by Sara Voigt (@meaningfulmadness)
Here are three books coming out today that I'm excited to read!
Samantha Cohoe's Bright Ruined Things (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm)
Description from Publisher:
"Forbidden magic, a family secret, and a night to reveal it all…
"The only life Mae has ever known is on the island, living on the charity of the wealthy Prosper family who control the island’s magic and its spirits. Mae longs for magic of her own and to have a place among the Prosper family, where her best friend, Coco, will see her as an equal, and her crush, Miles, will finally see her.
"But tonight is First Night, when the Prospers and their high-society friends celebrate the night Lord Prosper first harnessed the island’s magic and started producing aether – a magical fuel source that has revolutionized the world. With everyone returning to the island, Mae finally has the chance to go after what she’s always wanted.
"When the spirits start inexplicably dying, Mae realizes that things aren’t what they seem. And Ivo, the reclusive, mysterious heir to the Prosper magic, may hold all the answers – including a secret about Mae’s past. As Mae and her friends unravel the mysteries of the island, and the Prospers’ magic, Mae starts to question the truth of what her world was built on.
"In this YA fantasy, Samantha Cohoe wonderfully mixes magic and an atmospheric setting into a fantastically immersive world, with characters you won’t be able to forget."
Why I want to read it: After reading Jen's review (see that here), I knew I had to read it. This YA fantasy sound like exactly what I need right now. It has been awhile since I have plunged into a fantasy book, although I adore them, and this sounds like a good one to get me back into my love of the fantasy genre.
Danielle J. Lindemann's True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm)
Description from Publisher:
"What do we see when we watch reality television?
"In True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us, the sociologist and TV-lover Danielle J. Lindemann takes a long, hard look in the 'funhouse mirror' of this genre. From the first episodes of The Real World to countless rose ceremonies to the White House, reality TV has not just remade our entertainment and cultural landscape (which it undeniably has). Reality TV,
"Lindemann argues, uniquely reflects our everyday experiences and social topography back to us. Applying scholarly research―including studies of inequality, culture, and deviance―to specific shows, Lindemann layers sharp insights with social theory, humor, pop cultural references, and anecdotes from her own life to show us who we really are.
"By taking reality TV seriously, True Story argues, we can better understand key institutions (like families, schools, and prisons) and broad social constructs (such as gender, race, class, and sexuality). From The Bachelor to Real Housewives to COPS and more (so much more!), reality programming unveils the major circuits of power that organize our lives―and the extent to which our own realities are, in fact, socially constructed.
"Whether we’re watching conniving Survivor contestants or three-year-old beauty queens, these 'guilty pleasures' underscore how conservative our society remains, and how steadfastly we cling to our notions about who or what counts as legitimate or 'real.' At once an entertaining chronicle of reality TV obsession and a pioneering work of sociology, True Story holds up a mirror to our society: the reflection may not always be pretty―but we can’t look away."
Why I want to read it: If you listen to me on the pod, you know I am ADDICTED to reality television. This nonfiction read sounds super compelling, and I am interested in sociology component of this one.
Abdi Nazemian's The Chandler Legacies (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm)
Description from Publisher:
"Beth Kramer is a 'townie' who returns to her sophomore year after having endured a year of tension with her roommate, Sarah.
But Sarah Brunson knows there’s more to that story.
"Amanda Priya 'Spence' Spencer is the privileged daughter of NYC elites, who is reeling from the realization that her family name shielded her from the same fate as Sarah.
"Ramin Golafshar arrives at Chandler as a transfer student to escape the dangers of being gay in Iran, only to suffer brutal hazing under the guise of tradition in the boys’ dorms.
"And Freddy Bello is the senior who’s no longer sure of his future but knows he has to stand up to his friends after what happened to Ramin.
"At Chandler, the elite boarding school, these five teens are brought together in the Circle, a coveted writing group where life-changing friendships are born—and secrets are revealed. Their professor tells them to write their truths. But is the truth enough to change the long-standing culture of abuse at Chandler? And can their friendship survive the fallout?"
Why I want to read it: A YA read with an eclectic group of characters set at an elite boarding school. Um, yes. Yes, please. I can't wait to read this one.
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