Queenie - Candice Carty-Williams

You have to admit this amazing cover art catches your eye and makes you wonder what might be inside. And the inside is just as beautiful. Queenie Jenkins is on the cusp of something good. She has a steady boyfriend, Tom, who has suggested marriage, and she's landed a job at a magazine. So what if Tom's family is racist and he doesn't seem to care. So what if the job is managing listings and not writing about issues that really matter to Queenie. She's ALMOST there.

And then. She isn't. Tom wants a break. A clean break. And this begins a spiral for Queenie who must confront some of the things that have made her adult life difficult. Painful, heartbreaking episodes from her childhood are hinted, and then drawn out fully as we grieve and learn with Queenie.

At times completely hilarious and then equally heartbreaking, this book really does do it all. Queenie's friends are dismayed and helpless to halt her downward spiral and I felt these same feelings along with them. I felt like Queenie's friend. I was rooting for her. I wanted her to figure out these things she was doing to herself and allowing to happen to herself. The book brings up uncomfortable questions of self acceptance and worth and race. And it does it all in the most excellent writing. 

I was so thrilled to find this book in my mail box courtesy of Scout Press Books. I can't wait to share this book with everyone.

5/5 Stars. 

After the Parade - Lori Ostlund

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. I've had some pleasant surprises from NetGalley recently so I probably had higher expectations going into reading this that never fully coalesced into a feeling of satisfaction. 

The story begins with Aaron Englund packing up his stuff and leaving his partner of 20 years, Walter at their home in Albuquerque. It's really unclear what led to this ultimate split, but it appears that Aaron has more or less fallen out of love with Walter and is ready to change his life. So he heads to San Francisco to begin anew.

Upon arrival he rents a horrible studio apartment from a feuding married couple, and begins work as an ESL teacher in a poorly run school. And then Aaron struggles. Part of this is likely based on his background. His father was abusive but died before a cathartic parting would give him mother any satisfaction or confidence. So his mother moves them to a small town, proclaiming it is NOT the kind of place to start over. With that omen hanging over their story, they barely get by together until Aaron turns 15 and his mother leaves. In swoops Walter and the rest is really, well kind of boring (I read another review that used the word tedious - which is probably more on point). 

Aaron is a collector of stories and the vignettes he relays regarding other people are pretty fascinating. But Aaron, who is our eye piece in the story, tries to use these outside stories to define himself. It's a technique that feels almost, but not quite successful. The narrative is harmed by a dizzying skip through time and place which is distracting when it's not down-right confusing. 

I wouldn't say I liked this book in total, although some parts were bright spots. I also wouldn't say I disliked it.

3/5 Stars.