Wow, wow, wow! I can’t believe I’ve never heard of this story before. I read Saunders' Lincoln in the Bardo and enjoyed it, but I liked this story even better.

In the not-too-distant future a man writes down daily diaries of his family’s struggle to try and keep up with their rich friends. Their family doesn’t have much money but after he wins $10,000 on a scratch-off lottery ticket, they go a little wild planning for their daughter’s extravagent party to which they’ll invite their rich neighbors whose affluent life they envy. The one key symbol of status these affluent people possess? Lawn ornaments/decor that are literally poor immigrant girls (Semplica Girls) who are strung up & displayed. The family’s youngest daughter Eva is the “sensitive” one who is very bothered by this.

“At window, Eva quiet. Deep well. So sensitive. Even when tiny, Eva sensitive. Kindest kid. Biggest heart. Once, when little, found dead bird in yard and placed on swing-set slide, so it could 'see him fambly.' Cried when we threw out old rocking chair, claiming it told her it wanted to live out rest of life in basement. But I worry, Pam worries: if kid too sensitive, kid goes out in world, world rips kid’s guts out, i.e., some toughness req’d?"

Her father explains that the immigrant girls sign up for this life in order to make money to send home to their families. There is even a lawn service that comes and feeds them and takes them to the bathroom during the days.

I have to say, my mouth dropped open at the part of the story where it was revealed just what SGs meant. As immigration is a hot topic in today’s society, I found the “justification” for these girls to be actual lawn ornaments similar to the stories we hear today. It’s their fault that they’ve been degraded by this job. At least that’s how the family’s father justifies having them on his property. I was disturbed by just reading about this fictional practice. Saunders' commentary on both the frivoulousness of humans who use living-breathing people as decoration (and the justifications the father makes to his daughter for it) echo the immigration debates we hear today. It’s definitely a shocking way to portray this idea—the warped relationship between a well-off American family and the poor, foreign people they use for home decor.

If you've never read it, read it. It's terrific. One of my favorites of the year so far.

This revelatory nonfiction book looks at how "emancipation" movements in Europe, Africa, and North and South America prioritized the lives and livelihoods of slaveholders as opposed to freed enslaved people. Manjapra uses a litany of facts to discuss the "after" emancipation realities in these locations, how some forces attempted to fight back (Haiti), and how, inevitably, reparations went to slaveholders and their heirs, while institutions and policies were formed to continue to subjugate Black people. It's enlightening and enraging.

Although this book contains many stats and citations, Manjapra still shares the information in an engaging tone, while highlighting things most definitely not taught in history classes. Reading about the truly repugnant Thomas Thistlewood, a Jamaican slaveholder who bragged nonchalantly in his diary about raping over 135 Black women, some repeatedly was eye-opening. The specific torture he invented was particularly stomach-churning. I didn't know about the Haitian Revolution or how Britain's response to emancipation created an imperial system that is still in play to this day.

Manjapra's thesis is this: The dissolution of slavery led to institutional and societal structures in these locales that fueled the continuation of a racial hierarchy where white supremacy reigned and the devastation wrought by slavery reverberated through future generations. He proves this with painstaking factual detail, enlightening anecdotes, and impassioned prose. An educational gem.

This clever novel takes on a woman’s place in the world and society with an ingenious conceit: There’s a small, isolated town that suffers through a terrifying affliction. Once the women of the town become mothers, they eventually disappear. One moment they’re there, the next they’re gone forever. The town explains this phenomenon by trying to find just what they did wrong as mothers to deserve their fate: Did they yell at their kids too much? Not take care of them well enough? The way Shaitkin explores motherhood and the judgements, realities, and prejudices that come with it is dark yet intoxicating. This one is a must-read!

Two London flatmates, Alfie and Hazel, have a one-night stand. They’re both attracted to the other, but unable to be open and honest enough about it to pursue a relationship. When Alfie forms a close bond with Hazel’s sister, Emily, and Emily’s wife, things get really complicated. With openness and honesty about love, romance, family, sex, and life, this relationship-themed novel is, at turns, funny, sharp, heartwarming, and entertaining. I really liked it! If you enjoy books about the complicated relationships between friends, lovers, and family AND love a London-set book, this one is for you.

This ultra-meta murder-mystery novel is about a writer writing about a writer writing a murder-mystery novel. See? Super meta!

Winifred "Freddie" McKaid is from Australia, but living in Boston after winning a prestigious writer's fellowship. While researching her current work-in-progress at the Boston Library, she hears a blood curdling scream. Sitting near her are Cain, Whit, and Marigold. After a woman's dead body is discovered in the library, the four patrons form a close friendship as the race to find "whodunit" begins. All three of Freddie's new friends have secrets that take the mystery in interesting directions--most of all Cain, who Freddie starts to fall for. Is she falling for a killer?

Interspersed within this narrative, are letters from Leo, a fan and critic of Australian writer Hannah, who is writing the story about Winifred. Leo's commentary about Hannah's writing starts out observant and constructive, yet as the story within a story unfolds, his letters become more erratic and unhinged. Is there a murder mystery happening with Leo in addition to the murder mystery Hannah is writing about?

If this sounds confusing, it is. As much as I found the structure inventive, it's also convoluted at times. I never really warmed to Freddie, as her character seemed pretty wishy-washy and the romance between her and Cain lacked a significant foundation for the eventual declarations of love. I wasn't too interested in the mastery element either. The storyline definitely have twists and turns, but I felt like a lot of the "clues" were repeated again and again slowing down the overall pace of the story. The Leo/Hannah narrative didn't really serve much purpose, either. Leo's descent into madness seemed to happen rather quickly and seemed more like a whimper than a true "aha moment."

The relationships, mystery, and resolution weren't strong enough to keep me on the edge of my seat waiting for the end. That said, mystery/thrillers aren't my favorite reading genre, so if they are yours, you might enjoy this novel. Please don't discount it based on my reservations.

I will say, though, I listened to part of the audiobook and narrator Katherine LIttrell is wonderful! She switches from an Australian accent to a Southern accent to no accent with amazing ease. Well done!

All in all, I gave this one a 3.5/5. The structure is creative, the characters can be interesting at times, and I did like the idea of a scream in a library being the catalyst for a murder mystery. However, lackluster characters and a so-so mystery kept it from being a keeper for me.