Dear Constant Reader,
The Winter Reading Challenge at the Boston Public Library is finishing up this week. For the past three years the challenge has been Read the World: six books from authors from six different regions of the world in two months. I love these challenges because I end up reading books that I otherwise might never have known about. My personal rule is no re-reads, although I’m fine with choosing an author I’ve read before.
This year’s picks were:
Africa: The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years, Shubnum Khan (South Africa)
A gothic tale of love and loss in a crumbling mansion inhabited by an eclectic group of Indian-South Africans.
The Americas: Silver Nitrate, Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Mexico)
Devastasia recommended this one and she wasn’t wrong. Horror and movies, what’s not to love?
Asia: The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water, Zen Cho (Mayalsia)
Two years ago I read Black Water Sister; this is a very different kind of story — historic fantasy rather than horror.
Europe: The Midwich Cuckoos, John Wyndham (England)
This was the monthly selection for the Slightly Sinister Book Club, so I was double-dipping. Classic British science fiction/horror.
The Middle East: The Seven Necessary Sins for Woman and Girls, Mona Eltahawy (Egypt)
The only non-fiction book. Powerful stuff. This took me the longest to read because I had to take breaks between chapters.
Oceania: Return to Blood, Michael Bennett (Aotearoa/New Zealand)
I read the first Hana Westerman book, Better the Blood last year and could not wait to dive into the sequel.
These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.
Oh, The Glamourous Life! 
Leave a comment