Kindred by Octavia Butler (book by a person of color)
My review for Kindred can be found here. This story is about slavery and racism, as seen through the eyes of a time traveler.
Tales of Mystery and Madness by Edgar Allen Poe, illustrated by Grim Grisly (a book with pictures)
The illustrator's name truly fits him: the illustrations are grisly and uncomfortable. I would go so far as to say they are more gruesome than Poe's words. I love Poe's writing, but the illustrations were a bit much.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (a novel set during wartime)
An uncomfortable sort of book to read; raises a lot of good questions. Set during the end of the 1900s-beginning of 2000s, the story is of two Afghani women who endure through many long years of war and abuse.
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai (a book about an immigrant or refugee)
Based on the author's experiences, this book tells the story of a girl and her family fleeing Vietnam and settling in Alabama. What's it like to come to a country where you don't speak the language, don't like the food, have a different religion? Thanhha Lai shares her thoughts.
Look Me in the Eye! by John Elder Robison (a book by or about a person who has disability)
John Elder is a tech and music genius. He also has Asperger's Syndrome. Having never read a book like this before, I was really interested in the way he thought and how he was able to succeed in life even with a disability---and in some cases, because of the disability.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman (an audiobook)
Creepy children's book about a girl who meets her "other mother." Would totally recommend to anyone who likes eerie, tension-filled books.
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| A drawing I did based on the Coraline artwork on the audiobook. (original drawing by Dave McKean on the left) |
What should have been a quiet and uneventful journey from Istanbul to England is interrupted by murder! Luckily, Hercule Poirot is more than willing to investigate.
Also read, but not for the challenge:
Physics: Everyday Science at the Speed of Light by Isaac McPhee
A quick overview of the history of physics, from ancient times to now. Explains scientific principles and how they were discovered simply and easily. There were times when I felt the author left out a bit too much, however. Still a good book for the beginning science reader.
Started reading We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, but didn't like it much so I stopped.
Cover photo from Unsplash.
