nut free nerd

A round up of recent reads, in the form of some mini reviews. Let’s go!

The Wager by David Grann reconstructs the story of a harrowing shipwreck in the 1700s and the gruesome aftermath of loss, survival, and struggle as the men tried to make their way back to England. I read this one for my local book club, and had mixed feelings about it. My favorite aspect of the book was the author’s acknowledgement of the differing accounts of the shipwreck and the ensuing events and how the government at the time kind of swept the whole ordeal under the rug. At the same time, I think there could have been more of an acknowledgement that even this reconstruction of events — largely from the accounts of three men — is not itself a complete picture. I guess this book could have benefited from a clearer recognition of its own limitations? Regardless, the book is really entertaining. I didn’t think I’d be flying through a book about an eighteenth century shipwreck, but I was.

Any Person is the Only Self by Elisa Gabbert (Netgalley ARC). Do you like reading about art? Reading about writing? Reading about reading? Then this collection of personal, sometimes literary, always introspective, essays is for you. From essays about checking out books from the library to Frankenstein, Sylvia Plath, and The Catcher in the Rye, I think this collection would be perfect for former English majors who want a little taste of literary criticism again (hello, it’s me). On the whole, Gabbert’s voice feels vulnerable and open in these pages, discussing the impacts of the pandemic on her life, reading, and ability to focus on work. Well worth a read.

Die Hot With A Vengeance: Essays on Vanity by Sable Yong (Netgalley ARC). In this essay collection, Yong — beauty writer and former digital beauty editor of Allure — gives readers an inside look at the beauty industry, although not in a way they may be expecting. Yong peels back the curtain on trends and fads, sharing her own relationship with “beauty” to underscore how socially (and systemically) constructed our idea of beauty really is. I appreciated her emphasis on the individuality of beauty, how we should only do what feels right and authentic to ourselves, not what is advertised that week on social media. Bonus points for writing that is engaging, with a great sense of humor.

What have you been reading lately? I’d love to know.

Take care xx