January Deep Dive
A backlist title and a recent release
When a book really captures my attention, I love listening to interviews with the author or other readers, and reading articles and reviews to take my reading a step further. So I thought it would be fun to share that deep dive with you once a month! I’ll take two recent books I read and curate the podcasts, interviews, and reviews that deepened my appreciation for those books and their authors. This month, I’m featuring Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny and Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades.
Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny
This was my first read of 2022 and I adored it. I saw it making the rounds last year and wasn’t sure it was for me, but when two trusted book friends said they thought I’d like it, I couldn’t resist. At its heart is a story of life in a small town, following a cast of quirky but lovable characters going about the ups and downs of their every day lives. You get to peek in on them every few years, which helped to move the book along, and gives you a glimpse into their lives over a long span of time. Leaving these people that had begun to feel like real friends was hard, and I wish I could jump back in to see what they’re up to now. For fans of Under the Rainbow and Writers & Lovers.
“Oh the joy of a shared life! The joy is not – as many people believe – building a future with someone, or opening your heart to another human being, or even the ability to gift each other money with limited tax consequences. The joy is in the dailiness.”
“She should sit out here more often early in the morning. She and Duncan could have coffee here, start their day with calm and beauty. But she knew it was one of those things – like Sunday afternoon drives and mother-daughter yoga class and vacuuming the refrigerator coils – that she would think about but never actually do again, and that made it all the sweeter.”
This quick listen from NPR
An interview that I thoroughly enjoyed
An older interview about Heiny’s previous book, Standard Deviation (bonus: Roxane Gay is the first half of this podcast episode)
This review calls it a “serious story full of lightness”
And this one says it’s a “heartwarming novel with a small-town vibe that sparkles like wine sipped with friends under backyard fairy lights” (I totally agree)
Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades
The more I’ve sat with this book, the more I love it. This book was a perfect 24-hour audio listen, especially since it almost reads like a novel in verse. (And I’ll probably reread it in print soon to see if the different formats provide a different reading experience.) Told by a chorus of voices from diverse backgrounds, we follow a group of women from girlhood all the way through their adult years. I don’t know how the author managed to do it, but one of my favorite things about this book is how their lived experiences are both the same but separate. The narrative structure is unlike anything I’ve read before, but don’t let that put you off. This is a stunning debut and Andreades left me wanting more. For fans of Jacqueline Woodson and Elizabeth Acevedo.
“We slip from houses that feel too warm and suffocating. Outside, we exhale. We sit on bike handlebars and sidewalk edges as the sun sets a drunken orange. On the radio, Mariah sings, Gimme your love, gimme your love. Because we do not want to go back inside, we wander past the gas station, the park, observe the houses that grow gander, with fat trees casting lengthy shadows. Where no laundry lines are strung. These houses, with their perfect symmetry and silence, frighten us. We’re reminded of our families’ laughter and shouts in crowded kitchens and backyards. We run home – past God Bless Deli 2, past the beat-up Mustang with the man tinkering underneath, past the Italian boys on their stoops. Who call out, Ay, beauduhful! when we zoom by.”
I loved this podcast interview
A great conversation about how policy can affect families for generations
This interview on the small glories and pains of immigrant girlhood
“Andreades delivers her story to a place that can feel either life-affirming or depressing, depending on how you look at it",” says this review
Upcoming events with the author (I’ll be attending the one on Feb. 1)
I had so much fun putting this together! Hopefully if you haven’t read these I’ve convinced you to add them to your TBR 😉 Or, if you’ve already read them, I hope this deepened your reading experience. I genuinely want to know what you think, and if there’s anything else you’d like to see. So drop a comment or send me an email, I love chatting with you all! And if you like my newsletter, considering sharing it with a friend (or two or five) 👯
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This month all subscribers get to read this Deep Dive, but starting next month it will be for paid subscribers only. As a reminder, to receive all of the content I publish here you can become a paid subscriber for $5/month, or $50/year (with the option to be a founding member for $75 or more). You’ll receive:
First Tuesday of the month: Release Love issue where I highlight that month’s book releases that I’m excited about, including reviews of those I’ve read.
Third Friday of the month (new): A deep dive on two recent reads. This means my review, as well as a list of other resources for learning more about the book(s), i.e. podcast episodes I’ve listened to, reviews from other people, etc.
Fourth Thursday of every month: Monthly roundup, where I talk about what I’ve been reading, the things I’ve been loving, and anything else I want to share with you all.
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