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The week of August 13, 2024 Women in translation. In August we celebrate women writers who write in a language other than English. Women in Translation Month marks its tenth year, a decade of honoring women’s voices from every continent (with the possible exception of Antarctica.) Read more at WITMonth. Because every story counts.  That Time of Year by Marie NDiaye, Jordan Stump (trans.) Woodworm by Layla Martinez, Sophie Hughes (trans), Annie McDermott (trans) Pink Slime by Fernanda Trías, Heather Cleary (trans) The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi Silken Gazelles by Jokha Alharthi, Marilyn Booth (trans) More book lists: Women in translation at Bookshop Read This Now | Read This Next | Book Buzz | The Bookseller Directory |
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Read This Now! Recommended by Southern indies… |
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The Phoenix Keeper by S. A. MacLean Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Romance I really enjoyed this book! I read Sorcery and Small Magics earlier in the month, and there was a recommendation for this book in the back. Well, Orbit, that worked because I read both! As a lover of conservation and zoology, this seemed right up my alley, and it was! Aila was a very well-written and believable portrait of anxiety, to an almost frustrating degree. But the growth she experienced throughout, being able to change her perceptions and grow in her career and community, was wonderful to see. I especially loved how her relationship development was paralleled by the relationship of the courting phoenixes in her care. The cast felt fleshed out and believable, I loved her friendship with Tanya which felt a lot like my own relationship with my best friend, whom I’ve known since college. Her crush on Connor and her rivalry with Luc were great starting points for growth over the course of the story. While I could see the twist coming and knew what the climactic confrontation would be, I did not mind it! MacLean dropped lots of little foreshadowing bits that I also didn’t see coming, and it all felt fresh and satisfying. The world’s pettiest gripe was that she was pulling so many late nights at work, but no one ever mentioned how the animals at her apartment were being cared for! Who was feeding her carbuncle and fern lizards and other critters? Overall though, I’d highly recommend this if you love animals and awkward women growing into their best selves. Reviewed by Amanda White, Writers Block Bookstore in Winter Park, Florida |
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I Don’t Care by Ágota Kristóf Adult Fiction, Hungary, World Literature What a freaky little book! A good intro to Kristof’s bleak humor and hyper-precise observations. Some stories have a charming O. Henry quality; others start weird and just get weirder. Recommended for anyone who needs to be shaken out of a mental torpor–like having icy water thrown onto your brain. Reviewed by Kristen Iskandrian, Thank You Books in Birmingham, Alabama |
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Bookseller Buzz |
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Spotlight on: Men Have Called Her Crazy by Anna Marie Tendler 
When I was in the hospital, I took really detailed notes, not anticipating that I would do anything with them. It just felt like what was hopefully a singular experience that I really wanted to remember. Writing about my story, I was also able to tap into something that is universal, which was my goal the whole time. What I really wanted to get across is not necessarily the ordinariness, but the way that my experiences are probably the same as those of so many other women. ― Anna Marie Tendler, The Guardian What booksellers are saying about Men Have Called Her Crazy 
Anna Marie Tendler is an artist and writer. She holds a master’s degree in costume studies from New York University. She lives in Connecticut with her three cats, Chimney, Moon, and Butter. |
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Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell Contemporary, Fiction, Romance 
An August Read This Next! Title Slow Dance is a beautiful tale of humans being human. It’s funny and poignant and heartbreaking, sometimes all at once. It gave me the same emotions I get from watching old home movies…a weird mixture of joy and sadness all wrapped up in nostalgia and a clear, sharp feeling of how much things have changed while also nothing has really changed at all. If you like seeing the flaws of humanity and having faith in them anyway, this book is for you. Reviewed by Victoria Herrmann, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana |
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The Witch’s Daughter by Orenda Fink dult Nonfiction, Biography & Autobiography, Music Orenda Fink tells the story of her upbringing in various rural areas of middle and north Alabama. The second daughter of three, Fink and her sisters grew up in a family tormented by generational trauma, mental health issues, and addiction. This story describes how she was affected by, dealt with, and ultimately survived childhood to blossom into an acclaimed indie musician and songwriter. Filled with fascinating information on borderline personality disorder and anecdotes to satisfy any indie music fan, I would recommend The Witch’s Daughter to almost everyone I know. While I wouldn’t call it a happy story, it is an inspiring story of choosing your family, overcoming impossible situations, and protecting your peace. Reviewed by Tori, The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, Alabama |
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Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield LGBTQ+, Romance, Young Adult Fiction Time and Time Again is the sweet, queer, YA romcom you didn’t know you needed! Phoebe has been experiencing the same day, over and over again for a month. She’s trying researching her way to a solution but has had no luck so far. But one day, she rushed across the street faster than usual and her ex-friend Jess runs into her with their car. She’s not hurt, but she soon finds out that now Jess is stuck in the time loop with her. Hopefully together they can find a way out. Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia |
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The Secret Dead Club by Karen Strong African American & Black, Children, Juvenile Fiction
A July/August Read This Next! Kids Title While Karen Strong’s previous two middle-grade books have had ghosty elements, The Secret Dead Club is a full-fledged haunted ghost story. After Wednesday, Thomas moves back to her mom’s hometown in Georgia she realizes she’s not the only middle school girl who sees ghosts. This exciting mystery uses themes of friendship and grief to help the reader know themselves better. This story masterfully includes (what can be seen as) delicate topics such as getting your period or how emotions can manifest physically in your body to create an extremely relatable and readable book.? Reviewed by Rachel Watkins, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia |
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The Hunger and the Dusk, Vol. 1 by G. Willow Wilson Comics & Graphic Novels, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy I am truly obsessed! This story takes place in a world where humans and orcs are enemies, but when a long-forgotten entity known as the Vangol returns from across the seas humankind and orc-kind must form alliances if they hope to survive what’s ahead. Can humans and orcs see past their painful histories and prejudices? I CANNOT WAIT TO FIND OUT! Reviewed by Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
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Decide for Yourself Books that appear on PEN America’s list of challenged books. |
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Ground Zero by Alan Gratz 21st Century, Banned Books, Children, Historical, United States Alan Gratz is the master at posing historical fiction in a compelling and propulsive way for middle-grade readers. I love the way he went back and forth between a boy fighting for his life in the tower and a girl fighting for her own life in the aftermath of 9/11 overseas. It was touching and eye-opening in a way that younger readers have not experienced the events of 9/11. Reviewed by Olivia Schaffer, The Bookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia |
Southern Bestsellers What’s popular this week with Southern Readers. |
[ See the full list ] |
Parting Thought “What a blessing it is to love books as I love them;- to be able to converse with the dead, and to live amidst the unreal!” |
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Publisher:
The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance /
siba@sibaweb.com |
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