Tori's Reviews

In 2019, Patrick Keefe made some noise with the release of Say Nothing, a deep dive into the volatile history of Northern Ireland’s Irish Republican Army in the late 1990s. Loved by critics and Bookshop staff, Say Nothing firmly placed Keefe on my list of authors whose work I must read absolutely all of. Now Keefe turns his keen eye and journalistic insight to the Sackler family, exploring three generations of a modern American dynasty whose fortunes skyrocketed from their development and exploitation of OxyContin. I couldn’t be more excited for this book! — Tori

One hundred years ago, a white mob violently erased a prosperous Black community from Tulsa’s streets in an event that has, over the century, been called a riot, a disaster, a pogrom, and now, finally, a race massacre. With great empathy and objectivity, Ellsworth chronicles the history of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, from the conspiracy of silence about it to recently unearthed evidence, and then looks toward realizing a better future through pursuit of truth. — Tori

Praised by Haruki Murakami as his favorite young novelist, Kawakami is a rising star in the world of Japanese literature, with her first translated novel, Breasts and Eggs, making critical waves last year. In Heaven, Kawakami follows a 14-year-old boy as he endures relentless bullying at the hands of his classmates while also finding solace in a girl who is bullied herself. Together the two develop a precious bond to counter the violence in their lives and ponder what constitutes true strength. Heaven is a somber but beautiful piece of philosophical fiction. — Tori

Three Ordinary Girls is a comprehensive dive into the Dutch resistance effort against Nazi power told through the story of three rebel teenagers on the frontlines of a shocking and voilent struggle. From young girls assassinating Hilter’s men to details about fuel rationing (and with a typeface that is slightly larger than average!), this is a great read for those who consume every WW2 book they can get their hands on. — Tori

Ishiguro has the ability to write with great lightness and empathy, as a creeping danger boils under the surface of his stories. Klara and the Sun is no different and it is really wonderful. Klara is a robot designed to be the perfect companion for a child in a crumbling world and through this relationship, she contemplates what it means to be human and what it means to love. Exploring similar themes to Never Let Me Go, Klara discovers that impermanence only makes love more beautiful. I absolutely love Klara. —Tori

Poetic and informative, Above the Rim tells the story of Elgin Baylor, a basketball icon and civil rights advocate. Its illustrations are rendered in exquisite oil by artist Frank Morrison. A particularly striking moment of a one-man courtside protest that demonstrated his dignity and courage had me awestruck. There is so much to love in this wonderful book—an inspiring sports tale, political history made personal, and a moving lesson in standing up for what is right. — Tori

Beloved science writer Sy Montgomery and Rebecca Green, one of my favorite working illustrators, team up to deliver a beautiful, gentle book about animals and kindness. Montgomery ties lessons in respect, understanding, and patience to her lifetime of observations of animal behavior. The pastel hues and charming creatures in Green’s illustrations bring even more heart to the story. Becoming a Good Creature will feel like a soft, furry hug to any animal lover. — Tori

Magdalena: River of Dreams is the story of the Rio Magdalena, the great river at the center of Colombia’s history. Davis uses the river path as the basis for his narrative arc, exploring the natural, cultural, and political history of a complicated country. Amplifying the voices of the people he meets, and with great respect for Colombia and Colombians, Davis is fierce in his desire to tell the full spectrum of the country’s history, far beyond the violence that has beset it.  — Tori

As Jessica Lee seeks her own identity through looking at the past, she reflects on the distance created by language barriers, on Taiwan’s precarious history, and on her grandfather’s struggle with immigration and sense of place. She wanders the evocative landscape of Taiwan’s mountains and coast in a quest to forge an intimate connection with her family’s mysterious history, and constructs an alluring portrait of the island’s unique and enchanting existence along the way. — Tori

Helen Macdonald, author of H Is for Hawk, delivers a profoundly moving collection of nature essays that weaves unexpected and exciting connections between the natural world and our own. This is nature writing at its finest—steeped in enticing details, openly personal and emotional, unafraid to explore tough themes. Macdonald herself perfectly describes the collection as a Cabinet of Curiosities, and I look forward to going back through each drawer. Vesper Flights is a book to be savored. — Tori