Here's a few things that I have been reading recently:
Mudlark: In Search of London's Past Along the River Thames by Lara Maiklem
I learned so much that I didn't know I didn't know by reading this book. Did you know that the Thames is a tidal river? I sure didn't. I'm still not sure that rivers are tidal. Is that a normal thing?! So, because it is a tidal river, when the tide is out there are muddy banks that some people walk around and try to find treasures that have been swallowed up by the river, and they are called Mudlarkers. What makes the Thames so suited for this is that London has been occupies for a long time, which means you can find things all the way back to Roman era. I thought that this book was super interesting but all I could think of was "how the hell does this person not get stuck by medical waste and blown up by WWII munitions left over from the Blitz?!" (Which, to be fair are 2 things that come up). Mudlarking is not something I am going to take up as a hobby, but was SO interesting to read about.
Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber
I wanted to love love love this book. A story about a woman coming to faith in one of the oldest, most beautiful institutes of higher learning in the world? Sounds right up my alley. But I just felt like it was too long and too wordy and ugh. Like, obviously I'm glad she's in The Fold but this book just was not what I was hoping.
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
Shout out to my beloved friend Maggie who got me this book for my birthday! Maggie and I share the love of creepy, gothic, violent horror story collections written by women, and because of that I got her "Her Body and Other Parties" as a gift by this same author. We both loved it. Then Carmen wrote this memoir, though it's not really a memoir in the classical sense - it's a deep dive into an abusive relationship that she had. There has not been a lot of literary representation of queer abusive relationships, so this book is pretty groundbreaking in that way. Also it's format is really interesting because while the story is told chronologically it is told in segments all through the lens of the house that Carmen and her abuser had lived in together. There were parts that will make you sick to your stomach (it is about abuse so, makes sense) but it was totally worth a read. It also has a great dedication.
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
Oh my gosh, what a fun, sweet, poignant, hilarious graphic novel. I just felt good after reading it. A graphic novel about the importance of friends, being who you are, and don't trust shady institutions, yo. I WANT MOAR.
