Oct 1

Oct 1 If You Only Read One: September 2020

2020 New Releases, #SFOL Recommends, Black Voices, Historical Fiction, If You Only Read One, Literary Fiction, The Top Rated

We know that we read — and review — a lot of books. It definitely helps that there are three of us, in that regard. So with this feature, we want to tell you our favorite read of the month - if we only recommend one book to pick up, what would it be?

Shannon

I had an incredibly tough time choosing between two of my 5-star reads this September: “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi (Bookshop | Kindle | Elizabeth’s review) and “The Book of Longings” by Sue Monk Kidd (Bookshop | Kindle). However, I ultimately decided to be the 3000th person to recommend “Homegoing.” (But, don’t miss my full review of “The Book of Longings.”) “Homegoing” is the incredible, multi-generational novel following the lives of the descendants of two half-sisters. Initially set in Ghana in the 18th century, one half-sister is sold into slavery while the other marries a well-to-do Englishman who has colonized the Gold Coast. Their descendants’ lives are told in what are practically short stories, and Gyasi’s prose is absolutely stunning. I found the ending almost too neat, but it didn’t detract from my experience reading the book. I am generally a fairly fast reader, but I found myself slowing down to really savor this one. Highly recommend.

Moira

My lucky library stars aligned this month, and I was able to get the best new bookflow I’ve had since robbing Elizabeth’s apartment in July. Emma Jane Unsworth’s “Grown Ups” (Bookshop | Kindle | my review here) was a read that had me laughing out loud and questioning my social media habits. Grown Ups nails the existential crises that arise in your thirties. Our heroine is deeply flawed but deeply lovable, and she’s held to task for the ways in which she’s failed those who love her. It’s rare that a book aiming to be comedic truly succeeds, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Elizabeth

I squeaked in under the wire for this month’s choice, as I finished it at about 9:15 PM on September 30, but I’m calling it now: "Transcendent Kingdom” by Yaa Gyasi (Bookshop | Kindle) is not only the best book I read last month, but one of the best books I read this year. I’m planning on a full review next week, I promise! (a promise I also made when reviewing “Homegoing" earlier this summer), but I can preview it in just a few words: Thought-provoking. Lyrical. Stunning. Raw. “Transcendent Kingdom” is less epic in scope than “Homegoing,” as it focuses on the life of one immigrant family and one lifetime, but it also feels bigger at the same time. Many more thoughts to come, but don’t wait for my full review to pick up Gyasi’s newest — I can’t imagine you’ll regret it.

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