Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi (★★★★☆)
Print • Owned (Amazon) • Nonfiction • 2016
Short synopsis: Tracing the origin and evolution of anti-Black racist ideas in America through the lives of five influential figures, Kendi reveals how these ideas were deliberately crafted to justify and maintain racial inequality.
I FINISHED! It took me 32 days to read this behemoth, but I got it done. This is an exhaustive summary of the history of racism in the United States through the lens of specific historical figures, such as Thomas Jefferson and Angela Davis, and I am so impressed by the amount of research and writing that went into this book. This is a hard book to recommend because it reads very much like a textbook. If you’re new to Kendi’s work, I’d suggest starting with How to Be an Antiracist, which is much more accessible. Still, if you’re looking for a comprehensive dive into how racist ideas were constructed and sustained throughout American history, this is the book for you.
The ending was a bit jarring for me, to be honest. This book was published in spring 2016 during Obama’s presidency, when we were certain that Hillary was going to succeed him, so some of his conclusions felt a little out of step in the world we live in today. But that’s not his fault nor the fault of the book; it’s just something to keep in mind while reading.
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (★★★☆☆)
Print • From a Friend • Contemporary Fiction • 2025
Short synopsis: On a remote island near Antarctica, the Salt family—caretakers of the world’s largest seed bank—grapples with grief, isolation, and change as they prepare for evacuation. When a mysterious woman washes ashore during a violent storm, long-buried secrets surface, forcing them all to confront the past and decide who they can trust before time runs out.
This book has been getting a lot of buzz, and after a friend raved about it, I moved it up my TBR list. Ultimately, I had a bit of an uneven reading experience. Some of the book was exceptional: the writing is exquisite, and I loved the setting: an island that is slowly disappearing due to climate change. It gave the whole book a moody, creepy atmosphere. But other parts of the book were mind-numbingly boring. There were long descriptions of plant life, seed farming, and ocean ecosystems that were just tedious to get through. There were chapters written from the POV of a nine-year-old that felt like they were written by an adult scientist. I found myself skimming those parts. While I can see why this book resonates with so many readers, for me it was just okay. (Recommendation source: IRL friend.)
This American Woman: A One-in-a-Billion Memoir by Zarna Garg (★★★★☆)
Audiobook • Spotify • Nonfiction (Memoir) • 2025
Short synopsis: Award-winning comedian Zarna Garg turns her astonishing life story into a hilarious memoir—from narrowly escaping an arranged marriage in India to carving her own path in America and launching a dazzling second act in midlife.
This memoir was hysterical in parts and deeply moving in others. I wasn’t familiar with Zarna Garg before picking up the audiobook based on a recommendation, but the synopsis of the story was so compelling that I couldn’t help myself! Zarna’s early life was difficult: she lost her mother at a young age and experienced homelessness. Her harrowing journey of finally getting a visa to come to the United States had me on the edge of my seat! If not for getting her visa at the right time, she would have had to go through with an arranged marriage.
What I appreciated most about this book is Zarna. I may not have known who she was before starting this memoir, but man, I am in awe of her now! She is bold, smart, and fierce, and I think we could all do to have a little bit of her in us. For example, when she was in her early twenties, she put up this insane personal ad to find a husband. This was in the early nineties when we weren’t going online to find our future partners. But men responded to her ad, and she did indeed find her future husband through that process. (I need this romance novel written immediately!)
She also devotes a chapter to navigating the brutal private school scene in NYC. This could have felt tone-deaf, but it was honestly just refreshingly honest and hilarious. While the second half was a bit slower than the first half, this was a heartfelt, entertaining memoir that I definitely recommend! (Recommendation source: Jeff O’Neal of the Book Riot podcast.)
What are you reading?
Ha – I just finished Wild Dark Shores yesterday and I LOVED EVERY BIT OF IT. It’s so delightful how we all get different things from books and like/dislike different elements. The plant life / scientific stuff in that book was RIVETING to me. Definitely a five star book for me. I love love love that there is a reader for every book — it makes me feel so much relief from the guilt I experience when I dislike or DNF a book, because I know SOMEONE is devouring it with great gusto.
Suzanne! I love how much you loved Wild Dark Shore! That’s honestly how the friend who gave the book to me felt, and I felt bad I didn’t have the same effusive praise for it. Books are so deeply personal and what works for one person doesn’t work for another – and that’s the beauty of reading!
Oh, no! I have a hold on Wild Dark Shore. I’ve heard such good things about it. I hope it doesn’t let me down like it did for you!
Please just read Suzanne’s comment above. She ADORED it! So I hope you fall into her camp and not mine!
I haven’t read any of these, although I’ve heard of Stamped of course. I know I should read that book- partly because it sounds like everyone should, and also I find myself frequently thinking “How in the world did we get to this place?” Sounds like it would answer some questions. I don’t know if I would like Wild Dark Shore- it’s pretty funny that the parts you describe as “mind numbingly boring”, Suzanne calls “riveting.” Well, to each his own!
I would recommend starting with How to Be an Antiracist by Kendi, and then moving on to Stamped if you want an even deeper dive! It was very interesting, but VERY long.
I have heard so much buzz about Wild Dark Shore but I DNF’d a previous book by that author. It was recommended by a woman in my book club who has an English degree and works as an editor. I now know that we are pretty much anti-book twins. So I think I will skip this one.
I am reading ‘One Star Romance’ now. I just started it so it’s too soon to say how I will like it. But earlier this month I DNF’d/sampled 3 books in a row!!
So many people are loving Wild Dark Shore! But I found a lot of it to be very boring, lol. However, Suzanne loved it so YMMV! Suzanne and I are often anti-book twins so it doesn’t surprise me she loved it and I didn’t, haha.