Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024 Whiskey Tender: A Memoir, Deborah Jackson Taffa, Harper Southwest, liminality, coming-of-age, memoir About: Long-listed for the National Book Award, Whiskey Tender is a piercing, powerful story of the author’s childhood growing up on both the Quechan (Yuma) reservation and Diné (Navajo) territory in New Mexico. The book focuses on her struggles as a mixed-tribe person (she is both Laguna Pueblo and Quechan) growing up in the 70s and 80s. It also provides a poignant and heartfelt discussion of the tensions between her parents’ desire for their children to assimilate and her own pain surrounding the loss and erasure of her land and cultural heritage. Taffa’s book masterfully weaves the history of Indigenous peoples in the US (colonization, genocide, relocation, the Dawes Act, residential schools, termination, Red Power movement) to her own journey identifying generational traumas and reclaiming what it means (for her) to be Indigenous. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/66227df3-765d-40fd-ace9-c008f81c7b2a/MOONOFTHE.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Books to Read for Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024 Moon of the Crusted Snow, Waubgeshig Rice, ECW Press Post-apocalyptic, slow-burn thriller About: As winter approaches, a small northern Anishinaabe community goes dark, leaving residents passive and confused as food supplies dwindle. Panic ensues while the band council struggles to maintain order. An unexpected visitor arrives from a crumbling society, followed by others who manipulate the desperate community to seize control. As tensions rise and sickness spreads, a group of young friends, led by Evan Whitesky, turns to the land and Anishinaabe traditions to restore balance. This multiple-award-winning novel blends action and allegory, showing how resilience emerges from catastrophe and a new society can be reborn amidst chaos. https://www.brutallybookish.com/bookish-musings-and-recommendations/blog-ten-books-we-recommend-for-pride-2024 monthly 0.5 2024-06-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/4304e7bd-2196-4424-a02b-83400f9a8063/DONTCRY.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Pride 2024 Don’t Cry For Me, Daniel Black, Hanover Square Press Epistolary, father-son, Black masculinity, tear jerker About: Don’t Cry For Me follows Jacob - a Black man on his death bed - as he seeks to make amends with his gay son, Isaac. Through letters, Jacob shares parts of himself and his history with Jacob that he had held at bay - from his ancestral home in Arkansas, his relationship with Jacob’s mother, his struggles with what it means to be a Black man, and why he was unable to accept his son’s queerness. Why we love it: This book broke both of our hearts when we read it. Black’s writing is teeming with empathy. As readers, we are never expected to agree with Jacob’s choice to reject his son’s sexual identity, but we are expected to understand how social constructions of Black masculinity and fear for his son compelled him to act as he did. It’s a breathtaking story of fatherhood, redemption and love. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/81a3821f-8c00-4243-9457-c2d3befbabca/HIJABBUTCH.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Pride 2024 Hijab Butch Blues, Lamya H, Dial Press Coming-of-age memoir, queer, Hijabi Muslim immigrant perspective About: Hijab Butch Blues is a coming-of-age memoir about a Hijabi Muslim immigrant, who, through stories from the Quran, seeks to understand her identity, her sexuality, and the world around her. Why we love it: Brilliant and breathtaking, Hijab Butch Blues is a memoir like no other! It’s evocative, lyrical, and creative. Lamya H weaves together her personal experiences - from childhood to adulthood - with reflections on stories from the Quran. This memoir is a must-read for anyone looking to explore the intersections of faith and queerness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/9eaaff4d-202c-4c6e-bf9d-ec7509cf736e/YERBA.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Pride 2024 Yerba Buena, Nina LaCour, Flatiron Books Contemporary fiction, sapphic love story, coming-of-age About: Told in alternating perspectives, LaCour’s adult debut is the story of two women, each on individual journeys of self-discovery, whose paths converge in unexpected ways. The novel delves into themes of loss and grief, healing and recovery, identity and belonging, and the importance of human connection in the process of personal growth. Why we love it: Through gorgeous prose, a vibrant California setting, and richly drawn characters, LaCour delivers a deeply moving novel about the enduring power of love, and the ways in which life is richer and more meaningful when we share it. And while this does have a love story at its center, it is not a romance novel, and so we can confidently recommend it to any and all readers seeking an emotionally-charged novel that will linger long after the final page. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/bd45b4a0-e587-4e95-b7d8-98f440f8a265/SISTER.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Pride 2024 Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches, Audre Lorde, Crossing Press Feminist theory, queer theory, social justice About: Sister Outsider is a collection of fifteen essays and speeches by renowned Black feminist, lesbian, poet, and activist Audre Lorde. Written between the years 1976 and 1984, Lorde’s pieces explore themes of race, gender, sexuality, and social justice. Using both personal experience and observations about the world at large, Lorde examines topics such as: the mainstream feminist movement’s neglect of women of color, the concept of self-care as a form of political action, the insistence that personal experiences are inherently political, and that the intersectionality of race, gender, sexuality, and class are intrinsically linked to experiences of oppression. This 2012 edition by Crossing Press includes a foreword by Lorde-scholar and poet Cheryl Clarke, who celebrates the ways in which Lorde’s words continue to resonate decades later. Why we love it: It’s no secret that Sister Outsider has had a lasting impact on feminist theory, queer theory, and social justice activism, and rightfully so. This powerful collection is a call for a more inclusive and intersectional approach to social justice and change, which remains as crucially important today as it was the day it was published. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/58f264f2-235d-47c5-8649-a5ce226e30e7/CONFIDENCE.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Pride 2024 Confidence, Rafael Frumkin, Simon and Schuster Millennial, con artists, heartbreaking About: One of The Washington Post’s 50 Best Works of Fiction of 2023, Confidence is about two young men who meet at a boot camp for delinquent youth and form an intense bond rooted in their shared disaffection with society and their love of a good con. Spanning roughly a decade, the two go from juvenile delinquents pulling small cons to running a multi million dollar lifestyle pyramid scheme that is part Theranos, part tech-bro Scientology. It’s the story of a young man, literally blinded by glaucoma, who is also blinded by love for his partner in crime. It’s also the story of another young man who slowly comes to believe the lies that surround his cult of personality, falling for his own con. Why we love it: Confidence had us hooked from the very beginning. Frumkin is a masterful storyteller - it’s hard not to fall in love with the novel’s two anti-heroes, flaws and all. We really enjoyed the main characters’ arcs and the blurred lines between truths and lies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/8563c905-4d23-4096-873e-dad3356799a8/6AFAE586-D31E-4989-AEA3-54EE37CE09F6.JPG Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Pride 2024 - Make it stand out Ten Books We Recommend for Pride 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/dda7a887-724d-48f2-89a9-e76f7df047a7/AMOS.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Pride 2024 - The Civil War of Amos Abernathy, Michael Leali, Harper Collins Middle grade, U.S. history, epistolary About: Meet Amos Abernathy, a young history enthusiast and reenactor, who, after meeting a new friend at his Living History Park, finds himself questioning history the way it's been told. Surely LGBTQ+ people like Amos and his new friend existed throughout history, right? Amos’s search reveals Albert D. Cashier, a Civil War soldier who might have identified as a trans man if he’d been alive today. Through a series of letters, Amos devises a plan to share Albert’s story with the town, with the hopes of reuniting a divided community. The Civil War of Amos Abernathy is an ALA Rainbow Book List top selection, a Golden Kite Award winner, a New York Public Library Best Books for Kids, a Jane Addams Award finalist, and a Lambda Literary Award finalist. Why we love it: This book is brimming with heart and hope! Amos is a protagonist that readers of all ages will come to care for. He’s brave, compassionate, and determined, and we love the parallels between Amos’s own journey of self-discovery, with his mission to uncover missing pieces of U.S. history. The Civil War of Amos Abernathy is engaging, thought-provoking, and a must-read for adults and children alike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/0b8a3bec-cad2-4c6f-aa1a-116a95017807/STONEWALLREADER.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Pride 2024 The Stonewall Reader, eds. New York Public Library, Jason Baumann, and Edmund White, Penguin Classics 2SLGBTQIA+ liberation, must-read history, oral history About: Curated in 2019 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, this reader draws from the New York City Public Library’s archives to highlight the years leading up to the 1969 uprising (the legal persecution of queer communities in NYC), the riots, and the years immediately after, including the first Pride Parade. Using first-hand accounts, the reader highlights a diverse array of queer voices, pushing back historical forces that often white-washed the six days of protests at Stonewall. Why we love it: This book is one we firmly believe everyone should read. The editors’ curation of voices (testimonials, personal essays) is diverse and sweeping. The book documents one particular moment in American history. However, the legacy of Stonewall has resonated throughout the decades and serves as inspiration for the ongoing fight for queer liberation at home and around the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/6c59d409-8c38-4399-b777-0f300b3f7a6c/MGMTKME.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Pride 2024 My Government Means to Kill Me, Rasheed Newson, Flatiron Books Literary fiction, Coming-of-age, 1980s, AIDS epidemic About: From the writer/producer of Bel-Air, Narcos, and The Chi, and a 2022 Lambda Literary Prize Finalist, My Government Means to Kill Me is part coming-of-age story, part history lesson. The story chronicles the journey of Trey, a young, gay Black man, who escapes Indiana and his wealthy, conservative family, and moves to New York City with mere dollars to his name. Set against the backdrop of the 1980s AIDS crisis, Trey becomes a passionate, deeply-involved activist for LGBTQ rights and healthcare. Why we love it: Meet us at the intersection of race, sexuality, and politics in this bold, riveting novel that’s equal parts heartbreaking and inspiring. Newson blends a poignant coming-of-age narrative with the inclusion of real-life activists and organizations (including The AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power - ACT UP). My Government Means to Kill Me is a powerful and necessary read for anyone looking to learn more about the history of queer activism through a fictional story. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/14b9a195-5600-499c-ac32-1dc5b32d54eb/queercore.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Pride 2024 Queercore: How to Punk a Revolution: An Oral History, eds. Liam Warfield, Walter Crasshole, Yony Leyser, Introduction by Anna Joy Springer and Lynn Breedlove, PM Press Oral history, queer music, radical politics About: Queercore is a one-of-a-kind book - an oral history of the rise of a music and art scene that pushed queer people and women to the front. Highlighting their “radically gay politics,” the book shares first-hand accounts from such iconic figures as Jayne County (the first openly trans rock/punk musician), Bruce LaBruce, Lynn Breedlove, and Kathleen Hanna (ally). Why we love it: This book is fascinating. We love the way its contributors discuss their personal experiences and how they worked to create a “scene” from their music, zines, art, and drag performances. Their call to reclaim punk music for society’s outcasts (their words) and their critiques of the gay respectability politics of the time is well worth the read! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/c208d778-bee7-46d6-9944-5cc1a40820a3/BLACKLEOPARD.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Pride 2024 Black Leopard, Red Wolf, Marlon James, Riverhead Books Fantasy, African history and mythology, epic About: Listed as one of Time’s “100 Best Fantasies of All Time” and written by Booker Prize winning author Marlon James, Black Leopard, Red Wolf is an epic fantasy like no other. The novel follows a mercenary hired to find a missing child. As he traverses dense jungles, ancient cities, and fights fantastical creatures in search of the boy, he begins to question his mission and why the boy is so important. Why we love it: This novel is a masterpiece of fantasy writing. James’s prose is intricate, literary, and virtuosic. The world-building is impeccable and vast, drawn from the mythologies and histories of Central and West Africa. It explores themes of queer love and gender politics. The novel is structured following oral storytelling traditions, forcing the reader to question the reliability of the narrators (some might find it hard to follow at first, but we promise it’s worth it!). https://www.brutallybookish.com/bookish-musings-and-recommendations/blog-ten-books-we-recommend-for-arab-heritage-month-2024 monthly 0.5 2024-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/35c2bae1-6434-45a1-bf7f-a3c9e015543c/91YEDtlr60L._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_DpWeblab_.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Arab American Heritage Month 2024 Home Is Not a Country, Safia Elhillo, Make Me a World Sudanese American author, young adult, novel in verse, speculative fiction About: Long-listed for the National Book Award, Home is Not a Country introduces Nima, a Sudanese American teenager caught between two cultures, struggling to find her place within the complexities of diaspora, and longing for the life not lived. Why we love it: Blending poetry and storytelling, Elhillo crafts an immersive, deeply moving exploration of identity, belonging and self discovery. Though this one's categorized as YA, we're certain it will resonate with readers of all ages. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/1bb9f236-9a81-4896-8cf7-a92e8e2166cd/whatstrangepara.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Arab American Heritage Month 2024 What Strange Paradise, Omar El Akkad, Knopf Egyptian Canadian author, refugees, coming-of-age About: Voted one of the best books of the year by The New York Times, Washington Post, and NPR, What Strange Paradise examines the refugee crisis through the lens of a nine-year-old Syrian boy named Amir, and his unlikely companion, a teenager named Vänna. Told through the intertwining narratives of Amir and Vänna, El Akkad explores the impacts of displacement, injustice, and prejudice, but also empathy, companionship, and resilience. Why we love it: This poignant, thought-provoking novel achingly details the tumultuous life of migrants fleeing conflict. Haunting and timely, these characters and their stories remind readers of our own humanity and moral responsibilities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/6e6ae712-e13f-400f-8be7-31ac7b28fca3/61jlV0TUwPL._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_DpWeblab_.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Arab American Heritage Month 2024 Out of Place, Edward Said, Vintage Palestinian American author, memoir, coming-of-age About: Written by celebrated intellectual Edward Said, Out of Place chronicles his life growing up in the Levant. From his early years in Jerusalem to summers spent in Beirut, Said’s memoir underscores the deeply emotional complexities of living in exile. The book also recounts the lives of both of his parents and how their family histories shaped his relationships with them. At its core, the book is about a young man “out of place” - as an exile, a student trained in Western educational systems, an American citizen, and a Palestinian Christian. Why we love it: We can’t emphasize enough how important Edward Said’s legacy is - as a scholar, an activist, a writer, and an educator. As one of the founding figures in what is now known as “postcolonial studies,” Said’s work changed the intellectual landscape. His memoir is personal, at times funny, and provides important context for understanding how his early years shaped his political and academic thinking later in life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/f8a3d5bc-5484-45df-9cf3-1535babba099/1FE23D3B-4591-4662-B94F-695C30B2B8EA.PNG Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Arab American Heritage Month 2024 - Make it stand out Ten Books We Recommend for Arab American Heritage Month 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/07fc7a24-fa7b-466c-a348-4227403d8ff1/71w0e6zz%2BVL._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Arab American Heritage Month 2024 This Is How You Lose the Time War, Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone, Saga Press Lebanese Canadian author, novella, epistolary, science fiction, romance, collaborative About: Co-written with Max Gladstone and a winner of the Nebula Prize for Best Novella, This Is How You Lose the Time War is a science fiction romance like no other. The story follows two time travelers working for competing interest groups, both racing to shape the multiverse through changing the past (this is the “time war” referenced in the title). Why we love it: Where to begin? This book is perfect for sci-fi and romance readers alike. The chemistry between the two main characters is palpable, and we love the way the authors explored themes of time and cause/effect. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/b998e44e-3c7b-4a5a-ad7c-60bee2be69c7/91NHc34YbkL._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Arab American Heritage Month 2024 Frankenstein In Baghdad, Ahmed Saadawi, Penguin Books Iraqi author, speculative fiction, horror About: A finalist for the International Booker Prize, Frankenstein in Baghdad takes place in the early years of the American occupation of Iraq following the ouster of Sadaam Hussein. Throughout the country, the violence of the Iraq War and insurgency hold sway over the population. In Saadawi’s novel, a man in Baghdad collects stray body parts from victims of this violence and uses them to make a “whole” body. While misguided, he does so in order to force officials to recognize the dead as fully human and deserving of proper burials. When the body goes missing and a number of strange murders take place throughout the city, he realizes he’s created a monster. Why we love it: Everything about this book is brilliant - the idea, the execution, and the author’s commentary on Iraq in the early 2000s is essential reading for anyone wanting to better understand the legacy of the Iraq War and contemporary Iraqi society. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/4850b01f-84d6-4dd8-835a-bc966468ded6/81TapvtmqkL._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Arab American Heritage Month 2024 - Other Words for Home, Jasmine Warga, Balzer + Bray Author with Palestinian and Jordanian heritage, Middle grade, refugees, novel in verse About: A Newberry Honor Award winner, Other Words from Home is the story of a young girl named Jude, who flees her war-torn home in Syria with her mother to seek refuge in the United States. As Jude navigates her new life in America, she grapples with cultural differences, language barriers, and the longing for her homeland. Why we love it: Warga's prose is lyrical and evocative, capturing Jude's journey of self-discovery and the universal longing for a place to call home. The novel provides important insights into the immigrant experience and the power of empathy and human connection. Though this is marketed toward a younger audience, we confidently recommend it for readers of all ages. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/922f5dfe-25f1-4370-bcd9-082a0808952c/91rAlnXgK7L._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Arab American Heritage Month 2024 The Stardust Thief (Book One of the Sand Sea Trilogy), Chelsea Abdullah, Orbit Kuwaiti American author, historical fantasy, debut About: The first of a trilogy, The Stardust Thief is a fantasy of epic proportions. Drawing inspiration from A Thousand and One Nights, Chelsea Abdullah’s debut novel follows a young woman - Loulie - as she hunts and sells pieces of illegal magic. Protected by her jinn bodyguard, Loulie’s adventures with magic are not to be missed! Why we love it: This one's for you, fantasy readers! Adventurous and feminist, Abdullah’s book is brimming with magic, betrayal, and a hint of romance (we’re hoping for more in Books 2 and 3!). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/93cfd01b-39d2-4aad-b613-a61d770f8bf7/etaf.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Arab American Heritage Month 2024 A Woman Is No Man, Etaf Rum, Harper Perrenial Palestinian American author, family drama, debut About: A New York Times bestseller and Read with Jenna pick, A Woman is No Man follows the lives of three generations of Palestinian women living in Brooklyn, New York. Through their intertwining stories, Rum explores the complexities of family, culture and women's agency within a conservative Palestinian immigrant community. Why we love it: Through richly drawn characters and evocative prose, Rum offers a compelling, emotionally charged novel that's sure to resonate with readers from all walks of life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/b2dbdd87-dc29-4329-a8b3-c2ce37871bd8/91aEdd1%2BEgL._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Arab American Heritage Month 2024 Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in America, Laila Lalami, Vintage Moroccan American author, immigration, belonging, personal narrative About: A Best Book of the Year for Time, NPR, BookPage, and the LA Times and written by Pulitzer Prize finalist Laila Lalami, Conditional Citizens is a deeply personal, intimate portrait of life as an immigrant to the US. Born in Morocco, Lalami uses her own story of migration to highlight the ways in which full “acceptance” into US society is often contingent on race, religion, and national origin. Using historical and political analyses, she pushes her readers to think through the contradictory status of certain immigrants - as both wanted and unwanted at the same time. Why we love it: We love how Lalami uses her own experiences to explore what it means to be a citizen, an American, and an immigrant in the US. She challenges the notion of the “melting pot” to highlight how it works as an American mythos that obfuscates our ongoing legacy of white supremacy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/5d853c58-e5ee-4707-8054-6c99162d2534/81MbqL6oidL._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_DpWeblab_.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Books We Recommend for Arab American Heritage Month 2024 The Map of Salt and Stars Zeynab Joukhadar, Washington Square Press Syrian American author, dual timeline, historical, refugees About: Joukhadar’s debut novel tells the stories of two young women living eight hundred years apart. A New Yorker, Nour moves with her family back to Syria after the passing of her father, only to have civil war erupt just months later. Centuries earlier, Rawiya disguises herself as a boy to travel and apprentice with a famous cartographer. The novel follows both girls as they travel the same route centuries apart - one for adventure, the other to escape the violence of war. Why we love it: We love the way the stories of both girls intertwine and the lyrical connections woven between the two. Within its pages, Joukhadar manages to tell both the story of contemporary Syria and pay homage to Arab history. https://www.brutallybookish.com/bookish-musings-and-recommendations/right-to-read-day-2024 monthly 0.5 2024-04-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/0e7f6fd4-f8f6-4b7f-959f-06eafe49cfd9/29CB6014-65C0-4EAC-82B4-7021A6431BFB.PNG Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Right to Read Day 2024 - Make it stand out Right to Read Day 2024 https://www.brutallybookish.com/bookish-musings-and-recommendations/blog-ten-must-read-books-for-womens-history-month-2024 monthly 0.5 2024-04-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/2ce0cc29-04c7-4dee-a13a-f5fd44b97aff/whipping.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Must Read Books for Women’s History Month 2024 Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity, Julia Serrano, Seal Press. Nonfiction, trans rights, foundational About: Called “foundational” by NPR and one of the “100 Best Non-Fiction Books of All Time” by Ms. Magazine, Whipping Girl explores the ways in which societal prejudices against femininity have shaped anti-trans politics. When it was published in 2006, it was one of the first mainstream books to explore transwomanhood. The third edition, which was released this month, has been updated to address recent anti-trans legislation in the US. Why we love it: Serrano writes from a variety of perspectives - biological (she has a PhD in biochemistry!), social theories/constructions of gender, and her own lived experiences, which makes for a rich, detailed, and well argued narrative. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/c7598fbf-251c-4be1-aee5-70b7bffe5b09/eyeliner+book.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Must Read Books for Women’s History Month 2024 Eyeliner: A Cultural History, Zahra Hankir, Penguin Books Beauty, expression, cultural practices About: Eyeliner: A Cultural History is a fascinating and well researched exploration of eyeliner and both its historical and contemporary uses across the globe. Hankir shows how eyeliner has been as a source of beauty, of seduction, of cultural expression, and of political resistance. The book takes the reader from Nefertiti to the use of eyeliner as a form of civil disobedience; it takes us on a journey from Iran, to the iconic look of Amy Winehouse, to Chicana culture in Southern California. It’s compelling and compulsively readable. Why we love it: First thing’s first: not all women wear makeup, and not all makeup wearers are women (men and gender queer folks also wear it!). However, that doesn’t make this book any less deeply entwined with women’s history. Hankir’s writing is relatable, bitingly funny, and her book offers a narrative of eyeliner as artistic and socio-political (sometimes even religious) expression. It provides incredible depth to a topic that is rarely given importance within larger societal discourses. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/978df843-d2df-4210-81b1-d8538fceffb2/butterflies.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Must Read Books for Women’s History Month 2024 In the Time of the Butterflies, Julia Alvarez, Algonquin Books Latin American literature, historical fiction, inspirational About: Written by renowned Dominican-American author Julia Alvarez, In the Time of the Butterflies tells the story of the Mirabal sisters - four women who resisted the dictatorship of Rafael Truijillo and were assassinated in 1960. In 1999, the United Nations designated November 25th as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in their honor. Why we love it: Alvarez’s novel is brimming with emotion and she paints a vivid portrait of the Mirabal family - one of sisterhood, love, romance, and the dream of a better world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/e468d7e0-fad9-4867-83e8-61ef3534942a/rebelgirls.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Must Read Books for Women’s History Month 2024 Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women, Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo, Rebel Girls Children’s book, feminist + intersectional, educational About: A New York Times bestseller, Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls provides one hundred tales of rebellious, powerful women throughout history (including figures such as Maya Angelou, Malala Yousafzai, and Julia Childs). Each story includes themes of empowerment, equality, and bravery. It’s also filled with gorgeous illustrations, all drawn by women and non-binary artists. Why we love it: The book is educational, fun, and its content is written to be appealing to all children, regardless of gender. We love it as an alternative to traditional fairy tale bedtime stories of princesses in need of rescuing. In Rebel Girls, the characters rescue themselves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/93cf298a-a8c1-4c82-91b3-786a959dc0e7/image0+%281%29.png Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Must Read Books for Women’s History Month 2024 - Make it stand out Ten Must Read Books for Women’s History Month 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/261369b4-26b3-4188-aa99-2c1a36ccba26/homegoing.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Must Read Books for Women’s History Month 2024 Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi, Vintage Colonialism, slavery, intergenerational, sweeping About: Winner of the Pen/Hemingway Award for Debut Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize, Homegoing is a sweeping, intergenerational story of two sisters born in 18th century Ghana. One is sold into slavery and forcibly shipped to America, while the other remains in Ghana. The book traces their descendants on each continent - those who were born into slavery in the US, and those that lived through Ghanaian history. It’s a monumental tale, spanning centuries and nations. Why we love it: Gyasi’s writing is stunning and compelling. In just over 300 pages, she manages to tell a truly epic story that is both quintessentially American and West African. It tells the story of slavery in the US and colonialism in Ghana and explores how a system of white supremacy undergirded both. This one is an absolute must read. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/13300234-a93f-451d-8688-045f842d9b06/angelasdavis.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Must Read Books for Women’s History Month 2024 Angela Davis: An Autobiography, Angela Davis, Haymarket Books Memoir, social justice, civil rights, abolition About: Originally edited and published by Toni Morrison in 1974, An Autobiography was rereleased in 2023 with a new introduction by the author. In this powerful and commanding account, Davis describes her journey from a childhood in Birmingham, Alabama, to one of the most significant political trials of the century: from her political activity in a New York high school to her work with the U.S. Communist Party, the Black Panther Party, and the Soledad Brothers; and from the faculty of the Philosophy Department at UCLA to the FBI's list of the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. Told with warmth, brilliance, humor and conviction, Angela Davis’s autobiography is a classic account of a life in struggle with echoes in our own time. Why we love it: No Women’s History Month reading list is complete without the work of one of the most influential feminists of our time. Davis’s book is a poignant and insightful memoir of a life dedicated to activism, scholarship, and social justice, with a profoundly moving narrative marked by a deep sense of personal agency and the collective responsibility to resist racism, capitalism, imperialism and patriarchy at all costs. We dare you to read this and not be inspired. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/3cdfe7e1-ec54-48a6-b1ac-9120266e6cd3/mapoflove.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Must Read Books for Women’s History Month 2024 The Map of Love, Ahdaf Soueif, Anchor Books Intergenerational, cross cultural historical fiction, romance About: A finalist for the Booker Prize in 1999, The Map of Love tells the story of a British aristocrat who falls in love with an Egyptian nationalist at the beginning of the 20th century, just a few decades before the country gained independence. It also tells the story of her great granddaughter, an American journalist in love with an Egyptian American conductor, who travels to Egypt to unravel the story of her family. Why we love it: Soueif’s prose is mesmerizing. We love the way she weaves her tale across continents, generations, and political divides. It’s a timeless love story, but it also transcends the genre of historical romance to explore themes of sexual politics, nationalism, cultural challenges, and family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/4ec3bd1c-51f8-4e17-bf60-d48b2e5a9aea/matrix.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Must Read Books for Women’s History Month 2024 Matrix, Lauren Groff, Riverhead Books Queer, European + religious history, literary fiction About: Winner of the Joyce Carol Oates Prize and a National Book Award Finalist, Matrix tells the story of a young woman sent to live as a nun in 12th century Britain. Based on the life and writings of real-life Marie de France, Matrix explores how women transformed abbeys into spaces of community and wealth, and became places where women reigned supreme. It’s a story of devotion, religious ecstasy, queerness, and the “threat” powerful women posed to the socio-political order of medieval Britain. Why we love it: It’s almost impossible to not love Groff’s writing - her prose is sensual and evocative, bringing both her characters and the era to life in a way few others can. The book is also a much needed intervention into literature that writes nuns and historical Christian women as passive subjects of the Church. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/421798dd-af71-4bef-a00b-5e1ce0aa70e0/dust.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Must Read Books for Women’s History Month 2024 Dust Child, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, Algonquin Books Vietnamese historical fiction, Vietnam War, postcolonialism About: Inspired by Vietnamese author Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai’s dissertation on Amerasian children of the Vietnam war, Dust Child is a poignant, multilayered novel told in past and present timelines, through three intersecting stories. Nguyễn masterfully explores the human costs of the Vietnam war, centered around the experiences of the Vietnamese women who were forced into prostitution, and the resulting lives of their children. Why we love it: Calling all historical fiction lovers! With another Vietnam war novel currently topping charts, the perspectives provided in Dust Child couldn’t be more necessary and important. With nuance and sensitivity, Nguyễn intimately details life for the Vietnamese “bar girls” and those connected to them. And while the tone of the book is often somber, Nguyễn’s tale also brings messages of hope, forgiveness, and common ground. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/b49df53d-7b23-4ec5-8b4b-6010762c760f/coucilofdolls.jpg Bookish Musings and Recommendations - Ten Must Read Books for Women’s History Month 2024 - A Council of Dolls, Mona Susan Power, Mariner Books Native American historical fiction, family saga, magical realism About: From the mid-century metropolis of Chicago to the windswept ancestral lands of the Dakota people, to the bleak and brutal Indian boarding schools, A Council of Dolls is a heart-rending, yet unforgettable journey through time, told from the perspectives of three generations of Yanktonai Dakota women and their dolls. A Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award Nominee, a Minnesota Book Award Finalist, and longlisted for the National Book Award. Why we love it: Blending coming-of-age narratives with eloquent, lyrical prose, and subtle touches of magical realism, Power weaves a captivating story of the generational reverberations of colonization. Powerful, necessary, and unputdownable, A Council of Dolls is a wonderful addition to any reading list, regardless of the month. https://www.brutallybookish.com/home daily 1.0 2024-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/4acc5871-8902-4cbe-9b29-32522c09bd33/image0.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/5f9e3a5c-8a2d-4808-be8a-05ebacf9f9ef/image2.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/ea3138c6-e194-43ec-a9d8-de91f0b8bd86/4A3323E4-DBA2-4667-B84A-48D59F8C3BF1.PNG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/0cf98241-f664-4bd3-8dba-7b05e6a852df/image0+%281%29.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/9e8644ad-445a-4e3f-af6f-b8f083a34570/29CB6014-65C0-4EAC-82B4-7021A6431BFB.PNG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/ce5fabde-8fc0-4540-9519-a1a9ea937aa0/1FE23D3B-4591-4662-B94F-695C30B2B8EA.PNG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/a054928f-d82e-478e-ba1f-3b1cbba1e064/6AFAE586-D31E-4989-AEA3-54EE37CE09F6.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/25b7030d-2c67-4260-8746-76d33f9c051c/image0.png Home https://www.brutallybookish.com/about-us daily 0.75 2024-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/94e401ad-a6cf-4ad9-b19b-8978ec0da2ef/image2.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65d65054a559af0eabf76799/ee23a6bc-75b6-426a-a29c-0b91bac0401d/4A3323E4-DBA2-4667-B84A-48D59F8C3BF1.PNG https://www.brutallybookish.com/subscribe daily 0.75 2024-02-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/624b503b2020ce7adfeb743f/1649102925577-2DBKLSAL8T5WNLYVS8JV/alt%3D%22woman+balancing+on+a+platform%22