As of today, I've read 31 books, which is pretty good considering I mostly lost my appetite for reading during the quarantine. I had so much extra time, but didn't spend a lot of it reading. I'm happy to say that my fervor for books has reignited, and July is looking to be on target for not only catching up on my Goodreads Challenge, but maybe even getting a few steps ahead.
Overall it's been a good, solid year so far in terms of quality, but there are definitely a few standouts. I thought I'd share them here. It'll be interesting to see if they still make it to the favorites list come the end of the year!
The Fisherman - John Langan
I love love LOVE this book! It gave me the feeling of sitting by a fireplace in a cabin in the woods, and listening to a friend tell you a horrific story as the forest around you gets darker and darker. The Fisherman is about two men reeling from the loss of loved ones, and an ill-fated fishing trip they decide to embark on one weekend. I loved Langan's rich use of language, and loved the folklore driven narrative of this one. If you like horror that is both frightening and literary, stories about humans out in nature facing the elements and folklore tales, you'll probably love this novel.
A Memory Called Empire - Arkady Martine
This book was like WHUT. I'd had it in my Kindle library for a long time and I'd heard good things, but truthfully space opera sometimes falls flat with me so I was a bit apprehensive about getting started. However, A Memory Called Empire? *chef's kiss* I was absolutely shooketh by this debut (!!!) from Arkady Martine, which is about a woman named Mahit who is sent to a far off imperialist planet called Teixcalaan as an ambassador, in part to try and save her planet from being absorbed into the empire. There's a very cool use of technology in the book; an implant that provides Mahit with memories from her predecessor, who died on Teixcalaan in a suspicious manner. Anyway, you should read this now because it is fantastic and has so much to say about imperialism, identity, assimilation, and much more. It's exciting and thoughtful and smart and a cracking story as well. I finished this and thought of Arkady Martine "But what? How did you...???" Truly a stunning and incredible debut.
The Man in My Basement - Walter Mosley
This was a bit of a surprise to me, but when I think about books that lingered long after I finished reading them, The Man in My Basement became an obvious choice for this list. The story revolves around a man who allows a stranger to stay in his basement. The strange relationship between the two men and questions about intent, morality and repentance allow this slim volume to take on a gravitas akin to a Greek myth. There's no greater gift than a book that forces you to think and that has impact after you read the final paragraph. For this reason, The Man in My Basement makes it into my top three favorite books (so far) this year.
What have you read so far this year? What have been your favorites?
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