October Reads
Climate crisis, identity, democracy and justice.
Welcome to Martha’s Monthly, October edition! October was a good reading month. Overall I enjoyed all of these books, to varying degrees, and was quite pleased I managed to get in some spooky reads in honour of Halloween. October included a couple gothic horrors, dystopian stories, literary fictions, a collection of short stories, a memoir and a book about a fight for sacred land. So here are my October reads in their buy, borrow or bust glory.
For those who are new, (to which there are many, thank you SO much for being here!) buy, borrow, bust is my recommendation key. Buy = I immensely enjoyed and heavily recommend. Borrow = I enjoyed this, am glad I read it and I would recommend. Bust = I wouldn’t recommend this book from my own reading experience.
Ring Shout by P. DJÈLÍ CLARK. This gothic horror novella tells the story of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in 1920s America, with a demonic and supernatural twist. Set in the Jim Crow Deep South of Macon, Georgia, ‘Ring Shout’ explores the impact of the release of the film ‘The Birth of the Nation’ which cast a spell on America. In this dystopian world, the release of the film was a ritual performed by white men to summon demons known as the ‘Ku Klux’. This opened up a rift between worlds, and these hate fuelled demons started terrorising black people and intentionally feeding the Klan's racist hatred. The hate that the KKK embodies turns them into these monsters, and as they rise through power and prominence, they plot to unleash hell across the nation, spreading fear, violence and hatred.
Our protagonists, Maryse Boudreaux, Georgia, and Sadie, are a monster hunting trio of resistance fighters. When Maryse is not running bootleg whiskey through prohibition Georgia, she is fighting these monsters. Maryse has a magic sword to help confront this ongoing evil. She journeys between worlds, facing supernatural nightmares, to try and stop the Klan. As the story starts, there are only days until Macon is the centre of another larger ritual on the screening of the film.
This book was absolutely fantastic. A perfect blend of historical fiction, gothic horror and dark fantasy. Full of action, ‘Ring Shout’ takes an unflinching look at the terrifying nature of racism. It is a conceptually stunning story with unbelievably magnetic writing. To be able to cultivate such a gripping and enchanting world in only 180 pages takes so much skill from an author. The characters are complex with great depth, and the plot is incredible. It contains a breath-taking blend of magical realism and social commentary on racism. Maryse Boudreaux is a fearless protagonist, enduring severe struggles, trauma and anger while still putting up a monumental fight. She is full of fiery resistance that is key to the story. When writing about the history of marginalised and oppressed groups, adding in an element of the supernatural could potentially absolve human responsibility for the atrocities. Attributing cruelty and racism to something otherworldly. However Clark constantly reminds us of the role and significance of human Klansmen, linking it back to the history of Jim Crow and the racism that is a part of our world.
I could have read 300 pages more about Maryse, her friends, and their struggle as resistance fighters. I do appreciate there is beauty in the brevity of the story, as we are pulled out of the action almost as quickly as we are dropped in. I felt the intensity of the novella was constructed in a way to reflect the intensity of the subject matter. And the two complimented each other seamlessly. ‘Ring Shout’ is most definitely a buy and a story I would completely recommend. Due to its harmonious blend of three different genres, I think this book could be enjoyed by many.
Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang. ‘Land of Milk and Honey’ is a story about a young chef whose pursuit of pleasure alters her life and indirectly, the world. In this dystopian fiction set in the near future, smog has spread across the planet ending agriculture and causing global famine and mass extinction. Our narrator is part of ‘Generation Mayfly’, with a life expectancy shortened by pollution, malnutrition and social breakdown. As the availability of food and the possibilities of what to create are rapidly depleting, our chef feels depressed by the state of the world and flees her career in London to take a job at an elite research community in Italy.
In this community, her mysterious billionaire employer and his daughter have created a limitless life for the global elite, while the rest of the world crumbles. This insular community is financed by a set of wealthy investors. They have restored lost species and created new ones, and are positioned to be devoted to long term solutions to the climate crisis - solutions that governments are struggling to create. This unlimited access to inspiration, taste and pleasure transforms our chef's life. In this atmosphere of seductive violence and hidden miracles, her boundaries undergo an intense erosion, as she is pushed by her employer beyond the realms of the plate.
‘Land of Milk and Honey’ explores food and morality, proposing the question of; in a crisis, what ends justify what means? Zhang viscerally and mesmerisingly describes food, eating and cravings and how they can inhibit our memories and shape our behaviour in ways that can be unexpected. Her prose brings food to life on the page, and as a reader I felt transported into the intense value and importance of food in this disappearing world. Equally, Zhang holds an impressive ability to effuse tension from the page. There is consistent nauseating behaviour from this ultra rich community. Their actions are at times gruesome and as a reader you are consistently bracing yourself for their absurdity. These vivid descriptions of food and tension create a captivating read. Despite being one of the better climate disaster fictions I’ve read, I wanted more from it. There is a lot left unsaid - themes of poverty, racial injustice, classism, religion and access to resources that seemed to extend beyond the realms of how we understand them today.
The moral complexity of ‘Land of Milk and Honey’ is limited, however the story is not devoid of optimism. I think this is always important for climate fiction. If you’re going to write speculatively about the imminent end of the world caused by climate change, it's important to inject some hope. This book was full of fascinating premise and ideas, with a brighter promise than actual execution. I would say ‘Land of Milk and Honey’ is a borrow. I’m really glad I read it, and enjoyed being submerged into such an alternative world. It reminded me a lot of the film ‘The Menu’. But there was a lot missing. However, it did encourage a lot of thought provoking ideas and concepts about food and morality in the end of time.
Brother Alive by Zain Khalid. Khalid’s debut novel follows three brothers' journey from Staten Island to Saudi Arabia. It is a story of fathers and sons, magical realism and revenge. In 1990, three boys were born, unrelated, but intertwined by circumstance. They are adopted as infants and live in a room above a Mosque in Staten Island. Their adoptive Father, Imam Salim1 is a distant and distracted patriarch. The boys know that he once knew their parents, but Imam Salim never indulges in telling them about their past or how he came to adopt them. Their past is a secret. Youssef, Dayo and Iseul grow up into young men together in New York City. As they forge their adolescent identities, they are constantly grappling with who they are and where they come from. Youssef is also keeping a secret; he sees a hallucinatory double, an imaginary friend who seems real, who he calls ‘Brother’. When Imam Salim abruptly leaves for Saudi Arabia, he leaves behind a detailed letter for the boys about his life. Upon reading this, the boys feel compelled to follow him and discover the truth about their parents. There they will be captivated by an opulent and futuristic world that seems to offer more than the West.
Through a remarkable scope of genres, ‘Brother Alive’ is an impressive feat of literary and intellectual ambition. Khalid combines literary and science fiction, as well as magical realism, to create a hallucinating world. There is a lot going on in this novel as the story unfolds in three succinct parts. Part One focuses on the boy's childhood and their relationship with Imam Salim. Youssef is our narrator and introduces us to his relationship with ‘Brother’. In Part Two, Imam Salim recounts his life in Saudi Arabia and how he came to adopt the boys. Imam Salim is an incredibly complex character who stands to represent how life is full of difficult choices. And Part Three follows the boys and Imam Salim to a futuristic Saudi Arabia, a dystopian world full of innovation and dark secrets. Khalid’s prose melts the pages with an intensely poetic tone. ‘Brother Alive’ covers a sprawling amalgamation of themes, exploring sexuality, identity, family, and religious fundamentalism. This array of themes at times come together beautifully but create a storyline difficult to follow.
‘Brother Alive’ is not a neat linear narrative, and instead one incredibly complex, and sometimes a little messy. The novel raises and explores several heavy issues, such as terrorism and is there such a thing as appropriate revenge. It is in equal parts challenging and compelling, an combination of genres I have never come across before. I found Part Two the most engaging aspect of the novel as it was fascinating to find out the origin story of the allusive Imam Salim. However the character development is at times lacking and the ending did not feel as strong as it could have been. This is a hamster wheel of a novel, there is a lot going on. It is both impressive and confusing. Due to this I’d call ‘Brother Alive’ a borrow. I enjoyed reading it, and I’m glad I did, but it was also a challenging read - one that requires a lot of focus and an open mind.
Love In The Big City by Sang Young Park. ‘Love In The Big City’ explores what it is like to be a young, queer man living in Seoul. We follow our protagonist, Young, through four significant relationships. We are introduced initially to his relationship with his female best friend, Jaehee, who chooses a more conventional path within her heterosexual relationship. When Jaehee gets married and settles down, it contrasts Young’s life as a gay man in his 20s and 30s, and what romantic relationships look like for him in a world rife with homophobia. These four snapshots into various relationships in Young’s life illustrate how the queer community has lived under a dual system of being privately and publicly in the closet, as South Korean society has not fully recognised LGBTQ rights. Therefore, the state is not a welcoming place for queer lovers. This social backdrop of the story reflects the characters constant pull between pride and shame. Young explores different types of love, along with their successes and failures. He also faces extensive homophobia from his own mother as she never accepts his queerness, something that taints their relationship forever.
Young grapples with his complex identity, what it means to be a queer Korean man, while also being ‘a by product of American imperialism and Western capitalism’. The novel also frequently explores other characters' denial and shame. ‘Love In The Big City’ explores the issues of being safe and accepted if you are publicly ‘out’. All these social and identity issues play out across the four stories with beautifully captivating prose. The interplay between Young’s personal issues, the dynamics of the relationships he is in and the larger discussion of the absence of rights for queer people in South Korea was excellent. The prose is funny, endearing and devastating as we are fully engulfed into what life is like for Young in Seoul. It takes incredibly impressive writing to weave love, humour, discrimination and heartbreak together into such captivating prose which Park does so seamlessly.
Despite the frequent occurrence of heartbreak, there are some beautiful and delicate snapshots of what it's like to be in love. A refreshing read which attempts to fully represent the complexities of modern gay life, with the pleasures and pitfalls of intimacy and love. I loved this book, would call it a buy and absolutely recommend it. I think if you love love, you will enjoy this.
Battle Royale by Koushun Takami. Published in 1999, ‘Battle Royale’ was touted as being extremely controversial, but is one of Japan’s best selling novels. A high octane thriller about a ruthless program by the totalitarian government, ‘Battle Royale’ takes place in a fictional fascist Japan. The state is known as the Republic of Greater East Asia, which arose after an alternate World War II where Japan emerged victorious. The government controls anything ‘immoral’ and things such as rock music are banned. This government has established a military program called ‘Battle Experiment No 68 Program’ wherein a class of 42 junior high school students are randomly selected, kidnapped, dropped into a remote location, and forced to kill one another until only one student of each class remains.The students are issued survival packs, containing food, water and weapons. Weapons range from guns and knives to forks, boomerangs and dart board darts. To ensure they kill each other, students are forced to wear metal collars around their necks that will explode, and kill them, if they don’t follow the rules.
Aside from the violence and psychological torture that this narrative contains, it also offers strong political and social commentary. ‘Battle Royale’ portrays a society that values conformity and obedience over creativity and individualism. The game is said to be a metaphor for the cut-throat competition in Japanese society. Takami explores ideas about fascism and democracy and the impact they have on societies. Takami is critical of the concept of a state, governments and totalitarianism in this dystopian world. However it is clear that the social commentary extends beyond the realms of this dystopian world and into ours.
Having always enjoyed The Hunger Games, devoured watching Squid Game on Netflix in 2021 and recently read and loved Chain-Gang All-Stars, I wanted to read the original blueprint. There is definitely something to be said for the allure of this genre. It’s dystopian, intense and horrifying. You want to look away, but you also can’t. ‘Battle Royale’ definitely has a more compelling element than these other three stories; that the students have a complex pre-existing web of relationships with each other. The characters aren’t just killing strangers to survive, but best friends, significant others, fellow classmates and people they grew up with. This simultaneously makes the story more gripping and devastating. The pacing of the book is *almost* perfect, pulsing with adrenaline and tension. There are too many characters to get a true sense of them all, however Takami does an effective job of cultivating several strong character specific story lines. Through these alternating points of view we are submerged into the heightened emotional adrenaline that the characters are feeling.
‘Battle Royale’ is very long, coming in at over 600 pages and requires a lot of focus, but one that is rewarding. It wasn’t as violent as I thought it would be, but it definitely does not shy away from being incredibly gory. I know ‘Battle Royale’ has been turned into a film but I have no desire to watch it. I'm more comfortable with violence on the page than on a screen. I would recommend ‘Battle Royale’ and call it a buy, but I know this isn’t a book for everyone. I think if you have enjoyed The Hunger Games or Squid Game, this is a read for you.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller. ‘Know My Name’ is a memoir by Chanel Miller, survivor of the Stanford Sexual Assault case. In 2016 Brock Turner was sentenced to 6 months in jail for sexually assaulting Chanel (in the end he served even less time; 3 months). This pathetic sentence, along with the virality of Chanel’s victim impact statement that was published by Buzzfeed, sparked international outrage and action. Chanel was initially known under the pseudonym of ‘Emily Doe’ to protect her during such a public and gruelling sexual assault trial. After Turner’s sentence and Chanel’s own battle with the impact the assault and trial had on her, she felt emboldened to shed her anonymity. Other women testifying against Harvey Weinstein and Christine Blasey Ford's testimony against Justice Brett Kavanaugh also inspired her to speak out and claim her story. It is from this courage and experience Miller writes her memoir, starting from the night of the assault, throughout the trial, and to where she is today.
‘Know My Name’ is an intimate and profoundly moving memoir that is tinged with frustration at America’s legal systems failures to punish predators if they are wealthy and accomplished. It exposes patriarchal cultural bias and the criminal justice system's failure to protect those who are vulnerable. It also comments on the clinical and isolating way victims of sexual assault are handled, and the immense courage required to move through that experience and live a full life. Miller writes such a vivid account of trauma in one of the most articulate ways I have ever read. Miller discusses how being a victim of sexual assault in the criminal justice system is like living on a knifes edge. She blisteringly describes the horrifying and detrimental effect of having to relive sexual assault on the stand in front of her perpetrator, his whole family, her family and multiple strangers. Emotionally recounting the psychological toll of having to ‘prove’ your assault, pain and suffering, when it shouldn’t even be questioned. Miller gets political at the end of the memoir, intertwining her individual experience to the political realities surrounding sexual assault and misogyny in the United States. This takes Miller's story and connects it to the stories of millions of others.
I was moved to tears multiple times while reading this book. Miller’s social commentary on rape culture and the impact this has on women’s lives and their safety was sharp and searing. Culturally, this memoir has a huge impact on detailing the direct and life changing effect that the patriarchy and rape culture has on society. More notably, it gives a raw and honest look at what it is like to be a victim of sexual assault. I knew this memoir would be moving, but I was not expecting Miller to be such an evocative writer. Her words are arresting, gripping and poetic. Miller's ability to convey gut-wrenching emotions in such beautiful and metaphorical ways is astounding. She takes us inside her state of mind, and what it's like to wake up and discover someone has taken advantage of your unconscious body. It takes such powerful and skilful writing to arrest such emotion from a reader. ‘Know My Name’ is a memoir I would wholeheartedly recommend, and call a buy. There is so much to gain from reading this, from feelings of frustration and anger, to catharsis, inspiration, joy and hope about the resilient nature of human beings. To believe in yourself, fight for yourself and stand up for yourself.
The Possessed by Witold Gombrowicz. With dreams of escaping his small-town existence and the limitations of his status, a young tennis coach travels to the heart of the Polish countryside where he is to train Maja Ocholowska, a beautiful and promising tennis player whose bourgeois family have fallen upon difficult circumstances. No sooner than the coach arrives, his relationship with Maja develops into one of twisted love and hate. He becomes embroiled in the fantastical happenings taking place at a dilapidated castle nearby where a mad prince resides. The aged and ailing prince has a scheming secretary, Cholawicki, who wants to get his hands on the prince’s inheritance. Gradually the story is overtaken by a darker narrative as it becomes clear that the castle is haunted. As the haunting intensifies we follow the fate of the young lovers.
This modern gothic tale is grotesque and brilliant. Fear and anticipation slowly quivers off the page, as there is a constant pulse of tension through the story as people encounter the unnerving happenings in the castle. The terrifying emptiness of the vicinity, the unhealthy climate of relationships, the loneliness and the expansive marshes further intensify this atmosphere of tragedy. ‘The Possessed’ is a glorious mixture of genres; romance, horror and comedy. The story is excessively weird and widely compelling. It also masks a more serious commentary of the Poland of Gombrowicz’s time; a place riddled with corruption and a fragmented country where classes continually clash. I loved the setting of the castle, and when the narrative deviated away from it to focus on other aspects of the storyline, I was a bit gutted.
This is a very odd book that was a lot of fun to read. ‘The Possessed’ is a 1930s Polish countryside enemies to lovers storyline, that takes place in a run down castle that is haunted with evil spirits that possess those who dare enter. I would call this a buy. It was really, really weird, but therein lies the fun of it.
The Book of Gaza - A City in Short Fiction Edited by Atef Abu Saif.
I feel it is important to acknowledge - this book was published in 2014. As important and insightful as these stories continue to be to understanding the lived Palestinian experience in Gaza, we know that right now life in Gaza is one of genocide and indescribable suffering. If you are looking to read some books related to the atrocities, may I point you in the direction of Books & Bakes, Reads & Reveries and FictionMatters recommendations. As
so eloquently puts it, ‘reading is one way to look, to face things that feel too big to face’. Reading is a political act.‘The Book of Gaza’ is a collection of short vignettes, a unique anthology of contemporary stories against the backdrop of the city of Gaza. These ten stories offer glimpses of life that go beyond the global media headlines. Including stories of anxiety, oppression and violence, but also resilience and hope. Exploring what it means to be Palestinian and how that identity is continually being reforged. These ten stories are of ordinary people struggling to live with dignity in what is known as the worlds largest prison. In his introduction, Atef Abu Saif presents the reader with a concise history of the city. Stories range from exploring hopes and dreams of the young, the constraints placed on women, the experiences of living in refugee camps to more politically aggressive tales, with all stories epitomising the struggles faced by residents in Gaza at that time.
The stories vary in consistency, but as with any anthology, some are better than others. However they all remain eye opening. Several stories are particularly heart-wrenching and impactful. All together these stories tell a tale of oppression but also of hope. My favourite of these stories being; ‘A Journey in the Opposite Direction’ by Atef Abu Saif set at the southern border crossing of Rafah, where we witness thousands of people trying to get out, and a few trying to get in, the city of Gaza. ‘The Sea Cloak’ by Nayrouz Qarmout describes a more traditional woman's relationship with girlhood and womanhood. We start with a childhood memory, which quickly turns sour as she discovers gender relations can change overnight. Years later she is trapped in her clothes (literally and metaphorically) and a trip to the beach highlights the differences between childhood freedom and restrictive adulthood, reflecting the issues faced by women in a patriarchal society. ‘Red Lights’ by Talal Abu Shawish where a grumpy taxi driver shows solidarity, and his humanity, while driving through Gaza. And finally ‘Dead Numbers’ by Yusra al Khatib which explores the disappearance of people and loss of connection, literally and figuratively. I would call this short story collection a borrow. It was a worthwhile and insightful read. One that perhaps you do not read for its quality of writing, but for what it portrays.
Oak Flat: A fight for Sacred Land in the American West by Lauren Redniss. Oak Flat is a high elevation Mesa that sits above the southeastern Arizona desert, fifteen miles west of the Sans Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. For the Sans Carlos Apache Tribe who have lived for generations on this reservation, Oak Flat is a holy place, an ancient burial ground and religious site where Apache girls celebrate the coming-of-age ritual known as the Sunrise Ceremony. In 1995, a massive untapped copper reserve was discovered nearby, and this sacred land is now a contested part of Arizona’s Tonto National Forest. A decade later, a law was passed transferring the area to Resolution Copper, a subsidiary of a massive private mining company. Resolution Copper's planned mine will wipe Oak Flat off the map. Redniss tells the story of a fight between one of the poorest communities in the United States against the federal government and two of the world's largest mining conglomerates.
Redniss introduces us to members of the Sans Carlos Apache Tribe from various generations, who tell us their stories and experiences of being part of the Apache Tribe. The book shares personal anecdotes from two families with profound connections to the contested copper mine. The Noises, whose teenage daughter is an activist and leader in the Oak Flat fight. And the Gorhams, a mining family whose patriarch was a sheriff in the lawless early days of Arizona statehood. The stories these families share are heartbreaking and inspiring. Redniss combines these testimonies with scientific and cultural history to tell the story of Oak Flat. Highlighting the colonial history of the Apache Tribe, Redniss links the present day fight against the mine to the fights the Apache Tribe have been having for decades. It illuminates the discrimination, abuse and human rights violations they have to endure, particularly at the hands of the United States Government. Redniss also includes interviews with a host of pro-mine Arizonans, including Apache, however her advocacy for Oak Flat is evident throughout.
I really enjoyed learning about the Apache culture and ceremonies alongside the issues raised about mining, environmentalism and protected land. I do wish there was a touch more detail, as I left the book being slightly confused at the current status of the mine (I found a timeline here). There is also concern that a book about indigenous sacred land has been written by a white woman. I haven’t been able to find commentary or critique of this book from an Indigenous perspective, so it is unclear on the community perspective of this book. This contributes to the continuous issue of who has the right to tell Native stories. For a selection of some Indigenous authors telling their own stories, check out Katy’s post from today.
Oak Flat is no ordinary non-fiction book. Redniss mixes art, design and research with a prose style that is poetic, compelling and journalistic. This mixed media approach creates such stunning and unique storytelling. I don’t tend to read graphic novels, so I almost never come across books that include illustrations. The illustrations throughout the book were so evocative and powerful and brought the story to life. ‘Oak Flat’ is a unique take on non fiction, an illuminating book, that I would call a borrow. It is an insightful and educational snapshot into the importance of sacred land. Communicating what the impact of carelessness and disregard towards sacred land could have on the future of our planet, as well as the continuous dismissal of the rights of Indigenous populations.
Other Book News I want to share:
One of my favourite books from last year, Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro, has been adapted into a film and is coming out on Netflix on November 24th ! I’m a bit nervous as the book was so great. Netflix keeps pushing the English dubbed trailer (which sounds terrible, obviously) so I’m linking the Spanish one here.
And in festive book news, I have recently ordered a book advent calendar! So it is only fair I share the link with you all (click here) and it ships internationally. How to play: behind every door is a mystery blurb. At the end of the 24 days, you choose your 4 favourite blurbs and in return you receive 4 books! This will probably be the absolute best part of December.
And that concludes my October reads! My favourite reads of this month were ‘Ring Shout’, ‘Love In The Big City’ and ‘Know My Name’. Thank you so much for reading Martha’s Monthly, I really appreciate your support!
My first read of November is ‘The House of Doors’ by Tan Twan Eng. Longlisted for The Booker Prize this year, it is a drama of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire. There is a special place in my heart for dramatic historical fiction, so I have high expectations for it.
Let me know what you read and enjoyed in October or which book (or books) from this newsletter you’d most like to read, I’d love to know!
Happy Reading! Love Martha
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Imam is used to refer to the head of the Muslim community, one who leads worship and prayers
I ordered the same book advent and I’m so so excited for it! I absolutely love this idea! Based on Know My Name, I recommend Eggshell Skull by Bri Lee - although it’s probably hard to get in the UK as it’s Australian. Also the skill of a novella is amazing isn’t it? We read Small Things Like These for book club and we’re all blown away by the depth and emotion in a 150-ish page book
Ooh, so many on this list sound great! I've had Love in the Big City on my list for a while now and everything I've read from Tilted Axis Press has been excellent. I'd not heard of Ring Shout and it sounds right up my street. October was a fab reading month for me - A few favourites: Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa (which increased my desire to visit Japan), A woman in the polar night by Christiane Ritter (an absolutely incredible memoir from a woman who spent a year with her husband on a remote Arctic island in the 30s) and Severance by Ling Ma (I love a good end of the world novel).