Hello, friends and happy Friday! I can’t believe May is almost over — there’s so many books I wanted to get to this month and haven’t yet, but that’s okay. I’ve been reading quite a lot this month, and so I wanted to share some mini-reviews with y’all today! So, grab a cup of tea — or a beverage of your choice, and get cozy!
The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
What is the purpose of a map?
Nell Young’s whole life and greatest passion is cartography. Her father, Dr. Daniel Young, is a legend in the field and Nell’s personal hero. But she hasn’t seen or spoken to him ever since he cruelly fired her and destroyed her reputation after an argument over an old, cheap gas station highway map.
But when Dr. Young is found dead in his office at the New York Public Library, with the very same seemingly worthless map hidden in his desk, Nell can’t resist investigating. To her surprise, she soon discovers that the map is incredibly valuable and exceedingly rare. In fact, she may now have the only copy left in existence… because a mysterious collector has been hunting down and destroying every last one—along with anyone who gets in the way.
But why?
To answer that question, Nell embarks on a dangerous journey to reveal a dark family secret and discovers the true power that lies in maps…
Peng Shepherd’s The Cartographers was an absolute delight to read. Going in, I didn’t know much about the book, aside from the fact that there were maps, and that a bunch of my friends liked it. There were so many things that I adored about The Cartographers, and with a premise like that, how could I not? I was sucked in from the get-go, and simply could not put this book down. I sent Caitlyn and Mary countless voice memos on my theories, and was honestly pleasantly surprised when my guesses were right. I’m not always the most perceptive when it comes to solving mystery thrillers, so you can only imagine my excitement! That being said, there were a few twists and turns that caught me off guard. I also simply loved this cast of characters! Whether it was Nell, or any of the minor characters (I don’t want to name them, or the dynamics, for fear of spoiling), I really enjoyed learning about them and their motives. I found myself wanting to know more about them, as I always do with likable — or even unlikable — characters. Reading about how each character connected to the larger story, each other, and most importantly, the mystery at hand, was so captivating. You could tell how much they all cared about Nell and her parents, and I really treasured the “found family” dynamic. I really enjoyed the way this story was told, with interspersed narratives from the supporting cast of characters. At times, it really felt like the characters were telling you their own story. I will admit that I don’t completely understand the worldbuilding, even now, but I also didn’t mind that it was a little confusing! I found the concept to be so cool, and while other readers may be disappointed in how little fantasy there is, I felt like the novelty of the concept made up for it.
Links for The Cartographers: Goodreads | TheStorygraph | Bookshop | IndieBound
Bartlett Plays 1: Not Talking, My Child, Artefacts, Contractions, Cock by Mike Bartlett
This first collection of Mike Bartlett’s plays showcases the adroit expertise and flair of a writer known for laser-sharp political comment, tight dialectics and needlingly real characters.
My Child is a gut-wrenching exploration of the lengths a father will go to to have access to his child. The play creates a violent world where good intentions count for very little, and offers an incisive, honest look at what it means to be a good parent.
Contractions is an ink-black comedy about work and play: Emma’s been seeing Darren. She thinks she’s in love. Her boss thinks she’s in breach of contract. The situation needs to be resolved.
Artefacts depicts a father-daughter reunion which, after 16 years, crosses between the world of a British teenager and an Iraqi expert in antiquity, and is complicated by the ambivalent gift of a precious Mespotamian vase.
Cock is a punchy play which takes a playful, candid look at one man’s sexuality and the difficulties that arise when you realise you have a choice.
I’ve been meaning to read more plays, especially given my love for theatre — and how rarely I get to see them. I purchased a collection of Bartlett plays, and unfortunately I wasn’t really invested in the storylines for any of them. I do think that plays are meant to be performed, not just read, and if given the chance, I’d definitely see these plays in person. That being said, I did enjoy Bartlett’s writing style, and the way that each play made me truly think.
Links for Bartlett Plays 1: Goodreads | TheStorygraph | Bookshop | IndieBound
Burns: When Anger Comes Home by Clara T.
“Burns: When Anger Comes Home” carves a landscape painting of anger within 27 poems. At midnight, a girl meets the fuel, the flame and the ashes of a burning home to capture the ghosts of anger. An exploration of grief, heartache and self-acceptance. What can we save? What can we forgive?
“Home is on fire. War-Girl observes its ember jacket. Orange swallows midnight. She overhears the fire department, ‘What caused the fire?’
Folding up each hand, she exhales a warm breath. Out into the ice-ridden air she steps.”
*Join “Wholeheartedly,” Podcast in revisiting the ruins of Burns after its original 40-poem form melted in its abandonment. In this digital copy of ‘Burns’, you’ll find more poems that have not been read aloud yet. Make sure to tread carefully, there’s little light here and some potholes.
In a similar vein, I’ve been meaning to read more poetry, and jumped at the chance when a childhood friend / podcaster published some of hers. Part of Burns: When Anger Comes Home was also performed/read aloud in Episode 2 of her podcast (Wholeheartedly, by Clahrah), which I absolutely adored. Burns: When Anger Comes Home was cathartic and soothing, and also felt like reading a close friend’s diary — which I guess, in a way, it was? Either way, I really appreciated Clara’s writing, and particularly the intricacies of the performance.
The Comfort Book by Matt Haig
I’m honestly surprised at how much I loved Matt Haig’s The Comfort Book. It’s not really the kind of book I gravitate towards, and really only picked it up because it was recommended to me, but I loved it. It truly felt like a warm hug, and has become my go to gift. It’s really got me thinking about what brings us comfort, why humans gravitate towards certain things, why we love media, and has also inspired me to start my own comfort notebook.
“It is a strange paradox, that many of the clearest, most comforting life lessons are learnt while we are at our lowest. But then we never think about food more than when we are hungry and we never think about life rafts more than when we are thrown overboard.”
The Comfort Book is Haig’s life raft: it’s a collection of notes, lists, and stories written over a span of several years that originally served as gentle reminders to Haig’s future self that things are not always as dark as they may seem. Incorporating a diverse array of sources from across the world, history, science, and his own experiences, Haig offers warmth and reassurance, reminding us to slow down and appreciate the beauty and unpredictability of existence.
Links for The Comfort Book: Goodreads | TheStorygraph | Bookshop | IndieBound
Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
I’ve been eagerly anticipating the new Christina Lauren book since it was announced! Christina Lauren’s stuff can be very hit or miss for me sometimes, but I really enjoyed this one. I love second chance romance, and I found Lily and Leo to be so sweet and charming. I truly enjoyed the treasure hunt aspect of it, and have never wanted to go out in the wilderness so badly.
Growing up the daughter of notorious treasure hunter and absentee father Duke Wilder left Lily without much patience for the profession…or much money in the bank. But Lily is nothing if not resourceful, and now uses Duke’s coveted hand-drawn maps to guide tourists on fake treasure hunts through the red rock canyons of Utah. It pays the bills but doesn’t leave enough to fulfill her dream of buying back the beloved ranch her father sold years ago, and definitely not enough to deal with the sight of the man she once loved walking back into her life with a motley crew of friends ready to hit the trails. Frankly, Lily would like to take him out into the wilderness—and leave him there.
Leo Grady knew mirages were a thing in the desert, but they’d barely left civilization when the silhouette of his greatest regret comes into focus in the flickering light of the campfire. Ready to leave the past behind him, Leo wants nothing more than to reconnect with his first and only love. Unfortunately, Lily Wilder is all business, drawing a clear line in the sand: it’s never going to happen.
But when the trip goes horribly and hilariously wrong, the group wonders if maybe the legend of the hidden treasure wasn’t a gimmick after all. There’s a chance to right the wrongs—of Duke’s past and their own—but only if Leo and Lily can confront their history and work together. Alone under the stars in the isolated and dangerous mazes of the Canyonlands, Leo and Lily must decide whether they’ll risk their lives and hearts on the adventure of a lifetime
Links for Something Wilder: Goodreads | TheStorygraph | Bookshop | IndieBound
What have you been reading this month? Let me know what your highlights are!
