Books Disguised as Other Books

In honor of Halloween! #49

Dedicated readers (okay, actually just anyone who happened to read last week’s newsletter) will know that I don’t really care for Halloween*, but darned if this week’s theme is not the second Halloween-adjacent theme in a row: books disguised as other books!

*Halloween codicil: I very much like Halloween costumes on pets and small babies who are unable to object, particularly when those babies are dressed as pumpkins or eggs.

What I mean by “books in disguise” is a book that you think will be one thing based on the description, or the cover, or the first few chapters, and then all of a sudden it’s actually another genre or book experience entirely. Not only does that seems like a very impressive writerly jiu-jitsu, but it also can add a lot of richness and impact to the work that leaves an indelible mark.

Here are a few novels that I recently enjoyed while also saying “wait, WHAT?” But, like, in a great way.

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You think it’s: social commentary on race in the workplace

But also it’s: a horror thriller (?!?)

It’s both! In the very best way! The Other Black Girl might be one of my favorite fiction reads of the year so far, for both the gripping plot as well as the excellent writing and characterizations.

The story of a young Black woman, Nella, working in publishing who is excited when another young Black woman is finally hired - until threatening notes, strange messages, and uncanny forces come into play. Wry, smart, unusual - I loved it. A definite must-read.

You think it’s: a story about a mis-matched adolescent friendship

But also it’s: A meditation on bodies and violence

Immediately upon finishing The Knockout Queen, I took to social media demanding to know what I’d just read and who could talk about it with me. It starts with wealthy, talented high-schooler Bunny Lampert finds her ponytailed, scrawny, awkward neighbor Michael smoking in her back yard, and they become friends.

I thought it was going to be about how Bunny and Michael navigate their own families, teenage insecurities and secrets, and it is, but a violent event at the core of the novel (followed by more violence as a means of escape, of vengeance, of fear) made this both extremely unsettling and extremely original. But also it has a strong voice with a teenager’s nihilistic humor, making the violence more jarring but also more tolerable in the reading. Anyway if you read it PLEASE TELL ME SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT OK THANK YOU.

You think it’s: an “ambitious girl in New York” romance

But also it’s: a tearjerker story of true love, but not the way you think

So In Five Years opens with all the hallmarks of “finding your path” stories of a young, ambitious woman with career, love and friends all figured out: in one night she gets her dream job and gets engaged, exactly as she had planned. She falls asleep that night, experiences one hour of her life five years in the future, then wakes up with this foresight. What would you do if you knew your future? Sounds like a Witherspoonian-Kalingesque rom-com in the making, right?

But then it takes a completely different turn that’s both much more moving and much sadder than expected (in a good way). A sweet reminder that true love is not always what we expect. I laughed, I cried, I read it in one sitting. (Recommended by my friend Joanna who was, as always, right!)

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YOU’RE the captain now:

2021 will be over in nine weeks (how) and this newsletter will turn a year old in three weeks (HOWWWW) so my question to you, beloved reader, is - what are the best books you’ve read this year? Fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, YA … please drop a comment or respond to this email so I can include them in a year-end wrap-up (no doubt one to rival The New York Times end-of-year lists.)

No, but, seriously, leave a comment. I know you’ve read a book this year.

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Oh, just one more thing …

(did you hear that in the voice of Columbo, which is how I meant it? Are you old enough to remember Columbo?)

ALMOST all links this week go to Bookshop.org, which supports independent bookstores. (The Knockout Queen goes to Nantucket Bookworks, another beloved indie bookstore.) Bookstore revenue spikes in Q4, but since you may have heard that all your desired book purchases are stranded in the Port of Los Angeles or some such supply chain drama - please order early for the holidays!

You can find all past book recommendations here or in the archive, if you’re so inclined to go looking for, say, good food in good books or non-fussy historical fiction.