“The love stories sold us the wrong thing. The best kind of love doesn’t happen on moonlit walks and romantic vacations. It happens in between the folds of everyday life.” I know I sound like a broken record, but Abby Jimenez is a bit special. Surface level, one would be tempted to say it’s formulaicContinue reading “JUST FOR THE SUMMER – Abby Jimenez”
Tag Archives: book review
NEVER LEAVE THE DOGS BEHIND – Brianna Madia
A little over two years ago, I wrote the following about Brianna Madia’s first novel, Nowhere for Very Long: “It tastes like sunbaked earth that leads to a hidden spring that no one knows about but you. It smells like flowers growing wild and untamed. It sounds like howling at the moon.” I was hopingContinue reading “NEVER LEAVE THE DOGS BEHIND – Brianna Madia”
JOSEPHINE AGAINST THE SEA – Shakirah Bourne
Current installment of Tommi Reads the World – we’re in the Bs. Country: BarbadosTitle: Josephine Against the SeaAuthor: Shakirah BourneLanguage: EnglishTranslator: NonePublisher: Scholastic Press 2021 You never outgrow books (or you shouldn’t), so it’s no surprise that a middle grade book shows up in Tommi Reads the World. And thank goodness, because Josephine Against the SeaContinue reading “JOSEPHINE AGAINST THE SEA – Shakirah Bourne”
AN EVENING IN GUANIMA: A TREASURY OF FOLKTALES FROM THE BAHAMAS – Patricia Glinton-Meicholas
“Once upon a time, a very good time, Monkey chew terbakker and spit white lime, Bullfrog jump from bank to bank while Mosquiter keep up the time.” Current installment of Tommi Reads the World – we’re in the Bs. Country: The BahamasTitle: An Evening in Guanima: A Treasury of Folktales from The BahamasAuthor: Patricia Glinton-MeicholasLanguage: EnglishTranslator:Continue reading “AN EVENING IN GUANIMA: A TREASURY OF FOLKTALES FROM THE BAHAMAS – Patricia Glinton-Meicholas”
THERE THERE – Tommy Orange
“We are the memories we don’t remember, which live in us, which we feel, which make us sing and dance and pray the way we do, feeling from memories that flare and bloom unexpectedly in our lives like blood through a blanket from a wound made by a bullet fired by a man shooting usContinue reading “THERE THERE – Tommy Orange”
JADED – Ela Lee
Ela Lee’s debut novel, Jaded, (Simon & Schuster 3/19/2024) is a sharp and raw depiction of the complete mind fuckery a sexual assault does on a person. Before getting into the review/reaction, I must stress that this novel is not for everyone, and it’s okay if you are not in the headspace to read itContinue reading “JADED – Ela Lee”
The Sorrow of Belgium – Hugo Claus
“Times are bad, the radio says so, and the newspapers. No, things aren’t getting any better, far from it.” Current installment of Tommi Reads the World – we’re in the Bs. Country: BelgiumTitle: The Sorrow of BelgiumAuthor: Hugo ClausLanguage: DutchTranslator: Arnold J. PomeransPublisher: First published in Dutch as Het Verdriet van Belgie by De Bezige BijContinue reading “The Sorrow of Belgium – Hugo Claus”
THE FROZEN RIVER – Ariel Lawhon
“To name a thing is a proprietary act. It is a commitment. Of ownership or care or loyalty. It means something. With that single word I have declared that this little beast is mine, and that I have a responsibility to protect her.” While the quote refers to a silver fox, the importance of namesContinue reading “THE FROZEN RIVER – Ariel Lawhon”
AKATA WARRIOR – Nnedi Okorafor
“Let the reader beware that there is juju in this book.” Nnedi Okorafor’s Akata Warrior (Viking 2017) is the second installment in the remarkable middle grade Nsibidi Script series that has been dubbed the Nigerian Harry Potter. If you read my review of the first of the series, Akata Witch, you’ll note that I don’tContinue reading “AKATA WARRIOR – Nnedi Okorafor”
BLOOD – Sunil Gangopadhyay
Next installment of Tommi Reads the World – we’re in the Bs. Country: BangladeshTitle: BloodAuthor: Sunil GangopadhyayLanguage: BengaliTranslator: Debali Mookerjea-LeonardPublisher: First published in Begali as Rakta by Biswabani Prakashani 1973, translation first published by Juggernaut Books 2020 Sunil Gangopadhyay’s Blood could have served as either my selection from Bangladesh or India. As Gangopadhyay was born inContinue reading “BLOOD – Sunil Gangopadhyay”
A Girl Named Tommi 