I know I haven’t been as consistent as of late but there’s good news. The entire month of September is in a queue right now! That means every week in September, whether I remember or not, new content will be posted. Huzzah!

Also, part of the reason I’ve been delayed is because I wrote a book! You can pick it up in ebook or paperback here. (And 25% of the profits go to sexual violence survivors, so it’s a win-win!)

Anyway, now that all that business is out of the way… enter below for horror, systemic racism, and war (oh my!), as well as some pre-fall and Labor Day book and TV suggestions.

August Book Reviews

Warlight by Michael Ondaatje*

1 Sentence Synopsis: A pair of siblings find themselves abandoned by their parents in post-war Europe, under the care of a possible criminal who reveals their parents might not be who they seem.

Review: Warlight is like dreaming – ethereal, captivating, and mystical, but, when you wake up, you’re not sure you can remember a thing. It’s a very forgettable book on this side of things, but a pleasurable experience during. I’m not sure I would recommend this for your everyday reading life, but for a mountain or beach getaway, it might be just the thing.

(BN) (Amazon) (IndieBound)

 

The Troop by Nick Cutter

1 Sentence Synopsis: A scouting troop on a weekend camping trip get caught up in a military blockade and a scientific experiment gone terribly wrong.

Review: The Troop is a horror story reminiscent of Lord of the Flies but placed in a world where the adults are all too aware of the horrors the boys are engaging in, and simply unwilling to place themselves in the center of it. As the pages turn, and the gore and guts unsettle your stomach, the true monster is revealed as something far more horrible than we imagined. I was reading this until the early morning.

(BN) (Amazon) (IndieBound)

 

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

1 Sentence Synopsis: Legal professor Michelle Alexander explores mass incarceration in a society that thinks the solution to racism is not talking about race.

Review: A true gut-punch, Alexander explores complex academia into manageable examples and wake-up calls for the public. You won’t need a Ph.D. to understand this, but you will need your senator’s phone number handy. At times just a bit repetitive, but never dull, Alexander’s classic is not one to miss.

(BN) (Amazon) (IndieBound)

 

Looking Ahead: September

What To Read:

Letters to a Young Farmer edited by Martha Hodgkins  – If fall means harvest to you, check out this inspiring collection directed to the people who keep America fed.

The Simplicity of Cider by Amy E. Reichert – If it feels like summer still, but the trees are starting to change, pick up this escapist fiction (that’s genuinely good) about a down-on-her luck orchid owner and a handsome (if annoying) new field hand.

And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman – Whether you’re working Labor Day or not, read this short novella that will hit you in all the feels, while making you feel like you accomplished something by finishing it in a day.

 What To Watch:

Castle Rock (Hulu) – Taking place in the Stephen King multiverse, this series will give you all the Halloween feels while you’re waiting for the official start of Spooky Season next month. New episodes Wednesdays 

America to Me (STARZ) – Exploring race, culture, and education through the eyes of a Chicago public school. New episodes Sundays. 

Disenchantment (Netflix) – I’m embarrassed to admit it but this is my new guilty pleasure. Come join the insane kingdom of Dreamland and see how the princess, her elf, and a demon, join forces for…. well, you’ll see. Season 1 streaming now. 

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* provided by publisher via a goodreads giveaway.