Staff Picks Books, Anna M - Powell's Books

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Last Week Tonight With John Oliver Presents A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo

Marlon Bundo, Jill Twiss, EG Keller

Inspiring and heartening, this was the best book I've read in a while. 10 out of 10 would read again.
Recommended by Anna M.

No One Belongs Here More Than You

Miranda July

"Look up at the sky: that is for you. Look at each person's face as you pass on the street: those faces are for you. And the street itself, and the ground under the street, and the ball of fire underneath the ground: all these things are for you. They are as much for you as they are for other people. Remember this when you wake up in the morning and think you have nothing."
— "The Shared Patio," No One Belongs Here More Than You
Recommended by Anna M.

I Am Not Myself These Days A Memoir

Josh Kilmer Purcell

I loved this memoir. Josh goes from being a famous-in-Japan drag queen, known for his use of live goldfish as part of his costume, to living with his crack-addicted male escort boyfriend. His hilarious, self-deprecating style of writing reminds me of David Sedaris, but his unusual experiences are all his own.
Recommended by Anna M.

Memoirs Of A Geisha Movie Tie In

Arthur Golden

This is one of my all-time favorite books. If you've seen the movie, forget it. (It doesn't even begin to do this book justice). Author Goldman studied Japanese culture for decades, and the results are stunning. It reads almost like poetry and totally submerses you in the "floating world" of geisha, geiko, maiko, and their many patrons. The word "geisha" means "artist," and this story makes it clear why. Everything you thought you knew about this... (read more)
Recommended by Anna M.

World Beer

Tim Hampson

As a former bartender, I studied beer for years. I kept this book behind my bar and referenced it countless times. The information it provides is under the category of "I would never even think to google this." Organized by region, I enjoyed learning about various styles from around the world. Did you know there's a family-run brewery in Germany that opened in 1405? Now any time I see someone drinking this style of beer, I can't help but spew... (read more)
Recommended by Anna M.

Men Explain Things to Me

Rebecca Solnit

I found this book to be upsetting, and appropriately so. Though peppered with humorous stories, the statistics about violence against women are what stuck in my mind. It's slim enough to be read in one sitting, but you may want to read it twice to fully absorb the information. I highly recommend this for anyone even remotely interested in the current culture of sexism in the USA.
Recommended by Anna M.

Uglies 01

Scott Westerfeld

The first time I read this book I was 14. I remember sneakily reading it under my desk during class and a teacher trying to punish me for using my phone. I literally could not put it down. The book swept me away to a city far in the future that solves conflict by making everyone look beautiful — and nearly identical. The high-tech gadgets they use seemed plausible, now more than ever. I reread the entire series in my 20s and loved it just as... (read more)
Recommended by Anna M.

Snow Flower & the Secret Fan

See, Lisa

This is the kind of book that sticks in your mind for years after you read it. In a time when Chinese women lived completely separate lives from their male counterparts, two young girls have their fates intertwined. In a wedding-like ceremony they are committed to be best friends for life. From foot-binding, to arranged marriage, impending war, and a bee sting that may haunt your dreams, their story isn't an easy one. Snow Flower and the... (read more)
Recommended by Anna M.

Purity Myth How Americas Obsession with Virginity Is Hurting Young Women

Jessica Valenti

Lets face it — virginity is made up. Not all women are born with a hymen, so any kind of physical "virginity test" it total bullcrap. Everyone has a slightly different opinion on what counts as sex, anyway. So why is so much pressure placed on girls to maintain their "purity"? Hint — it's the patriarchy. I read this in a college women's studies class, and very much wished I had read it in my 8th grade sex-ed class instead. This well-researched... (read more)
Recommended by Anna M.

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