a list of things i’m reading right now

(note: links are bookshop affiliate links)

Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times, by Azar Nafisi

Nicole and I are doing our nonfiction book club livestream this week, which means it’s time for the traditional last minute reading that powers these discussions. The good news is that this book is short and moves quite quickly. Each chapter takes the form of a letter addressed to Nafisi’s father as she explores the relationships between the books she’s read and the experiences she’s had growing up in Iran and living now in America. I’m a little split on how I feel about the form of the book, but it’s also made me want to read all the books that Nafisi is discussing. So I’m looking forward to talking it out with Nicole on Saturday.

Polaris Rising, by Jessie Mihalik

I’ve been trying to read a Jessie Mihalik book for a while now, mostly because it seems like a space opera romance novel is the ideal way for me to accomplish my goal of finally reading science fiction. Plus, the covers are gorgeous. But even though I’ve checked out various books of hers from the library, things just haven’t clicked yet. Finally I was like, “Hey, audiobooks! Those are fun!” So I started listening to this audiobook yesterday, and I’m already completely sucked in. There’s space royalty, mercenaries, and lots of distrust that I’m sure the protagonists are going to have to work through. It’s a fun listen!

The Myth of the Perfect Pregnancy: A History of Miscarriage in America, by Lara Freidenfelds

Is this a fun book? No. But I’m also kind of obsessed with it. I’ve read a few books about miscarriage in the past few years, and they’ve all hit on various things I’ve needed at different points in my miscarriage journey. Health stuff, grief stuff. But I’ve reached the point where I’m just curious about the whole thing in a very broad way, and this book has been helping me give substance to that curiosity. The history is is interesting and at times even surprising, and it’s made think about how our concept of pregnancy has evolved with advances in medicine and technology that in turn shape the very personal experience of early pregnancy loss.

The Centre, by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi

This is the latest book I’ve started (as in, I literally just started it), so I have the least to say about it. The summary says it’s about an organization that claims to teach you any language in 10 days, but there’s a darker secret underlying that promise. I’m so out of practice reading fiction that isn’t romance, but my friend recommended it to me, and that’s enough reason for me to give it a try.

a thing i’ve made

For Tiny Matters, Sam and I dove in the weird world of flavor, complete with a little seltzer tasting just so Sam could wow me with seltzer facts.