In order to spark some excitement back into the world of literature, welcome back to our monthly column What Are We Reading, where myself and other writers talk about what books are our current obsession. A collaborative effort we hope to engage other fellow readers who are looking to be enthusiastic about reading again (like myself). Make sure to comment below about what’s your current page turner and/or if there are any recommendations you have for us!
It’s back to school time which means a lot of required reading. To help balance this out, here are some books not on your school reading list to fill your time.
Let us know what you’re been reading!
Happy reading! To read previous months columns, go here.
Gaby is reading: A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess
Lauren is Reading: The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart
I have to start off with the book I recently finished: Caraval by Stephanie Garber (1/31/17 from Flatiron Books). Compared to The Night Circus, this book is magical and all-encompassing. Stephanie Garber has created a rich, unique world and tells a story that allows readers to be fully immersed in that world. Just when you think you’ve got the story figured out, another layer of mystery and magic is revealed. The ending pulled my heart in so many directions, and I absolutely can’t wait for the next book.
I’m currently reading Trenton Lee Stewart’s The Secret Keepers (9/27/16 from Little, Brown BFYR). The Mysterious Benedict Society is one of my favorite books of all time, and I was far too excited when I found out there was a new book coming from Trenton Lee Stewart. The Secret Keepers tells the story of Reuben, an eleven-year-old who finds an antique watch that has the ability to turn him invisible. The discovery leads him down a mysterious and dangerous path to solve the mystery of the watch. So far, it’s just as quirky and enjoyable as I expected. I have no clue where the story is going, but I am definitely all in for the ride.
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Camille is Reading: Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch 
In denial that summer is coming to an end? This is the book for you. Emma Straub’s sophomore effort The Vacationers follows the Post family as they go on a two-week vacation in Mallorca, despite the fact that their family is low-level falling apart. Exploring multigenerational family dysfunction with minimal plot propulsion runs the risk of boredom, but Straub’s ability to craft characters transcended this danger. The characters come to life within a few lines of text as deeply flawed individuals with complex relationships to one another. Meandering my way through the Posts’ Mallorca trip was so relaxing, it made me feel a bit like I was on a vacation myself–not an easy feat, considering I was actually commuting to work while doing so.
Jennifer is Reading: Rumo & His Miraculous Adventures by Walter Moers 
I picked this book up completely on a whim, off the clearance table at Barnes & Noble, and was instantly struck by the silly, gothic illustrations on the front cover. Flipping in and out of these pages, I was further enticed by the complimentary Washington Post blurb on the jacket that describes the book as “Equal parts J.K. Rowling, Douglas Adams, and Shel Silverstein…a work of monumental silliness”. That was all I needed to give this 600+ page novel a shot, and I seriously have yet to be disappointed. I’m about halfway through so far, and similar to how I got through the Harry Potter series way back when, I’m really taking my time with this one so as to soak up all the little weird details in the world-building as I possibly can. The book follows the life story of a frail, little Wolperting – think somewhere between a dog and a deer – who is fated to become the greatest hero in all of Zamonia. It’s basically a children’s book for adults overstuffed with mysteries within mysteries, merciless scenes of gory violence, Greek mythology story riffs, playfully complex character names, a wacky sense of humor, and gobs and gobs of yummy magic. It’s as if George R.R. Martin and the members of Monty Python had decided to try and write a children’s book together just to throw everybody off – though had gotten slightly carried away with the violent, nightmarish details of the plot to be suitable for your average kid. It’s the second installment of an amazing five-book series – centered on the life journeys of the other strange, Zamonian inhabitants – and is pure escapism for the teen at heart.
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I’ve been having a bit of a tricky month in terms of reading where I’ll pick a book up, get a chapter or two into it and then loose interest. Ever since reading More than This by Patrick Ness I’ve needed something to immediately capture me and not let go. After going through the first pages of a few, likely marvelous novels, and feeling little I’ve landed on the highly regarded All the Light We Cannot See. I’ve hardly made a dent in it thus far but I’m already a fan of the hard hitting, short chapters that arrive more like bursts than any book I’ve read before.
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