Three Books I'm Reading Now, 9/21/26 Edition
The Books I'm Reading Now
It's audiobook time! I'm listening to R. F. Kuang's newest novel, Taipei Story; I'm listening to the poet and writer Elizabeth Alexander's nonfiction book Signals Across Vast Distances; and I'm listening to Clytemnestra, Costanza Casati's reimagined story of a vilified figure from Greek mythology.
What are you reading, bookworms?
01 Taipei Story by R. F. Kuang
Lily Chen is a college student who travels to Taiwan to study in an intensive language program along with many other Chinese American students.
Lily and her roommate misjudge their living arrangements and suffer through unreliable plumbing and cramped quarters as they begin to turn on each other. Her classes are incredibly rigorous, and Lily is quickly exhausted from living without fluent language, and yet she yearns to feel more at home in this place that has helped define her family and culture.
This is a coming-of-age novel that is immersively set amid the delectable food, steamy weather, and bustling, busy city of Taipei.
I'm listening to Taipei Story as an audiobook through Libro.fm.
R. F. Kuang is also the author of Katabasis, Yellowface, The Poppy War, Babel, The Burning God, and The Dragon Republic.
02 Signals Across Vast Distances: Essays and Tales by Elizabeth Alexander
In this slim work of nonfiction, the poet, literary scholar, former Yale and Columbia professor, and writer Dr. Elizabeth Alexander positions thoughts, reflections, and calls to action within the framework of our present-day world and its many challenges and opportunities for change.
She often uses poetry excerpts from various sources as the framework for her passionate observations.
The print version includes works of art that Alexander finds pivotal; I'm lacking that visual aspect in the audiobook.
I received a prepublication audio version of this title, which is read by the author, courtesy of NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.
Elizabeth Alexander is also the author of the memoir The Light of the World.
03 Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
Clytemnestra was born a Spartan princess, married for love, then was married off against her will by her father to cruel Agamemnon, who killed her first husband--and her child.
She becomes queen in her adopted land, raises Agamenon's children, and suffers another devastating loss. She rules throughout her husband's absence during the years-long battle of Troy, building strength, eliminating those who would betray her, trusting unlikely allies, and biding her time for her ultimate revenge.
This is a feminist retelling of a notorious figure in Greek mythology who is often painted as a villain. (In the Odyssey, Agamemnon's ghost tells Odysseus about his death at his wife's hands.) Here, we see a more sympathetic and layered view of her sometimes ruthless actions, shaped by her love for her children and her refusal to bend to men's wills.
I'm listening to an audiobook version of this title through Libby and my public library.
Costanza Casati is also the author of Babylonia and The President Show. For more titles that center around mythology, please check out the Bossy posts at this link.
Comments