Accelerated Reader: Volume 10
“Dancing With the Octopus” by Debora Harding (Bookshop | Kindle) - 4/5
Debora Harding’s memoir revisits a kidnapping and assault that occurred in her late teens. After developing severe PTSD in her twenties, she endeavors to heal by revisiting the issue with her family of origin, and by meeting with her attacker. I expected the assault to take center stage in the memoir, but Harding’s family, with an abusive mother and avoidant father, are the central subjects. This picture is far more complete than the usual victim/survivor narrative, and Harding is a compelling writer, switching deftly between multiple timelines.
“Sanctuary” by Emily Rapp Black (Bookshop | Kindle) 4.25/5
Rapp Black’s memoir is a gut-wrenching story of parenting after losing a child to Tay-Sachs, divorcing, and remarrying. It is a powerful examination of the random cruelty of the universe, and what healing looks like, when and where it is even possible. With interspersed quotes from philosophers and poets, this is a painful but gripping read.
“The Survivors” by Jane Harper (Bookshop | Kindle) 3.75/5
Jane Harper’s newest thriller is perhaps not as groundbreaking or deftly plotted as her prior novels, but is a solid, fun and quick read. Kieran Elliott returns to his beach hometown in Australia with his partner and young daughter to visit his mother and father. The mystery of the day where he lost his brother, and a young girl went missing, rises to the surface once again when a woman’s body is discovered on the beach. This is elevated from your standard thriller, and though it didn’t delight me, it was an enjoyable read.
“Oligarchy” by Scarlett Thomas (Bookshop | Kindle) 4/5
This is a short, acerbic, darkly funny story of a young Russian girl who becomes ensconced in the extremely cultish eating-disordered culture of her English boarding school. When girls begin to go missing, the school’s dark secrets threaten to be outed. This book almost hit the nail on the head for me, but bordered on too mean and obsessive (this is a personal taste criticism, not a criticism of the writing).
“Girl A” by Abigail Dean (Bookshop | Kindle) 3.75/5
A brand-new and buzzed-about thriller, this book was thrilling up until it took a misstep, employing a common mystery novel trope I don’t prefer. Lex, Girl A, escaped from her abusive parents’ house of horrors, freeing her siblings. When her mother dies, she returns to settle her estate and must reunite with her siblings. This is a really fast read, an excellent debut from an author I think has the potential to be really stellar in her future efforts
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