The weekly post
The one where we celebrate women authors
Hi friends! My west coast work travel was fast-paced, exhausting, and ultimately successful. Hands down, the highlight of the trip - and something that is becoming a bit of a tradition on work trips! - included visiting a local bookstore with my work wife and dear friend, followed by a delicious vegan dinner. We visited City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco - founded in 1953 as the nation’s first all-paperback bookstore. It’s a cozy and impressive space, and I loved their creative categorization and dedicated sections to SF writers, politics, and culture. I picked up a copy of communion by bell hooks, which has been on my list for a while and that I hope to get to this month. Work travel is consistently a full-on sprint, and carving out time for local bookstores has served as the perfect respite. I’m so fortunate to explore with one of my favorite fellow readers!
Since returning home, I’ve been under the weather, and though I have felt pretty rotten, the silver lining has been plenty of time for good books and quality rest. I am so grateful to be on the mend in time for book club this week, and I am feeling especially energized by my March book selections. Wherever you are, stay healthy out there and let me know what’s on your shelf this week.
P.S. Today is the last day of the Politics & Prose Member Spring Sale (once again, I am not sponsored, but I do continue to dream!). Pop over to any of their store locations today or visit online, and here’s my 2023 Book Gift Guide if you’re in need of some spring inspiration!
Currently Reading
THE VIEW WAS EXHAUSTING by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta. My first reread of 2024! I first read The View Was Exhausting in February 2022 and devoured it in one weekend, and I have loved digging back into the complex relationship between Win - a British Indian actress in Hollywood - and Leo - the son of a wealthy New York family. This story promises a fake dating trope (my favorite), and when I first read this, I anticipated a lighthearted, likely unrelatable, quick beach read. Instead, The View Was Exhausting takes a less conventional approach to the modern-day romance novel. It builds the tension between Win and Leo delicately, and it delves into race and gender dynamics, with particular focus on the inordinate pressures and unfair expectations placed on women of color in the media (and society more broadly). There is nothing rushed about this book, and I have loved taking my time through this reread. I highly recommend this book for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman, and Wildest Dreams and Wonderland by Taylor Swift.
Recent Recommendation
REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt (4 stars). This is Shelby Van Pelt’s first novel, and wow… What an accomplishment. I came into this book with high expectations, after hearing nothing but excellent reviews from a wide range of readers in my life, and I am ready to add my own praise for this heartwarming, funny, charming, quirky story.
To put it quite plainly, Remarkably Bright Creatures is just a solidly good read. Van Pelt tells the story of a friendship between a woman in her 70s, Tova Sullivan, and a giant Pacific octopus, Marcellus, at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Tova is the night cleaner at the aquarium, and Marcellus is the curious creature who insists on leaving his tank and exploring each night. Along the way, we meet Cameron Cassmore, a 30-year old transplant to the Sowell Bay area, and a whole cast of perfectly portrayed small town characters who bring warmth and depth to the storytelling.
At its heart, this is a story about grief, loss, and friendship. Tova has endured immense loss throughout her life, and she is also grappling with the aging process and potentially losing her sense of agency as an independent woman. Cameron is a wandering soul, struggling to define his place in the world and his connection with family. And dear Marcellus is curious, intelligent, and deeply frustrated by life in a tank. Van Pelt vividly brings these characters and their storylines to life. I felt such a strong connection to Tova, who reminded me of my own Nan (hi, Nan!), and I loved seeing the (unexpected) friendships develop between Tova and Marcellus, and then Tova and Cameron. This story has a pureness to it and is heartwarming and sincere without ever becoming corny or over-the-top.
To those who may be skeptical of the octopus angle: I felt similarly! The way this book was described to me (“told through the perspective of an octopus”) made me anticipate it was fairly outside of my genre comfort zone. Instead, Van Pelt sparingly and strategically weaves in Marcellus’ perspective throughout the story, rather than making it the star of the show. I love that she captured a mischievous voice for Marcellus, and I found myself laughing out loud at some of his more pointed observations about humans. If you are one for the unexpected friendships storyline, I would say heartily, give Remarkably Bright Creatures a chance.
Recommend for… fans of Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Frederik Backman, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Up Next
Taking a page out of a few of my friends’ books, I’ll be queuing up books by women authors in honor of Women’s History Month (and moving forward, I’m going to try to read at least one book that corresponds with each month’s observations/celebrations and would love inspiration for this!). For March, I have Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey, The Bodyguard by Katherine Center, and communion by bell hooks in the stack, and I’m feeling energized by this list.
Read Ahead
It’s here, it’s here! Back to the Silent Reading Party, we go! This Wednesday, March 13, we’ll gather at Lost Generation Brewing right off the MBT in Northeast DC. Our reservation starts at 6:30pm to order food and drinks, we’ll read silently from 7:00 – 8:00pm, and then please feel encouraged to hang out afterwards to share what you’re reading and catch up with fellow readers!
Reminder that this time around, we’ll try out a book swap. If you have any books at home you’re ready to say goodbye to, bring them along this week and pass them along for their next adventure. I’ll take any books that are left at the end of the evening to a little free library.
Please remember to RSVP here and spread the word with your friends!
Three Words
Support local bookstores.