Tag fiction

A young black man is centered on the cover, with speeding red lights in the space for his body. Dear Martin is written across him in handwriting.

Bauder Book Talk with Nic Stone

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A young black man is centered on the cover, with speeding red lights in the space for his body. Dear Martin is written across him in a scr

Thursday, November 9
4 – 6 pm
Registration required.
HCLS East Columbia Branch
410.313.7700

Dear Nic,

During the pandemic when the world seemed especially grim, I attended a virtual conference where you served as a guest speaker. You stood out to me with your bold avocado earrings and the backstory of how you started writing for teens. Your appearance lifted me up during a time when all I wanted was to return to work in person with my teen library customers.

Fast forward to May 2023, my friend Amanda and I proposed that we host you at HCLS and learned you were indeed coming to my branch, East Columbia, on November 9.

Most people will have read Dear Martin, one of your most powerful works. In this novel, we learn about the life of college-bound Justyce McCallister and his letters to the late Martin Luther King, Jr., written as reflections on being young, black, and escaping the ongoing violence toward unarmed black boys and men. In Dear Martin’s follow-up Dear Justyce, we read about Quan, his circumstances far different than his friend Justyce who helps him while he is incarcerated in a juvenile detention center. Quan sees up close the shortcomings and racial disparities in our flawed criminal justice system. 

Two more of my favorite titles are Clean Getaway and Odd One Out. In Clean Getaway, we see the connection between G’ma (a grandmother) and her grandson “Scoob,” as they go on a road trip exposing family secrets and a lesson in the beauty of intergenerational family ties. While in Odd One Out, we follow Jupe, a gay teen girl and her best guy friend Coop (who may be in love with her). In comes Rae, the new girl in town who may or may not be straight. The love triangle takes Jupe on a journey of self-discovery, exploring gender and sexual identity, and the strength of friendships.

Nic, you write about characters facing hard truths about our society and inspire young people to keep pressing forward, even when it seems impossible to do so. 

My hope is your visit will continue to inspire our young people, those turning your pages and seeing themselves and making the world better.

Sincerely,
Carmen

Bauder Book Talks by Howard County Library System is made possible by a generous gift from Dr. Lillian Bauder, a community leader and Columbia resident. Howard County Library System will present an annual endowed author event, known as Bauder Book Talks, for under-served students in grades 6-8 attending public middle schools in Columbia with high percentages of African American and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) students. Authors and titles selected are high-interest and high-quality on topics of social issues, equity, and related matters. Student participants have the opportunity to hear from and engage the author and receive a copy of the author’s book. The event honors the memory of Don Bauder, late husband of Dr. Lillian Bauder and a champion of civil rights and social justice causes. 

This year, meet famed young adult author Nic Stone as she shares the inspiration behind her critically-acclaimed novel Dear Martin and other featured works.

A girls sits at the end of a long, shadowed hallway, with her back against a door.

Julia by Peter Straub

Angie Engles Leave a comment
A girls sits at the end of a long, shadowed hallway, with her back against a door.

by Angie E.

Hello there, fellow horror enthusiasts! If you’re on the hunt for a bone-chilling, pulse-
pounding read to get you into the Halloween spirit, look no further than Julia by Peter Straub (print and e-audiobook). The author emerged as a rising star in the 1970s alongside his friend and sometimes collaborator, Stephen King. Together, they revitalized the horror genre, redefining its bounds with The Talisman (print and e-audiobook) and Black House (print and e-audiobook).

Despite this early success, Straub and his individual contributions to literature have often taken a backseat to the towering presence of King. However, his unique writing style, masterful storytelling, and depth of character development make him a force to be reckoned with, especially in stories like Julia – about a woman with a haunting past and a dark secret. As the narrative unfolds, you’ll find yourself drawn deeper into the web of her life, unable to escape its sinister grip. Straub’s character development is top-notch; you’ll feel like you know Julia intimately, yet she remains shrouded in mystery, making her all the more compelling.

What makes Julia a standout Halloween read is its ability to mess with your mind. Straub has this knack for creating an atmosphere so thick with dread that you can practically taste it. The line between reality and the supernatural blurs, and you’ll start questioning everything you thought you knew. Is it ghosts, madness, or something even more sinister? The pacing is relentless. The tension keeps ratcheting up, and Straub’s prose is beautifully haunting, painting vivid, unsettling images in your imagination. You’ll be right there with the characters, wandering the eerie, fog-shrouded streets of their world.

The novel is not just about cheap thrills and jump scares. Straub explores profound themes like guilt, redemption, and the nature of evil. It’s a thinking reader’s horror novel that will haunt your thoughts long after you’ve finished it. Julia is the perfect spooky holiday read, as it’s a master class in psychological horror, filled with unforgettable characters, a chilling atmosphere, and plenty of twists and turns. So, grab your favorite blanket, and prepare for a Halloween night you won’t soon forget.

Angie is an Instructor & Research Specialist at Central Branch and is a co-facilitator for Reads of Acceptance, HCLS’ first LGBTQ-focused book club. Her ideal day is reading in her cozy armchair, with her cat Henry next to her.

A close up illustration of a woman's face, with long black hair. The words appear atop, in pink and yellow ombre.

Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola

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A close up illustration of a woman's face, with long black hair. The words appear atop, in pink and yellow ombre.

by Sahana C.

My favorite reality show of all time is Love Island UK, where young, single British people are paired off into couples and vie for the affection of the public, living together full-time in an elaborate villa and doing relationship challenges over the course of a summer. I keep up with the newest season rabidly, and while it’s airing, my friends will hear me “pulling them for a chat” or asking if they’re “mugging me off, innit” to an annoying degree.  

So, when Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola was recommended to me, a romance set at a British university with characters who had the same South London charm as some of my favorite personalities on this season of Love Island, I was hooked instantly. I’ve read Babalola’s debut, Love in Color (and actually, Love in Color was one of my first ever Chapter Chats posts!) so I was excited to read more from this author.  

Kiki Banjo, our fearless, bold, brash, beautiful protagonist brings us with her to her university campus, which is predominantly white (and is, aptly named, Whitewell). But she and her friends, and the rest of the Black community at the school, have carved out their own niche on campus (also aptly named: Blackwell. Let it not be said that Babalola is going for subtlety here). Between Blackwell politics, class projects, potential internships in New York, and her ever steady radio show, Brown Sugar, Kiki’s a busy girl with no room or desire for a relationship. The guy she’s hooking up with is more hassle than he’s worth so she dumps him. Unfortunately (mainly for him), he turns out to be a bit of a creep, so Kiki turns to the next guy in the room for help, and suddenly she starts seeing Malakai everywhere, and he’s giving her hives. She can’t quite place whether his good guy energy is an act or if he’s the player she thinks he is, but she has no choice but to work with him as fate or homework or other forces bring them closer together.  

This book is a romance. I’m not a romance reader, but this one caught me with friendships and femininity at the center of the story, as Kiki finds her place.  Every “Kiki, you’re moving mad” made me grin with it’s unabashed Love-Island-esque British-ism, but not in the way of stuffy classic literature. This is a young, vibrant book that doesn’t shy away from issues about sexual harassment on campus, being Black and facing discrimination at university, and the very real personal tragedies everyone carries with them to school. Babalola warns us, at the heart of this book, to look away from the surface and towards loving one another with grace. But she does it with an attitude, with well-seasoned flair, and with a no-holds-barred main character that made me love her with every bold comment and revealed insecurity.  

Honey and Spice is available in print, eBook, and eAudiobook.  

Sahana is an Instructor and Research Specialist at the Savage Branch. They enjoy adding books to their “want to read” list despite having a mountain of books waiting for them already.

A woman in a blue shirt dress, wearing pearls, has her purse crooked into one elbow and an old fashioned suitcase in the other hand. She is walking away from a large house. She is pictured only from the neck to ankles, making her "very close" in the picture.

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson 

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A woman in a blue shirt dress, wearing pearls, has her purse crooked into one elbow and an old fashioned suitcase in the other hand. She is walking away from a large house. She is pictured only from the ne

by Piyali C.

Sadeqa Johnson’s late grandmother became pregnant with her mom at the age of fourteen. Her grandfather, however, did not marry her grandmother since he was very light skinned, and he was from the ‘right’ side of the tracks. She was dark skinned and poor. Johnson writes in the Author’s Note that the idea for this book, The House of Eve, came to her as a what-if. What if her grandmother had the money and opportunity to have the baby in a home for unwed mothers, gave the baby up for adoption, and went on to fulfill her dreams?  

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson is a beautiful, searing novel about two young Black women in alternating narratives. It is 1948. Ruby Pearsall is on track to be the first in her family to go to college and accomplish her dream of becoming an optometrist. Ruby struggles to find even the few cents for bus fare to get to her ‘we rise‘ program in school so she can earn a scholarship to college. She is from the poorest area of North Philadelphia and comes from an extremely impoverished family. Although her mother, Inez, is indifferent to her needs, she has her aunt and grandmother who support her with love, shelter, and encouragement even though they cannot help her financially. They want their girl to go to college, become someone important, and make the family proud. But a love affair threatens to destroy her dreams to rise out of poverty. It also threatens to perpetuate the cycle of abuse and financial desperation. 

Eleanor comes from a blue-collar family. Her parents have given their all to send her to Howard University to get a good education and rise up in life. Eleanor appreciates and values the sacrifices of her parents and is determined to excel in school. However, she falls in love with a medical student, William, whose family is one of the most successful Black families in the Washington, D.C. area. William Pride’s mother, Rose Pride, does not let anyone enter their elite circle. Eleanor wonders if a pregnancy might give her an entry into their magical kingdom and perhaps she will feel like she belongs. Ruby and Eleanor’s lives will collide in unexpected ways and the decisions they make will change the course of their lives. 

With the magic of her words in this magnificent work of historical fiction, Johnson transports the readers to the rough neighborhoods of north Philadelphia, the campus of Howard University, elegant ballrooms in Washington, D.C., and the depressing interiors of homes for women who became pregnant out of matrimony. She also depicts the racial segregation that impacted lives of Black people as well as the consequences that women of any color suffered due to unplanned pregnancies at that time. The book paints a horrific picture of the homes run by nuns where unwed women and girls went to give birth; subsequently, the babies were given to wealthy families in exchange for hefty donations to those homes. Themes like colorism, wealth disparity, and social stratification among the Black community are intricately woven into the story, as are mentions of some real-life people and organizations. These make the book authentic and also give readers a glimpse into a slice of 1950s life that the Black community experienced in the United States.

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson is available from Howard County Library System in print, e-book, and e-audiobook formats.

A Black woman with natural hair holds her arms apart in front her her with red glowing around the top and a blue around the bottom, against a dark background.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

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A Black woman with natural hair holds her arms apart in front her her with red glowing around the top and a blue around the bottom, against a dark background.

King Arthur isn’t dead. The Round Table yet survives.  

Only… it looks a little different. In the place of mail and armor, you have sixteen-year-olds with unbelievable strength and speed. Merlin’s around too, but he’s a college student and “Merlin” is merely a title. And somehow, wonder of all wonders, the seat of all this ancient power is in Chapel Hill, NC.

That’s not the only fantastical thing, though, in Legendborn by Tracy Deonn. There are centuries of lore, of demons and Shadowborn, all hiding under a thinly veiled surface of messy college kid drama. They surround the Onceborn (read: all of us), who live blissfully ignorant lives, worrying about normal things, like getting busted going off campus or figuring out who is headed to the party tonight.  

And Bree, our protagonist, doesn’t know about any of the secrets of the Round Table when she applies to the University of North Carolina’s Early College program with her best friend Alice. She doesn’t expect to be caught up in an Arthurian world of magic and lore, and she definitely doesn’t expect that applying to go to the same school her mother attended would cause so much personal tragedy. Still reeling from the trauma of losing her mother, trying to establish some sense of normalcy, and looking for the truth about the suspicious circumstances of her mother’s death, Bree throws herself headlong into this Arthurian world, making friends and enemies along the way.  

Cool, right? It’s everything I want from my YA novels, hearkening back to the good ole days of 2014, when the trilogy ruled the YA realm with works like Divergent or Matched. But now, we get far more in-depth lore, speaking more candidly (and less stereotypically) about mental health, and a whole lot more diversity of character. Bree’s experience at UNC is profoundly shaped by being Black. It’s a reality that so many BIPOC students face that has only recently been put to pen, and a reality that author Tracy Deonn knows intimately, having gone to UNC herself.  

The coolest part is one I won’t spoil for you, but there is a very fun other magic in this book too, so if you like King Arthur and his knights, but it’s not enough to sway you, there’s a whole lot more to the magic of this world, and Bree discovers all of the secrets and implications in due course.  

It’s a brick of a book, but it flies by. The themes in this book of being Black, the unquestioned queerness among her friends and peers, and the honest discussions of grief and the trauma that results make for a real and grounded force within this novel that is otherwise so perfectly fantastical. I can’t wait to get my hands on the second one. In this series – here’s hoping for a trilogy.  

You can get Legendborn by Tracy Deonn in print, audiobook, eBook, and eAudiobook.  

Deep red slats of wood with title set in single word lines, emphasizeing Cabin, End, World.

Apocalypse and Heartbreak: Atmospheric Tales of Horror

Angie Engles Leave a comment
Deep red slats of wood with title set in single word lines, emphasizeing Cabin, End, World.

by Angie E.

Good horror scares me, but great horror breaks my heart and mind, seeping into me and playing in my head like a found footage trope.  I find solace in horror somehow, and I know I’m not alone because others feel this way, too, even if they are quiet about it (“Why do anxious people love scary movies?”).

The first horror fiction I ever read was The Mist by Stephen King (e-book on Libby), which first appeared in a 1980 anthology called Dark Forces (an outstanding collection of stories I cannot recommend enough). It is hard to come by these days, but you can check interlibrary loan. Director Frank Darabont took The Mist and gave it an unimaginable, twisty, emotionally devastating ending – hence the heartbreak.

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay evokes similar feelings of heartache, and, like The Mist, captures themes such as faith and trust and how both can be warped by strangers we have the fortune (or misfortune) to meet under trying circumstances. Do we take a chance on others, or ourselves, or possibly a mash-up of both? A contributor to the website Bloody Disgusting sums up what could easily be said about both Tremblay’s and King’s novels, saying that a complete lack of faith can be just as insane as a fanatical sense of faith.

The novel invites readers into the lives of Eric and Andrew, a couple vacationing at a remote cabin with their young daughter Wen. Tremblay’s sensitive storytelling allows us to witness their love and vulnerability, amplifying the impact of the anguish that unfolds. Their journey takes an unexpected turn when a group of mysterious strangers appear at their door, whose mission (they say) is to save the world from an impending apocalypse. Their ominous beliefs shatter the tranquility of the cabin, leaving the family trapped and frightened. 

The strangers demand an impossible choice: sacrifice one of their own to stop the apocalypse. As fear and uncertainty overcome them, the bond between Eric, Andrew, and Wen deepens, revealing the strength of their love and the resilience of the human spirit. You’ll find yourself empathizing with the family’s plight, feeling their fear, and grappling with the moral dilemmas they face. 

Ultimately, The Cabin at the End of the World is not just a horror story; it’s an exploration of family ties, sacrifice, and the will to protect those we love. Like The Mist, The Cabin at the End of the World has a haunting film based on it: Knock at the Cabin. Both novel and film create an air of mystery and seclusion, but they do so subtly, evoking different atmospheres. 

Knock at the Cabin may appear superficial, but it carries a sense of abruptness, brevity, and vagueness distinct from Tremblay’s novel. The former hints at the story’s initiation and leaves us questioning, “Who’s there?” The Cabin at the End of the World explicitly suggests apocalyptic themes. Both titles succeed in unique ways, captivating the audience with their enigmatic allure. 

I could go on about both Tremblay and King, but I won’t. If you also seek out heartbreak in your reading, though, consider the following: 

  1. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: Published in 1818, this classic Gothic horror novel tells the tragic story of Victor Frankenstein and his creation. The creature’s isolation, rejection, and search for acceptance evoke profound empathy from readers. 
  1. Dracula by Bram Stoker: From 1897, the epistolary novel delves into themes of loss, love, and the consequences of immortality. The tragic fate of some characters, such as Lucy Westenra, leaves a lasting impact on readers. 
  1. The Road by Cormac McCarthy: This post-apocalyptic novel from 2006 depicts the journey of a father and his young son through an ashen landscape. The bleakness and desolation of their surroundings combined with the father’s love and determination to protect his son create an emotionally compelling narrative. 
  1. Beloved by Toni Morrison: While not typically thought of as a horror novel, the 1987 Pulitzer Prize-winning work incorporates ghostly, supernatural elements. Set in the aftermath of slavery, the book explores the haunting effects of past trauma, loss, and the desperate longing for freedom. 

These masterpieces blend elements of horror with deep emotional resonance, leaving readers with a poignant sense of heartbreak and empathy for the characters’ experiences. 

Angie is an Instructor & Research Specialist at Central Branch and is a co-facilitator for Reads of Acceptance, HCLS’ first LGBTQ-focused book club. Her ideal day is reading in her cozy armchair, with her cat Henry next to her.

Collage of six book covers from The Murderbot Diaries, each featuring a science fictional scene with a muted palette and the figure of MurderBot.

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

Tony B Leave a comment
The cover has a grey palette, showing a space-armored figure with a closed helmet with a lit arch behind them.

by Tony B.

Ever wondered what an intelligent security robot would do without a functioning governor module? Murder? Watch Netflix? Save innocent lives? Contemplate sentience?

The Murderbot Diaries, a series by Martha Wells, explores answers to all these questions. Free of their governor module, the eponymous Murderbot leads us through their adventures with corporate warfare, angry megafauna, the (mostly) human experience, and the need for a nice quiet spot to watch interstellar tele-novellas. The first four novellas operate as a one long story arc, even with each book being a complete story, about why Murderbot has named themself in such a way and the repercussions from that particular episode. Along the way, Wells introduces Dr. Mensah and her family, who become important, along with ART – another high functioning artificial intelligence.

Originally a normal Security Unit (SecUnit for short) deployed by The Company, a security bond corporation, Murderbot hacks and destroys their controlling governor module which normally would zap the brain of any SecUnit displaying less-than-utterly-obedient behavior. Now free to do whatever they want, MurderBot inexplicably keeps working for the corporation but with newfound access to the wider net of media with which to distract themselves. 

The Murderbot Diaries are full of dry wit and snarky observations of the human condition, notably that humans tend to put themselves in a lot of unknowing danger. Compound that with galactic dangers and MurderBot ends up as one very busy SecUnit. The series now has six installments (four novellas and two novels) that follow Murderbot and a recurring cast of characters.

MurderBot’s interaction with risk-averse humans is one of the driving issues, beginning in All Systems Red. To MurderBot, the clash between how humanity is portrayed through their favorite space soap operas and how humans actually behave is a constant dissonance which leads to a healthy distrust of the human condition. Hence their thoughts along the lines of, “freedom to be treated like a real human? No thanks.”

Seeing sci-fi action through the lens of a non-human thought process is interesting, where priorities are generally “protect the weak humans from whatever stupid situation they find themselves” and less “be the hero.” SecUnit often ends up being a hero in the end despite themself and equally isn’t sure how to feel about it. MurderBot experiences emotion rather strongly at times but codes, to some degree, as being on the autism spectrum. They have a difficult time expressing those emotions and processing others’ emotional states, as well as the confusion at not always being able to control emotions that well up within them.

As a series, I give it a 9/10. Obvious tropes are usually immediately made fun of a la “oh that’s what the space soaps would do.” MurderBot also reminds me heavily of the 2015 movie CHAPPiE, about a robot who gains independence, but who is perhaps more impressionable in relation to humans than MurderBot ever is.

The Murderbot Diaries, a Hugo and Nebula award-winning series, consists of the following books, available from HCLS in these formats:

The seventh book, System Collapse, is due to be published in November 2023.

Tony is a Customer Service Specialist at HCLS Elkridge Branch. He has a degree in history and a renewed interest in science fiction.

A stack of 7 volumes of series, with identical type but featuring different character poses at the bottom ... all in blue and green.

Manga Romance: A Tropical Fish Yearns For Snow

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Two manga characters stand back-to-back with fish swimming around them.

by Monae R.

This year has seen me reading completely different books than usual. Am I back in middle school, 2011? I was obsessed with Asian culture, anime, and most relevant, manga. This format of Japanese comics was all I read. From action, to slice of life, to romance, I engulfed every book I could get. If I had known that Savage Branch was not the only library I could visit, I would have read a lot more, alas I had no idea. Now that I work in the library system and am aware of the resources, I find myself falling back in love with manga as I read A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow.

Makato Hagino is a female author from Ehime Prefecture, Japan. This series has nine books and follows characters Konatsu and Koyuki – two girls who bond in a most unlikely place. Konatsu’s father gets a new job overseas and they have to leave Tokyo to stay with her aunt. From the large city to the small seaside town, adjusting is not easy. As if that was not enough, Konatsu, who is not adept or fond of change, must also adapt to a new school surrounded by new people. Eventually she ends up joining a club that drops her straight into the lap of the Introverted and extremely shy Koyuki. The two slowly grow out of their shells and build a friendship that has the potential to be a lifelong bond.

This heartwarming story will hit home for all of us introverted individuals and will give extroverts insight into the quiet thought process of an introvert. This romantic slice of life will keep you wanting more and close the story leaving you with nothing but warmth.

Monae is a Children’s Instructor and Research Specialist at HCLS East Columbia Branch.

A bright red cover shows illustrations of two people laying with their heads next to each other, up and down. One has long dark hair and a striped shirt, and the other has short ginger hair and a blue shirt.

Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly

Kristen B. Leave a comment
A bright red cover shows illustrations of two people laying with their heads next to each other, up and down. One has long dark hair and a striped shirt, and the other has short ginger hair and a blue shirt.

by Kristen B.

Small confession: I love baking competition shows. Is it in a tent? Does it involve quirky hosts and obnoxious quantities of sugar? I’m in! I was laid up one summer, and The Great British Baking Show had just made it to Netflix. I was totally hooked, up to and including the holiday, junior, and professional versions. In case you’re wondering (though I know you’re not), I’m entirely on Team Sue & Mel and miss them again every new season.

Earlier this year, I was in something of a reading funk so I went surfing through our “Recently Purchased” lists, which is always a good way to find a new title or two. Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly caught my eye with its bright colors and funny title. Click for more info: this romance takes place during a cooking contest. Click to request it: Yes, please!

It’s adorable, funny, sexy, thoughtful, and altogether lovely. Recently divorced, Dahlia wants nothing more than to start over. Her ex-husband has remarried and is expecting a child. Her career is nonexistent, but she’s a great cook, a decent baker, and could really, really use the prize money. Dahlia has a nagging internal voice that’s not particularly self-supportive, but she showers acceptance and happiness on everyone around her. Tripping with a platter full of fish tacos on live television is only one episode that comes to define her – and you can’t help but root for her. London’s a little more confident, assured, and prickly – or so it seems. They are nonbinary and trans, and they took a big step by announcing their pronouns to the world on the show. These two literally, honest-to-goodness crash into each other on set, and the story never looks back.

It’s a romance, folks, and it hits all the expected beats perfectly. We have montages of exploring L.A. and talking about their dreams, inevitable misunderstandings, and steamy make-up scenes. London’s family, loving but problematic, allows their coming out as queer and trans to happen organically within the story. It never seems condescending or overly explanatory. Dahlia’s issues are, in some ways, more relatable, being all about meeting expectations and her fear of disappointing. Honestly, Dahlia made me cry – but I’m a softie for a happy ending. The cooking competition provides the secondary characters and the drama: after all, someone has to go home and someone has to win. If you’re looking for a fun, summer romp, you should click to request it!

Kristen B. is a devoted bookworm lucky enough to work as the graphic designer for HCLS. She likes to read, stitch, dance, and watch baseball in season (but not all at the same time).

Be part of HCLS’ Summer Reading Adventures.

A bright red cover features a color-block illustration of a woman's face in pink, with patterns of stars and flowers in her hair, all resting above a yellow and blue cityscape.

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez

Kristen B. Leave a comment
A bright red cover features a color-block illustration of a woman's face in pink, with patterns of stars and flowers in her hair, all resting above a yellow and blue cityscape.

by Kristen B.

Olga Dies Dreaming recounts the complicated story of a complicated woman. Olga Alcevedo has the life she always dreamed of – a successful business that allows her to move among the rich and famous, make guest appearances on TV, and live in an apartment of her own, a respectable distance from her large, loving Puerto Rican family in New York. Personal space is non-negotiable, especially with Olga’s cousin/best friend Mabel getting married soon – meaning that the family house is overflowing with drama. Did I mention Olga is a wedding planner? She knows about napkins!

Olga’s mother is an absent revolutionary, so she was essentially raised by her beloved grandmother (Abuelita) and her long-time single Tia Lola. Olga’s brother Prieto is a U. S. Congressman, representing their home district – another local success story. All seems right, until it doesn’t. Beneath the veneer of perfection, the Alcevedo family nurtures many hurts and secrets.

The book follows the siblings as they wrestle with their inner demons, mostly caused by their mother. Blanca is a woman with a cause: securing an independent future for Puerto Rico. Once a member of the Young Lords, Blanca has returned to her home island to orchestrate its liberation. She keeps tabs on her children and sends them long letters offering advice and indoctrination. Through Blanca’s letters, author Gonzalez imparts quite a bit of historical information about Puerto Rico (or Boriken, its pre-colonial name).

At its heart, this book might, just maybe, be a romance. Or perhaps the romance simply sets the framework for all the other heartache to develop. In the first chapter, Olga stops at a local bar after attending a funeral for a friend who has died of an untreated HIV infection. She meets and has an immediate attraction to Matteo, a successful realtor with a self-admitted hoarding issue. Their relationship winds through the story, as Olga comes to understand she has met her match – and she doesn’t know what to do with that revelation.

Even though the book is set in recent years, leading up to and dealing with Hurricane Maria in 2017, the specter of HIV/AIDS haunts the story. Maria’s friend from the opening scene died from the disease, as did her dad, having contracted it as a drug addict. Her brother Prieto is living in the closet as a gay man, and the disease becomes part of his story, too.

That’s not even everything going on in this book! There’s the rich businessman obsessed with Olga. And the champagne she’s fencing for Russian mobsters. And, and … and all the puzzle pieces eventually interlock to create a full picture of Olga’s life. I devoured the second half of the book because I wanted (needed) everyone to find their happy endings. Fortunately, the author delivered, although not in the way I was expecting, and I had to sweat the details along the way. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, where I learned something despite it all.

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez is available in print, as an e-book, and as an e-audiobook.

Kristen B. is a devoted bookworm lucky enough to work as the graphic designer for HCLS. She likes to read, stitch, dance, and watch baseball in season (but not all at the same time).

Be part of HCLS’ Summer Reading Adventures.