September started as a slow reading month for me. The first book I picked up wasn’t particularly engaging, and I was hesitant to read something immediately after and be disappointed again. However, a well-timed trip to the library saved the day, and I was able to read and (mostly) enjoy eight books this month. I also enjoyed books across several formats and genres, and if nothing else, found something worthwhile in the exploration. I will be following my past format, including a summary, a brief review, and a summary statement. These books are listed in no particular order with the exception of the first.
- “Such Sharp Teeth” by Rachel Harrison
Aurora (Rory) Morris leaves New York for her hometown in order to help her twin sister Scarlett, who is pregnant. What starts as an uncomfortable walk down memory lane becomes sinister when Rory is attacked by a wild animal at night. While she initially downplays the incident, Rory notices herself changing, and must reconsider what she remembers from the night of the attack. As she recalls the accident, Rory confronts her past trauma and the monstrous reality of her current life.
Usually, I enjoy books that leave room for interpretation. They present a situation, the characters within it, and allow the audience to see what they want. “Such Sharp Teeth” is not one of these stories. It’s obvious — you can see the thesis, you can see the evidence for said thesis, and you can see Harrison drawing the connections for you. I think it’s great. If you’re looking for a subtle exploration of female friendships and societal standards for female behavior and bodies, “Such Sharp Teeth” will be unsatisfying. But, if you can accept the novel’s approach to its overarching theme, then you’ll experience a wide variety of loveable yet frustrating female characters, strange humor, and some genuinely heart-wrenching moments. It’s messy, intense, and compelling.
8/10 would explore all kinds of change again
- “Hula: A Novel” by Jasmin ‘Iolani Hakes
Set over several decades, and told in a collective voice, “Hula” is the story of Hi’i Naupaka, the youngest in a multigenerational Hula dynasty on the island of Hilo. Raised by her mother Laka, a former hula champion, and in the shadow of grandmother Hulali, responsible for resurrecting hula on the island, Hi’i has always felt called to dance. But her lack of physical similarity to her family keeps Hi’i feeling like an outsider amongst the Naupaka. Determined to prove her worthiness in the family, Hi’i begins dancing hula and exploring the heart of her family’s experience, with devastating consequences for her own identity.
“Hula” is as much about the history of Hawai’i as it as about the Naupaka family who live there. It’s a story of traditions, intergenerational trauma, and pride from both a familial and cultural perspective. Hi’i’s discovery of self and personal identity is set against the backdrop of her family’s experiences with colonialism, neo-colonialism, and the fight to exist without outsider labels. Hakes’ writing is a seamless blend of history with narrative, evocative in its exploration of families and self-discovery. It’s almost visceral. The emotions evoked by the story are recognizable, and rendered so familiar that it’s impossible to read without recalling an analogous experience. Even in the most painful moments of the story, Hi’i’s compelling character and continual questioning of her world keeps the reader engaged, asking themselves: Who am I? Where do I come from? And where do I want to go?
9/10 would be left without concrete answers again
- “Crush” by Richard Siken
This short collection of poetry focuses primarily on the experiences of first love, desire, and obsession. It alternates between long-form and shorter poems to convey the depths and complexities of human experiences.
It’s hard to accurately describe this book because, for me at least, poetry is so much more about feeling than it is about fully comprehending. I can certainly follow the narrative elements of the poem, but I don’t get caught up in the analysis of style and technique so much as an analysis of feeling — how does it make me feel? “Crush” provokes some deeply hidden emotions, calling to light the blending of hurt, want, and love we all feel. It’s both a mirror and a window, allowing the reader insight into their own emotions while showing them the universality of these feelings. Its lush writing, brutal yet beautiful themes, and standout lyricism help make it a perfect encapsulation of inner turmoil in regards to love of all kinds.
9/10 would feel something intense again
- “Everything’s Fine” by Cecilia Rabess
Set in the years leading up to, and the year of Donald Trump’s election, “Everything’s Fine” centers on recent graduate Jess, an African-American woman navigating her first job in an investment bank. Isolated and subjected to continual micro-aggressions, she’s surprised when former college classmate Josh — a white conservative — begins to stand up for her. As the two’s relationship begins to intensify from enemies to colleagues to friends to maybe more, Jess finds herself stuck between what she wants and what she believes, and with the impending election, finds herself relegated to political statement rather than a person.
Make no mistake, “Everything’s Fine” is not a romantic story, and even at its most romantic moments carries weighty, sinister undertones. More than anything else, it is an exploration of want versus belief, and the way oppressed peoples must constantly balance their politicized identities with their personal desires. In Jess’ case, her story is less about falling in love with Josh than it is about confronting the implications of such a relationship. It’s not: “Do I want to be with him?” so much as “Should I be with him?” Can you love someone that forces you to compromise your morals? What happens when politics are equated with this? How can you exist as a person when the world is desperate to confine you to a singular narrative? It’s heart-wrenching, unsettling, and ultimately leaves you unsatisfied and anxious for the future.
9/10 would have a pit in my stomach again
