While Reading and Walking

The Joy-Luck Club is such a treasure. I will say, even on reread, it’s hard to remember which are the mother-daughter pairs. Two different characters having divorces and the random-seeming order of chapters doesn’t help. But the book is gorgeous. The little connections, the richness of the story, and the emotion, authentic, honest, raw behind both the daughters and mothers are stark and beautiful. Amy Tan is such a good author, and her gift for last sentences is genuine.

is a damning exposé of the powerful Green family and all that they’ve done in our country to power Christian Nationalism and the rise of Donald Trump. This family, the founders of Hobby Lobby, are, through channels including Signatry, some of the strongest funders behind the powerful Alliance Defending Freedom, or ADF, a powerful force behind Supreme Court decisions including Dobbs; the insidious “He Gets Us” advertisement campaign; and Project 2025.

I recently saw Kimberlé Crenshaw speak. She said that many think we shouldn’t tell the “ugly” stories of history. But are they only ugly? Protestors at Selma march into a violent crowd, head held high. The story of America is that of courage and determined effort leading to change. We have far to go. We have the opportunity, if we’re willing to change, to do the work, and pull others with us.

Happy final day of Pride Month, everyone. As a pansexual and demisexual woman, it’s been liberating and lovely for the years I’ve been out to celebrate and feel included in the LGBTQ+ community. Let’s keep up the fight, particularly for our trans siblings, all year round. 🏳️‍🌈 About My name is Leah Rachel von Essen (she/her/hers). I am a Chicago-based curvy, chronically ill book blogger, reviewer, and novelist writing about books, illness, travel, and mental health.

Just some books I got at ALA I’m really excited about… A graphic novel adaptation by Jules Scheele of Virginia Woolf’s Orlando (Avery Hill Publishing). I adore all things Woolf, and this looks gorgeous. American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee (9/29, Cardinal)! Do I need to say more about the newest from the author of Pachinko? Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen (out now, Simon & Schuster). My tween self adored Dessen’s emotionally rich YA novels.

Serious things happen to kids, and they should be able to read about serious things. I chose to “read” Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak in the #LetBooksBe “Big Chair” because I find it appalling that we would keep kids and teens from reading about violent situations that they themselves may encounter, and I believe they should be allowed the possibility to read, engage, think, and heal.

, in many ways, surprised me. It’s unexpectedly meta with the way that Herman Melville brings in stories and descriptions of whales from across literature and folklore. And the first half is surprisingly funny, full of dry and dark humor. It’s also funny because Melville has an attitude about science that may have made him a raw-milk conspiracy guy today (for example, whales, he emphasizes, are NOT MAMMALS, despite what scientists say. How can he prove it? Look at whales! Are they on land?

by Mary Oliver is a gorgeous collection of essays about our relationship with nature by a glorious and beloved poet. The literary essays on Emerson, Wordsworth, and more in the center are a bit denser than the others, but give invaluable insight to the rich visual, emotional, and thought-provoking stories told in the personal essays.

omg i live in pittsburgh! are you allowed to say if you were here visiting a bookstore for your travel book?? we have so many awesome indie bookstores here! Asked by Anonymous Hi! I wasn’t, no! We were driving to New Jersey from Chicago to see a World Cup game, and stopped to see a Pirates game, as we’re trying to get to every MLB baseball park! My book will have bookstore recs but be primarily focused on more landmarks, museums, activities, etc. But I’d love to hear about any/all awesome indies.

“I’m sorry you couldn’t find me. I have been in the woods. I put myself there because I couldn’t be good. I have been running with foxes and running with crows and I have found myself a home where no one goes.” —Florence Welch About My name is Leah Rachel von Essen (she/her/hers). I am a Chicago-based curvy, chronically ill book blogger, reviewer, and novelist writing about books, illness, travel, and mental health.