Beginning in-person school has been a drain on my bandwidth. I have almost no time to write. I still read, though. Here are reviews--even smaller than normal--of a few good books from the past few months.
Second Place by Rachel Cusk is unsettling and weird. It's not as perfectly composed as her Outline trilogy: the narrative voice is uneven and sometimes manic. There are many exclamation points and wild mood swings. Still, it's Rachel Cusk. The "imperfection" of this novel amplifies the uncertainty of the story. Gloomy, irritating, effective.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner is a fine memoir that I want to teach in my older classes. She's from Eugene, like me; I love her accurate portrayals. Great food motif throughout. Sensuous, heartbreaking, thoughtful.
Why We're Polarized by Ezra Klein is must-read nonfiction about our political moment. He's as insightful as he is on his podcast. Everything from American governmental structure to group psychology is explored. Urgent, accurate, illuminating.
Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins is a poetic take on the post-apocalyptic novel. Details of a broken world are presented impressionistically, in a variety of genres and voices. Not all of it lands, and it's dark and gratuitous, but I read it eagerly. Raw, sun-baked, lively.
