half of a yellow sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

One of the best books I've read in a long time. I am not usually partial to multiple narrative POVs, but this really worked. Sometimes novels set in real-life past events tend to be too exposition-y, but Adichie seemed to make it work through what is arguably THE exposition character. All the characters were so honest and human and they're approached with a lot of nuance, including the main white protag. Maybe the only thing is like, it could be read as like a "both sides are bad" viewpoint, but Adichie also bases these characters on real people she knew who lived through this war, and I think it's a surprise to no-one that hierarchies and top-down governance are inherently violent. It's tragic and bittersweet, but the closing plot thread really broke me. Amazing, amazing, amazing novel.

tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

i love this book about life and love and friendships and mistakes and regrets and forgiveness and assumptions and interpersonal relationships and communication (!!!). very beautiful and poignant and written alluringly. very rich rich rich characters yum yum yum i eat that . maybe plot was a bit like wow more stuff could not happen to these ppl but its more about the characters than their story anyway. rating: 17 games

empire of borders: the expansion of the US border around the world by Todd Miller

Empire of Borders is an incredibly well-written work about how the US border is more than the structures we see in and around the physical perimeters of the US. Miller talks about how the US Customs and Border Protection has a monopoly on security, surveillance and quite simply, what is an attempt at separating the working class from the bourgeoisie. This book was published in 2019, and seems more topical than ever. Miller covers borders, border patrols and checkpoints, and even conferences celebrating and pushing for a surveillance state, starting from Central America to Israel to Kenya. He highlights the reasons people might want to cross a border and humanizes both the refugees and low-rank soldiers working at the border (but not in a bootlicky way). Miller attempts to end on a lighter note that kind of shows alternatives to borders or less rigorous bordering, citing the Maasai people as an example. I say attempt because, well, the overall tone is very bleak, and I think more could have been written about the alternatives but... maybe it was out of the scope of this book. Maybe Miller doesn't see an alternative coming into fruition but still wanted to end on a less depressing note. Regardless, I think it's an important read, and Miller's way of writing is personable, which makes the book really accessible for everyone.

look at me by Anita Bookner

i said "hey i want to read a book that encompasses female loneliness in a cathartic way" and anita delivered. admittedly slow and meandering and overdescriptive in some parts in a remains of the day kinda way but very in character. kinda scary because i think this is a good stepping point about emotional avoidance for therapists or ppl in therapy. maybe dont read if ure in a mood .