Originally posted on Tumblr
a book published this year
Translating Myself and Others
Brought to me from Shakespeare & Co in Paris by a friend, this is a collection of essays by Jhumpa Lahiri and how she started writing and translating in Italian - in English. One of my fav reads of 2022.
a book you can finish in a day
Maison Ikkoku by Rumiko Takahashi
These are graphic novels or manga by one of Japan’s most famous mangaka. The volumes are easy and humorous reads.
a book you’ve been meaning to read
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Gifted to me in 2021, it was the last book in my to-read pile. I avoided this Booker Prize winner because I thought I’d need to really pay attention to it. I don’t think I liked it till the end; it was not what I expected at all.
a book recommended by your local librarian or bookseller
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
Highly recommended, but just a story that I kept rolling my eyes over. Like: “Yes, I get it. You’re traumatized. Aren’t we all?” Might’ve felt different if this hadn’t been two years into the pandemic.
a book you should have read in school
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
I’ve read this book a bajillion times. But I don’t think I ever *had* to read it for a class. Huh, right?
a book chosen for you by your spouse, partner, sibling, child or BFF
True Grit by Charles Portis
Recc’ed by my BFF. From a writing perspective, it’s super interesting because it is just literally what it is - the story of how Mattie Ross gets vengeance for her father’s death. There are no other layers at all. Odd.
a book published before you were born
The House on the Strand by Daphne Du Maurier
No one does tension like Ms Du Maurier. Not my favorite of her works, but an unexpected scifi story about time travel!
a book that was banned at some point
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Read it. Read it. Read it..
a book you abandoned
Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling
I’ve read the series before, and I thought I’d reread it for fun this year. But I never got past the first book. And historically, the third is my favorite!
a book you own but have never read
Yo misma: Antología by Ángeles Mastretta
Another Spanish book that I bought because I was taking too long to read the library version. I need to look up lots of words in this one. But when I understand it, it’s beautiful
a book that intimidates you
DIY Watercolors by Ingrid Sanchez
I finally used it to make some watercolor Christmas cards!
a book you’ve already read at least one.
All 7 of the Anne of Green Gables books by LM Montgomery
Such a good revisit with some old friends.