As the end of the year (and the decade!) draws near, I thought I'd share my thoughts about my 2019 reading adventures! I've only truly loved a small number of books this year, but they were all hugely impactful for me, and are actually some of my top books of the decade. As of right now, I have read 28 books, and have two on the go that I'll finish before the end of the year for sure. Here are some of my faves, in order of when I read them. ON THE COME UP by Angie Thomas Finished reading February 3rd “Unarmed and dangerous, but America, you made us, only time we famous is when we die and you blame us.” I was pleasantly surprised by ON THE COME UP! After reading THE HATE U GIVE in 2018, I was really excited for Thomas' next novel, especially considering this was the book she had wanted to debut with initially before THUG was written. The fact that this book was Thomas' passion project is really obvious. I liked this so much more than THUG. What jumped out at me immediately was how distinct and unique Thomas' voice is. The discussions surrounding racial profiling, poverty, and family expectations are incredibly relevant in the political and social climate of today, and this book reflects life as it is for many marginalised people in the world. Ultimately, it's an exciting and thought-provoking story about legacy, prejudice and fighting for what you want. RED, WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE by Casey McQuiston Finished reading May 11th (first), June 20th (second, audio), October 14th (third) “The moment you first called me a prick, my fate was sealed. O, fathers of my bloodline! O, ye kings of olde! Take this crown from me, bury me in my ancestral soil. If only you had known the mighty work of thine loins would be undone by a gay heir who likes it when American boys with chin dimples are mean to him.” If you've ever interacted with me in real life or on the internet, you know how much I love RED, WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE, and how much it means to me. Alex and Henry's romance is just heart-melting and endearing - enemies to forced friends to lovers will never get old. Although they're a powerhouse couple, Alex and Henry are also fantastic and three-dimensional individual characters, with flaws and quirks and traits that you cannot help but fall in love with. The way this book has resonated with so many people is a testament to McQuiston's writing, and a clear signifier of the desperate need for more well-rounded queer stories. I've also read this book three times this year, and takes the crown (pun intended) for my favourite book of the year! GIVE ME THE MOVIE AND MAKE IT TEN HOURS LONG (and cast Alex and June as Latinx you cowards) GROWING UP QUEER IN AUSTRALIA eds. Benjamin Law Finished reading September 17th "I am unlearning the self-loathing, the doubt, the pressure, the terror, the worry of being at once too much and not enough ... To Jessica. To Buffy. To all the girls who've made my heart flip before I brushed the feeling away. I can be both" I was really looking forward to this anthology, and it absolutely delivered! I bookmarked my faves as I went and five stories stood out more than anything else. My favourite was absolutely Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen's 'How to be Both', a personal and affirming piece on the gatekeeping surrounding bisexuality that made me cry alot. Other standouts were Thomas Wilson-White's dot-point list 'Trust Me (Tips for My Teenage Self)' that begins with 'you were right about Anthony Callea', M'ck McKeague's commentary on queer life in country and conservative Australia, and Jax Jacki Brown's piece on the intersectionality of queerness and disability. Cindy Zhao's poetic piece includes a poem of Bukowski's that punches me in the gut every time I think about it - 'there's a bluebird in my heart that / wants to get out ... he's singing a little / in there, I haven't quite let him / die'. Overall, it's a stunning exploration and portrayal of what it promises to be - of growing up queer in Australia. I'm looking forward to a productive reading year in 2020! Stay tuned for a post full of my anticipated reads. Let me know what books you've loved in 2019, and what you're looking forward to reading next year! Come find me on Twitter at @tessakmarsden and Instagram at @totallybookss ! Tessa x
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WELCOME!Hello!! My name is Tessa, and I'm a 20 year old bookseller and blogger from Sydney Australia. I love queer YA, Schitt's Creek, and pizza scrolls. Archives
July 2020
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