September Reads

Amelia, If Only – Becky Albertalli

I found the book very enjoyable and often super cute, the chemistry between Natalie and Amelia was very cute. However, my one issue was that I feel like Amelia’s friends treated her parasocial crush on Walter as a real crush, when in reality it was a parasocial thing. Or at least, that’s how I read it. Maybe I’m just being too hard on that aspect, since there were other characters who were far more “parasocial” towards Walter than Amelia was. I don’t know. I enjoyed the book, but I couldn’t see past Amelia’s friends not showing concern for her obsession with this guy.

Phasers on Stun! – Ryan Britt

Star Trek is one of my favorite things EVER, and this book was a beautiful history of Star Trek’s impact on popular culture. From the creation of Spock to how each caption got their roles in each series, I learned so much. It was so heartwarming. You could tell the author had so much fun researching the different topics, as well as narrating the book. 

Now I want to watch every Star Trek show that has ever come to fruition. It made me appreciate Trek more than ever, and I’m also glad the author included the show’s complicated history with queer representation.

More Butch Heroes – Ria Brodell

A short yet important little book detailing butch icons from history, from many different parts of the world. In the introduction, the author says that a lot of these icons they researched probably wouldn’t use the same terminology we’ve used and popularized today. 

A lot of these stories ended in tragedy, but it is so, so important that we tell these stories, so that we don’t lose our history.

Boy Parts – Eliza Clark

I read Penance last year and loved it, and I was looking forward to reading Clark’s first novel. I also love a good, old-fashioned unreliable narrator. There were a lot of abbreviations and terms I didn’t get, and a lot of them were colloquial/native to London/the UK, but nothing a quick search on the internet wouldn’t help (as well as looking up certain drug terminologies). 

It is a weird and messed up book and I found it so interesting. I also got a kick out of the fact that she’s basically a serial killer, but she has a strict legal process when it comes to her art–she has consent forms and checks IDs, and while she’s taking photos in the middle of her sadistic acts she’s thinking “oh the while balance is off, oh I need to get a better angle.”

Let Me In Your Window – Adam Ellis

Adam Ellis NEVER misses! I loved Old Tech, and how the antagonist is clearly Elon Musk. A lot of these stories lack subtlety, which I think is needed sometimes. 

I am a little bummed that Ellis didn’t offer commentary after every story like he did with his previous collection of horror stories, and I’m curious to know his thought process as to why he didn’t include any. 

Lonely Crowds – Stephanie Wambugu

Part of me wishes Ruth had more agency, maybe stood up for herself more, but I understand that’s the point of the novel. She’s always been in Ruth’s shadow, always aching to be a part of something. I can understand that.