Nonfiction: Hollywood Park by Mikel Jollett

Around this same time of the year in 2009, I was steadily getting more and more excited for the Austin City Limits Music Festival. This is before the festival was split up over two weekends, and also before I decided that the large crowds, long lines, and incredible heat were way too much for me to take. One of the bands that I had researched and was ready to see was The Airborne Toxic Event, an indie rock band that was catching people's attention with their song Sometime Around Midnight. When I first looked into today's book, Hollywood Park by Mikel Jollett, I had no idea the author was the same man whose vocals make Sometime Around Midnight such a haunting song. And it turns out the man can write a haunting memoir too.

Genre, Themes, History: Jollett's story begins in the late 1970s in the Synanon Cult where he spent his early childhood. What started out as a commune quickly turned into something hostile and dangerous, where the married couples were forced to divorce, and the children were taken from their parents and raised in the "school" as "children of the universe." But even after Jollett's mother rescues him and his older brother Tony, it becomes clear that things are going to get a lot worse before they get better. Jollett carefully and thoroughly chronicles a life of feeling cursed to fail, and then feeling guilty during the times when things go right. With a needy and manipulative mother on one side, and a no longer heroin-addicted father who ultimately wants his boys to grow up to be kind and helpful human beings on the other, Jollett grows up knowing the script he is supposed to follow, and fighting the path he feels compelled to take. Neither one seems right, but they are both what he knows. He will eventually learn the name for what he endured as a child in his mother's house, and when he finally pursues music, opens up, and gets help, that is when a new direction becomes clear.  

My Verdict: I adore this book. I was not sure how this was going to go, especially given my aversion to stories that deal with cults. It helps that Jollett leaves the cult when he is very young, but even so, the effects of what went on there will last a lifetime. The story itself is full of heartbreaking and harsh scenes: countless conversations where his mom tells him how he feels and will not acknowledge the truth; interactions with people with addictions they are struggling to control; and even the later struggle when Jollett realizes he does not have the follow the path of his parents, but knowing that will create a sort of divide between him and his father. What will get the reader through the tough parts is the lyrical writing that is both honest and soothing, a balance that is difficult to strike, especially in memoirs full of difficult scenes. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Favorite Moment: When Mikel's dad teaches him how to fight so he can defend himself against a bully from school.

Favorite Quotes: "It seemed like writers have the most important job in the world, to make books, to create a connection, a kind of telepathy between two minds in which one can inhabit the other."

After reading Black Boy by Richard Wright for school - "I can't help but be inspired, to think if he can face the horrors he had to face, I can at least stay up late studying...I admire him and I wish so much we could be friends, that his locker was near mine and we could have lunch together."

Recommended Reading: The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner chronicles the writer's young life when her family was part of a cult in Mexico.

Young Adult Fiction: 10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menon

If there was ever a summer when 'beach reads' were truly needed, the summer of 2020 was it. Even so, my summer reading list was still full of heavy nonfiction, and fiction that dealt with some serious topics. Even the books for YA Fest were filled with weighty material, and I would not necessarily consider any of them to be 'light' reading. So it took me until late August to pick up something that could even remotely be considered a beach read, and 10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menon is the perfect remedy to a stressful summer. It is Menon's third book in the Dimple and Rishi universe, which includes When Dimple Met Rishi, and There's Something About Sweetie.

The Situation: Pinky Kumar is a social justice warrior. She knows when most people use that label to decribe her, they mean it to be an insult, but she wears that label with pride. No cause is too small, and if it upsets people, especially her severe and stern lawyer mother, than all the better. She is almost the direct opposite of Samir Jha, a friend of a friend who has had the definition of a sheltered life. Homeschooled his entire life, and used to planning his days through lists, Samir would rather play it safe, respect authority, and plan is future. When his summer internship at a law firm in Washington, DC falls through, Samir faces the somewhat distasteful choice of returning home to his overprotective mother. But then he receives a text from the most unlikely person: Pinky. Turns out she needs a favor, and as crazy as her proposition is, it will at least keep Samir from having to return home to a disappointing summer.

The Problem: Samir may be a fool to agree to being Pinky's fake boyfriend for the summer, but he believes Pinky is even more of a fool for even thinking it up. Desperate to impress her mother and not be looked at as a screw-up for once, Pinky told her parents that she had a respectable boyfriend with goals in life. Unfortunately, this boyfriend does not exist, but Samir's sudden lack of summer plans, and his desire to not return home, and the possibility of obtaining a fall internship with Pinky's mother, make him the perfect stand-in...until the two pretend love birds remember how much they dislike each other. Where Samir is all about order and safety, Pinky is all about chaos, and relishes her identity as a troublemaker and black sheep. The fake couple struggle to hold simple conversations; they cannot agree on anything; and everything is a fight. Until it isn't. Until they start to get along (somewhat). Until they start to see the positives in each other, and this crazy scheme doesn't seem so crazy anymore.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel set mostly in and around the Cape Cod lake house Pinky's family retreats to every summer (for those who are wondering how the book fits into the Dimpleverse, Pinky and Samir both appeared in There's Something About Sweetie as friends of Ash). From the beginning, Pinky and Samir are set up as opposites of each other. Pinky has multi-colored hair, loves to protest and support unconventional causes, and when she does something, she does it with everything she has. Samir, on the other hand, irons his clothes every day, plays everything safe, and thinks people like Pinky are reckless and selfish. These are two people from two different worlds, struggling to understand each other, and for most of the book, they fail miserably. Samir is certainly a product of his upbringing, as he spent a fair amount of his childhood taking care of his mother when she had cancer. And while Pinky loves to have people believe she does not care what anyone thinks, the truth is she cares deeply what they think, and wants to be seen as the protesting rebel who causes trouble. If she finds herself attracted to someone like Samir, then what does that really say about her? In this book, Menon tackles that always complicated issue of identity, which always seems to be at its most complicated during the teenage years.

My Verdict: This is such a fun book, so much so that as annoying as Pinky was to me, I still enjoyed every part of it. I feel like if I went to school with Pinky, I could probably hold a conversation with her and get along with her fine, but I would not want to actually hang out with her. We would have had different friend circles for sure. But I admire her passion, and it hurt to see how much she wanted to connect with her mother, but could not quite seem to make it happen. Anyone who has ever felt misunderstood by their parents - or simply not seen or not heard - will appreciate what Pinky is going through. And anyone who has lived their life trying to always play it safe, mostly due to past trauma, will be able to relate to Samir. Sure, it is the classic enemies-to-lovers trope, but as usual, Menon adds a level of fun and wonder all her own.

Favorite Moment: When Pinky is able to learn from her aunt why her stern mother is the way she is.

Favorite Character: As much as Pinky likes to poke fun at Samir and his straight-laced lifestyle, I definitely connected more with him than I did with her. Sure, he could stand to live a little, but there is nothing wrong with doing a little research before diving into something.

Recommended Reading: All three books in the Dimpleverse are wonderful. I also recommend From Twinkle, With Love. 

Door Stop: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

It has once again come time for me to tackle a door stop, and any book that is longer than 500 pages qualifies for that category. When I make a point of seeking one of these monsters out, I usually gravitate towards the classics, though there are many modern novels of this length that are worthy of our attention (1Q84, I am looking in your direction). Today's focus will be on The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, a tale of revenge and adventure in 19th century France.

The Situation: Young Edmond Dantes is in the prime of his life. Not only is he close to being promoted to the position of Captain on a merchant ship, despite his young age, but he will also soon be marrying Mercedes, the love of his life. Fortune has certainly smiled upon young Edmond, and those around him have noticed, especially the envious and spiteful. There is Fernand, the cousin of Mercedes who is miserable knowing she is about to marry Edmond, and then there is Danglers, a shipmate of Edmond's who is incredibly envious of his success. It is not long before a plot is hatched, and Edmond's life is turned upside down. In a matter of hours, everything is lost, and he finds himself thrown in jail, where he will languish for 14 long years on a made up charge. It is only thanks to the acquaintance of a fellow inmate that Edmond manages to hold onto hope, and later obtain his freedom. 

The Problem: Edmond may have done the impossible and escaped from prison, but his adventure (and second life) is truly just beginning. After styling himself as the wealthy and eccentric Count of Monte Cristo, he begins the long and careful process of avenging himself. But the revenge will not be swift, and involves many moving pieces. The people who have wronged him are now living off their achievements and schemes of the past 14 years. If the Count is to play the long game, and thoroughly ruin lives while maintaining his real identity, then patience is in order, and emotions must be contained, especially in the presence of the now married Mercedes. A singular focus on revenge calls for a lack of mercy, and when it comes to those who were not involved in the events of the past, their lives may also be in peril, if only because of who their parents are. Edmond must decide how far he is willing to take his plans, and if he will allow his pursuit of justice to turn him into a villain. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a classic tale of high adventure, focusing for the most part on Edmond Dantes, who will later call himself the Count of Monte Cristo. Following Edmond's imprisonment and escape is one of the longest and most intricate plots of revenge in all of literature. The lengths to which the Count will go to see those who wronged him fall is nothing short of incredible. Largely due to the incredible riches that come into the Count's possession, he is able to achieve any aim, and is seemingly unstoppable. And by hiding his identity, his enemies never see him coming. It also does not hurt that many of his enemies do not do themselves any favors and often end up in situations of their own making. As for the historical context, it is during Edmond's imprisonment that Napoleon makes his return to France, and the conflicting feelings towards the Emperor certainly play a part throughout the story. 

My Verdict: This book is long, like War and Peace long. And it is involved. It is one of those books for which I was tempted to create one of those intricate and detailed charts that shows all of the characters and how they relate to each other. There are the obvious people whom the Count is seeking revenge against, but then there are countless others who become involved, some of which are villains in their own right. What is quite possibly the most remarkable thing about the story is that it almost never boring. Sure there are parts that seem unnecessary, but even those are engaging and at least end up leading to some bigger event that the reader may not have seen coming. I mean, there are revenge fantasies, and then there is what the Count manages to accomplish in this book.  

Favorite Moment: When Albert, Mercedes' son, and the Count are able to resolve a heated dispute without causing anyone any injury.  

Favorite Character: An older gentleman by the name of Noirtier is the grandfather and protector of a young woman named Valentine. By the time Edmond has escaped prison and become the Count, Noirtier has become paralyzed and wheelchair-bound, only able to communicate with his still expressive eyes. Even so, he maintains enough of his mental capabilities to carry out his own intricate plans against those who would dare put Valentine in danger. 

Recommended Reading: Years ago I read The Three Musketeers, which is also long, but less than 1000 pages. It is just as engaging and fast-moving as this one, with possibly even more adventure and heartbreak squeezed into fewer pages.    

Science Fiction: Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi

In the wake of recent events (or rather our knowledge of them) regarding the deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police, and the protests that have followed, I felt it was time to read Tochi Onyebuchi's Riot Baby. It follows siblings Ella and Kev, the former of which can see the future, while the latter is simply trying to survive in a harsh reality.

The Situation: It is 1991, and Ella's little brother Kevin, or Kev, is being born as Los Angeles is being burned to the ground. This will earn Kev the nickname of 'Riot Baby,' something he will not understand until he is older. Now having fled to the other side of the country, the siblings are doing their best to survive in Harlem. Now that he is a bit older, Kev knows that his sister is somehow different, that she a Thing she can do. If she isn't seeing people's futures spread before her, then she is exterminating rats with her mind, or forming snowballs in her hand in the dead of summer. These episodes usually come with nose bleeds and blackouts, or they simply get out of control. Kev would love to be able to protect his sister, and his mother, but as a young black man in Harlem, he also needs a certain protection from the outside.

The Problem: When it all becomes too much for Ella, when she can no longer live with her mother, or bear to see one more unarmed black body on the news, she must leave Kev on his own, and truly discover what she can do. And after Kev is incarcerated, he must learn a different set of survival skills. Ella has unending freedom and continues to develop her power to do the unthinkable, but the constant injustice against people who look like her feeds a growing desire to flatten whole cities. Kev focuses on surviving Rikers and his hope to one day get parole, but can he hold onto his hope if Ella shows him what she can see? Will she be consumed by the anger and rage that burns inside her? Will her brother be able to join her in bringing the change she wants to see?

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction/speculative fiction book set mostly in New York City, though in her early life, Ella lived with her mother in Los Angeles. After Kev is sent to Rikers, Ella will travel all over, insisting on seeing and almost reliving the events that lead to deaths of men like Michael Brown and Eric Garner. Even before the LA riots, Ella will realize that she hated living in South Central, and she will eventually swear to never return. But it is in Harlem that her Thing will develop, and where Kev will eventually be arrested and sent to Rikers. Ella's Thing is never quite clearly defined, but she can see people's futures, make rats' heads explode with her mind, form snowballs in summer, and travel without being seen. And there is also a hint that she has the power to destroy whole cities. Throughout the book, she will send visions to Kev with her mind, both when she is with him, and when she is far away. Wherever she is, and whatever she is doing, she is constantly angry, and Kev fears that her Thing will only consume her, burning her from the inside out. It is a burning desire not only for justice, but for revenge. 

My Verdict: This book has the twin blessings of being mercifully short and beautifully written. I would not have at all minded if it went a bit longer. Even so, what is there is incredibly powerful and engaging. Ella is beyond angry, and burns hotter with rage with every new dead black body she hears about, and every destroyed future that she sees. If she chooses to do what she can do, she would be unstoppable, and whole cities would never recover. If anything, I would have liked if there was even more focus put on Ella and her power. I do not mind the vagueness when it comes to her abilities, as it adds to the mystery and wonder. But so much focus is put on Kev and his time in prison. I would have liked to follow Ella on more of her travels and see what she is learning, and perhaps even see her plan some of her revolution, instead of only getting glimpses of her anger and the future she sees. Either way, the book is short enough that almost anyone could read it in an afternoon, and it would certainly lead to interesting discussions. 

Favorite Moment: When Ella is once again able to see and be with her mom.

Favorite Character: I suppose I would pick Ella, though there are not that many characters to choose from to start with. She is the picture of a revolution that is fast approaching, but it is not clear what form it is going to take when it gets here.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Dread Nation by Justina Ireland, which takes an alternate look at history and has zombies enter the landscape of post-Civil War America.