Meagan Reads Fiction: The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler

The Book of Speculation tells a story across generations of Simon, the protagonist’s, family. His is a family of circus performers, but more than that, one of “dangerous” women who suffer from undiagnosed mental illness. When a man named Churchwarry, a book collector, sends Simon a mysterious book that is somehow connected to his family,Continue reading “Meagan Reads Fiction: The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler”

What I Learned About Writing From Taking a Long Time to Read a Book

I picked up a book in Spain over three years ago because it looked interesting. I thought, “I’m proficient enough in Spanish, and this sounds like a fun action-thriller that will be a breeze.” It was not a breeze. I am not proficient in Spanish (though my father said he didn’t think it was aContinue reading “What I Learned About Writing From Taking a Long Time to Read a Book”

How to Find the Right Romance Novel

I used to be one of those book snobs who scoffed at romance novels, but after educating myself on the gendered implications of the genre, I decided I wanted to try to get into at least one. I won’t lie. Letting go of my old prejudices that were deeply rooted in misogyny was not easy.Continue reading “How to Find the Right Romance Novel”

Meagan Reads Sci-Fi: Feed by Mira Grant

I went on vacation, so I’m getting to this review a bit late. Spoilers are also ahead, so read at your own risk if you plan on picking up this book. It’s the first in the Newsflesh trilogy, taking place in the U.S. after a zombie apocalypse has occurred. Except it’s not really an apocalypse,Continue reading “Meagan Reads Sci-Fi: Feed by Mira Grant”

Meagan Reads Speculative Fiction: Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor

Here’s another backlist I recently read as part of a book club with my coworkers. I figured since it’s been slated for production as a television show with HBO though, it might be relevant to some media fans. Readers beware: spoilers are ahead! Also, tw: sexual assault, rape, violence. Here’s a quick rundown of the story. TheContinue reading “Meagan Reads Speculative Fiction: Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor”

The Benefits of Diverse Reading

Lately, I’ve made a much more conscious effort at reading diversely. We chose The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu for my cousins’ book club. I read Krik? Krak! by Edwidge Danticat for the 2018 Madlibs reading challenge. And for my book club at work with my coworkers, we’re reading Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor.Continue reading “The Benefits of Diverse Reading”

Why It’s Important to Diversify Your Reading

I’ve spent the last two and a half years reading for a book challenge my best friend and I decided to take on. She’s a much faster reader than I am and finished in about a year. It was the first time I’d ever done a reading challenge. Before I chose my books by whateverContinue reading “Why It’s Important to Diversify Your Reading”

Growing Up With Anne of Green Gables

It took me a little over two years, but I finally finished the 26 book reading challenge! I ended the two-year endeavor with the category “a book you love, read it again,” with Anne of Green Gables. I read this book so many times between 4th and 6th grade that I lost count of howContinue reading “Growing Up With Anne of Green Gables”

Meagan Reads Sci-Fi: The Martian by Andy Weir

I feel like it’s been a while since I picked up a book that made me really excited and breeze through it so fast, even with a full-time job and part-time grad school. Andy Weir’s The Martian did that for me. I read it as my 24th book for my 26 book reading challenge (almostContinue reading “Meagan Reads Sci-Fi: The Martian by Andy Weir”

How a Reader Became a Comic Book Fan: The Comic Book Kid

I was not, in fact, a comic book kid. They just weren’t something on my radar as a child reader. I had a subscription to a Barbie book club. I frequented the library, and eventually as I got older, Borders Bookstore. But comics were just never introduced to me. There was never any negative attitudeContinue reading “How a Reader Became a Comic Book Fan: The Comic Book Kid”