Best Books of the Pandemic
I’m back, and instead of just posting my new books, I decided I needed a new project (click on Little Library above to see my last new project), and I created this website! Mostly because tumblr wouldn’t let me have a different page for the Little Free Cherokee Library and it needs its own space.
At the beginning of the pandemic, I wasn’t reading. That’s a clear sign that my depression and anxiety are past getting bad and are at red flag level. I knew that and still couldn’t focus enough to read. I was reading one or two pages a day (or none pages a day) when I used to read a book every day or two. I lost my focus and played over 570 hours of Animal Crossing on my new Nintendo Switch (highly recommend for folks like me with control issues; also #thanksnintendo for tracking that disgraceful number).
In March, Grant built me the little free library of my dreams (and the little free library I had been asking him for years). He knew I wanted to paint it and make it magical, and I couldn’t focus on that either. I would work, parent, and play Animal Crossing (I do have a 5 star island to show for that, though. Such a good ROI). I’m not sure how he got me to start - I think he sent me the link to the paints that would work at least 5 times. But he picked them up from Michaels, and I sat down with paper to plan out my design, and then I started painting. Once I was in it, I was in it. We lost our dining room table to the effort for at least a month. I had grand plans (of music, of lights) and Grant had doubts, so of course I had to make them happen.
The result is my Little Free Cherokee Library, filled with books authored by Native and Black and trans folks for people of all ages. I went with an over-the-top and just-enough-extra Harry Potter and social justice design (and I hope somehow JK Rowling will see it and agree with my little lego Harry — and me, and all of the HP fandom — that trans rights are human rights; she once said that Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home, and JK, WE’RE WAITING). Anyway, the library also got tiktok famous, and since tiktok was my first pandemic preoccupation, that felt fitting. AND I read all 1000+ comments and my heart was full.
Creating the library also got me back to reading. Grant said (and still says) I did this wrong, but I ordered a bunch of new books for it. I wanted to make sure I featured the authors above, that I could share my favorite books, and that it would always have a Harry Potter book in it. After that initial order, though, I wanted to make sure I was reading new books to get titles I was excited about in there, and Grant and I agreed on a budget — though neither one of us is super happy with the compromised amount :)
I’m now back to reading a book every day or two, and I’m bringing back the best of list! We may not be able to travel but books will always, always take us on the best journeys.
March: Books One through Three, by John Lewis. I purchased these three graphic memoirs after the Congressman’s death, and I can’t believe I hadn’t read them until then. He always seemed larger than life, and the books showed how he was a brave, non-violent, ordinary man trying everything he could for his people to be free. Just a must read, so order them already.
The House in the Cerulean Sea, by TJ Klune. A caseworker in charge of magical youth (okay, Harry Potter fans, you want to read it already, right?) travels to an island with possibly dangerous magical kids. It’s beautiful and queer and so so so good. If that’s not enough, it was only in the little free library for a few days before someone picked it up.
Know My Name, by Chanel Miller. I was worried I might be triggered by this book, but I follow Chanel on instagram @chanelmillerknowmyname and she’s also an illustrator and her drawings were making me feel less alone in the pandemic and in my mind. Her courage and honesty in her story is incredible, and I want to be able to buy this book and just hand it out to people in my life who have experienced sexual assault. We’re not alone and we’re survivors and Chanel, we know your name.
Sex and Vanity, by Kevin Kwan. Thank goodness the author of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy had a new book for us during this pandemic. I got to travel to Capri with the ultra-rich and really, really escape the house I’m stuck in :). It’s been checked out of the library three times (returned twice so far - I love good neighbors who want to keep sharing good books).
The Only Good Indians, by Stephen Graham Jones. I don’t usually read horror, but this is the second horror book I’ve read in the past month. If you identify as Native, I feel like you kind of have to read it. It’s creepy and you get pulled into haunted friendships, and I think I can get Grant to read it because it centers around an elk hunt.
The next four books I’ve read in the past four days, THEY ARE THAT GOOD. In excellence order, they are:
The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennett. Holy shit, just holy shit could not put this down. Two twins live in a town full of light-skinned Black people (it’s a town made by and for light-skinned Black people), and then they run away to New Orleans where one passes as white and the other claims her Black identity. Race and family dysfunction and trans love and colorism and love. I wanted the book to keep going, and now I’m not sure what I’m going to read next.
The Fixed Stars, by Molly Wizenberg-Choi. I’ve been reading Molly’s writing since her Orangette blogging days (and she brought the two best waffles and Thai beef into our lives). This book is an introspective marvel about how she found herself, as a straight woman, married and with a child, discovering her queerness and changing her life so it could be her life.
Deacon King Kong, by James McBride. I LOVED The Good Lord Bird, which I read because it was in the Tournament of Books some years back. It took me a bit to get into this book (and I really mean a bit, because I read this over two days), and then I was in it. It takes place in the projects in Brooklyn in 1969 when the Italians and Irish and Black folks try to survive as heroin begins to infiltrate their neighborhood. It’s hard and hopefully and funny and heartbreaking.
The One to Watch, by Kate Stayman-London. I started reading romance a few years ago (was a snob about it before hand), and I’m so glad I did. This is about the first plus-sized bachelorette, who agrees to go on the show to help her brand and is reluctant that she will actually find love. It was so well written and smart and talks honestly about fatness, race, asexuality, etc. Plus it’s just a fun read and had a few twists I saw coming and a few I didn’t. Also one of my favorite book recommenders recommended this because he is FRIENDS WITH THE AUTHOR #goals because she has worked and written for Hillary Rodham Clinton. Let’s all go support that.
