In the Forests of the Night by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
I can’t remember much of this series but I distinctly recall that it fueled my passion for writing. See the author was 13 when she wrote it and I devoured a few titles with interest and jealousy. I spent much of my youth with books for friends and her books were my first look into teen fiction.

Unfortunately I don’t believe I ever finished reading this series but because of her, I focused free time on writing. Writing was therapeutic and helped me through a lot in my younger years. My parents tried a few times to put me in therapy but I wouldn’t say a word. And if writing helped with anything, it helped my mental state in a world that was difficult to navigate.

All the Lights We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Sander flew out to California in 2015 to visit me and we were inseparable for 2 weeks. It was an emotional time for me because it was the start of a new relationship after a year of being single. This man that I only knew from the internet came out to see me and it was the best time of my life. And a hole remained when he left. That was when I knew I had to be with him.

I started reading this book after he left and I can tell you exactly what was happening in life when I read this book. I had it as an audiobook because my job at the time required me drive a lot. But when I think about those melancholy times of long days of driving and then nights in a college classroom, I feel a bit nostalgic and think of this book too.

A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
My group of friends used to visit the New York Times Festival of Books and we attended a panel were Tremblay spoke. The passage he read out loud captured my imagination and I read it in 2 weeks. It’s a story about exorcisms and the darkness of religious intervention but the ending left me speechless. If you’re into mysterious and spooky tales that blend reality and horror together, I recommend this book for sure. I think about it a lot, even today.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
I read this book back when I was in a book club with my closest friends. It was a magical story about wizards, circuses, and forbidden love. Oh, and the colors red, black and white. We dressed up for our meeting in those colors too and it was a wonderful time! Since then I had to donate my barely worn red scarf but I’ve been on the lookout for a replacement. This book means a lot to me even though I don’t talk to many of those people anymore. The author also has another book out that I’d love to read but I’ll do it when I know I’ll be able to finish it.

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
I was so excited to see Good Omens become a show but I have yet to watch it… I read this book nearly 10 years ago and have loved it ever since. It’s a beautiful mix of religion and a humorous look at what it comes with. I grew up in a religious house hold but wasn’t religious myself so this book always makes me laugh. I’m due for another read through and I think this year might be the perfect year!

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A school project prompted Thi to interview her parents on their history. So she decides to make a memoir about it. They rarely spoke about their life before America. And Thi didn’t remember much about Vietnam. Her interest in reconnecting with her roots leads her into territory she never expected, and opens her eyes to a world she may never fully understand.

The discussion time was pushed back to a little later… After midnight for me… So needless to say, I didn’t attend! Instead I wanted to give my own thoughts on the book with some of Jenn’s questions.

How do you find a balance between preserving and respecting your ethnic background while also assimilating into Western culture?
My parents came to America with little more than their names. They had a few family members already established so it wasn’t difficult for them to move from India to California. As far as I know, they were Westernized before the move. Both of them grew up in Catholic households and had no roots in typical Indian traditions.

In this way, life felt normal. Of course we sometimes had strange foods in the house and the scent would last ages… But otherwise not much changed in terms of tradition.

How did your upbringing shape the way you think about money, your definition of success and the importance of mental health?
Oh boy, here we go. Both sides of my family felt that money was king. Study hard, become something in the medical field and climb the social ladder. If that was unobtainable, then you sat at the bottom of the chain. Sadly, that’s where my parents sat.

While their other siblings were more successful, and thus more “valuable,” my parents were cast into the shadows. They had high hopes that I would take up that torch. I could study well, I could make all the money… But as much as I love watching medical shows, the idea of dealing with sick people grossed me out. I was so afraid of germs I would keep money in tissues until I could wash it.

How did this book make you feel about your relationship with your parents?
To this day I still feel like I will never understand the hardships my parents had. How my dad left home at 18 to work on a cargo ship to send money home to his family. Or how my mother wore pants one day and her mother beat her until she couldn’t stand. The unfortunate truth is that I was also beaten in my youth. And in a way, that was our family tradition. I feel like I can stop this circle of abuse by not having children of my own. Of course I have more reasons for not having them, but this is one of my truths. Somewhere along the line, the circle of abuse should break, and I have the power to do that.

The Best We Could Do is an intense dive into a family from Vietnam. In Thi’s case, her family was able to escape death, poverty, famine, and the other horrors that go with war. She was lucky, her whole family was lucky. But this is her story, her heritage and one that is best explained by her. All things considered, it’s a beautiful book and a wonderful look into the story of an immigrant family.

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My favorite influencers have been plugging their recommendations and I’d like to take those and pass them on too. I urge you to locate local bookstores to buy these books. Since I live in The Netherlands, I can’t make any store recommendations but it doesn’t take more than a quick Google search to find small and locally owned store fronts.

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
This book is the one most pushed right now. It deals with discussions of white privilege to police brutality and discrimination. It also covers the Black Lives Matter movement, something I desperately need to catch up on. It’s not too old of a title so I hope it can clue me in to all the events I’ve missed since I moved to The Netherlands. I missed the Women’s March back in 2017. Now is the best time for voices to rise up against injustice and since I can’t rally with my friends and family, I’ll find other ways to fight.

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People by Robin DiAngelo to Talk About Racism
DiAngelo discusses why white people become defensive when challenged against their beliefs. It tackles issues the issues that drive them to toxic and racist behavior fueled by anger, fear, guilt, and why it’s so hard to turn those emotions off. She also dives into the development of this “white fragility” and how we can make choices to prevent it.

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
This book raises points and new ways of thinking on how we can build an anti-racist society. It’s not an overnight project and this book is for those who want to raise their level of awareness to stop racism in its tracks. This the first book on my list and it’s easy to digest. It’s like Kendi is a long time friend talking to the reader about his experiences and so far, I love it.

When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Asha Bandele and Patrisse Khan-Cullors
Khan-Cullors wrote about her experiences as a Black women living in America. She talks about racial profiling and police brutality against so many Black people. Instead of giving into what others thought of her, she rose up and used her voice to empower others likes her. Her words echo a powerful message, Black lives are not expendable.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
I remember this book on one of my high school reading lists but I never got around to it. As a rebel in high school, I did the bare minimum when it came to classwork. Now that I can read books for myself (and not a teacher) I have no excuses. Reading this one has been a long time coming and I can’t wait to get started. It’s the autobiography of Angelou and the struggles she faced after an older man attacked her in her childhood. It’s a book about her trials, tribulations and how after years of wandering, she was able to find love for herself and embrace the kindness of others.

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin
While I would love to put down another book that tackles race, I need myself allow myself a break. Black author Roseanne A. Brown shares a retelling of West African folklore in this highly anticipated title. So far it’s got fantastic reviews so I’m excited to jump into the Young Adult genre again!

Please note these are affiliated links and 100% revenue will be donated to Color of Change.

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But when the bookstore closed down, it became harder for people to set time aside to meet. And of course I was now 8 hours ahead of everyone… So I could never attend. Last year I was able to compete the Goodreads challenge by reading 52 books in the year. But somehow it felt like an empty achievement. I had plenty of fun reading the books I wanted to but I felt like I was missing something. And it was a sense of community. So when long time Youtuber Jenn Im created her online book club, Curl Up Club, I jumped on board immediately.

I’ve watched Jenn for years and admired her ability to remain relatable. I’ve unsubscribed from dozens of other channels over the years. I couldn’t connect with them anymore. And it’s fine to grow and change, I understand that it’s important for people. But I still get excited for an upload from Jenn and that’s what matters to me. She had toyed with the idea of starting a book club and took the chance on making one when the quarantine hit. No one could get together anyway, why not make an online club for the world to join in? So far it’s only on Instagram but the response has been fantastic.

The book of the month is announced the first Monday of the month and we get plenty of time to read. Our first book was World War Z and this month we’re tackling When Breath Becomes Air. At the end of the month Jenn schedules an Instagram Live session for readers to tune into. She posts questions encourages viewers to connect live and discuss with her. It’s such a heartfelt moment to see the joy in a fans eyes when Jenn answers their call. I was a little late to the first meeting but it was such a great experience that I can’t wait for the next one.

It’s difficult for people to connect with the way the world is today. So having a platform where everyone is equal and welcome is such a breath of fresh air. This is my first online book club and I can’t recommend the experience enough. It’s great for people who want a community but are too shy or unable to find a local club. I fit into both categories right now and I love what Jenn has done. I found other online book clubs before but they never seemed a good fit for me. It’s safe for me to say that I may have found a new home!

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The series was about a group of kids who go on adventures but that was the extent of my knowledge. I wanted to go in with little knowledge so I could experience the stories first hand. I’ve learned quite a lot!

Stories of the time
I hate to say it but The Famous Five series is a reflection of its time. There are a handful of stories that have a bit of racism here and there. It’s nothing too strong but can considered inappropriate by today’s standards. While I still think the books are worth a read, it’s important to know that these books were written in the 1940s. Culturally, we’ve come a long way but that doesn’t hide the fact that our history was not so nice to everyone.

Exciting characters
Despite the point above, I found a majority of the characters loveable and even enchanting. The stories are about a girl who acts like a boy. George doesn’t respond to anyone if they call her Georgina. She’s selfish and quick tempered but she learns to behave when her three cousins, Julian, Dick, and Anne come to stay with her during their summer holidays. The fifth member of this group is George’s dog Timmy.

Numerous adventures
There are 21 books but other authors have had their hand in writing more Famous Five Adventures. I finished reading the original books and let me tell you, these kids know how to find adventure. Each book begins with the children coming home from summer holidays and the ball gets rolling from there. They always find themselves in heaps of trouble. Each book does have happy ending though. What’s exciting in each book, is that the children get to make friends with other children who pop back into the stories later on. It’s a nice way of filling the world that these guys live in.

Silly situations
While many of the stories are pretty serious in nature, that doesn’t mean there isn’t comedy in the series. There have been dozens of jokes that the children share with the adults in their lives. These tales would be extra appealing to children. As an adult I found a few of these jokes a little annoying or even rude! Sometimes kids do something for fun that ends up being dangerous!

Childhood wonders
I understand why my mom loved these books so much. They were filled with adventures that normal kids wouldn’t experience. Books are a wonderful way to get out of the mundane and jump into fantastical stories. My mom grew up in India during the 1960s and I know life was more than tough for her. Reading under her bed was the best she could do to escape the strict rules in her life. I’m glad that she was able to read them and share their stories with me.

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I’ve been devouring nonfiction books about such monsters. And I’ve got a few titles I’d love to pass on to readers who want something extra scary for this month!

An Unexplained Death: The True Story of a Body at the Belvedere
Rey Rivera has been missing for about a week before it’s discovered. Police rule his death a suicide but there’s much more than meets the eye to this case. A chilling (and unsolved) investigation of one of Baltimore’s more famous deaths.

Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death
Filled with questions asked by children, this book is an interesting read about what happens to us when we die. Questions range from “What happens to a dead body in space?” to “Can I keep my parent’s skull at home?” What I love is that every explanation isn’t just a quick answer. It goes in depth to allow the reader to understand and come to terms with the responses provided by author Caitlin Doughty. I loved her other books as well!

Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything
This book takes a good hard look at the beginning of medical science. Each section covers a number of topics, such as leeches, tobacco and even cannibalism. While it is an information dense book, the reading is light and even funny at times. Ever wonder where the phrase “blowing smoke up your ass” comes from? Look no further!

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper
This has been one of the sadder titles I’ve got to share. While the name Jack the Ripper is infamous worldwide, few can recall the names of his victims. This book not only names them, but gives insight to what their lives were like before they became a notch on someone’s kill list. After all, these women were living and breathing people, and not all of them were prostitutes. Just women of sad circumstances.

Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History
I loved this book. When we think about serial killers we mostly think of men. We never stop to think about women who commit horrendous crimes because they’re “too delicate for that”. However this book is packed full of women who didn’t give a damn. While it’s not culturally acceptable to be excited about women killing others… This book shares the exciting tales of the women who took life into their own hands… By taking the lives of others!

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I’ve been posting a lot about reading because I’ve got Nanowrimo coming again this year. While I know I’m writing for myself, I want to improve on my technique and storytelling. While I feel accomplished as a amature writer, I still know I can improve on my voice. I always want to improve my voice.

So allow me to share with you my Autumn reading list!

For fun
Reading for fun is something I’ve always enjoyed. I’m thankful that Sander loves it too! After dinner he likes to curl up on the couch for hours. My reading time is in bed after the lights go out. It’s a quiet and dark time, one where I can focus on the words and imagery on the page. It’s becoming harder for me to sit down and read during the day so I’ll be enjoying these titles late at night!

The Institute by Stephen King
I’m about 20% done with this book and I’m having a good time so far. It’s supposed to be a great story of children confronting evil. I don’t read a lot of adult books, and it’s been forever since I read horror. Needless to say I’m excited every time I can settle down to read.

Hocus Pocus & The All New Sequel by A.W. Jantha
I’ve been waiting all year for this one! I love Hocus Pocus and this is supposed to be a follow up to that movie. I don’t think there will ever be a movie version to continue the original story but I have this!

Jackaby by William Ritter
This series is supposed to be a mixture of Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes. I love both franchises so I can’t wait until I can start on this first of 4 books.

Rumo and His Miraculous Adventures by Walter Moers
My brother brought me this book from my collection in CA. I was so excited to get it back. I’ve been waiting forever to read it! I had a friend recommend it to me years ago and I hope this is the season to pick it up!

Legendary and Finale by Stephanie Garber
I enjoyed the first book in this series and I feel like it’s finally time to finish it. I’m pretty sure I read the first one early last year but I remember it quite well. It also makes me want to pick up The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. We read that one years ago in our book club and I loved it so much!

For research
These are from my Autumn Reading list that are for research purposes. I’d like to finish them all before November! I hope I can get them all done, I know it’s a lot to get through but I have hope!

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
I read this in college but I’m excited to pick it up again for a good refresher. I enjoyed it back then and I’m sure I’ll enjoy it now.

Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Catmull
I haven’t read this one but I’m excited to dive into it. I heard about it online and it’s supposed to be good!

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
This book has been talked about a lot on the creative accounts that I follow. I’m hoping that it will help me get over my creative fears and see a new light at the end of the tunnel.

Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques by James Hynes
I don’t know anything about this book but I heard about it on Reddit. I enjoy going into books with no previous knowledge because I have no expectations and I can keep an open mind.

Something from Neil Gaiman
If there’s one author I would love to be more like, it would be Mr. Gaiman. His method of storytelling and his command of language moves me to my core. There are few authors that can hold my love but he is one of them. I’m not sure which of his books I want to read and study before November but I’ll figure it out eventually. I’ve got most of his books on my bookshelf now so I have a lot to choose from!

So ask you can see, my Autumn Reading is quite full. It’s going to take some serious dedication to finish everything and I know I’ll need to make a priorities list!

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Howl’s Moving Castle Series
I was turned onto this series by the Studio Ghibli inspired movie of the same name. I’ve already read the first book twice now but I want to finish the series. It’s the timeless coming of age story where the main character is pushed to the limits. I love these tales because they inspire me to be a better person. I’m in the middle of Castle in the Air and I’m enjoying it so far.

Cormoran Strike Series
I’ve been waiting for the 4th installment of this series! I’ve enjoyed the previous titles and I’m glad these characters are back for more. Cormoran Strike is a Afghanistan veteran who lost his leg to a landmine. He’s scraping by as a private investigator when a celebrity case falls into his lap. From there on he’s put into the public eye and takes on various cases that seem impossible. I loved the chemistry between and Cormoran and his assistant Robin. The 3rd book in the series felt a little lacking in a few areas so that’s why I’m excited for this one. There’s a new plot and a new adventure so now is the best time to dive in.

Don Tillman Series
The first book of this series was on the book club reading list years ago. The last book should be out this year so now is the perfect time for me to catch up. Picture a character like Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory. Now picture him falling in love with Penny. That’s the sort of story that this series follows. I’m a little sad that it follows the traditional story line of people falling in love (love, marriage, baby immediately on the way). I did enjoy the 1st one enough to give the 2nd one a chance.

Caraval Series
This series was pleasant enough that I can say I want to see what happens next. I picked up this one hoping to fill the void that The Night Circus left me with. While the two series cannot compare to each other, I find it interesting enough that I’ll keep at it. Scarlet is spirited away from an arranged marriage to take part in Caraval, a magical destination performance held once a year. There her sister, Tella, becomes a hostage and Scarlet must find her. Failure results with Tella forever lost. I’m going to pick up where the first book left off. I hope I can finish book 2 before the 3rd is out!

When Marnie Was There
This one has been on my list for a long time but I still haven’t taken the time to read it. It’s about Anna and what happens to her when she moves into a new foster home for the summer. In her new town she finds that she’s familiar with more than she thought she would be. That includes the mysterious girl that lives across the water.

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The Animorphs
I finished this series before I even went into high school so it’s long overdue. For years this series was what I lived for. Every month we would go to the bookstore and I would come home with a new volume. I don’t want to say that Animorphs inspired me to write because I can’t remember so far back. It is, but, the oldest series that I own. The entire collection is packed in a box waiting for me to retrieve it (from California). I hope to do so sooner than later.

The Hunger Games
When I read this series, I’m pretty sure I read them a little too fast. I remember plowing through the first two in a week. When I got my hands on it I had finished it in two days. Those were the glorious days where I could go to bed at 9pm and read until 4am. I can’t do those hours anymore and it does sadden me. But this time around I can take my time and read into the deeper meanings behind this popular series.

Neil Gaiman’s books
The first book I read by him was a collaboration title he worked with Terry Pratchett on. The book was called Good Omens and is now getting a TV adaption. Since then I’ve read a small handful of his books. There are a few authors I have yet to pick up because I would want to take notes on the way they write. Gaiman is one of them. It’s for this reason that I tend to read his books both slowly and hungerily. His is the only book collection that I actively buy right now. We have little free space to keep books but I will snatch up his when I see them. They live in my closet at the moment.

The Night Circus
I loved this book so much when we had to read it for book club. A part of it inspires my wardrobe today. I do regret giving up my red scarf and I’m still searching for one to replace it. Either way the memory of this book had lasted with me for ages now. It’s time for a reread. She’s also got a new book coming soon!

The Warm Bodies Series
This is another series that I plowed through in my youth. Ah, those endless nights of reading. It’s been a long time and the final book has been published. Now is the best time to reread and refresh my knowledge of the universe. Even though it feel out of popularity, I still love the story behind it. The first book was the tip of the iceberg of the world and the people that live there.

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The series is about a fashion influencer by the name of Lottie Person, a bright girl with bright green hair. It’s her iconic trademark. It is, also unfortunately the color of her snot. See Lotte is all about herself, a me me me girl. One of her biggest gripes is having terrible allergies. Things start go to a little off the deep end with her when she’s prescribed some new medication.

Now she doesn’t gain any superpowers but she begins to meet people who influence her life in a very real way. This is a slice-of-life story that’s 9 volumes in. I’ll admit it’s a bit slow at times but the authors want to get real good and deep into what drives these characters. It’s difficult to do when most of the page is stunning art. With comics, taking it slow is usually the best option.

I’m two volumes behind on this series but I have them waiting on my desk. I have so many books to read right now that I’m a bit overwhelmed. So far I’m enjoying this title. Lotte is spoiled but I can see her personality in many influencers today. She’s wild and in charge on the outside but falling apart on the inside. It’s a fantastic window into the soul of someone who lives a double life. One personality for the public and one hidden away behind closed doors.

There are several plotlines and points of view included in the story so it’s exciting to see what each new volume brings.

I’m a huge fan of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s past works. When there’s an issue released with his cover art, I do my best to pick up that one. Someday I’ll bring the rest of my collection overseas but for now I have to make do with playing the waiting game. For both my book collection and the next issue of Snotgirl.

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