As always, I enter summer with lofty reading goals set for
myself. I will inevitably fall short of these goals, but it’s the trying that
matters, right? RIGHT? As I’m working on writing a sci-fi novel over the
summer, I’m planning to avoid reading sci-fi for these months and instead will
be focusing mostly on non-fiction. While I have a goal of 100 books read, I’m
guessing I’ll hit closer to 50 (between my own writing and doing freelance
editing and critiquing work, plus planning classes for fall, this could also be shooting a little high). I'm also planning to reread some books (I'm not rereading all of Colson Whitehead's books, again. That would be ridiculous....But also I am and everyone should). Of
those books, here are six that I’m planning to read first. These are books I’ve
been very excited to start reading.
Abdurraqib is not only an amazing poet, but he also writes about music in this
way that makes you completely feel it—not only as music but as the context and
lives lived around it as well. I’ve read some of these essays in various
places, but I’m excited to really settle into reading the whole collection.
Chee is a masterful writer and so I’m looking forward to diving into
these pieces which covers reading, writing, politics, and more.
3. A Lucky Man: Stories, Jamel Brinkley.
I have read exactly one
story by Brinkley but it was so perfect that I basically immediately
pre-ordered his first collection. Plus story collections are the best thing in
all of the world.
4. Percival Everett by Virgil Russell, Percival Everett.
Everett
is hands down one of the greatest writers in the world. The fact that he isn’t
read by everyone, everywhere, all the time, infuriates me. I’ve been making my
way through all of his books and I’ve been saving this one for a bit. Everett
plays with genre, with narrative and structure, and always with expectations.
5. Blackfish City, Sam J. Miller.
Any time I see Miller’s name,
I read whatever is attached to it. His writing is sharp and painful and
gorgeous all at once. I can’t wait to read this dystopic novel that also has a
whale in it (honestly, I know nothing else about the book, but that was already
enough to sell me on it).
6. Warlight, Michael Ondaatje.
The last Ondaatje I read was Cat’s
Table and I’ve read it three times since. I’m not exactly sure what it’s about,
because I’ve been purposefully avoiding reading about it, because I want to
dive into it in the same way I dove into Cat’s (Ie: hmm. I like Ondaatje and I
also like boats, I think there is a boat in this!).
POSTED BY: Chloe, speculative fiction fan in all forms, monster theorist, and Nerds of a Feather blogger since 2016. Find her on Twitter @PintsNCupcakes
