I originally chose this novel as a Haunted House book for my reading challenge, but I have changed my mind. While there is that element of the creepy family home of hidden terrors that plague the nightmares of the now-grown children, that’s not really what this book is about. People looking for tense moments of aching dread, jump scares, and ghoulish imagery will need to look elsewhere. This novel is so much more introspective.
The haunted house, in this case, is a passive and silent character of the past. Three siblings, Ezri, Eve, and Emanuelle return to the site of their childhood torment upon learning of the deaths of their parents under mysterious circumstances. Together, they are forced to confront the host of family resentments and traumas that drove them away from the home in the first place. The trauma seethes not just from the house, itself, but from the community in general. As the only black family in an affluent neighborhood, the family of five had spent decades grappling with both overt and passive racism, classism, and more. Even within their own family, Ezri struggled to belong as they navigated the complexities of sexual identity and mental health within the cocoon of a family that simply couldn’t understand. They had fled the farthest of all in their escape from the bitter memories from that house.
As the siblings work to uncover the truth of what happened to their parents, they’ll open old wounds and come to terms with scars that may never heal but can be accepted and worn openly, not hidden in shame and uncertainty. There’s something truly beautiful about the cathartic journey that Ezri, especially, takes through the course of the narrative. The true horror comes in the way Ezri treats their own self, willingly subjecting their body and spirit to debasement and abuse as a way to calm their inner demons. Serious trigger warnings for sexual abuse. I’d hate to see someone pick up a novel expecting traditional horror only to face things that will dredge up old traumas. However, Ezri’s journey is one of catharsis, which could also be powerful for readers grappling with their own histories and traumas.
The character development is the sheer driving force of this novel. What it lacks in plot and action it makes up for with a powerful punch of emotion and societal critique, challenging our idea of what in life is truly terrifying and what our psyches substitute in place of the real fears we can’t manage to force ourselves to face. At times the writing came across as more of a lecture, but it still delivers a poignant and timely message that feels very relatable in various ways.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this novel despite it not being what I originally thought I was choosing.
Published October 1, 2024 by MCD. ISBN 9780374607135. Hardcover. 286 pages.
If you’ve followed my blog a while, you may have noticed I don’t read a lot of science fiction. I’m far from an aficionado, but I do have some favorites in the genre. Andy Weir comes to mind as someone who’s blown me away with his tightly-crafted and scientifically-convincing works. I love when someone can lay out for me a scientific future that really makes sense. It feels possible and concrete. It doesn’t really take much, as I would be rubbish at explaining the mechanics of anything involving space or space travel. I find it fascinating but know nothing. That’s sort of why I added galactic science fiction to my reading challenge this year, hoping to maybe find my next Project Hail Mary-esque obsession.
Alka Joshi has this knack for creating memorable narratives. This novel, loosely based on the story of the artist, Amrita Sher-Gil, a celebrated female painter of the early 20th century, follows Sona, a nurse in a hospital in Bombay. When Sona meets the famous painter, Mira Novak, the fictionalized character drawn from the inspiration of Sher-Gil, Sona finds herself sent out on her own journey of self discovery that leads her out of India on a trek across some of the most famous and culturally rich cities in Europe. 
Boy, do I have mixed feelings about this one. Voyage of the Damned is the debut 2024 novel by Frances White, and her second novel is slated for a 2026 release. On her goodreads profile, this novel is described as a “magical gay murder cruise.” That is an incredibly apt surface description, but there is a lot more going on here.
How many authors can continuously churn out books that rake in well more than a 4 star average? Not many, but Fredrik Backman is one of them. He’s a prolific author, and it’s amazing he’s able to have the kind of quality to his writing considering the quantity of work he’s released. I have literally never read a Backman book I didn’t love. And I’ve never read one that didn’t make me cry, that’s for sure. This novel may very well be his best in overall depth of feeling. Like all his others, he crafts a story not with action sequences, thrills, and mysteries. He makes a work of art. Shades of people, light and dark, that all blend together to make something perfect and powerful. 
I can safely say this is unlike any other book I’ve read. For being billed an adult novel, it certainly has a very middle-grade children’s book vibe. The story is very sweet but simple and exudes magic from every angle. It imagines a lovely world in which an eager young woman goes to work in a department store that sells dreams. Each night every man, woman, child, and animal can visit and buy dreams of their choosing. They do not remember the purchase, but the dreams are experienced as designed. The cast of characters is as colorful as the cover art, and the concept is extremely compelling. 
This title is probably new to no one, considering the successful BBC adaptation that aired in 2024. Drawing subtly from the real-life murder case of Hae Min Lee, this binge-worthy young adult true crime novel keeps readers on their toes to the very end. And though it seems to be partly inspired by a real case, that shouldn’t sway the reader into thinking they’ll know what happens. Aside from the “girlfriend possibly slain by boyfriend” and “racially motivated witch hunt” aspects, the narrative takes its own twists and turns. 
I am still overwhelmingly behind, the dread of catching up just pushing me to become even further behind. So here I am trying to remedy that. The plan is to do little else than write reviews for the next few days until I’m all caught up. I may as well start with one of my favorites of the last few months. 
I have numerous other reads I finished before this one, but I just completed the audiobook and have a lot of thoughts I’m desperate to get out, so I’m skipping ahead a bit.
I have been very fortunate this year so far in that the book club books chosen by my fellow members just happen to slot into my Reading Challenge. This book, Parable of the Sower, the first book in the Earthseed series, fits into the Banned Books category, which is always a favorite of mine to explore. I wish banned books didn’t exist at all, but they do, and I love seeking them out. It doesn’t take too many pages to see why a certain sector of the population doesn’t want this book within reach of young people. Those young people might actually learn something and, worse, they might even begin to ask tough questions.
A Librarian and Her Books 