Weekly Wrap-Up 04/08/13

~ Jennifer @ The Relentless Reader ~ 48 Comments

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. 


Hello my lovelies, I hope you had a fantastic week of reading! Here’s what I’ve been up to:

Reviews:
(Click link to read review)



Read:
(Click link for more info)




Currently Reading:
Mary Coin by Marisa Silver

Upcoming:

I’m reading on a whim baby! Whatever I want, whenever I want. With that said, this one will be coming up fairly soon:
The Gods of Heavenly Punishment by Jennifer Cody Epstein
Bloggish Business:

March Wrap-Up <~~I read a few books in March. 
First Quarter Hall of Fame (I pick my favorite books from the first quarter of 2013)

I’ve started using PaperBackSwap. I signed up forever ago but Shannon from River City Reading inspired me to actually use the service. 

My Goodreads goal for the year was 125 books. I’ve just upped it to 150. I might increase my goal again at some point if I keep tearing through the books the way I have been.

I hope you’ll come hang out with me on Twitter and Facebook. It’ll be fun, I promise!


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We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo

~ Jennifer @ The Relentless Reader ~ 24 Comments
We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books
Publication Date: May 2013
Categories: Coming of Age, Africa
Source: Netgalley
Description:

Darling is only 10 years old, and yet she must navigate a fragile and violent world. In Zimbabwe, Darling and her friends steal guavas, try to get the baby out of young Chipo’s belly, and grasp at memories of Before. Before their homes were destroyed by paramilitary policemen, before the school closed, before the fathers left for dangerous jobs abroad.

But Darling has a chance to escape: she has an aunt in America. She travels to this new land in search of America’s famous abundance only to find that her options as an immigrant are perilously few.

My Thoughts:

What an amazing debut. I’ve listed this as my favorite fiction for March and I have a sneaking suspicion that it will be one of my favorites for all of 2013.

About the author

Darling and her friends are both innocent and jaded, as only children in a war-torn country can be. They are cheerful while stealing guavas to fill their empty bellies, even while knowing that those same fruits will only make them sick. The very young Chipo is pregnant. In their childishness, her friends believe that they can  get the baby out so that she can run and play with them once more.

Darling is able to immigrate to America, to “Destroyedmichygan”. Her guilt at leaving her friends and family behind is palpable. Unfortunately, life in America isn’t exactly what she had hoped for.

We Need New Names is rich, honest, and stirring. Bulawayo is an author to watch.