Read: The Iron Age, Riot Grrrl ⚒🎸
What I read last week, am reading this week, and will read next week.
Welcome to week two of Read Receipts!
I’ve been visiting the public library a lot lately. The library was always a magical place to me as a child, and some of that magic is returning for me as an adult. I like that you can take home ten books and read just one of those; you don’t have to worry about feeling guilty for buying something you don’t end up reading. My library also has ebooks available for checkout, so I can download books on my phone and not worry about remembering to return them. I also get a weird thrill from finding a particularly in-demand book on the library shelf. If you haven’t been to your public library in a while, you might want to check it out.
📝 Features
Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh
This is a story of a young woman who lives with her alcoholic father in seaside New England and dreams of running away to New York City. The novel follows the titular Eileen during the days before she finally leaves her hometown. In many ways, Eileen is a repulsive individual, but she’s one of those protagonists you can’t help but root for all the while.
Read this book if:
You like a twisted main character. Eileen is…strange (to put it lightly).
Skip this book if:
You get bored easily. My main qualm with this book is that the description of the book on the inside cover sets you up to anticipate a shocking event, so I spent most of the time waiting for that to happen.
You have a weak stomach. Eileen always keeps you updated on her bodily functions.
Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss
Ghost Wall is a novella published in January of this year. It tells the story of a family that accompanies a professor and a group of undergraduates on a field trip to reenact the lifestyle of ancient Britons from the Iron Age. The story is narrated by seventeen-year-old Silvie, whose cruel history buff father makes live miserable for her and her fatigued mother. This book is short enough to read in one sitting, and it kept my attention.
Read this book if:
You know ancient British history. I do not, and I got the feeling that I may have enjoyed Ghost Wall more had I been more informed on this subject.
You’re interested in regional British class dynamics. It is interesting to see how things play out between Silvie’s working class family and the wealthy undergraduate students on the trip.
Skip this book if:
You’re in it for the surrealism. The inside cover of the book alludes to a kind of spiritual awakening that occurs when the students and family build a traditional ghost wall. I interpreted that to mean there would be a surreal or fantastical element, and there was neither.
📖 In Progress
Speak No Evil by Uzodinma Iweala
This book is the story of a teenager living in Washington D.C. named Niru whose Nigerian parents find out he is gay despite Niru’s effort to keep it a secret.
First impressions:
Niru’s mother is an interesting character. While his father’s reaction to Niru’s sexuality is outrage, his mother’s reaction is more subtle. She cares deeply for her son, and having already lost a child, she wants to support him in any way she can. Despite this, she lets her husband enroll Niru in a conversion therapy program through the church.
Washington D.C. features prominently as a backdrop in this novel. Niru mentions how his family lives outside the city because his father thinks there is no sense in paying an exorbitant amount to live in a small house with fixtures that always need maintenance. Niru’s father also likes to be able to say he lives in the same neighborhood as Ted Koppel. I’m intrigued to see how D.C. plays a role as the novel continues.
Stray City by Chelsey Johnson
Stray City is about a woman in her twenties living in Portland, Oregon in the 90’s. She is a lesbian, but after a drunken post-breakup encounter with a man, she winds up pregnant.
First impressions:
The protagonist Andrea grew up on a farm in rural Nebraska. I am looking forward to hearing more about her childhood.
Andrea grows up during the Riot Grrrl movement, and she finds community through music during her time at Reed. The night Andrea gets pregnant begins at a local band’s show. It seems like music will play a central role in this book. I’m especially curious how that will play out later on, once (as the book jacket hints) Andrea’s child grows up.
📚 To Read
Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi
Same Same by Peter Mendelsund
If, Then by Kate Hope Day
🗞 Literary News
April is National Poetry Month! Check out this list of 30 Ways to Celebrate.
I also recommend this poem titled “Will You?” by Carrie Fountain.
That’s all for now! Do you have any book recommendations? View this newsletter in your browser and leave your recommendations in the comments section. Until next week!