Enjoy!

Mycroft Holmes by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse 

Series or standalone: Series

Case: Mycroft’s friend Douglas hears that children are dying back home in Trinidad. The douen (children with backwards feet) are calling them to play and when the children come the lougarou (a werewolf-like creature) kills them by draining all their blood. It’s only happening on one side of the island and whole villages have been abandoned. 

When Mycroft tells his fiancée Georgiana, also from Trinidad, she is horrified and immediately plans to return home to make sure all is well with her family. She insists on going alone, but Mycroft convinces Douglas to go and books passage on the same ship without telling Georgiana. 

Mycroft is swiftly felled by seasickness, but then it becomes apparent it is something much more serious. Attacks and threats continue through the voyage. It is obvious someone does not want them in Trinidad, but who and why? 

Type of Sherlock: Supporting character (Mycroft) as main character, prequel to original series

Evidence of similarities: Not much except that it’s in the Sherlock Holmes universe

Evidence of differences: Mycroft is the main character, much of the book takes place on a ship then in Trinidad, earlier time period when Sherlock is still at university and Mycroft is in his early 20s, the characters of Georgiana and Douglas 

Deduction: KA-J is a legit writer! I had no idea he majored in English and History at UCLA. He is an amateur historian who has written history books, an autobiography, kids’ books, and for the past 7 years, a series about Mycroft Holmes. He’s also a regular op-ed writer in newspapers across the country. He’s written an episode of the Veronica Mars reboot. He’s a nerd! I thoroughly enjoyed this story that’s not my usual cup of tea: two men adventuring across the sea and in the Caribbean in the 19th century. 

I’ve never been particularly interested in Mycroft, but I found his background interesting, as well as his similarities and differences to Sherlock. And I loved it when young university student Sherlock popped up a few times. 

This book was absorbing, compelling, full of interesting historical detail, and had a creepy mystery based in Caribbean lore. Specifically Trinidad, which is part of KA-J’s heritage. 

The story and solution were a bit convoluted and heavily based in the politics and legalities of the time, which might bore or confuse some. I had to go back and reread a few pages at least once to make sure I understood what was going on. It was worth it. 

I am so impressed with KA-J and hope to read more of the series. 

Cumberbatches: 5

The Seven-Per-Cent Solution by Nicholas Meyer

Series or standalone: Series

Case: Holmes’s cocaine addiction has worsened and Watson is at a loss as to how to help him. A man named Moriarty comes to see him and Watson is frightened at first, knowing Moriarty as a criminal kingpin from Holmes. He explains to Watson that Holmes only fears him when he is high. He was actually the math tutor to Mycroft and Sherlock when they were young. Sherlock has been harassing Moriarty while under the influence, sending threatening telegrams and keeping watch outside his house. When he isn’t high, Holmes has no clue who Moriarty is. 

Watson goes to Mycroft and they hatch a plan. Stamford, the doctor who introduced Holmes and Watson, has heard of a doctor who has come up with a cure for cocaine addiction. His name is Sigmund Freud. 

Mycroft reasons that if Sherlock is tracking Moriarty, they can get him to Freud in Vienna by getting Moriarty to go there. Moriarty resists at first, but Mycroft has some sort of hold on him and he gives in. 

Soon the game is afoot and, of course, there is more to the story than curing Holmes’s addiction. 

Type of Sherlock: New story including a real historical figure

Evidence of similarities: The main characters, the time period, Holmes’s drug problem, the writing style

Evidence of differences: The worsening of Holmes’s addiction, the depiction of Moriarty, the Vienna setting, and, uh, Freud. 

Deduction: This book was marvelous. I can see why it is a classic of Sherlock Holmes pastiche. The connections between Watson and Holmes as well as Holmes and Mycroft were incredibly well done and touching. 

The plot was excellent, partly thanks to the brilliant move of connecting Holmes and Watson with Freud. I don’t know much about Freud as a person, but I loved the portrayal of his family home and his treatment of Sherlock’s addiction. 

The setting—I know they’ve done a good job when I immediately want to travel there. Both the romantic and the darker sides of Vienna were portrayed beautifully. I want some of that Viennese coffee.

Cumberbatches: 5

Good Night, Mr. Holmes by Carole Nelson Douglas

Series or standalone: Series

Case: Penelope Huxleigh’s father, a country parson, has died and she is left homeless and penniless. She is wandering the streets of London hopelessly when a red-headed, beautifully dressed woman swoops in to rescue her from a pickpocket. 

This woman is “the woman,” Irene Adler. She is the only woman ever to outsmart Sherlock Holmes. She discovers Nell’s (as she nicknames Penelope) situation and asks her to be her roommate. Penelope soon discovers that Irene supplements her income as a struggling opera singer with detective work. Penelope is eventually drawn into it. 

The book is episodic, dealing with different cases until Irene goes to Bohemia to perform and meets the future King, triggering the events known to Sherlock Holmes fans. 

Type of Sherlock: Supporting character as main character (sort of), Sherlock story from another point of view

Evidence of similarities: Holmes and Watson along with a supporting character from the canon, the storyline from A Scandal in Bohemia (as the ending part of an original narrative)

Evidence of differences: Irene Adler is the main character and her sidekick is a new character named Penelope Huxleigh (also the narrator), told the story of A Scandal in Bohemia from Penelope’s point of view

Deduction: It was fun seeing real life characters like Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde, and Charles and Louis Tiffany. 

The depiction of Irene did her some justice and I loved it when they got to the part where the King hired Sherlock to get the picture back and we saw the flip side of A Scandal in Bohemia. 

The book meandered in the first half, not uninterestingly, ultimately proving itself worth the journey. 

Cumberbatches: 3

IQ by Joe Ide

Series or standalone: Series

Case: Isaiah Quintabe (IQ) has lost his guardian, his older brother Marcus, and goes into a tailspin. He takes a neighborhood criminal named Dodson as a roommate and they begin robbing stores together. 

In the present-day timeline, Isaiah and Dodson are no longer roommates or friends and Isaiah now solves mysteries for neighbors and others who come to him with problems. Dodson has a famous friend with a big problem and Isaiah needs money, so they are thrown together again. 

Type of Sherlock: Modern-day Sherlock, Black Sherlock, American Sherlock

Evidence of similarities: IQ’s personality, intelligence, and deductive skills

Evidence of differences: Time period, setting, IQ’s race, IQ’s background, the culture of Black Americans living in 21st century Los Angeles

Deduction: There were very funny moments, sometimes in the middle of mayhem, and moments that broke your heart. The characters are complex and endearing. Ide finds at least a bit of humanity in all of them, even a vicious killer. 

The pacing was excellent with exciting scenes nicely balanced with calmer ones. The cerebral nature of IQ, the Sherlock of the story, helped with that balance. He is a lovely character, doing his best, just like most of the people struggling around him. I just wanted to give him a big hug, although I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t like that. 

The language is rough and there is quite a bit of violence, minimally but vividly described. The opening case is a bit rough for more sensitive readers, but the main case and other events of the book go in a different direction. There are viscerally written action scenes and one of the craziest, most creative methods of attempted murder I’ve ever read. 

This book deserves every accolade it has received and more.

Cumberbatches: 5

The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss

Series or standalone: Series 

Case: Mary Jekyll’s mother died and she is left with little money. Her father Dr. Jekyll (yes, that Dr. Jekyll.) died when she was little. After going through her mother’s accounts and talking to her lawyer, Mary discovers that Mr. Hyde, her father’s assistant, is not dead and her mother has been paying a sum monthly for his upkeep at a Magdalen House of all places. 

Mary goes to Sherlock Holmes for help. Watson goes with her to the Magdalen House and discovers Hyde’s daughter Diana, not Hyde. Diana claims to be Mary’s sister and that Jekyll and Hyde are the same person. 

They eventually find Beatrice Rappacini, whose breath and touch are poisonous and also doesn’t need food, Justine Frankenstein who was made to be a mate to Frankenstein’s monster, and Catherine “Cat” Moreau, a woman who used to be a puma. These women are not used to being treated well and are therefore slow to trust, particularly Catherine. But they find the strengths in what makes them “monstrous” and become a crime-fighting team as well as a family. 

Type of Sherlock: literary mash-up with characters from Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein, The Island of Dr. Moreau, and Rappaccini’s Daughter (short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne)

Evidence of similarities: Holmes and Watson, time period, London setting 

Evidence of differences: The women are the main characters 

Deduction: I have a strange feeling about this book. It was very good and I liked it, but something is missing. I think she put the exciting climax too early in the book and could have worked in Justine’s story earlier. I like the wrap-up part of books and they did need to get the group established, but a bit of momentum was lost. It was barely perceptible and still held my attention, but it was there. 

Overall, though, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and plan to read more of the series. I fell in love with the concept and the characters and this initial entry confirmed the potential of this series. 

Cumberbatches: 4

Warlock Holmes: A Study in Brimstone by G.S. Denning 

Series or standalone: Series

Case: Dr. John Watson, wounded and sickened by war, is destitute and living on the streets. His friend Stamford says he knows someone who needs a roommate. When Watson expresses interest despite Stamford’s cryptic warnings, Stamford immediately drags Watson to the morgue of St. Bartholomew’s hospital to meet Warlock Holmes. 

What follows are 6 short stories that poke fun at the Sherlock tropes and stories such as A Study in Scarlet and A Scandal in Bohemia. These stories are ridiculous and hilarious and turn everything you thought you knew about Holmes and Watson on its ear. 

Type of Sherlock: parody

Evidence of similarities: Holmes and Watson, the basic outline of the stories, time period, London setting, some of the supporting characters appear 

Evidence of differences: The familiar characters are rendered quite unfamiliar through the lens of parody and satire, the supernatural aspects 

Deduction: This is a funny, interesting collection of stories that are well worth the time of any fan of Sherlock pastiche. The dialogue and inversion of Sherlock story tropes is delightful. These parodies could only have been written by someone familiar with the originals who loves and respects them. 

Cumberbatches: 4

Dust and Shadow by Lyndsay Faye 

Series or standalone: Standalone

Case: Women in London’s East End are being gruesomely killed and their bodies defiled. The killer leaves no trace that anyone can find, even Sherlock Holmes. The great Sherlock Holmes and the monstrous killer dubbed “Jack the Ripper” by the press are going head-to-head. 

Will this be the one case Sherlock can’t solve? Are the women of the East End doomed if he can’t?

Type of Sherlock: new story from different author, story involving a real historical figure, Sherlock meets Jack the Ripper

Evidence of similarities: Time period, setting, cast of characters 

Evidence of differences: Sherlock did not confront Jack the Ripper in the original stories (although there are several pastiches that pit them against each other)

Deduction: Faye’s Jane Steele was featured in my column about Jane Eyre adaptations and pastiche. She is an imaginative writer who did a superlative job capturing the time and flair of an original Holmes story while still slightly modernizing the language. 

She lets her imagination go in a different way here than in Steele. She must stay within the confines of a Sherlock story’s conventions as well as historical fact concerning the Ripper killings, but the fact that Sherlock is fictional and he and the Ripper are such outsize characters (and the Ripper being so mysterious) gives her some room to make the case even creepier, if that’s possible. 

She also skillfully injects occasional humor through the supporting character of Mary Ann Monk and Sherlock’s ribbing of Watson. 

Cumberbatches: 5

Well, that brings us to the end! I admit to needing a break from Sherlock pastiche, yet being more interested than ever in the whole Sherlockian universe. Any suggestions for further reading?

Tell us in the comments: Which Sherlock Holmes pastiche is your favorite? Do you prefer the original stories or new ones?

Sara Farmer lives in Austin, TX, with her husband, three kids, and two cats. When she’s not chasing kids and cats, she reads and writes mysteries. You can find her at www.kittymomma.com and on Twitter @avonlea79.

The post Cozy to Cold-Blooded: The Not-So-Elementary Universe of Sherlock Holmes, Part 2 appeared first on DIY MFA.

I find myself reading writers’ memoirs, pen in hand, underlining something on most pages. Ones that are especially useful, I go back through with a notebook and take down notes of the things I’ve underlined for quick reference later on.

For this #5onFri I’ve listed my five favorite writers’ memoirs and explained what I love about each. A quick note about the order. They are listed in alphabetical order of author’s last name, not in the order I read them or the order of preference. I find that in lists, alphabetical order is the most democratic.

1. Bukowski in a Sundress by Kim Addonizio

This memoir was so entertaining that it was like meeting a gal pal for endless martinis and swapping insane story after insane story. Addonizio’s memoir is really about the perseverance it takes to carve out a career as a writer, in particular as a poet.

There are a ton of great anecdotes about her adventures on the road at writing conferences and readings, as well as lessons about juggling real life and writing. She approaches it all with humor and grit—which are two crucial characteristics you need to be a writer.

This collection is definitely not for the faint of heart. Language and sexploits abound in this wild romp. But, for me, it was a super accessible memoir in that nothing was sugar-coated.

2. I Came All This Way to Meet You by Jami Attenberg

This is the most recently published of these writers’ memoirs. One of the blurbs on the back sums it up quite nicely: “A love letter to work and to friendship.” A lot of the book is grounded in road trips Attenberg took to promote one book or another and how grueling they were, but also the sights she saw and the things she learned about herself on the way.

She talks about books she wrote that didn’t do well and how she didn’t understand why, and I really appreciated that kind of honesty. This whole writing and publishing thing is a fickle mistress, which is why we really should just focus on the bit we can control, the writing.

This one made me realize that as hard as it all is, if you love the work (and surely you must, otherwise why do it?), it really is worth it. 

Plus, who doesn’t love a good road trip book?

3. How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee

I loved this memoir in essays. It is so poetic and beautiful. This book is a manifesto on the interconnectedness of life, art, and politics. Good writing encapsulates all three.

Chee does a wonderful job of balancing writing about his life and how that informed his development as a writer. Just when you think you’re reading an essay about writing, you realize that it’s also about life. And when you think you’re reading about Chee’s political activism, you also catch glimpses of writing advice.

I think I heard that he has another collection of essays coming out and I cannot wait to see what he has in store for us. He’s also the guest editor of this year’s Best American Essays, out in the fall.

4. On Writing by Stephen King

This was the first writers’ memoir I read cover to cover and I read it when I wasn’t really into Stephen King’s novels. This volume is broken into three parts: C.V., Toolbox, and On Writing, plus a couple of recommended reading lists.

In C.V., King presents his curriculum vitae, his bona fides, his path to writing. He delves into his childhood spent shuffling around and living with various relatives and how he eventually discovered he kind of liked this thing called writing. 

He is really honest about his struggles with and recovery from addiction and how it has shown up in his writing. Plus, he reveals how writing brought him back to life after his near-fatal accident in 1999.

This one provides another glimpse at the level of dedication it takes to become a master of the craft of writing. It is entertaining and inspiring.

5. Just Kids by Patti Smith

When I first saw this memoir, I had no idea who Patti Smith was, but I saw this memoir EVERYWHERE, so I eventually broke down and bought it. Naturally.

This is a love story by Patti Smith about her relationship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe. They lived together when they were struggling artists in New York City in the late 1960s and early 70s. Smith does an amazing job of exploring the depth of that relationship. 

But she also writes a beautiful account of the devotional aspect of being an artist. And that’s my biggest takeaway from this memoir—the importance of truly living your art.

You’ll have to excuse me for not writing much of a conclusion to this post. I am struggling to decide which of these writers’ memoirs I’m going to revisit first!

Tell us in the comments: What are your favorite writers’ memoirs?

Lori Walker is the Operations Maven at DIY MFA. Though she’s fallen off the wagon as a writer, she’s hoping to return to writing essays (perhaps even a novel!) through her involvement with DIY MFA. She is also Launch Manager, Web Editor, and Podcast Producer for DIY MFA and a Book Coach. She resides in Smalltown, Oklahoma, with her husband and their cat, Joan Didion. You can follow her on Instagram at @LoriTheWriter.

The post #5onFri: Five Writers’ Memoirs You Should Check Out appeared first on DIY MFA.

It turned out I had a much longer list of auto-buys than I thought. I ended up dividing it into series and authors. You get part 1 of my auto-buy series today. You will get part 2 in a couple of weeks and the authors another time and will probably be surprised at the different types of books.

Here are some of my auto-buy series:

The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series by Vicki Delany 

Premise: Transplanted Londoner Gemma Doyle (no relation to Sir Arthur) partially owns and runs the Sherlock Bookshop and Emporium at 222 Baker St. in West London, Massachusetts. Her globe-trotting Uncle Arthur is her co-owner in that business as well as the one next door Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room, run by Gemma’s best friend Jayne, who has a stake in the Tea Room along with Gemma and Arthur.  But like Cabot Cove, West London has more than its fair share of murders and Gemma is there to help the police, sometimes under protest. 

No. in Series: 7

Why It’s an Auto-Buy Series: Sherlock Easter eggs and references abound. The store cat named Moriarty is probably my favorite one. The main character, Gemma, is intelligent, fun, and struggles with relationships somewhat due to neurodiversity. I sympathize with that and always appreciate seeing neurodiversity in books. Plus, this falls firmly in the cozy category, despite having a bit of bite to it, and returning to the world of a well-loved cozy is comforting. 

Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas

Premise: In this intriguing and complex series, Charlotte Holmes takes unusual steps to avoid being married off. She doesn’t quite reckon with the consequences, but luckily finds her Watson, a Mrs. Watson in her case. Together, they set up Charlotte’s “brother,” Sherlock Holmes, as a detective. But he is ill and unable to receive visitors, so Charlotte acts as “intermediary.” 

No. in the series: 6

Why It’s an Auto-Buy Series: Thomas is an award-winning romance writer and you can see why when a romance develops for Charlotte. Also, the series is an ingenious reimagining of the Sherlock stories, but very much its own creation. The world is rich with beautiful descriptions and imagery, the dialogue witty, and the mysteries twisty. Each book has its own mystery while continuing the overarching saga of the truly chilling Moriarty, whose fiendish plot gradually infiltrates Charlotte’s life and threatens those she loves. 

Maggie Hope series by Susan Elia MacNeal 

Premise: British-born, American-raised Maggie finds herself in London at the beginning of World War II. Her grandmother has died and she moves into her old Victorian house while settling the estate. She discovers that she likes life in London and finds roommates to live with her in the house. She also finds a job at No. 10 as a typist through her friend David. Maggie, however, studied mathematics at MIT and soon discovers a coded message in a newspaper. After that, her life is never the same. 

No. in the series: 10

Why It’s an Auto-Buy Series: Where do I begin? The meticulous without being overpowering historical detail? The intelligent, kick-ass main character? The well-plotted mysteries with WWII as the backdrop? Exciting, tension-filled denouements? You also get to learn about the Special Operations Executive (SOE), a team of undercover saboteurs Churchill sent to “set Europe ablaze!” 

Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear

Premise: After serving as a nurse in WWI, Maisie Dobbs turns to private investigation to support herself. Maisie has had both great luck and great pain in her life. She lost her mother and had to go out to service when she was a young teen. But her employer Lady Rowan Compton discovered her secretly reading books in the library at night and saw her potential, becoming her patron and friend. She hired Maisie’s tutor, Maurice Blanche, and paid for her college education. 

No. in the series: 17, plus one companion book

Why It’s an Auto-Buy Series: Maisie is brilliant, kind, and empathetic, but unflinching about duty and responsibility. She has suffered and moves forward so bravely and determinedly. These books also really bring home the reality of the inter-war years in Britain. For instance, the treatment of the soldiers who came back with PTSD (known then as shell shock) and visible injuries was atrocious, with people anxious to hide away these living reminders of the war’s devastation. The two wars tend to overshadow this time and I never paid much attention to it before, but it is fascinating, heartrending, inspiring, and important. That, combined with Maisie’s epic journey, leaves me riveted every time. 

Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn

Premise: Veronica Speedwell is anything but the stereotypical Victorian lady. A spinster by choice and happy that way, she regularly takes lovers to satisfy what she considers to be natural needs. She is a scientist, a lepidopterist who travels the world studying butterflies. But her world is rocked when her aunt (who raised her) dies and a stranger attempts to kidnap her after the funeral. 

While on the run, Veronica takes refuge in a warehouse, the home of Stoker, a taxidermy artist and erstwhile gentleman. Sparks fly, but the forces pursuing Veronica haven’t given up. If they have any say in it, Veronica won’t live to see if she and Stoker will ever be anything but contentious allies. 

No. in the series: 6 (The next is due 2/15/22.)

Why It’s an Auto-Buy Series: Veronica is a fascinating character with verve and courage to spare. The chemistry between her and Stoker sizzles, but doesn’t dominate the narrative. It adds to it in my opinion. As the series progresses, each book has its individual mystery with an overarching storyline about Veronica’s past and her identity. Reading these books is fun and absorbing. The pages fly by. 

Lady Hardcastle series by T.E. Kinsey 

Premise: Lady Emily Hardcastle and her companion and housekeeper Florence “Flo” Armstrong have decamped from London for a quiet life in the country. In fact, that’s the title of the first book. They retired from a mysterious career, the details of which come out over the run of the series. But Flo knows martial arts and Lady Hardcastle readily begins to investigate when a body is discovered in the woods near their new home. There is definitely more to these two ladies than meets the eye. 

No. in the series: 7, plus one novella (The next is due 6/7/22.) 

Why It’s an Auto-Buy Series: The relationship between Lady Hardcastle and Flo is an absolute joy. They tease and joke and seem much more like friends or even sisters than employer and employee. Their back and forth banter and seamless teamwork in dangerous situations is balanced by an obvious affection and deep bond between the two. 

The setting also has that charm peculiar to fictional English villages at the turn of the 19th to 20th centuries. Like any good mystery series, that charm overlays a network of relationships and resentments sometimes going back generations. 

Perveen Mistry series by Sujata Massey

Premise: Perveen is based on the first woman lawyer in India. She works for her father’s law firm in Bombay and at first seems to be a spinster. But as her story unfolds through flashbacks, we discover her painful past and the risks it still poses to her happiness and independence. We also see her frustration at society’s reluctance to accept a female lawyer and her delight when she finds a niche helping women in purdah, who don’t leave their home or see strange men. The excitement and the mysteries start rolling from there. 

No. in the series: 3

Why It’s an Auto-Buy Series: I haven’t gotten to the third book yet, but it is next on my TBR. If it’s anything like the first two installments, it will be exciting and packed with fascinating details of 1920s India. The setting and characters in these books are so richly drawn and they navigate well-plotted narratives. I also loved exploring the social, political, and religious environment of the period. It was a whole aspect of the 1920s and the world that I never knew about before and I can’t get enough. 

Myrtle Hardcastle series by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Premise: Myrtle Hardcastle is a young girl living with her father and her governess, Miss Judson, in Victorian England. She loves science and is fascinated by crime. Starting with the first book, she gets plenty of opportunities to investigate the world around her. 

No. in the series: 3

Why It’s an Auto-Buy Series: Myrtle is one of my very favorite characters. She despises the rules for Young Ladies of Quality (her capitals!) and is desperate to dig into every crime that occurs around her. These books are witty, funny, and have elements of a cozy feel with the comfort evoked by Myrtle’s lovely home and relationships with her father and governess. 

Miss Judson is an intriguing character, being a woman of color from French Guiana, living in England with an upper crust white family during the Victorian era. She is well educated and proper, but holds her own with Myrtle’s father and relishes investigating with Myrtle, despite her initial protestations. She is wistful for her home at times, but loves Myrtle (and perhaps Myrtle’s father) fiercely.

These mysteries are adult caliber, despite being written to be appropriate for children. They strongly remind me of Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce (another favorite series that is sadly now defunct). The plots, Myrtle’s arch narration, the dialogue, and the characters are all top notch. 

Tell us in the comments: Do you have any auto-buy series?

Sara Farmer lives in Austin, TX, with her husband, three kids, and two cats. When she’s not chasing kids and cats, she reads and writes mysteries. You can find her at www.kittymomma.com and on Twitter @avonlea79.

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I wanted to do this article in January because the five books below are ones worth picking up now, as they should serve you throughout the year. Most of them were written to be read briefly—in ten or fifteen-minute stints—whether you are warming up for a writing session or waiting to pick someone up from school. 

Now, just because these picks are meant to be consumed in small bites doesn’t mean they’re lacking in substance. In fact, the last two are for those who are here for the literary challenge. 

Regardless, they are all great books to kickstart 2022 with plenty of writer’s fuel for the year ahead!

Besides, isn’t it time to reward yourself for that new writing habit?

1. Author’s Accountability Planner 2022 by 4 Horsemen Publications

I looooove planners, and this is by far the best one I’ve come across for writing. While most writing planners are basically just regular planners with literary quotes and spaces for word counts, this one is for the working writer. In fact, it’s all about data.  

Weeks are divided into days where you can chart not only your word count but also time spent editing, marketing, brainstorming, researching and reading. One of the big draws in this planner is the circle habit tracker, which divides each day into previously mentioned categories and, if you don’t want to track the minutes spent doing each activity (or, like me, you’ve forgotten to set your timer!), you can just check off the days where you showed up and feel fulfilled seeing your streaks of progress.

2. Daily Writing Resilience: 365 Meditations & Inspirations for Authors by Bryan Robinson, Ph.D.

There are tons of writer’s devotionals out there, focused on helping you get in touch with your muse every day. Many of them have provided me with just the right words I’ve needed to hear at precisely the right time. However, this one is different. 

How? It was written by a doctor with a Ph.D. in psychotherapy who has also written over 35 books. He knows the fears we face and helps foster the resilience we need. I’ve used it for several years and it’s almost kind of a daily self-care guide for authors. 

What kinds of issues are treated? The opening quote by Walt Kelly says it all, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” 

3. Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo by Grant Faulkner

This book was written by the executive director of National Novel Writing Month, and boy, is it useful in November! These short essays encourage you to go forth into the wilderness that is your writer’s mind. They help you flip the switch from “I (still) have to do my writing” to “I GET to do my writing!”

BONUS: If you’re an Audible member, you can download it for free through the Audible website.

4. A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life by George Saunders

A Swim in a Pond was written by renowned author and professor George Saunders, the recipient of MacArthur and Guggenheim fellowships, among many other awards. Seven short stories are presented with great warmth here. They are intended to be savored and questioned, with Saunders guiding you through the psychological space where reader and writer meet. 

This book is worth working through over several months. Not only is it 403 pages, but it is also intended for the reader to consider just a portion of a story. These stories and ideas deserve several days of cogitation. Not only will your writer’s mind come alive, your humanity will as well.

5. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr 

Ok, this is the outlier of the group. Up until this point, all of the suggestions have been non-fiction. Normally, I wouldn’t put a novel in such a practical list, but hear me out: everyone who considers stories to be important should read this book.

What is Cloud Cuckoo Land? Cloud Cuckoo Land as a concept is Anthony Doerr’s fictitious land of a golden, glittering, animal-inhabited utopia, where all needs are met and happiness shines as bright as the sun. 

The book Cloud Cuckoo Land revolves around this fable, which is presented as a supposedly found ancient manuscript that then travels bit by bit throughout a variety of different peoples and lands, all used to illustrate how literature can connect us across time and space. It is 1/3 historical novel, 1/3 contemporary literature, 1/3 science fiction. 

If you are predisposed to literary fiction, this is one that can be read again and again. 

Moreover, it is the perfect way to set a literary tone for 2022.   

Bonus: You get to use the Greek alphabet you acquired in 2021.

Tell us in the comments: What books are you reading books to kickstart 2022?

Melissa Haas is the author and illustrator of Catula: The Misadventures of Dracula’s Cat and The Night Before Christmas (NOW WITH CATS), among other books. Follow Catula’s whereabouts on Instagram @CatulaTheCat or download a free coloring page at www.catulathebook.com.

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In addition to looking at what present-day data scientists and engineers had to say about it, I also looked at our cultural history. From Enkidu being formed from clay in the Epic of Gilgamesh to HAL 9000 in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, why are we so fascinated with finding different, more complicated ways to create people-like entities? 

What’s fascinating in this tour of literature’s history of humans creating artificial intelligence is the different ways we see ourselves benefitting from this process. While having biological offspring fulfills certain social and instinctual needs for a species, creating artificial intelligence usually involves some sort of goal—a servant class, a problem solver, etc. 

Further, where do writers fall in all of this? After all, we’re creating characters. While these aren’t independent entities with their own agency and ability to affect the world outside their stories (though following that logic Wes Craven’s inventive film 1994 New Nightmare, in which his characters come alive, is interesting to think about), we’re pouring backstories and motivations and personal relationships into people that don’t exist. Why do we do it? What’s in it for humans to invent worlds and people, either on paper or inside machines or even in the real world? 

It’s something I don’t have an answer to, but reading the books below might offer some insight into this impulse for creating artificial intelligence that we all seem to share.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? By Philip K. Dick

One thing Philip K. Dick’s story did was bring about a real noir-style depth to the creations of science fiction. It wasn’t just beeping robots clunking after human masters. These were, for all intents and purposes, human beings. And they’re treated as second-class citizens at best, and dangerous elements at worst. Dick even dives a bit into a form of simulation hypothesis over who is and who is not human. If you were an android, would you know it? 

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

The original modern tale of man creating man. Mary Shelley’s influential work is considered the first entry into the world of science fiction and certainly the first science fiction horror novel. A young scientist wants to stitch together disparate body parts and run an electrical current through them to see if he can beget a living thing, just because he can. It’s about hubris and the stupidity of science for science’s sake. The Creature Frankenstein creates is not just sentient but develops a deep internal world that is ultimately his creator’s undoing, not unlike the tale of Adam and Eve in the garden. 

Fall, or Dodge in Hell by Neal Stephenson 

Neal Stephenson’s Fall; or, Dodge in Hell is one part science fiction as characters utilize brain scans to recreate neural networks in digital space as a form of afterlife, and one art fantasy as that world becomes its own thriving landscape with creation myths and everything. It plays into the idea of simulation hypothesis as well as looking at topics around the super affluent finding ways to cheat death through the use of artificial intelligence. 

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

This bizarre, apocalyptic story from Margaret Atwood deals with a lot of science fiction elements: artificially created plague as well as the development of a human subspecies. The titular Crake, in part of his bid to bring about an extinction event, develops a new breed of almost-human beings that he engineered with certain traits and beliefs. It’s less about the individual lives of artificially created intelligence and more a look at what artificially created life would look like and what sort of twisted mind thinks of such a plot. 

Dune by Frank Herbert

The interesting thing about Frank Herbert’s Dune is that it took a different approach to artificial intelligence. Nick Bostrom points out in his 2012 book Superintelligence, that one way we might achieve artificial intelligence at a superhuman level is to “breed” it into the human gene pool by essentially ensuring Einstein-like people mix genes with other Einstein-like people. That’s kind of what the Bene Gesserit are doing with their breeding program to bring about their superintelligent messiah. They manufacture a mind that would act as a guide for the rest of humanity. It’s even more interesting considering that within the world of Dune, intelligent computers are forbidden thanks to a historic catastrophe around artificial intelligence. 

Tell us in the comments: what are your favorite books about creating artificial intelligence?

Melanie Moyer is a Philadelphia-based author of two novels and several short stories. Her short work has appeared in Philadelphia Stories. Ghost Parachute, and others. 

You can find her on her Website or follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

The post #5onFri: Five Sci-Fi Books about Humans Creating Artificial Intelligence appeared first on DIY MFA.

It may be September, but I am still celebrating summer Fridays and taking off for the afternoon so I can get some more reading done.

I think if the last month had a theme, it was fun. I had so much fun reading these books.

Let’s get the ball rolling…

The September Books

Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski

I finally finished this one before my vacation. It was really interesting to read about the science behind female sexuality and relationships. Still, like I mentioned last month, the section on the stress cycle was the most compelling part for me and a topic I am very much looking forward to learning more about in Nagoski’s follow-up book, Burnout (which I decided to not take on vacation as originally planned).

The book was definitely science and research heavy, but Nagoski wrote in such an accessible and entertaining way that made it not super dense like a textbook.

Highly recommended!

Beach Read by Emily Henry

I suddenly decided to get into contemporary romances. I have no idea why because I’m really not a happily-ever-after kind of person. But there’s something nice and relaxing about seeing the pieces fall together like a puzzle. That’s the thing with genre fiction—you know certain things are going to happen and the fun part of the journey is in seeing how they unfold.

This was the book I took on vacation. I had every intention of reading it and the three of the next four books mentioned in this post while on vacation. I was on the beach. I was not going to be working. I should be able to finish several of these books, right? Wrong! I think I still had eight pages left by the time we got to the airport.

Anyway…this was a great introduction to contemporary romances. They start out as enemies and then they eventually become not enemies and then they become more. The really fun part about this book was that they were both writers, feeling a bit stuck in their current genres, so they decided to switch. To go along with that, they each plan field trips to introduce the other to their genre. 

This was a lot of fun to read and it had great characters. But that’s pretty much true of all of the contemporary romances I’ve read.

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

I started this one on the plane back to nowhere. And I devoured it! I think I was close to halfway through by the time we got home, which is kind of crazy for me because I’m really not a fast reader.

I loved the premise of this one. The protagonist’s sister won a free honeymoon, then the entire wedding party comes down with food poisoning except for the protagonist and the best man, who totally hate each other. The trip is nonrefundable and nontransferrable, so they pretend to be a married couple and go on the trip. 

It had some surprises thrown in along the way that made it even more fun to read.

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

I picked this one up in the airport on the way back because I had been seeing the Hulu commercials. I didn’t know a lot about it when I grabbed it, but I am so glad I did! I could hardly put it down. I haven’t watched the series yet, but I plan to soon.

The thing that got me about this one was how similar the premise sounds to the ScribLandia program DIY MFA ran this summer. People who don’t know each other wind up at a hotel/resort and crazy stuff happens. There’s even a bit of a romance! This one had lots of twists and turns and was so much fun to read.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

I practically inhaled this one, but admittedly the title didn’t make sense until almost the end of the book. It’s a contemporary romance of the best friends to lovers variety, but it wasn’t like they were hooking up with random people they met during vacation and as per usual, they didn’t get together until almost the end. Instead it’s about isolation and chance meetings that help you feel connected to something bigger.

The protagonist in this one had a really fun job as a travel writer. She started out as a blogger, then built a social media following, and parlayed that into a job at a travel magazine. Yet, she eventually finds herself feeling disconnected and dissatisfied. And I could totally relate to that.

I really look forward to what Henry comes up with next!

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I think of all the books I’ve mentioned, I read this one the quickest. In less than 24 hours, actually. I went through a bit of a book slump. The thing with contemporary romances is that all of the ones I’ve found are written in the first person. I love a good first person narrative, but after three first person narratives, I was looking for a bit of variety. Or so I thought.

This one has a unique premise. A married couple going through problems decide to not exactly separate but, really, yes, separate for a year to see what happens. Will they get back together? Will they not? (You know they do.) For me, the most interesting part was reading about all of the characters’ thoughts on love and marriage. Lots of shades of grey.

I’ve read a lot of TJR books and I just don’t know how she does it. This is, I believe, her second book and her writing has only gotten richer, more nuanced and complex, with each new release. 

That’s what I’ve got for September. I’ll be back next month with another batch of books.

Total Books Read in 2021: 28

Tell me in the comment below: What’s on your TBR for September?

Lori Walker is the Operations Maven at DIY MFA. Though she’s fallen off the wagon as a writer, she’s hoping to return to writing essays (perhaps even a novel!) through her involvement with DIY MFA. She is also Launch Manager, Web Editor, and Podcast Producer for DIY MFA and a Book Coach. She resides in Smalltown, Oklahoma, with her husband and their cat, Joan Didion. You can follow her on Instagram at @LoriTheWriter.

The post The Book Nook — September Edition appeared first on DIY MFA.

I haven’t been reading as much as I would like, but I have been finishing most of what I’ve picked up, which is a nice break from a bookish dry spell. Those drive me crazy. I pace in front of the shelves, silently begging the right book to leap off and smack me right in the face. So far, no flying books, but I have managed to pick some gems.

The August Books

Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie

Initially, I was a bit on the fence about buying this one. Not because I didn’t think I would enjoy it, but because I wasn’t sure it could possibly compete with Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. 

But I caved to peer pressure and bought it and it’s the first book I’m sharing this August.

I love reading about the music scene in the sixties and seventies. This one is supposed to be inspired by James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, and crew. It made for some really juicy reading. I was very tempted to have Mitchell’s Blue playing on repeat all month long, even after I finished reading it.

This was a fun read. It gives really good insight into the business side of the music industry and also a bit of the sexism women face within the industry. It would be a great beachy read to take on vacation this August.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood by Quentin Tarantino

I’ll be up front. I didn’t get super far into this one because some stuff came up, but I am really digging it. The thing I love most about it is its place within literary history. It’s a brand new book. But it’s written in the tradition of pulpy novelizations of films and I think that’s so fun. Even the design of the book pays homage to the history.

I really enjoyed the film, so I was ecstatic when I saw Tarantino was novelizing it. In it, he expands on certain parts—namely the backstory of the main characters, Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth—and trims other parts that were in the movie. I’m excited to pick this one back up at some point.

Anna K by Jenny Lee

I loved Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. So I was equal parts intrigued and skeptical when I heard about this modern retelling featuring super, crazy rich NYC teenagers. I love books set in New York. My issue was 15 year olds, who’ve never dated anybody else, pondering true love. 

*Eyes roll back in head*

Yes, the book features teenagers talking about true love and marriage and all that. But they’re also really hardcore into the drug scene and have way more freedom to do whatever (and I do mean whatever) they want than I have ever had, so I just let it go and enjoyed the ride. 

And it was a great ride. I love how Lee modernized the retelling. There’s definitely the whole rich-people-behaving-badly thing in the original, but she made it fresh and fun. I wish there had been YA like this when I was a teenager! 

Daddy by Emma Cline

I have a difficult time with short story collections. I think, for me, they’re more aspirational—I want to like them more than I actually do like them. And that’s OK. 

This one was an exception! Cline’s debut was The Girls, a novel about a teenager who stumbles across the Manson Family, so I was definitely prepared and looking forward to something equally gritty. And she did not disappoint. Each story in this collection is about a different pretty screwed up person who is trying to navigate life in a normal way, but things just don’t click. It made for really entertaining reading. 

The Witches Are Coming by Lindy West

I really love how Lindy West can write passionately, intelligently, and humorously about super serious topics. In this collection of essays, she’s taking on 2016-2018 American culture. The reading is enjoyable because her writing is that powerful, but I almost feel like I read it at the wrong time. Since the book is about current events, I am just far enough removed for information to be a bit dated (like reading a newspaper from 2 months ago), but not far enough for there to be perspective.

Still, it’s a great read and I love Lindy West!

Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski

Recently, Burnout by Nagoski and her sister came across my radar. I bought it. In the course of checking out the author bios and blurbs, I came across this book, so I decided to read it first. This book is fantastic! I am still reading it, but so far the most interesting part so far is the stress response cycle. Fortunately for me, the stress response cycle is the focus of Burnout. 

That’s what I’ve got for August. I’ll be back next month with another batch of books.

Total Books Read in 2021: 22

Tell me in the comment below: What’s on your TBR for August?

Lori Walker is the Operations Maven at DIY MFA. Though she’s fallen off the wagon as a writer, she’s hoping to return to writing essays (perhaps even a novel!) through her involvement with DIY MFA. She is also Launch Manager, Web Editor, and Podcast Producer for DIY MFA and a Book Coach. She resides in Smalltown, Oklahoma, with her husband and their cat, Joan Didion. You can follow her on Instagram.

The post The Book Nook — August Edition appeared first on DIY MFA.

Sharon is the author of the new novel Half, which has received accolades from places like Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Foreword Reviews, and the New York Journal of Books. She earned her a B.A. from Barnard College and an MFA in Creative Writing from Pacific University. She is also the author of the memoir Playing with Dynamite and she teaches at WriterHouse in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she lives with her family.

In this episode Sharon and I discuss:

• What it means to come of age and how her novel Half addresses that.
• Why it is important to assess what type of point of view to use for a project.
• How to use voice as a bridge between the writer and the reader.

Plus, her #1 tip for writers.

About Sharon Harrigan

Sharon Harrigan is the author of the new novel Half. She has a B.A. from Barnard College and an MFA in Creative Writing from Pacific University. She is also the author of the memoir Playing with Dynamite. She teaches at WriterHouse in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she lives with her family.

You can find Sharon on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Check out Sharon’s essay, “Changing Me to We.”

Half

Growing up, identical twins Paula and Artis speak in one voice—until they can’t. After years apart, with lives, partners, and children of their own, they are reunited on the occasion of their father’s funeral. Seeking to repair the damage wrought upon their relationship by outside forces, the twins retrace their early lives to uncover what happened—but risk unraveling their carefully constructed cocoons.

Written in spare,lyrical prose, Half is an achingly beautiful story of intimacy and loss, revealing the complexity—and cost—of sharing your life entirely with someone else. Sharon Harrigan deftly explores how fierce love can also be the very thing that leads to heartbreak and betrayal.

Suggested Reading on the We Voice

Weightless: A Novel by Sarah Bannan

The Fates Will Find Their Way by Hannah Pittard

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Diaz

We the Animals by Justin Torres

A Reunion of Ghosts by Judith Claire Mitchell

And Then We Came to an End by Joshua Ferris

The Committee on Town Happiness by Alan Michael Parker

If you decide to check out the books mentioned in this post, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

Link to Episode 344

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Spotify, or Google and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available.

Also, remember that sharing is caring so if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please tell them about it or leave us a review so other listeners will want to check it out.

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 344: A Deep Dive into Point of View – Interview with Sharon Harrigan appeared first on DIY MFA.

Today’s column covers all of the books I read in January. Admittedly, in some ways, it was kind of a slow month. I only finished one book, but I read chunks of several. Looking back, I really can’t identify what kept me from spending more time reading, but oh well! Here’s to a better February!

The February Books:

The Recovering by Leslie Jamison

I began January wanting to participate in Dry January. This lasted until domestic terrorists stormed the Capitol on the 6th. Those of us participating in Dry January voted and decided we deserved a 1 day reprieve. But for me, that 1 day reprieve was important. It showed me that drinking a glass of wine after work each day didn’t have to be a mindless habit, like shoveling in handful after handful of potato chips. 

Get to the book, Lori!

Yes, right.

Anyway, Jamison writes this amazing firsthand account of her struggles with addiction and alcoholism and weaves in a lot of great research about artists of all stripes who similarly struggled with various vices and addictions. Even if you or a loved one are not struggling with addiction, this is a fantastic psychological study. What I’ve read of it has been very enjoyable and very well-written. Can’t wait to keep going. 

Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky

I have this one only on my Kindle. And I try to save books that I have only on my Kindle for reading in bed. The main problem with this is that Imaginary Friend is such a fabulously spooky page-turner that I don’t read a few pages and fall back asleep. I wind up reading for a couple of hours in the middle of the night instead of trying to go back to sleep. It has a great Stephen King-y vibe. Pretty soon I think I will decide that sleep is less important than getting to the bottom of this tale.

Just Like You by Nick Hornby

Fitting for February, but I love Nick Hornby. Fun fact: his book column inspired this column. His fiction is so much fun and does a great job of punching me in the gut with thoughts and feels. But I actually don’t mind because the writing is so good. This is his latest book and I bought it in the middle of the night one night along with another of his books (which turned out to be a dark horse that turned into a favorite, but more on that later). Hornby does a great job of getting inside his characters’ heads without it being overdone. If I ever go on another book-buying ban (and I really should) he would be on my list of exceptions.

This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett

A while ago, I bought an autographed copy of Patchett’s latest novel, The Dutch House. In my order, I noted that I was feeling a bit discouraged as a writer and she sent me an autographed copy of this book as a bonus, with a note to read a particular essay. I’ve devoured this collection of essays before, but was feeling discouraged again, so I began devouring it again. Her topics in this collection run the gamut from writing to her dog to reviewing the RV life to her friend, poet Lucy Grealy. It’s a fun read and great to dive in for quick sips of wonderful writing.

The Situation and the Story by Vivian Gornick

If you know me very well, I’m sure you’ve heard me talk about how I want to be an essayist. There’s just something about the elasticity of the form. I read the first half of this very instructive little tome, which covers essays. I have not yet read the second half, which covers memoirs, but I really probably should because in a lot of ways the two go hand in hand. I think it even has some exercises at the back.

Naked, Drunk, and Writing by Adair Lara

I bought this one on my Kindle and highlighted so many things in the first 40 pages that I decided I needed to buy the print version. If you are at all interested in writing essays, this book will be super helpful. It walks you through mechanics. It talks about different kinds of essays, including humor essays. It has examples. It has exercises. It’s written in a really conversational and digestible way. You won’t be sorry.

Everybody Behaves Badly by Lesley M. M. Blume

I’ve been a huge fan of Blume since Let’s Bring Back came out in 2010. Our interests align in so many ways, including a deep appreciation for Ernest Hemingway. I wish this book had been out when I wrote my thesis, which had a chapter on Hemingway and The Sun Also Rises. This book is exquisitely researched and so well-written that it would be easy to forget that you were reading non-fiction and not some gossipy tale. I need to go back and read the footnotes because that’s totally where the author puts in all of the cool stuff that they couldn’t justify adding to the regular text. (The footnotes of my thesis are where I put all of the quotes with profanity) This book really reignited my love and appreciation of Hemingway’s work, which as you will find out in a future column, has proven very useful!

I’m thrilled that my local indie is hosting an event with Blume in March, where she will be discussing her newest book, Fallout, which is about the attempted suppression of free press after the atomic bombs.

Total Books Read 2021: 2

Though I didn’t finish a lot of books in January, it was truly a month of riches in terms of literary consumption. I can’t wait to keep going in February. I’ve already got some goodies to rave about in my next column!

Tell me in the comments below what you’ve been reading lately this February!

Lori Walker is the Operations Maven at DIY MFA. Though she’s fallen off the wagon as a writer, she’s hoping to return to writing essays (perhaps even a novel!) through her involvement with DIY MFA. She is also Launch Manager and Podcast Producer for DIY MFA and a Book Coach. She resides in Smalltown, Oklahoma, with her husband and their cat, Joan Didion. You can follow her on Instagram at @LoriTheWriter.

The post The Book Nook—February Edition appeared first on DIY MFA.

Maybe it’s because family is one of the values I hold dearest. Or, maybe stories about family relationships (either fiction or nonfiction) move me more than romances do. Whatever the reason may be, I have a long list of recommended books that explore the theme of family. Maybe you have one, too.

So let’s trade favorites today. Yes, we’ve already discussed a number of books on the theme of family, thanks to this case study and our previous Theme: A Story’s Soul post on why this theme matters to readers. But it never hurts to share more stories that accomplish the “how” and “why” so well, right?

Here are five books that, in my opinion, are excellent examples of the theme of family.

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce (MG / YA Fantasy)

What happens when a father pushes his tomboy daughter to become a lady-in-waiting? She switches places with her twin brother so she can train to be a knight! But as much as this first installment of Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness Quartet is an entertaining, magical coming-of-age story, it’s also about family relationships.

Having grown up with an emotionally distant father and without a mother, Alanna and Thom of Trebond have learned to rely on and take care of each other. This is evident in their “sibling swap” and in their letters to each other throughout the book. Their family isn’t the only one that’s featured, either. Once Alanna begins training as a page in the King’s palace, she learns the value of choosing a “family” of friends and confidants and gains a father figure in Sir Myles of Olau. She also encounters examples of healthy family relationships (George Cooper and his mother) and how familial love can blind us to a relative’s flaws (Prince Jonathan and his cousin Duke Roger).

Alanna: The First Adventure may be geared toward younger readers, but Pierce’s exploration of family here is complex and endearing, and it continues to be that way as the series progresses.

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin (Fantasy)

N.K. Jemisin’s The Fifth Season takes places in the Stillness, a fictional continent that’s constantly ravaged by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other natural disasters. Oddly enough, the setting’s geologic volatility is symbolic of the instability found in the relationships of its residents. Essun, for example, embarks on a heartrending quest after coming home to discover her husband has killed their son and kidnapped their daughter. In a different village and time, young Damaya finds a father figure in her Guardian after she’s taken from her birth family for training on her orogenic (earth-shifting) powers; while Syenite, a highly skilled orogene, is forced to conceive a child with fellow orogene Alabaster.

These and other families in The Fifth Season are driven by tension, disagreements, and child abuse or death. But the book isn’t without its moments of tenderness between parents and their children, or of characters creating nontraditional and “chosen” families.

If anything, the one parallel between all three women’s experiences is that the bonds of any family are sometimes as complicated and precarious as the world they live in.

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (Magical Realism)

At first glance, romantic love and the supernatural appear to be Practical Magic’s two main themes. But like most stories that revolve around family, Alice Hoffman’s bestselling novel begins with—what else?—a family. Orphaned sisters Sally and Gillian want nothing more than to escape the house where their spinster aunts practice witchcraft and concoct love potions, and to live their lives free of romance and passion. And escape they do, but in opposite directions and with the pain of resentment and misunderstanding.

Thus, Practical Magic evolves into a story about the inexplicable “magic” of family ties. The night-and-day differences between steadfast, responsible Sally and impulsive, whimsical Gillian make them a fun pair to study as they reunite, reconcile, and learn all over again to balance tolerance for each other’s differences with unconditional love.

The relationships that Sally’s two daughters have with their mother, their aunt, and one another also act as mirrors of Sally and Gillian’s bonds with one another and the tension the older women feel toward their own aunts.

Three Weeks with My Brother by Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks (Memoir)

In 2003, author Nicholas Sparks and his older brother Micah embarked on a three-week trip around the world, starting in the Mayan ruins of Guatemala and ending in the Arctic latitudes of Norway. During each tour stop, they find themselves recalling memories about their boyhood adventures, their parents, and their sister Dana. Thus, Three Weeks with My Brother is much more than a travelogue. It’s also the story of two brothers in their late thirties who are the last surviving members of their family, and how their bond helped them grow closer through all the tragedies and struggles they shared.

Most chapters in Three Weeks with My Brother begin with the world-travel storyline, using the Sparks brothers’ impressions of each location to illustrate the differences between the exuberant, take-charge Micah and the more subdued, reflective Nicholas. Then, to transition to the flashbacks storyline, the brothers share brief dialogue about their parents, their wives, or other insights connected to the next set of memories that follow. And through these flashbacks, which focus almost exclusively on family, readers learn the historical context of Nicholas and Micah’s relationship, the bonds they shared with the deceased members of their family, and the families they created with their spouses and children. As a result, both storylines use different techniques to highlight the theme of family in complementary ways.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (Fiction)

Considered an American classic, Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is the story of the Nolan family, who live in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn during the 1910s. It focuses mainly on the oldest daughter Francie as she persists in her efforts to get an education and go to college despite gender expectations and poverty. But in order to provide enough context about Francie’s growth, Smith incorporates the pasts and personalities of other members of the Nolan family, from her parents and siblings to her grandparents, aunts, and uncles.

Much of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn’s delving into this theme comes from the challenges that the Nolans endure together. Johnny, Francie’s lovable yet alcoholic father, struggles to keep a job. So most of the family’s income (and overall survival) depends on mother Katie, who works as a janitress, saves every possible penny, and ensures her children stay in school. Family relationships, including the sibling bonds between Francie and younger brother Neeley and Katie and her sisters Sissy and Evy, play important roles in the story, too. Through these characters and the bits of backstory Smith shares about relatives on the Nolan and Rommely sides, readers learn how Francie’s family has influenced her personality and values for better or worse—and how, just as we often do with our own families, she loves them all despite their flaws.

Looking for more suggested reading on the theme of family? Check out these recommended book lists from Book Riot, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble.

What other stories featuring the theme of family would you recommend for this list?

Sara Letourneau is a freelance editor and writing coach based in Massachusetts. She’s currently taking clients with manuscripts in speculative fiction, literary fiction, or YA, though she’s open to other genres as well. She’s also a poet whose work has appeared in Amethyst Review, Canary, Muddy River Poetry Review, Soul-Lit, and elsewhere. A Massachusetts resident, she can often be found performing her poems at local open mic nights, reading good books, and enjoying a cup of tea. Learn more about how Sara can help you with your writing at Heart of the Story Editorial & Coaching Services. You can also connect with her at her writer website, Twitter, Goodreads, or Instagram.

The post Additional Reading on the Theme of Family appeared first on DIY MFA.