Our November reading took us to some adventurous territory. We dug into fantasy, mysteries, space opera, and classics. One of these books is sure to peak your interest, so go on and get some reading inspo below!

I’ve been on a Neil Gaiman binge; I sped through Neverwhere on a plane ride, and I’ve just started American Gods. There’s a reason his work is so well-loved. There’s something about good fantasy that feels like tucking myself into a well-worn, familiar blanket, and Gaiman’s books are the epitome of that kind of comfort. Also, anybody who hasn’t read Good Omens should do so immediately. 

I asked for a copy of Intimacies by Katie Kitamura for a birthday and got two; I’ll probably bring the extra one to the Book Swap. It’s about an interpreter at the International Court of Justice in the Hague. It’s very stylistically peculiar; Kitamura chooses not to use quotation marks around her dialogue and often intentionally employs run-on sentences to illustrate the way the protagonist thinks, feels and perceives. Right now I’m halfway through. Recommended for anybody looking for a harder read. 

I was reading The Possessed by Elif Batuman but I forgot about it and now as divine punishment I can’t find the copy. It’s a hilarious book that gets funnier the more of Batuman’s oeuvre you have read. It’s making me want to get into Russian literature (but at what cost…).

-Tara N., ‘26

Right now I’m reading Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong. So far, it’s shaping up to be very different from some of her other books. I believe this is her first venture into adult fantasy, and the lore is pretty interesting. The magic component of the story seems very familiar, like something you would’ve seen in any fantasy book, but somehow, it’s still unique. I love the way she includes traditional Chinese concepts and fantasy into the writing, while simultaneously mirroring Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra. I love searching for all the tiny Easter eggs and having that moment of recognition with certain names and details.

One of my favorite books that I read recently was Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. I’d read so many amazing reviews about it and I was afraid that it wouldn’t live up to the hype, but it completely surpassed my expectations. I love Zevin’s style of narration; you get to see the characters’ every thought in a clear, concise manner, and each character’s point of view is written in a very distinctly different way. This story alternates between the past and the present quite often, as if the author is laying out the characters’ lives piece by piece, following up with flashbacks at appropriate intervals. It was both gut wrenching and smile-inducing at times, and it truly displayed the whole spectrum of human emotions. Personally, I’m a big fan of literary fiction that follows specific characters throughout their life; it puts into words the exhiliration and desolation of being alive at that one particular moment in time.

-Cynthia X., ‘27

I am currently in one of those reverse reading slumps where I pick up too many books and keep jumping around. It’s actually rather unsettling. I am currently juggling the Emily WIlson translation of The Odyssey (albeit, mostly for her fantastically enlightening introduction), a strange and compelling dark humor novel by Miranda July called All Fours, the new Jillian and Mariko Tamaki graphic work, Roaming, The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner, and Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes. Phew! 

-Ms. Pelman

I recently finished Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen- it’s a fast-paced story about a down-and-out lawyer in a failing marriage who meets her old roommate from Stanford, and they get into a get-rich-quick scheme selling counterfeit handbags. The stakes are high, the characters are complex and surprisingly hateable, and the ending isn’t what you expect it to be. 

I’m also reading Song of Achilles again for the DEI Book Club, and it’s one of my old favorites. As a self-proclaimed history and mythology buff, anything that’s Madeline Miller I will certainly consume. It’s not old enough to be a “classic” per se, but it’s one of those books that I know I’ll always have to read if I get bored, alongside Miller’s other hit Circe. For those who haven’t read it, Song of Achilles is about Achilles and Patroclus’s relationship from their youth, and details their adventures through the Trojan War. 

-Anoushka C., ‘26

My best recent read was A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine. It’s an insane political intrigue space opera with really awesome world building, I loved how poetry was so ingrained in the empire’s culture and political practices. The first book had some twists, especially towards the end, so I’m hoping my hold at the library comes through fast so I can devour book two.

Currently I’m reading two books, The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson on audiobook and Evocation by S. T. Gibson. I heard from a lot of fans of The Locked Tomb series, which is one of my favorites, that Baru is a readalike and I’m enjoying it so far. I love the political intrique, messages about imperialism, and the role of masks. I don’t know why I’ve been reading so much sapphic political intrique sci-fi but I’m not complaining, it’s a great niche.

I received a proof copy of Evocation from the publisher so I can read and review it before release and I’m extremely excited. I loved S. T. Gibson’s debut, A Dowry of Blood, and when I heard that Evocation was an urban fantasy with secret societies and poly romance I knew it would check all the boxes. The characters and vibes are perfect so far but I’m only a little ways in. I will post a full review when I’m done to fufill my promise to the publishers so stay tuned!

-James B., ‘24

I was totally hooked by The It Girl by Ruth Ware! This gripping mystery follows two timelines – before and ten years after a shocking murder. What’s even more fascinating is that the “killer” is already behind bars, even though he didn’t actually commit the crime. With everyone having a motive, it’s impossible to figure out who the real killer is. Unlike other novels I’ve read recently, the characters’ emotions are portrayed so vividly that it’s like you’re right there with them. This is one thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end! I would recommend!

Separately, I read Don Juan by George Byron, which was a really interesting experience. This collection of poems offers a fresh perspective on the infamous Don Juan, who is portrayed not as a womanizer but as a victim of seduction by women. I would like to say that it is definitely one of the most challenging reads I’ve encountered… The plot itself is not hard to follow, however, Byron constantly makes references to historical figures, places, events, and other literary authors, such as Shakespeare, which is really confusing. If you are looking for a classic and/or a challenge, I recommend it.

Lastly, I am currently reading Evgenii Onegin by Alexander Pushkin. It’s what I would expect from a book written during the romantic period.

–Kristiyan K., ‘27

I’m currently reading The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins, which is basically Snow’s villain origin story. I mainly started it because I watched the movie adaptation during break and I can’t stand watching a movie without reading the book first. I’m not too far in yet, so I can’t say much about it, but Collins is such a good writer and truly captures the malice behind Snow through his thoughts, which is something the movie had a hard time capturing (hence everyone fell for his charm, including me unfortunately). 

–Ava A., ‘27

Right now, I’m reading The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean. I initially started reading it because the edges were interesting, and I liked the cover at first glance. So far, it seems to be trying too hard to be something worth reading? In my opinion, the plot is scattered and predictable, and I felt like the setting definitely doesn’t fit the concepts in this book. For example: The concept of ‘families,’ and how out of touch they are with modern technological advancements, seems very unrealistic. Granted, it could be compared to modern cults, but even that is quite a far reach. In addition, the traditions and speech of these families seem very out of date. It could be compared to Sacred 28 (Harry Potter fanfiction, referring to the various networks of pureblooded families and their intermarriage and traditions), yet even that was not set in modern times, and additionally, it was an entirely separate world of magic. In glossing over the world building in The Book Eaters, Dean creates plot holes and an unrealistic system of “book eaters” and “mind eaters,” leaving much to be wondered about their origins and purpose. This book left me with a lot of questions, and not in a good way.

–Urvi S., ‘27