Sponsored by Creatures by Crissy Van Meter, now in paperback from Algonquin Books.
Now in paperback, Crissy Van Meter’s Creatures is the alluring debut novel everyone has been raving about, from The New York Times to People, from Belletrist Book Club to Entertainment Weekly. Creatures introduces us to Evangeline on her wedding weekend, as a dead whale is trapped in the Winter Island harbor, the groom might be lost at sea, and her absent mother has shown up out of the blue. From there, Evie reckons with her wild upbringing in this lush land off California’s coast. “A beautiful look at how we navigate the pain and heartbreak that comes with being human.” —NPR
Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!
There are still a few days left until Halloween, which means recommending another book bound to leave you thrilled with chills. Since I prefer psychological thrills over gory chills, today’s book is for readers both young and young at heart.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
The day after her family moved into their new home, Coraline went exploring. She discovered the family’s new flat had 21 windows and 14 doors, but only 13 of those doors opened and closed. The 14th door is locked. When unlocked it opens to a brick wall until the day Coraline finds a passage to another flat that looks like her own, but is different. At first, everything seems better in the other flat from the food to Coraline’s bedroom. However, there is also another mother and another father who want Coraline to stay with them as their little girl. Other children are also trapped in this world, and Coraline is their only hope of rescue. She will have to fight with her wits and all the tools she can find to save not only the lost children but her own ordinary life.
I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews about Neil Gaiman’s books, so I decided to finally dive into his works starting with the beloved Coraline. Although the story was a rollercoaster ride of pleasure and disappointment, the hits are what make this book enjoyable. For starters, Gaiman holds no punches when it comes to creepiness factor. There was serious tension as Coraline battled The Other Mother, and I wasn’t sure if Coraline would be successful in the end.
What I loved most about Coraline was the titular character herself. Coraline is a self-assured, courageous young girl who speaks her mind. Best of all, Coraline isn’t afraid of just being herself. She has a curious nature that definitely leads her into a very precarious situation, but she also has the smarts to solve problems. Above all else, I loved how Coraline showed the importance of bravery and independence. That’s an important quality for young readers to learn, especially young girls. However, Coraline is an excellent book for readers of all ages.
Until next time bookish friends,
Katisha
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