Emi's Brilligs
Emi loves reading gothic fiction, science journalism, and books that will make you cry. She hopes you give one a chance and enjoy them!
Odder is a fantastic read for any kid who says they want to be a marine biologist when they grow up! It follows Odder the otter, who's curious spirit gets her into some trouble, but also helps her to learn and grow, The book explores friendship, communication skills, and the world of animal rehabilitation. It's also a great step up from an early reading level!
Assassin's Apprentice is the first in the Farseer trilogy. It is a sprawling fantasy epic that follows the life of the soon-to-be King's illegitimate son Fitz. The book does an incredible job at showing how the discovery of his existence sends a shockwave through the already tumultuous political landscape of the Six Duchies, the realm in which it takes place. Any fantasy elements highlight the main character's coming of age as an outsider rather than completely override the narrative. Assassin's Apprentice read like a fantasy War and Peace!
This book explores the history of opium, caffeine, and mescaline, and how these three plants/compounds impacted human society. Pollan has such a clear, kind voice when challenging our pre-conceived notions on drugs coming from natural sources and how demonizing certain plants has directly played into the U.S. war on drugs. This was a really interesting read, and it completely changed my relationship with coffee!
This is a big weird sapphic love story about a woman who transcribes sessions for a sex therapist in Hudson, NY. She finds herself falling in love with one of his clients through her job as an unofficial eavesdropper. At times absurdly funny, at times unnerving, Big Swiss is sure to be a page turner if you're a fan of offbeat characters and how their personal traumas inform their relationships with each other and themselves.