This is a ghost story of sorts, and a love story of sorts, but mostly a story about a girl who doesn't want to live a stifled life and makes a deal with the devil to live forever. A beautiful, modern story.
Heather
Inspiring true story from Chicago's West Side in the turbulent 1990s. A group of young Black men from Manley High form the first black rowing team to save themselves. They are utterly transformed by the experience. Survivors, they reunite 20 years later to make a difference by offering the same opportunity to young black kids in their hometown. They also invite white members of the Chicago Police Department to join them in bringing people together to make a difference one stroke at a time. You will be moved to tears. Now available as a documentary on Peacock TV.
Ellen
83 years old, written and read during recessions, and somehow equal parts timely and timeless; Discouraging and hopeful.
John
With a deft hand, Strelow weaves together three compelling stories, spanning a century and set in the grandeur of the Pacific coast. Her prose is gorgeous, especially the way she lovingly renders the natural environment (including the titular birds). This is a book about both finding ourselves as individuals and the ways in which we are connected to the larger world around us. I adored it.
Kate
These stories are haunted not with ghosts, but with the loss of innocence, the debts that get demanded of girls when their hips start to curve, and the terror of not quite knowing what happens to the girls who venture behind closed doors with boys.
Meaghan
THIS. BOOK. I started this book and said that I was just going to read two chapters and then do something responsible, and instead I made it ten chapters and 100 pages before I was able to rip my eyes away from the page. This book is perfect for people who want something thrilling but not too scary. With patriarchal threads from The Handmaid’s Tale (and our own society), a puritanical setting, and a vibe that reminded me of the VVitch, this is a ‘carve out a day and don’t plan on moving until you’re done’ kind of book.
Katherine
As the title promises, a perfect Gothic novel: eerie and dark, with electric suspense. It cured my pandemic slump—I couldn’t seem to focus on anything until picking this one up, and then I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend the audiobook on Libro.fm as well!
Leila
I agonized over what to read after this book before giving in and just reading this book again. I wasn't ready to leave El, the stubborn sorcereress who doesn't want to murder all her classmates even though it would be so much easier. I wanted to stay with this magical school where the high death rate isn't a bug, it's a feature. I just loved everything about it so much. Is it too soon for me to read it again a third time?
Shana
Fermentation is about breaking down to build up, whether that be bacteria and yeast breaking down sugars to make delicious food, or concepts being broken apart, examined, and put together in new ways. Katz is the expert in fermentation practices. Here, he uses fermentation as a metaphor fo life, examining how we can draw inspiration from fermentation processes in order to live a more balanced, supportive, and aware life.
Marika
Readers of contemporary realistic fiction, don’t be turned off by the fantastical premise. Lillian’s relationship with the rather inconvenient “fire children” in her care made this a joy to read -- funny, off-kilter, and heartwarming.
Katie
