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Crook In A Book

Book Reviews & Literary News by Jordan Crook

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@crookinabook

#thegreatoffshoregrounds recounts the journey of four members of an unlikely family as they struggle with tragedy, opportunity, and self-discovery. I always love reading a book that is set (or partly set) in the Pacific Northwest and @vanessa_veselka does a great job of capturing the landscape and atmosphere of my hometown. This is an easy, entertaining read, and a great one for these rainy fall days. Plus, look at that cover 😍. Shoutout to @thezestyclassroom for the birthday gift!

Just finished this debut from @kylelucia is the very relatable story of a girl trying to find her way—in her career, relationships, and in the fast-paced lifestyle of New York City. Su brings us a really modern protagonist, and I felt like I could see pieces of so many young women I know in her. Thanks again to @tin_house for the ARC. “Win Me Something” hits shelves November 2nd!

It’s been on my shelf for a while but I finally read this collection of Irish short stories from @grantabooks and really enjoyed it. These are stories that you have to work for—they are so subtle and oftentimes require some context about Irish social or political realities. Needless to say, I found myself googling (and learning) quite a bit. A lot of Irish authors I really enjoy we’re featured in this collection, including Colm Toibin and Elizabeth Bowen.

I picked this one up for the @fictionmatters book club and I just can’t wait talk through it with other readers. Tokarczuk introduces one of the most quirky, fascinating narrators in this murder mystery, but also plays with some really big topics—ageism, national borders, death, motherhood, justice, mental health…the list could go on and on. There’s definitely enough going on in this novel to keep a reader going.

I’m continuing to work my way through Toni Morrison’s complete works, and as usual, she delivered some incredibly complex characters and beautiful writing on Jazz. That said, I have to admit that this one isn’t one of my favorite Morrison reads so far, because I found it a bit slow-going in places. What’s your favorite Morrison novel?

One of the most intense and gripping books I can recall reading. Ever. This novel doesn’t hold back about the atrocities of war, so it might not be for everyone, but I appreciated Nguyen’s honesty and thoroughness. (And as a connection to current events, it was especially powerful to read this story as the US pulls out of Afghanistan… Nguyen has written about the similarities in The NY Times recently, if you’re interested).

This is my 100th post and there are some new folks following along so I thought I’d take a minute to re-introduce myself. I’m Jordan, and I started @Crookinabook to share my love of reading and to talk about books with any and everyone. I share brief thoughts about the books I finish here on IG, but you can also find longer reviews on goodreads or at my blog (link in bio).

Next up: The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and the Horse - a quick read with some of the most stunning artwork I’ve ever seen in a children’s book. And the messages are equally as beautiful. My favorite: “Asking for help isn’t giving up. It’s refusing to give up.” And of course, cake. 🍰

I’ve started and stopped several parenting books at this point, and had pretty much given up finding one that worked for me until I picked up Cribsheet (at 3 am of course). From page one I really loved Oster’s approach and tone—her insistence that data is important and helpful, but it’s not everything. The Washington Post called this book “freeing” for parents, and I’d totally agree that it helped relieve a lot of the pressures and concerns I’ve been having these first few months with my little one. I highly recommend this one for anyone new to parenting or soon to be. Can’t wait to pick up Oster’s “The Family Firm” next.

Sometimes there’s a book that has a little something for everyone. If you like memoir, this is for you. Nature writing? Also for you. Science? Social and political movements? History? Anthropology? Yes, yes, and yes. And no matter what draws you into this book, you’re going to leave it with a deeper appreciation for nature and, best of all, an idea or two about how you can help save it.

With some of the best writing, most intriguing characters, and a fantastic historical backdrop, this book is a front runner for best read of the year so far for me. I absolutely loved Maggie O’Farrell’s fictitious account of figures that have been mostly ignored or mistreated in history (in this case Shakespeare’s wife and son). The narrative she spins is utterly enthralling. But I do want to acknowledge that this is the story of death during a pandemic, so it might be a little close to home for some right now.

I’ve been meaning to read this one for ages, and had really high expectations—many people compare it to The Little Prince, which is a favorite of mine. I can definitely see where there are similarities: both are filled with inspirational messages, themes of love and bravery, and an accessible, fable-esque narrative style. And while for me this didn’t have quite the impact I expected, I appreciated this book for being an easy, uplifting read. Perfect for busy summer months.

Things have been pretty crazy lately between moving and a baby, so this one took me a little while to finish. But now that I have let me just say: this is one really well-crafted novel. The characters are well developed and the story has so many layers, perspectives, and themes—it’s the kind of book that’s just asking to be dissected and discussed. (Side note: I just saw that this is the read for @fictionmatters book club next month, so if you’re considering reading it, definitely sign up because you’ll need to talk about this one.) Really impressive work from @teaobreht. Time for me to read Inland.

Not reading a ton right now but snatching spare moments for “Devotions.”

I just have to highlight this special bookish baby gift from @mrsrobber

The sun (finally) came out in May so I didn’t spend quite as much time between pages, but I did manage to read these three spectacular books.

Finished this classic last night, but I think I will be digesting this one for weeks to come. No surprise, really. Baldwin is such a master at illuminating really complex themes, and “Go Tell It On The Mountain” is no exception. Religion, violence, race, sexuality, family... this semi-autobiographical novel grapples with some really difficult topics, but paints an incredibly powerful picture of Harlem (and America more broadly) in the 1930s.

I needed something light after my last few reads and this one was just the ticket. It was quick—probably because I couldn’t put it down. It’s the story of two lonely neighbors who find comfort in conversation and strength in friendship. I absolutely loved it, and Haruf’s dialogue was some of the best I’ve read in a while. Highly recommend.

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