![]() Zuri Benitez loves her family, her block, and her writing. She loves everything about living in Bushwick, NYC. That is, until the Darcy family moves into the mini-mansion across the street. While the charming and cute Ainsley quickly strikes the fancy of Janae, Zuri's older sister, it is his brother, Darius Darcy, who makes Zuri see red. They get off to a terrible start, but a few key encounters help them see the errors in both their pride and prejudice. I read Zoboi's American Street, and loved it. I read Austen's Pride and Prejudice, and loved it. This book is a wonderful meshing of a classic tale with a very real, latinx, urban, youthful retelling. I could not put it down.
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![]() This classic novella tells the tale of the Old Man who ventures out to sea in search of a big catch. Hemingway writes stoically about the conflicts between man and nature, age and strength, mind and body. When the Old Man, Santiago, finally hooks a fish, he has a rough time trying to reel it in. The endeavor is a trial of his mortal strengths. I picked up this novel because a coworker named it as their favorite Hemingway book. I had only read one Hemingway novel (A Farewell to Arms) and a few short stories in high school and college, but I always like to read books that folks call their favorite. On top of that, I like to read literary classics. They say so much. The Old Man and the Sea was a particularly enriching read because it became so engrossing as it went on. Without incredibly flowery narration, Hemingway hooked me with Santiago's drive and determination, and his message on humanity embedded in the tale. ![]() Marguerite and her brother live with their grandmother in the rural American South in the 1930-40s. She has many formative and- at times- disturbing experiences throughout her adolescence, both in the South and while she visits California. Marguerite's story is one of triumph as she comes of age in a racist and conservative society. I read this book because I had not read it before. It is wildly famous and often referenced, so I wanted to be "in" the next time it came up. Honestly, I did not immediately love this novel, though I see the tremendous strength and value of Angelou's words. I found the novel more engaging the farther I read. Now I've read it and know it and will feel cultured the next time it comes up. ![]() The title character of this novel leaves his childhood home in search of enlightenment. Each anecdotal chapter features a different lesson or formative experience for Siddhartha. He is often alone in his travel, yet his companions leave deep marks on his development. Among those with whom he interacts, the Buddha himself even has a speaking role in this novel. I "read" this novel as in incoming freshman years ago. I did not really read the novel that time. The narrative and plot feel a bit dry, even today. However, I found myself enjoying, appreciating, and relating to the lessons Siddhartha learns in the latter 3/4 of the novel. I wonder if my elevated interest this time around has to do with the fact that I book clubbed this novel with a friend. We would read a few chapters and chat about them, which led us- I think- to a deeper understanding of the novel. |
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June 2020
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