Reclaim the Stars
Edited by Zoraida Cordova
★★★
This Latinx-written short story anthology focuses specifically on Latinx characters within sci-fi and fantasy; this addresses largely under-discussed sub-genres and representation problems while providing readers with various beautiful stories. I found that I struggled to get into the initial stories, as I’m not a sci-fi fan myself, but I loved many of the fantasy tales that were included. The anthology is broken into three parts: “To the Stars,” “The Magical Now,” and “Other Times, Other Realms.” I found myself primarily enjoying the stories of the final category, and I struggled to enjoy the stories from the first. I will acknowledge the skillful writing that is seen through every story included; the characters are complex, their worlds are detailed, and every story has a message that is relatable for readers. Important topics such as love, feminism, faith, independence, and much more feature throughout the anthology and make the stories shine. No matter my own feelings about this collection, it was one that I have no regrets about snagging off Amazon to add to my classroom library.
Uncommon Type
by Tom Hanks
★
I love Tom Hank’s various films, so I had honestly hoped that I would love his short story anthology as well. Honestly, I hated it. There wasn’t anything wrong with the writing style, but it was so dull! It took me months to get through this collection because I genuinely felt disappointed every time I picked it up. I originally thought the idea of a bunch of short stories that were all connected by typewriters (s) was interesting, but that was about as far as my interest made it. I can’t say I’d recommend this one to anyone; I honestly wish I could have the time I spent reading it back so I could use it to read something else.
Once Upon An Eid
Edited by S.K. Ali & Aisha Saeed
★★★★
So I decided during the Christmas season to try to fit some non-Christian holiday stories as well; one of these books ended up being Once Upon An Eid. I found the stories very intriguing, as I loved getting to see the world from a different perspective. I also found the collection to be informative, as I had not previously known much about Eid or its significance within Islam. I learned about the beauty of young women first adopting the hijab, the emphasis placed on family, and the preaching of love. While I knew that the media often unfairly (and offensively) portray Muslim characters, I was thrilled to experience these stories that showed how beautiful Islam can and is meant to be. This anthology would be a great way to open the discussion between parents and their children about different cultures and beliefs, as these stories are told from the perspectives of younger children and teens. These stories display how despite all of our differences in cultural practices, we are all human- ultimately we all need to love and be loved. I found this anthology on accident while browsing the seasonal reads category on Libby, but I encourage you now to go find this one with a purpose- to build understanding and to learn of a holiday that likely holds significance for someone within your own community.
by David Sedaris
★★
I randomly stumbled upon this audiobook while searching Libby for something to listen to with my fiancé…. It was odd, to say the least. Sedaris chose to tell stories that are all over the place, and they often left us both looking at each other and wondering what kind of drugs Sedaris was on while writing. The stories range from more mundane experiences- like visiting a dentist- to audio from his comedy performances. I can’t say I needed to hear this book though; while I believe every story is worth telling, this one was one I could have personally lived without hearing. Who knows though; someone is his target audience, so that might be you.
Under One Roof
by Ali Hazelwood
★★★★
So I read the novellas out of order, as I read The Love Hypothesis (loved it) and then Stuck With You (meh). I got the novellas as my library made them available on Libby, so I found Under One Roof last. While I loved The Love Hypothesis because I felt like I could really follow as the characters' relationship built, I didn't really feel that in Under One Roof. Due to the shortness of the story, it felt a bit like a porno; they went rapidly from enemies to friends, and then they were suddenly getting naked. Although this story was more enjoyable than Stuck With You, it still did not live up to the novel that started it all. I found the antics of Mara and Liam to be entertaining, and there was a certain organic feel to their relationship development. Aside from the scene that felt straight out of a porno- if you read it, you know what I mean- the story feels possible. I found that I actually wanted to finish this one (unlike Stuck With You).
Below Zero
by Ali Hazelwood
★★★★
I’m not normally a fan of the damsel in distress trope, but Hazelwood did it well. Hannah is portrayed as strong, bold, and independent; despite this, we get to see that even the fiercest women need help from time to time. Ian is intelligent, considerate, and apparently gorgeous. I found Hannah was the most relatable of the three Steminist novella leads, although Ian highly reminds me of the other male love interests. While I wasn’t thrilled that Hannah and Ian’s story centers around a general miscommunication- similar to Stuck With You- I enjoyed it nonetheless.
by Ali Hazelwood
★★★
I really enjoyed The Love Hypothesis, so I gave this novella a chance when it became available via Libby. I hadn't realized this was the second novella in the series, so that might have impacted my opinion. Although I found the characters to be somewhat entertaining, I just couldn't get as hooked on the lovely duo as I did TLH. I found that the entire story came down to two people not communicating, and that trope tends to just be irritating to me; I hate reading about adults that have zero communication skills. While I have no issue with the idea of a romance moving quickly, as I firmly believe every relationship goes at its own pace, I do think they displayed that the speed of their relationship was a problem (lack of trust, inability to communicate, etc.). I'm pretty confident that the only reason they even speak is that they were literally stuck in an elevator together. Overall, I found that the characters and their relationship just weren't doing it for me. I'm still going to read the other two novellas though!
by Kate Quinn
★★★★
I snagged this as a Prime First Reads on Amazon Kindle this month. This brief introduction to Quinn's writing has left me excited for some of the other titles I own- such as The Alice Network- and I've heard it pairs beautifully with The Rose Code. In 57 pages (cover to cover), Quinn made me root for the success of Lily and Jackson. This story takes place in two different times, during two different wars, and yet similarities can be drawn between both realities that remind us that the things that matter transcends time.
by Christina Henry and Lindy Ryan
★★★★
First, thank you to Black Spot Books for an ARC of this title from Netgalley. This collection of short stories caught my attention right away, as I had not previously known very much about Baba Yaga (the folklore witch that lives in the woods in her house with chicken legs). As I researched her a bit, I realized there was a ton of variety in the lore pertaining to Baba; she was both a villain and a hero for many. I found that the collection of short stories written by female-identifying horror writers captures the complex idea and interpretations of Baba Yaga. I loved that she was loving in kind in many stories, as well as dangerous and vengeful. I found myself laughing, wanting to cry, and frequently rooting for her (even when I probably shouldn't be). The writing was strong, the stories were compelling, and the collection was educational overall. I would recommend checking out this one when it releases this fall!
by Meghan Quinn
★★★
I snagged this via Prime Reading, and I can acknowledge that it was a cute short story. It follows as Nola and Caleb each write to their mysterious Christmas-hating pen pals. This follows the cheesy “one who got away” trope, as well as that of Scrooge finding their Christmas spirit. With a meddlesome grandma, a sneaky postman, and two Christmas lovers in denial, this one will leave you laughing. I leave you with two parting words: ball massage.
My Evil Mother
by Margaret Atwood
★★★
I enjoyed The Handmaid’s Tale, so I snagged this short story when it was an option from Prime First Reads. I was underwhelmed, but the story was alright, I found the mother and daughter’s dynamic to be somewhat interesting, I really don’t like ambiguous endings to stories. I like to know with pretty decent surety what is happening, and I was missing that with this one. There’s not a lot I can say without spoilers for this one.
by Anthony Veasna So
★★★
This one has been on my shelf forever it seems, so it was time to give it a read. I started this hyped to learn since I don’t normally hear much about Cambodian Americans, and I found myself researching often and learning quite a bit. Overall, I thought the stories were interesting. Each of the short stories depicts one person living their daily (and often connected) lives; this includes the good, the bad, and the ugly. This book did make me uncomfortable in a bad way though, and that ultimately made it a three-star read for me. I do not have an issue with smut or dirty scenes in themselves, however, I typically like my books to be upfront about there being sexual content. I was not prepared for the amount of detailed sexual content included, so it caught me very off guard. If there had been some indicator that there was sexual content in this one, I think I would have been cool with it. On the bright side, there was a lot of talk of yummy-sounding food; I’m now looking to see if I have Cambodian near me.
An Elderly Lady Is Up To No Good
★★★★★
An Elderly Lady Must Never Be Crossed
★★★.5
by Helen Tursten
These short stories tell of the adventures of Maud, an elderly woman from Sweden. However, Maud isn’t as nice as we typically expect little old ladies to be. We get to follow Maud as she “solves” problems at home, and we get to follow her on her trips abroad. The stories are funny, quick, and remind you why the elderly should not be underestimated. Check for copies on Libby.