Eva Moe

Tag: books

  • February Reads

    List of books I *finished* reading in February. I start many books at the same time and often finish them in one fell swoop. I started many of these in January. Sidenote, Non-Fiction books have titles as long as Panic! At the Disco songs.

    1. Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future – Jason Stanley. A great read that links the past to our present moment. It opened my eyes to see the signs of fascist politics and policies. I feel more informed and able to think more critically about the current US regime. It reads a bit like a textbook at times.
    2. Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself – Nedra Glover Tawwab. Started this around 2020, and I swear I’ve never met a self-help book that has been quite as immediately useful as this one. Please give it a read if you think you might struggle with boundaries or people pleasing.
    3. Parable of the Sower – Octavia E. Butler. Had to buy a physical copy after finishing the audiobook. It inspired both my writing and present way of thinking about life. The only thing is, I wish I’d read it ten years ago. Elegantly written, this is a dystopia that feels more possible every day. If you’re from the US and never thought about a collapsed future, this may shift your perspective.
    4. Assistant to the Villain – Hannah Nicole Maehrer. Romantasy! It was as fun as you want a Romantasy book to be, and minus the clumsy main character, there was a noticeable lack of irritating cliches that are rife in the genre. (“I’m not like other girls” did not come into play, for instance). Also, I cast Sebastian Stan’s Winter Soldier as the Villain 🙂
    5. Apprentice to the Villain – Hannah Nicole Maehrer. Fun follow up with a little more world building. Can’t wait for the 3rd book!
    6. The Fire Next Time – James Baldwin. A short informative read that was my first foray into James Baldwin literature. This one feels a little like the thoughts are happening in your own mind. Up close and personal. I’ll be rereading this, and look forward to my next book of his, Giovanni’s Room.
    7. The Art of War: The Essential Translation of the Classic Book of Life (Penguin Classics 2002 edition) – Sun-tzu, John Minford. I bought this one as soon as I returned it to the library. This is now an essential part of my personal library, and I will rebuy it if my current copy goes missing. I adore this edition for 2 very different reasons.
      • I got so many great fight-scene ideas for books!
      • The commentators throw shade at each other that the editor absolutely did not have to include. It oscillates between high-academic nerdery as expected, and the arguments in a reddit comment section. Idk much about Giles, but he did not like Cao Cao’s ‘untranslatable ramblings’ (not direct quote), and for that knowledge, I am deeply sated.

    Happy reading,
    Eva

  • 2024 Bookify Wrapped

    Now look. I know it’s February 2025. But allow me my ramblings anyway. I read more books last year than normal. I had lots of walking around and listening to do. Still, I know it doesn’t compare to your friend who read 121 or whatever. We’re not here to judge each other (I’m not, maybe you are idk), we’re here to judge books by how much they meant to us. :’)

    I read 30+ books. Here’s my top shelf:

    1. Autobiography of Red – Anne Carson. Couldn’t read one page of this without sitting down to write. The description, Anne Carson’s way with adjectives. The images are made of cream, the book put visions into my mind. Still haunted by: “Not a bee crawled up Geryon’s spine on the inside.”
    2. Iron Widow – Xiran Jay Zhao. It was fresh and full of fire, new love and new ideas that a Westerner like me doesn’t get the chance to read often. It sparked further interest in Chinese writing
    3. All the young dudes – gamesformay on Archive of Our Own. A Harry Potter fanfic that was written in a way that traditional publishing doesn’t do. It reopened my love of the HP world despite all that its original author has done to tarnish it. Moreso than that, it reminded me of the different ways to write long-form stories.
    4. The Memory Police – Yoko Ogawa. This one was recommended to me. I’d say I liked this book for the feat of allowing me to see deeper into my friend’s minds. Two of them liked it. If not for them, I think I would’ve DNFd it. It’s slow and I didn’t really enjoy how uneasy it made me feel, but it has a lingering effect. An unsettling aftertaste. Try it out if you’re into dystopian novels, and if you liked The Truman Show and The Giver.
    5. No Longer Human – Osamu Dazai. I am struck by this book. Lovers of The Bell Jar may enjoy this one. It meant a lot to me as someone who goes through this world feeling outside of things. I’ve fooled myself long enough with my own mask, and this book felt like reading someone’s deepest secrets, like the words you don’t allow yourself to think. Trigger Warning – sexual assault, suicide, misogyny. Despite all these things, I’m in awe. As soon as I find a copy, I’m adding it to my library.

    This year expanded my mind in many ways, and I’m eager to await the literary journeys that the Year of the Snake has in store.

  • Currently reading 1/20/2025

    A list of what I’m currently reading

    1. Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future – by Jason Stanley
    2. The Art of War – by Sun Tzu
    3. Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky

    The more I learn about fascism, the more I notice it in the media. Today’s inauguration and the charisma of president trump hold no shortage of examples.

    My reading selection isn’t usually so grim, but I’ll make time for romance/fantasy again soon. Very much looking forward to reading Xiran Jay Zhao’s Heavenly Tyrant!

    Hope you’re all taking time to celebrate MLK day and looking into your community’s city hall meetings.

    Cheers to friendship,

    Eva

  • 3 book thoughts halfway through 3/3

    These are thoughts I have while reading books. Halfway through or in the beginning.

    • “Me Before You” by Jojo Moyes: There’s not a single likable character in this whole book, yet somehow I’m still reading.
    • “The Tradition” by Jericho Brown: Reading poetry is the only time I’m not afraid to die.
    • “Wind/Pinball” by Haruki Murakami: Now THIS is a f*ckin BOOK. Is it necessary to describe every single woman’s boobs though?

  • No reading goals for 2021

    I’m not doing a reading goal this year. It never works for me and takes the fun out of reading books because it always feels like I have to. Yuck!

    I don’t know who else struggles with this, but with my ADHD, it’s really difficult to finish books. Most books can’t keep my attention for more than a chapter, and I end up starting dozens more than I finish.

    That said, I didn’t read many books in 2020, but here were my favorites:

    • Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson – witchy in all the right ways, although it left me with a very creepy and visceral image of mushrooms. I read this months ago and I’m still creeped out.
    • The Hand on the Wall (Truly Devious, #3) by Maureen Johnson – I really loved this series and the final book tied it all together.
    • How We Fight For Our Lives by Saeed Jones – I listened to the audiobook, which I highly recommend. You know when people say, “Jesus Christ, read a book!” to signal that you need to broaden your horizons? I recommend this one. It’s gay, coming of age, historical, and immensely visual. I remember this book like it was a movie.
    • A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott – so many red flags, such romance, and terrible drama! I never read Little Women but I bet it’s nothing like this one.

  • From the Notebook: King Arthur was a Tragedy

    “In the age of romance and chivalry, steam seeped through open hearts now it’s a gas leak up the nose and on fire. Love is now combustible. Love is now the library. Love is now the golden gilded spine of ancient text.

    July 1st 2017.”

    like: “love is now the library”
    dislike: “ancient text”

    Here’s the new version. As you can see, I’ve added a title and altered the imagery. This poem did not undergo a heavy edit, and that’s okay. Sometimes, I write a long poem only to keep one or two lines, or images, or ideas. Other times, like in this case, I keep it mostly the same.

    King Arthur was a Tragedy
    In the age of romance and chivalry
    steam seeped through open hearts
    now it’s a gas leak.
    Up the nose.
    On fire.

    Love is now combustible.
    Love is now the library.
    Love is now the golden
    gilded spine of mildew books
    that bury in your head
    songs and hatchets alike.

    Eva