Author Archives: Kasia Bartoszynska

Slender novel by a relatively obscure woman author, re-released with a foreword by Ann Patchett and a blurb saying that it’s a “quiet little stunner” — sounds like exactly my cup of tea, no? But maybe I set my expectations a bit high. It was perfectly fine — engaging prose, vivid characters. The profound moralContinueContinue reading “The All of It, Jeannette Haien”

I am fascinated by (and somewhat envious of?) couples who regularly read the same books. Awhile ago, I was talking to a friend who said that when he and his wife go on vacation together, they bring a few books that they share — reading one at a time and then passing it on toContinueContinue reading “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Gabrielle Zevin”

Went and saw this sort of knowing that I was likely in for some FEELINGS, but a blurb said something about how it was a balm for these difficult times and I was like yes please! And it is, if by balm you mean a good cathartic sob fest. Maybe I’m just emotionally fragile atContinueContinue reading “Bob Trevino Likes It”

I don’t generally like a snarky tone in non-fiction books, but in this case, it felt deeply cathartic. I picked this up at the recommendation of my friend Alexis, the idea being that it is helpful to have more detailed information about what Musk did during his (disastrous) Twitter takeover, given that he seems toContinueContinue reading “Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter, Kate Conger & Ryan Mac”

This book has been lurking in my brain for YEARS. I’ve been wanting to write something about it since I first read it in grad school — it’s been part of this shadow project that I keep thinking I’ll get to, sometime, and I think I even have some old fellowship applications talking about it.ContinueContinue reading “The Informer, Liam O’Flaherty”

A friend posted about randomly getting this from the library and enjoying it and mentioned that one could read it in 20 minutes. A few hours later we were at the library and sure enough they had it, so I brought it home, and sure enough, you can read it in 20 minutes. And it’sContinueContinue reading “Aug 9 — Fog, Kathryn Scanlan”

As I was reading this book (or rather, listening to the audiobook), I get thinking to myself — I’m so glad that Imani Perry has reached a level of prestige where she gets to write whatever she wants. And then I’d question myself — wait, couldn’t I do that too? I mean, seemingly, yes, butContinueContinue reading “Black in Blues, Imani Perry”

I think I saw this on some random Best of 2024 list, and was intrigued because I didn’t see it on any others, and the library had the audiobook, so why not? And I really enjoyed it. It’s the story of a young woman who writes a play that is based on a summer thatContinueContinue reading “The Hypocrite, Jo Hamya”

I was fortunate to be able to see this devastating documentary at my local art house theater, because despite winning an academy award, no US distributor wants to pick it up. Which is pretty damning in itself. It’s hard to watch, though it’s a relatively restrained film, clearly working hard to avoid sensationalism. But it’sContinueContinue reading “No Other Land”

Although the novel grabbed me from its opening sentence, it also sort of snuck up on me, in that I suddenly realized, as I was reading, that I cared an awful lot about the characters and what they were going through — they felt very real. This is especially impressive, because first-person narratives are rarelyContinueContinue reading “Fire Exit, Morgan Talty”