Side Quest: Every Book I Read in my 29th Year Part 2

Thanks for the memories!

Hey y’all, I’m continuing my bookish bday celebration with even more books that I read when I was 29! I hope you enjoy this little detour from the regular Bookstore Quest— if you don’t, Venmo me $5 and I’ll stop.

Every Book I read in my 29th year part 2:

Glitch by Sarah Graley

Where I got: Allie Affinto’s moving to MN book purge

Glitch is a cute fun graphic novel about Izzy, a girl whose journeys into a videogame world begin to alienate her from her friends and family. It’s not a super novel concept (we’ve all seen Brainscan right?), but it’s perfectly pitched for middle grade readers to enjoy. This would be a great read for young folks who love Stephen Universe or Bee & Puppycat!

The Hundred Years War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi 

Where I got: Mcnally Jackson Williamsburg

Rashid Khalidi’s history of Palestinian struggle kicks off not with the 1917 Balfour declaration, but even further back to the Palestinian society of the late 1800s, traced by the author through members of his own family. This family would go through many hardships in the century following, as Jewish immigrants sought to force their Muslim neighbors out of power in the colonial and later post-colonial hierarchy. Khalidi’s book does an excellent job of broadening the scope of the Israel/Palestine conflict further than the nation’s controversial borders, examining how Britain and later the USA valued a Jewish Israel to their strategic ends, as well as how neighboring Arab states used Palestinian refugees as political props in the decades following Israeli statehood. This history is not for the faint of heart— I found the section on Israel’s invasion of Lebanon to be particularly hard to read. As a Jew who got a highly Zionist education, I’m thankful for histories like this one that provide a thorough and thoughtful counterpoint.

A Point of Honor by Aeryn Rudel

Where I got it: Quimby’s

This novella describes a future world where online arguments can be settled by real life duels. The price for shirking a duel challenge? Get labeled a duel dodger and become a pariah blacklisted by society. This is a fun quick read reminiscent of a Black Mirror or Twilight Zone episode, I was not terribly invested in the characters but I had a good time. 

The Education of Brett Kavanaugh: An Investigation by Robin Pogrebin & Kate Kelly

Where I got it: My uncle’s basement 

The journalists who wrote this book leave no stone unturned in their quest to find the truth about Brett Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court Justice whose nomination was dripping with controversy over accusations of sexual assault and harassment. This book gave a vivid portrait of the lives of young Washington DC preppies and their love of drinking a lot of alcohol, and provided a high degree of detail into the accusations against Kavanaugh and the evidence supporting them. The book also delves into Kavanaugh’s redeeming qualities, such as his mentorship, teaching, and dedication to the law. I found this book to be ultimately unsatisfying. Brett Kavanaugh wins and America loses… our access to abortion rights. Plus we have to deal with this guy for the rest of his life. 

Haha: Sad Clown Stories by W. Maxwell Prince and Martin Morazzo

Where I got it: Kinokuniya

The team of W. Maxwell Prince and Martin Morazzo have been cranking out truly excellent offbeat horror stories in their series Ice Cream Man, for which my love is well documented. Haha takes the same spooky spirit and applies it to character portraits of a diverse ensemble of clowns. Each chapter follows a different clown character, with shifts and art and tone to match that clown’s unique circumstances and personality. The stories range from scary to sad to sweet, all eventually tying together with MINOR SPOILER the Ice Cream Man universe. If you’re a horror fan or comic nerd who hasn’t checked this out yet, this is me begging you to do so— I could not put this book down for a second.

Of Solids and Surds by Samuel R. Delany

Where I got it: Mast Books

Sam Delany is a beloved grandfather to many of us readers, someone whose long career has ranged from sci-fi to sociology and made a huge impact despite the many barriers to Black queer writers. Of Solids and Surds is kind of a memoir, kind of a writing advice book, and kind of filled with humor and wisdom. His love for the craft radiates throughout this book, alongside tales that shed light on his many students and collaborators including Octavia Butler.

Through A Life by Tom Haugomat

Where I got: my roommate was getting rid of it

I’ve never read a long form, totally wordless graphic novel before. This book by Tom Haugomat is a mesmerizing tale of a life: a boy who grows up to be an astronaut who grows up to be a sad adult with problems who searches for peace and beauty in the world. The wordless nature of the book highlights the sparse yet beautiful images, making use of point of view, repetition, and a restrained color palette. This book is a great reminder that graphic novels still have so much room for innovation and experimentation. There’s really nothing like this book.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Where I got: Marissa’s house

A coming of age tale wrapped in a murder mystery, Where the Crawdads Sing has attracted success, controversy, and a pretty bad movie adaptation since it came out in 2018. As a teacher, I’m a sucker for stories about resilient children. Main character Kya overcomes many obstacles in this story and her eventual success is deeply satisfying to read. The nature descriptions are quite beautiful and immersive. I didn’t care for the murder mystery aspect of this story quite as much— I felt especially exhausted by the drawn out trial sequence at the end. By the way, what’s the deal with Delia Owens' involvement with an unsolved murder in Zambia??

That’s all for now! Thanks for reading and stay tuned for part 3!