Books
The backlist: Forget the Alamo
You should read Forget the Alamo if: You grew up in Texas and think you know this story. You love American history. You want to understand why two British rock stars are part of the history of the Alamo.
You should read Forget the Alamo if: You grew up in Texas and think you know this story. You love American history. You want to understand why two British rock stars are part of the history of the Alamo.
For fans of the Saint of Bright Doors and The Kite Runner, Exit West is an exquisitely told story that propels us into a future in which changing countries is as easy as opening a door.
Lonely People Meet combines the bookish vibes of an Emily Henry meet-cute, the themes of Murderbot Diaries, and the characters who dream of PDK’s electric sheep —all set in Delhi’s historic bylanes and writer-friendly bars.
I see myself in Star Wars now in a way I didn’t when I was younger.
I have Kathleen Kennedy to thank for that.
A Disability History of the United States by Kim E. Nielsen is a groundbreaking history of the United States through the lens of disability. Sweeping in scope—from before 1492 to the present—this brief introduction to disability history offers readers a solid foundation on which to build their knowledge. Nielsen tells the stories of disabled people through deep research in primary sources with a historian’s eye for trends.
While it might seem odd to say that Lorde and Gawande are in conversation with each other, Lorde‘s and Gawande’s approaches to the system they critique offer parallel and sometimes intersecting perspectives. Furthermore, Lorde has something to offer Gawande. Whereas Lorde’s focus is more on the emotional journey of a patient in treatment, Gawande’s approach is far more focused on the technical aspects. I would’ve liked to have seen a little bit more emotion penetrate the clinical nature of his approach.
Every year, rather than making resolutions that I won’t keep, I set my intention for the year by choosing a word. This year‘s word is imagination. That’s why I chose Professor Ruha Benjamin’s Imagination as my bridge book for the year—the book I started in 2024 and finished in 2025. Just over 4 hours and under 200 pages, Imagination is a thoughtful exploration of not only our own imaginations, but how our society creates collective imaginaries.
Were you listening when Taylor Swift told the heartbreaking story about getting her masters back? I don’t know about you, but I felt that pain in my bones. I wouldn’t call myself a Swiftie, but hearing the back story was a powerful reminder that even our most popular artists struggle to control their own work.
Taylor Swift’s anthem to New York blares in my ears as the train enters the North River tunnels.
8 years since I traveled to the city for fun. Memories cascade across my feed …