Since Alka Joshi's The Henna Artist came out last year, I've been excited to read it. Set in India in the 1950s, eight years after they gained independence from the British, it's told from the perspective of Lakshmi. At 17, she escaped an abusive marriage, and now, at the age of 30, she's built a... Continue Reading →
I've been wanting to read Marjan Kamali's novel, The Stationery Shop, and have heard so much about it. Set in Iran in the 1950s, it follows two teenagers, Roya and Bahman, who fall in love over books and political activism. But then they get separated and Bahman breaks up with Roya in a letter. She... Continue Reading →
I'm something of a language nerd, and I often wish I could go back to college to study linguistics. (In reality, I double majored in English and Communication, so not entirely far off.) Thankfully I've found an incredible alternative: The Great Courses' audiobooks on Linguistics. I just listened to Language A to Z by John... Continue Reading →
The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur just came out a few weeks ago, and I could hardly wait to read it. The cover and title first caught my attention, and I stayed for its setting in Korea in the 1400s and the (possibly supernatural) mystery to solve. The Forest of Stolen Girls by... Continue Reading →
I've been reading more nonfiction about immigrants in the past year or so, and one book that's been high on my list was The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You by Dina Nayeri. At eight years old, she and her family fled Iran and became refugees, ultimately finding a home in Oklahoma in the... Continue Reading →
One of my most anticipated books of last year was The Mountains Sing by Nguyแป n Phan Quแบฟ Mai. I was happy to get it as a gift last Christmas (special thanks to my mom!), and since May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, now felt like the perfect time to read it. This... Continue Reading →
I don't know about you, but April flew by for me! I can't believe it's already May, but I'm also pretty excited: Not only is it my birthday month, but by the end of May I'll be fully vaccinated and ready to get back out into the world. I'm so ready to go to restaurants... Continue Reading →
One year ago, The Marriage Game by Sara Desai was a book on my radar. Alas, I never did read the book, but did that stop me from reading its sequel, The Dating Plan? No, no it did not. Technically, they each work as standalones, despite featuring characters in the same universe (or, in this... Continue Reading →
Last fall, one of my most anticipated books for October 2020 was The Girl in the Mirror by Rose Carlyle. Right away, I picked up a copy from Book of the Month.This debut thriller takes place aboard a yacht in the Indian Ocean as twin sisters sail from Thailand to the Seychelles. But when Summer... Continue Reading →
Last year, one of my favorite books was Beach Read by Emily Henry, and since then, I've been counting down the days until her second adult novel, People We Meet on Vacation, would be released. Although it's not due out until May 11th, Book of the Month spoiled their subscribers by offering the new book... Continue Reading →
Sometimes a book's title is enough to capture your attention and make you need to read it. Good covers can work the same magic. In the case of Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa, it was both that enraptured me before I'd even read its summary. It was one of my most anticipated new... Continue Reading →
This book needs no introduction. Surely all of you have heard of The Kite Runner, the debut novel by Khaled Hosseini. I was still in middle school when it first came out, and though I've heard about it for many years now, I never owned or read the book. In the past couple of years,... Continue Reading →
I've been eagerly waiting for Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in America by Laila Lalami for over a year. Since I first heard about it early in 2020, I couldn't wait for it to be published. But although it was originally scheduled for spring 2020, it was delayed to an autumn release. I finally got it... Continue Reading →
In the past couple of years, I've had a growing interest in reading more nonfiction about identity, especially related to racial diversity and immigration. This may be partially because of the obvious tensions present in the United States and around the world. It's also inspired by my husband, a Peruvian immigrant who just recently earned... Continue Reading →
Last summer is when I first heard about Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis. The paperback had just been published, though the hardcover had come out in September 2019. I was immediately interested in reading it. Not only am I constantly on the hunt for books set in South America (partially because my husband is from... Continue Reading →
They say that April showers bring May flowers. Well, April sure is bringing the showers... showers of books, that is! There are tons of new books coming out this month, and somehow they all look like incredible reads. And unlike other times of the year, April feels like a transitional month where anything goes, genre-wise.... Continue Reading →
One book I was looking forward to in January was the debut novel by Daniel Loedel, called Hades, Argentina. I've been drawn to books set in South America lately (partially because my husband is Peruvian), and the title of this novel instantly piqued my interest. I picked it up a few weeks ago, and since... Continue Reading →
After I signed up for Book of the Month in early 2019, I started looking into their back catalogue of offerings, adding many books to my TBR. One novel that particularly caught my eye was The Air Your Breathe by Frances de Pontes Peebles. Brazil and music in the 1930s? Yes please! First offered in... Continue Reading →
About one year ago, The Lost Book of Adana Moreau by Michael Zapata was just about to come out when I discovered it. I was immediately interested in reading this debut, especially when I saw comparisons to Carlos Ruiz Zafรณnโsย The Shadow of the Wind. I do love books about books! Although I did buy The... Continue Reading →
At the beginning of this year, I admitted to a blind spot I'd noticed in my reading habits: I hadn't read any books by or about Native American people in several years. I decided that needed to change, so I began searching for novels to start with. One of top-rated books I found was There... Continue Reading →
I've been a member of Book of the Month for about two years now. Though I generally buy their new offerings, I do like to look at what books they picked for months in the past; sometimes I'll add one of those to a box. One book I discovered and definitely want to read is... Continue Reading →
One of the books that was on my radar for February 2021 was Honey Girl, the debut novel by Morgan Rogers. It seemed like it would be a cute story with depth, and I was thrilled when it was a pick on Book of the Month. But did Honey Girl live up to the hype?... Continue Reading →
Spring is just around the corner, but instead of cleaning out my TBR, I'm endlessly filling it up with ever more exhilarating books. March promises plenty of fiction and nonfiction alike, and my list of anticipated books is pretty full this month. More than ever, I just want to escape to far-flung locations and eras,... Continue Reading →
I've been listening to Alicia Keys since I first heard "Fallin'" on the radio, and have collected all of her albums over the years. Her music is incredible, but I've also always admired her as a person. When she announced her memoir, More Myself: A Journey, in early 2019, I was thrilled. It's now been... Continue Reading →
Amanda's Book Corner 