Book Reviews — The Attic on Eighth

Detransition, Baby: An Automatic Queer Classic

“Detransition, Baby is a book that crackles with life.” Culture Editor Eliza Campbell reviews the book we’re all thinking about.

Literature, Book ReviewsEliza CampbellFebruary 21, 2021Eliza Campbell, literature, book reviewsComment

The Choices We Make: On Sophie Mackintosh’s Blue Ticket

In her latest book review for The Attic on Eighth, Rachel Tay turns to Sophie Mackintosh’s Blue Ticket and addresses the topics of choice around motherhood, aided by the work of Jacqueline Rose in Mothers.

Literature, Book ReviewsRachel TayAugust 5, 2020Sophie Mackintosh, Blue Ticket, Rachel Tay, literature, lit, contemporary literature, Contemporary Lit, motherhoodComment

In Fernanda Melchor’s Hurricane Season, a Dead Witch Speaks

“For, in Hurricane Season, one is never drawn out of a twister and into a fairytale. Rather, in its terrific torrent of trauma, deceit, desire and greed, only the cruel lashes of failure and poverty remain.” Writer Rachel Tay reviews Fernanda Melchor’s Hurricane Season.

Wandering or Lost? Lauren Elkin's Flâneuse

In her latest for the Attic, Madeline Baker reviews Lauren Elkin’s Flâneuse and considers how the author translates the privileged position of the flâneur – traditionally a well-dressed man of no profession who would wander and wonder around a city, taking things in and contemplating them – to cultural female icons.

Living with Mostly Dead Things

Jumping into our summer reads, Raquel shares her thoughts on Mostly Dead Things, the debut novel by Kristen Arnett.

Literature, Book ReviewsRaquel ReyesMay 27, 2019Raquel Reyes, Kristen Arnett, Mostly Dead Things, Tin House Books, Summer Reads, summer reading, literature, florida, tw, cw, death, grief, popular, summerComment

Facing the Future in Ali Smith’s Spring

Days before its much-anticipated release, Rachel Tay delves into Ali Smith’s Spring

Literature, Book ReviewsRachel TayMarch 22, 2019Ali Smith, Spring, Ali Smith's Spring, Seasons Quartet, Ali Smith's Seasons Quartet, Spectres of Marx, Jacques Derrida, Derrida, Derrida in contemporary lit, Contemporary Lit, literature, Rachel Tay, contributor post, contributor postsComment

Nostalgia and Famous Men Who Never Lived

In her first book review for The Attic, Raquel steps out of her usual literary bubble and tackles K Chess’ science fiction debut!

Literature, Book ReviewsRaquel ReyesFebruary 10, 2019K Chess, nostalgia, science fiction, books, Famous Men Who Never Lived, refugees, Raquel Reyes, Book ReviewComment

Subverting Sleeping Beauty: How My Year of Rest and Relaxation Deconstructs the “Woman Who Sleeps”

Milena Glicenstein explores the oddly familiar yet unsettling aspects of My Year of Rest and Relaxation, looking at literary influences and the subversion of fairy tale tropes.

Discussing Normal People

Having read Sally Rooney’s Normal People at the same time, Lauren and Olivia discuss the novel.

Literature, Culture, Book ReviewsOlivia Gündüz-Willemin and Lauren OlmedaDecember 6, 2018Normal People, Sally Rooney, Contemporary Literature, Irish Literature, Contemporary Lit, favorite Comments

Finding Reality in Social Creature’s Intricate Web of Lies

In her first piece for the Attic, Rachel Tay delves into the world set to stage by Tara Isabella Burton’s Social Creature.

Literature, Book ReviewsRachel TayAugust 18, 2018Tara Isabella Burton, Social Creature, literature, New York, New York society, Impostor Syndrome, contributor post, Rachel TayComment

Family & Goodbye, Vitamin

Literature Editor Olivia Lindem considers the family dynamics at play in Rachel Khong’s debut novel, Goodbye, Vitamin.

Literature, Book ReviewsOlivia Gündüz-WilleminJuly 31, 2018Contemporary Literature, family, literature, Rachel Khong, Goodbye VitaminComment

Reparative Reading and Recent Reads, Vol. 2

Literature Editor Olivia Lindem shares the books that have most affected her this season, while breaking through reading slumps!

Book Reviews, LiteratureOlivia Gündüz-WilleminJune 22, 2018Contemporary Literature, recent releases, Zinzi Clemmons, Everything I Never Told You, The Ensemble, Florda, Aja Gabel, Curtis Sittenfeld, literature, You Think It I'll Say It, Celeste Ng, Lauren Groff, What We Lose, You Think It, Summertime at the AtticComment

Mentorship & The Female Persuasion

Literature Editor Olivia Lindem considers the strength of human relationships in Meg Wolitzer’s 2018 release, The Female Persuasion.

Literature, Book ReviewsOlivia Gündüz-WilleminJune 10, 2018book reviews, Meg Wolitzer, The Female Persuasion, Contemporary Literature, literatureComment

Olivia Struggles with Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

"Rarely do I want to give up on a novel. No matter how frustrating, I persevere and refuse to consider the possibility of giving up. Yet I almost abandoned Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore."

Literature, Book ReviewsOlivia Gündüz-WilleminMarch 24, 2018literature, book reviews, Robin Sloan, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, Olivia Gündüz-Willemin Comment

Reparative Reading & Recent Reads