august 2025, smoothie shops

A smoothie shop opened in my neighborhood, which was initially exciting, but quickly became not just a let-down but deeply disturbing. Of course, a smoothie shop opens, and I'm faced with a human rights issue. Maybe I'll update later. Actually, I almost definitely will, but for now, here's what I read in fucking August. It's not much!

[books I read]

My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag... and Other Things You Can't Ask Martha by Jolie Kerr (2014) | Quick summary: A funny and practical guide to cleaning.
I don't know what I thought this book was about, but it wasn't cleaning; but when I realized it was about cleaning, I was delighted! This is a fun and funny book for people with questions like, "How do I clean my hairbrush?" I'm sort of one of those people, and while this book didn't teach me anything new, it reinforced that I can and do know how to clean, which is an underrespected skill.
[nonfiction, true crime, written by a white american writer and lawyer, long read]

Starkweather: The Untold Story of the Killing Spree that Changed America by Harry N. MacLean (2023) | Quick summary: A comprehensive dive into the life and murders by Charles Starkweather.
I don't tend to do "true crime," and maybe that's something to explore later. But I was interested in Charles Starkweather and Caril Fugate after seeing the movie Badlands. I get why people dive into true crime because I haven't stopped thinking about the in-and-out details of Starkweather's life and murder spree. The fact that Caril is still alive is nuts to me. I see the appeal! And! I don't find it healthy, for me at least, to keep absorbing these kinds of books. Maybe once a year. This was excellent, though, and MacLean's personal connection to the story made it that much more compelling.
[nonfiction, true crime, written by a white american writer and lawyer, long read]

[books I heard]

There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib (2024) | Quick summary: A coming-of-age memoir heavily featuring basketball.
In the 90s, Abdurraqib grew up with a golden era of basketball. Inspired by people like LeBron James, this lyrical memoir explores Black youth, role models, parents, basketball, and the experience of growing up.
[nonfiction, memoir, basketball, written by a Black poet, essayist, and cultural critic, medium-length listen, read by the author]

I Heard Her Call My Name: A Memoir of Transition by Lucy Sante (2024) | Quick summary: A writer’s memoir of coming out as trans later in life.
This was dry and a bit pedantic, but I loved the general concept. In 2021, in her late 60s, Sante came out as trans and began to live her life more authentically. Sante is a dry and scrupulous writer, which made this relatively short memoir a bit more of a drag than I expected. However, I love the thesis, the author's intellectual voice, and the concept of someone coming out at nearly 70 years old.
[nonfiction, memoir, sociology, written by a belgian-born white american writer, critic, and artist, medium-length listen, read by the author]

[reading challenges]

For Seattle Summer Book Bingo:

• Starkweather by Harry N. MacLean: "Monsters"
• My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag by Julie Kerr: "Humor"

[books I recommend]

• If you're not weird about murder stuff but want to dabble: Starkweather

August is always a little weird, and with school, my internship, work, and my birthday, it was an especially weird one. I didn't read that much, and I felt the loss of it. I dealt with weird neighborhood shit and felt the stress of it. Regardless, this all kept me going. I love this bookletter. I hope you do too.