Hi everyone! I hope you’re all doing okay and hanging in there!
I’ve found myself in a serious reading slump this month. It’s admittedly pretty out of character for me as I typically start each day with a book and cup of tea in bed. This is a much-loved morning ritual that’s a welcome departure from my pre-covid routine of 1) sprinting to the tube station, 2) having an emotional meltdown about the lack of personal space on the tube, 3) getting off the tube, 4) wiping my sweaty upper lip and 5) gliding into the office pretending that I didn’t just spend 45 minutes with my head between my legs whispering “why do I live here?” But lately all I seem to do is listlessly pick up a book, skim a few pages, quickly lose interest and return to my new favourite activity: motionless, open-mouthed staring at the crack in my bedroom wall. If any of these very specific behaviours resonate or you’re feeling similarly uninspired, then I think today’s Book Bites might just be the remedy! Chloe has compiled a list of fresh, exciting recommendations that’ll be sure to kick-start your enthusiasm (it certainly worked for me)! And for those of you who aren’t stuck in the reading rut but are masochists looking to add new books to your already dangerously long “To Be Read” list, then I think today’s post will do the trick. So, slump or no slump, I hope you enjoy!
Happy reading,
Arielle
Hello again, Spilt Milk-ers, and welcome to the March edition of Book Bites. March has been a wild ride with vaccines being rolled out, warmer weather starting to peek through, and me lacing up my running shoes and masquerading as "a runner." Wherever you are, I hope you're safely able to enjoy the onset of spring, or as my dog likes to call it, "the season where all the snow melts and last year’s garbage emerges, which I will try to consume when mom isn't watching." Love to see it.
With March being International Women's Day and/or Women's History Month in many parts of the world, the theme for this month's Book Bites felt like a pretty obvious pick. Not unlike the theme for February's segment, it's a time of year I have mixed feelings about. The influx of Instagram ads I get in March for cutesy #GirlBoss paraphernalia bears little resemblance to the socialist origins of International Women's Day. Moreover, mainstream feminist movements that embrace these holidays often remain exclusionary to many, including queer and trans, disabled, poor, and BIPOC women (not to mention other folks who experience gendered oppression but aren’t women). It's hard to celebrate when you're barely given a seat at the table. Yeah, I'm real fun at parties.
All this aside, while we don't need a day/week/month to amplify women authors, I'll take any excuse to do so - and to be honest, I'm pretty excited about these books. Without further ado - let's get into it!
1. The Year of the Witching - Alexis Henderson
What it's about: A blasphemy from birth, Immanuelle Moore is a young, mixed-race woman living in Bethel, a puritanical society starkly divided along the lines of race and gender. For most of her life, Immanuelle has played by the rules - until one day she enters a forbidden forest and inadvertently unleashes a series of four (objectively horrifying) plagues. Termed "feminist fantasy," this is a spooky, atmospheric read with some very interesting social commentary.
Read this if...you're intrigued by the idea of a witchier (and also less white) take on The Handmaid's Tale. Fantasy isn't usually a genre I gravitate towards, but this debut is both gripping and thought-provoking. Read it so you're ready when the sequel comes out this year!
2. Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl's Confabulous Memoir - Kai Cheng Thom
What it's about: A "sort of true coming-of-age story" about a young Asian trans girl, Fierce Femmes follows our main character as she moves away from home. While seeking community, she stumbles across and joins a group of fellow trans women and femmes, dedicated to enacting revenge on the men who have committed violence against their community.
Read this if…you're looking for something dark, different and deeply innovative. Beautifully written, infused with magical elements (mermaids!), and with themes of found family, resilience and fighting back against systems of oppression, this is one you’ll be thinking about long after you read the last page.
3. You Have the Right to Remain Fat - Virgie Tovar
What it's about: "When we take a moment to recognize what our culture teaches us about fat people, it becomes really clear really quickly that fatphobia is a form of bigotry." Virgie Tovar mic drops again and again in this quick-reading manifesto, that unapologetically unpacks fatphobia, diet culture, and fat liberation.
Read this if…you've got a sneaking suspicion that body positivity isn't *quite* where it's at, but aren't sure where to turn to next. This is an incredibly accessible and impactful introduction to fat activism and the gendered nature of fatphobia, and one I highly recommend to anyone who is newer to the subject.
What it's about: Between being a high school student and the developer of a popular online role-playing game dedicated to celebrating Blackness, 17-year-old Kiera has got her hands full. While none of her family or friends know about her role in creating SLAY, things get tricky when her personal and gaming lives collide - and a major event suddenly puts her game under intense scrutiny.
Read this if…you're looking for something that combines the fun you expect from a YA with serious and intriguing topics. This book's engagement with the idea of safe spaces is unlike anything else I've read, and while I'm the furthest thing from a gamer (Candy Crush, anyone?), the setting is incredibly cool.
There we have it! A few of my most beloved books by women authors for you to delve into this spring! What are your favourite books authored by women? What book do you recommend I immediately need to purchase as part of my deeply-flawed effort to manage my mental health during a global pandemic by buying things I almost definitely don’t need? Let me know! My partner's favourite thing is when I bring piles of new books into our increasingly-cramped one-bedroom apartment.
Hoping you can find a new favourite on this list. In the meantime, talk to you next month - and happy reading! 📚
- Chloe