Sponsored by Flatiron Books, publisher of L.A. Weather by María Amparo Escandón.
A Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick. FORECAST: Storm clouds are on the horizon in L.A. Weather, a fun, fast-paced novel of a Mexican-American family from Maria Amparo Escandon.
Welcome to In The Club, a newsletter of resources to keep your book group well-met, well-read, and well-fed. We’re now in that weird transition period where it still feels hot, but all the Halloween decorations and spooky book releases have me ready to hop into an all black turtle neck ensemble. I may even be ready for a pumpkin spice latte or two *hangs head in basic shame*. I’m starting to lean into all the fall vibes, I just need for the temperature to catch up!
And with that said, to the club!
Nibbles and Sips
I have been on a tofu kick lately as I have been consciously trying to eat more plant-based meals. I grew up thinking tofu was super flavorless and have since learned the error of my ways as an adult. Try these Vietnamese sandwiches with marinated tofu and let me know what you think! The key I think is the baguette (you want fresh! soft on the inside, but crunchy on the outside) and to marinate the tofu. If you’re not feeling the tofu, of course you can switch it out for another protein.
Magical Short Stories
You know how there are teachers that you’ll always remember because of something they side that kind of blew your (at the time) little mind? I’ll never forget how one of my science teachers in middle school said how so many modern inventions first made appearances in books and movies before they became a reality. It made me have a whole new appreciation for books and the power of writers’ imaginations, which was saying a lot as I was already a little bookworm.
Today I’d like to focus on some science fiction and fantasy books that not only re-imagine history, but also think of new inventions. This list will serve the double purpose of recommending great SFF reads as well as offering them up in short and sweet novella form. Sometimes it’s honestly hard to find the motivation to read an entire book, especially with life and everything going on. I think book clubs have served such a special function for the past year, going on two of the pandemic (*ugly cries*) as they have allowed us an easily adaptable way of still socializing while having good conversations. So, if the group needs a shorter book for the next meetup, then keep these in the reserve! You can even discuss a couple at a time if you like.
A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djeli Clark
I’m just getting into Clark’s worlds, and I can’t believe it’s taken me this long. This very short story set in 1912 Egypt centers on Special Investigator Fatma el-Sha’arawi as she investigates the death of a Djinn, which is a kind of supernatural creature based on ancient Mesopotamian mythology. Magic had been brought to the land and history rewritten as the Egyptians used it to fight back against colonial rule. It’s a great start, but you’ll wish this story was longer as you see Fatma reconcile being one of few female investigators in this steampunk world with ghouls and mechanical angels. Luckily, there is a full length novel that comes after: A Master of Djinn.
The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
When I tell you that Nigh Vo is THAT. GIRL. In this first of a series with surreal elements, Vo has cleric Chih meet an aging woman named Rabbit who was sold to the emperor for a basket of dye as a child. Rabbit’s world is sent spinning once she befriends the emperors new and lonely foreign wife, and the tale she has for Chih could mean ruin for the current empress. Vo is a master of concise, yet beautiful prose and Rabbit’s story had me in my feelings. Whew!
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
An agent finds a letter that reads “burn before reading.” What follows is correspondence between two time traveling agents who fight for opposite warring factions. As their rivalry expresses itself, so does a romance in this very unique story that features queer romance. El-Mohtar is also a poet, so expect beautiful writing, naturally.
Book Club Bonus: Another aspect of SFF I like is how it often discusses social issues in a nuanced (or sometimes very blatant) way. Discuss what parallels these foreign worlds have to ours. For instance, how does the role of women compare to women’s roles the world over? Given the advances, do you think these roles were realistic? Additionally, could you see any of the advancements making their way to our reality?
Suggestion Section
Inaugural poet and my play sister Amanda Gorman has signed a deal with Estee Lauder and also looks AMAZING in purple.
Get into this Indigenous led book club if you haven’t already!
Several People Are Typing by Calvin Kasulke is the Good Morning America September book club pick.
Also, L.A. Weather by María Amparo Escandón is Reese’s September pick.
I hope this newsletter found you well, and as always, thanks for hanging out! If you have any comments or just want to connect, send an email to erica@riotnewmedia.com or holla at me on Twitter @erica_eze_ . You can also catch me choppin’ it up with Kelly Jensen on the Hey YA podcast every couple of weeks.
Until next week.
-E