I went to Barnes & Noble with my sister a couple weeks ago during a really rainy day. We had wanted to go on a walk, but the weather had other plans for us. She suggested, as an alternative activity, something that we used to do a lot as kids: go to a bookstore, have a seat, and read indefinitely. The weather was perfect for something like this.
She grabbed a coffee. I don’t drink coffee, so I didn’t get anything. We found two chairs and set up by the big set of windows at the front-facing side of the store, overlooking the parking lot. She had in her lap three high-intermediate French language books—she’s learning her third language, she’s already fluent in Spanish. I, on the other hand, have immense difficulty learning languages, so I opted for fiction instead.
I’ve never made a review post before, but I really enjoy these books, and you might enjoy them too. I’ll start out with one I actually haven’t finished yet, but I already love:
Circe
by Madeline Miller
I first saw a short review of this one online. There was moderate hype, saying it was well-written, an engrossing tale of the titular Circe and her personal journey as she discovers her power of witchcraft and is subsequently banished from the house of Helios to fend for herself on a deserted island. I was immediately curious, not only for the story—I’m always a sucker for mythology—but for the author as well. I always take care to read books written by women, because most books I was required to read during school were all written by the same type of man. And let me tell you, I was not disappointed in this one. Thank goodness I went with my gut and gave in to the hype.
Not only is the plot easy to follow and the writing easy to absorb, but the story is enthralling, and Circe is a sympathetic protagonist that you can’t help but feel for when her heart is broken and her wrath takes form. I’ve gotten a quarter of the way through this book, and I have to say, read this. I’ll confidently say you won’t regret it, even though I haven’t even finished the whole thing.
Here’s recommendation #2:
Mongrels
by Stephen Graham Jones
If a coming of age book met a werewolf, this would be the result. I will admit, I was initially drawn to this book because of the cover. Bright colors to me are like a pork chop to a hungry dog (no pun intended). And wouldn’t you know it, the vibrant, eye-catching cover was a gateway into a story rich in emotion and down-home relatability. I was immediately attracted to the memoir-like style of prose, like a bunch of diary entries strung together. The vignettes were open and honest, homey and heartwarming, graphic and gritty (don’t get me started on the pantyhose scene), all at the same time. The writing was so good, I didn’t even realize that the protagonist’s name was never mentioned.
Yup, that’s right. Not once. And yet, I was never bothered by this. Usually I notice things like that straight away, but I was so absorbed in his story of growing up with his nomadic werewolf aunt and uncle that I just, well, didn’t notice. I was more caught up in how long the family could run before their past caught up to them; how low they’d stoop to fend for themselves and stay under the radar; whether the protagonist would mature into a werewolf and live like his family, or remain human and worm his way back into society on the other side of the tracks. Read this book. You’ll be glad you did.
And here’s recommendation #3 (coincidentally, also about werewolves):
Red Moon
by Benjamin Percy
It’s a different type of werewolf book. This time, they aren’t creatures, but sick. A pathogen called lobos, contagious through bites and blood. Lycan attacks are treated like shark attacks—not frequent but made to seem so by the news media. This big book brings politics into the world of werewolves, alluding to real world issues in an obvious yet not ham-handed way. It’s a hodgepodge of terror and restraint, which collide to form an overarching story split between three very different protagonists: a displaced lycan girl, a plane crash survivor, and a politician. The world building here is nothing to sneeze at. Not only that, it’s amazing how suddenly you can go from calm investment to jaw-clenching horror while reading this book.
Herein lies the reason I love this book so much: diversity in tone. Although there’s an overall tense atmosphere throughout the novel, it’s the switching between characters’ POVs that really adds some dimension and context to the continuous action. Sometimes you want to hear things from a stressed teenager, and sometimes you’re curious what the governor has to say. It’s easy to put yourself in the shoes of whoever you’re observing. The gang’s all here and so are all the thrills. This is a good, long read that’ll keep you thinking even after you finish the whole thing.
I haven’t said all there is to say about these three titles. You’ll have to figure out the nuances yourself. Grab one of these three and take a seat. Leave yourself enlightened. And disclaimer, I didn’t finish all these in one sitting. I’m not a fast reader, but I do obsess. These novels are treats for the mind. Believe me.