Week 24: July 24th - Reading

Okay! We're on a bit more of an upswing now, I feel better going into the end of the month with reading than I did the last couple weeks. Shorter fiction has been the key to this month, but reading is still reading!

Lunar Boy by Jes Wibowo, Cin Wibowo: Oh now this was positively lovely in every sense.

Should you read this? Absolutely - this was such a special experience in every sense of the word. This was such a heartfelt, down-to-earth read that I don't usually expect from sci-fi, even sci-fi that leans into a quieter experience. But the space and New Earth backdrop don't detract from the truly, deeply human story here about how to find your place in the world even as everything changes. The art style is lovely, the dialogue is witty, and it's just oozing with charm at every turn. Definitely check this one out if you haven't.

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey: So glad to read something that understands just how gay the Wild West should be.

Should you read this? If you're in the mood for a quick and witty novella, then this is definitely a good pick. For being a book under 200 pages, this story packs in leagues of atmosphere: a dystopian version of the American Southwest that draws on classic Wild West aesthetics is such a strong vibe. The prose wastes no time dropping you into this world and pulling you along for the fast-paced journey towards a land of the rebellion. For even how short this is, there is a decent amount of character work and definitely a growth arc from our protagonist Esther. This helped me get out of my mini-slump and for that I'm thankful, I just kinda wish we'd gotten more bang for our buck here.

Faces by A.M. Rose: Well now I want a much longer book that goes into depth on how a society obsessed with soulmates actually works.

Should you read this? If you like a quiet contemporary romance with a touch of magical realism, then I think you'll like this quite a bit. I feel bad that this is the only book I've had time to read for Disability Pride Month, but I'm glad I was able to pick this up at all. This is a very touching story about finding love in the most surprising of places, especially amongst a world where soulmates are not only real but attainable for just about anyone. While I wish there was more room for worldbuilding with the magical realism element here and that it had one more pass with an editor, overall this was very sweet and touching. Definitely consider this one if contemporary romance is your bag.

A Vision of Moonlight and Other Stories by Tamara Jerée: Finally, some good fucking food this month.

Should you read this? What do you think I'm going to say at this point? Tamara Jerée literally can do no wrong in my eyes. This collection, albeit short, is so lush and rich and decadent that it made my teeth hurt. They just have such a gift with the written word that it reminds me of why I want to do this myself. There is no breakdown of my favorites of the collection because they're all my favorite. And knowing the last story in the collection is the basis for their next upcoming novel makes me so fucking excited. I'm so glad I read this, and I can't wait for preorders for "The Flowers I Deserve" to open in September.

I've got a few more to hopefully finish out the month strong, then next month is my birthday month! Hoping that will go easier than this month has, because good grief have I been struggling.