the literary letter a monthly newsletter from Linnea K. Archibald |
|
|
Whether this is the first time you've received the literary letter or we're old friends, I'm glad you're here. Thank you for being a part of my community! Every month, you'll receive a list of what I read last month with short reviews (plus Bookshop.org links to purchase copies from independent bookstores), links to my blog posts, some good finds from around the internet, my favorite foods I ate this month, and a little introduction to yours truly. Also, as a heads up, I use affiliate links in this email. All that means is that if you purchase something on my recommendation, I get a percentage. It doesn't change the cost to you one bit. |
|
|
The Incendiaries by R. O. Kwon 3.5 stars I picked this book up on a whim at a local used bookstore for two reasons. First, I liked the cover (say what you will, but a good cover matters). Secondly, the back cover copy suggested it would be cult-adjacent and I am working on my own cult-adjacent project, so I could justify the purchase as "research." Here's the summary: Phoebe and Will meet at a prestigious college and WIll almost immediately falls in love. He has transferred into the school from a Bible college after giving up his faith and Phoebe captivates him because of her glamorous exterior. However, she is reeling and blames herself for her mother's death and begins to seek solace with a group of devout believers led by a charismatic former student with dubious ties to North Korea. As the group begins to turn violent, Will seeks to reconcile his love for Phoebe with his belief that the fundamentalism she has been drawn into will kill her. For a book about a cult with terrorist activities, this is very much a slow burn and it's really a story about love, grief, and belief. I enjoyed it overall, but the ending (as is the case with many literary novels) left me wanting more. Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead 4 stars Whitehead is an automatic read for me. If he publishes a new book, I will immediately add it to my TBR. This is the second in his Harlem saga and those who read the first installment will be in familiar territory with a familiar cast of characters. The story opens nearly a decade after the first in the series and it finds Harlem in the grips of high crime rates and violence, particularly between the members of the Black Liberation Army and the police. Ray Carney, after his stint in Harlem's underbelly, has basically gone clean (other than a little blackmail money, for security of course). In an effort to bond with his daughter and secure coveted Jackson 5 tickets, however, Ray finds himself indebted to an infamous fixer and back in the stolen goods game. Unfolding over the course of five more years, the story traces Ray's various entries into and exits from the Harlem crime scene, eventually escalating further than he ever dreamed. While this isn't my favorite Whitehead novel, like Harlem Shuffle, this book is a good time. It's fast-paced without sacrificing character development and the writing makes you feel like you're right there in Harlem in the 1970s with Ray. There's a reason Whitehead has won two Pulitzers. The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress by Ariel Lawhon 4.5 stars After not loving Code Name Hélène, I was hesitant to give this one a try, but I was looking for a quick audiobook while waiting for my library holds to come in and this was available, so I picked it up. I'm so glad I did. It's the summer of 1930 and Judge Joseph Carter steps into a cab in New York City and is never seen again. In his wake, three women hold the keys to the truth of his meteoritic rise to the judge's bench, his complicated connections, and his eventual disappearance. On paper, the women could not be more different: his wife Stella is the picture of propriety, his maid Maria is reliable and discrete, and his mistress Ritzi is an opportunistic showgirl looking for a break. In reality, however, the women have much more in common than meets the eye. The mystery of the judge's disappearance unravels in a page-turning mystery that's atmospheric and enveloping. One of my biggest issues with Code Name Hélène was that I occasionally felt the characters were unbelievable (despite being based on real people) and that took me out of the story. I didn't feel that with this novel and I think it'd be an excellent read for anyone who enjoys female-centric mysteries or Jazz Age stories. Banyan Moon by Thao Thai 5 stars The Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide is so reliable in bringing me 5-star reads and I will be forever grateful (this one even made it onto the Minimalist Summer Reading Guide list). I didn't actually remember much about the pitch for this book other than that it was in the family stories section, which is usually a hit for me. When Ann Tran gets the call that her beloved grandmother, Minh, has passed away, she's in need of an escape from her seemingly perfect life and she decides to return home indefinitely. Over the years, Ann has built a life away from her mother (Huơng) and grandmother with a handsome and successful boyfriend, a lake house, and champagne-filled parties. Everything changes with a positive pregnancy test and the reality of her boyfriend's infidelity. She returns to Florida to her grandmother's crumbling manor home in the shade of a banyan tree and must confront not only her own choices but her family's history and Minh's lifetime of hoarding junk that fills the house. Told over multiple generations from Minh, Huơng, and Ann's perspectives, this is a sweeping generational story about the ties of family and the unavoidable weight of the past. I loved this book and think it would appeal to anyone who loves a family story with strong and complicated characters. |
|
|
popular blog posts you may have missed |
|
|
coffee & bakeries Eighty8 Donuts, Portland, ME: There are a number of excellent donut options in Portland, but Eighty8 may be my favorite. Their offerings are all bite-sized and made to order and they are perfect. You have to buy six or more at a time but don't think you'll be bringing any home with you unless you have more self-control than me. I like the fruit flavors, especially lemon.
dinner out Terlingua, Portland, ME: There's no place better for smoked barbeque in Portland if you ask me. If it's nice weather, sit out on the patio and get the lunch board. If you're ordering takeout like we were this month, I'm partial to the tacos (any, but brisket and fried zucchini are my favorite). Also don't skip the spicy margarita!
eating at home Wild mushroom risotto (Modern Proper): Fall is often a time for big pots of soup, but I'd like to make the case that risotto is a perfect meal for a cozy night in. If you think of the dish as fussy, just give this recipe a try. If you can stir, you can make risotto, I promise. This would be the perfect weekend fall meal, so pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy.
|
|
|
links from around the internet |
|
|
Some days I'd like to throw my phone in the ocean and walk into the woods where no one can contact me. Here are some links that make me want to stay on the internet this month: |
|
|
If you've made it this far, thanks for sticking with me! If you're new around here, there are a few things you should know about me: I love reading. It's my favorite hobby, but I also enjoy hiking, baking, and cooking. We have two dogs: Hans and Fig. Hans has been with us for six years and is our sweet angel. Fig joined the family in July 2022 and is sweet and also a demon child. I married my high school sweetheart immediately after graduating college. We currently live in Maine. While I love traveling in general, my favorite thing is to plan the food I'll eat. I keep a detailed food log for each trip that you'll likely see show up on the blog from time to time. My day job involves lots of nonfiction (healthcare) writing, but I write fiction and creative nonfiction in my downtime.
|
|
|
|
|