ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
SUMMER READING cont .
THE MARS ROOM BY RACHEL KUSHNER STARFISH BY AKEMI DAWN BOWMAN
The Mars Room begins unusually , with the protagonist , Romy , on a prison bus headed for jail . She is to serve two consecutive life terms at Stanville Women ’ s Correctional Facility . She leaves behind the world she once knew and her seven-year-old son and now must adapt to a new life complete with violence ( by guards and prisoners ) and women struggling to get by . But then Romy receives news from the outside that could give her a lifeline . Can she do it ? Or will she wither away inside ?
Poor Kiko … this novel by the acclaimed Akemi Dawn Bowman does not start well for her . She is rejected by her dream school and then her uncle – an abuser – moves in with her family . So when Kiko is invited by a family friend to tour the art schools across the West Coast of America , she goes without a second thought . This book is the story of her journey during which she learns more about herself and her art than she ever thought possible .
THE PERFECT STRANGER BY MEGAN MIRANDA
TANGERINE BY CHRISTINE MANGAN
Two friends want a new start and move together to rural Pennsylvania . Leah and Emmy want to begin again somewhere new where they know no one and can settle into their lives once more . But their idyllic ideas are not meant to be . Shortly after arriving , a woman who looks strangely like Leah is assaulted , and then Emmy disappears . Has she gone on purpose ? Or was she taken ? This mystery story has all the elements needed to keep the pages turning .
Alice and her husband John travel to Tangier , but when they arrive , Alice ’ s former friend , Lucy , is there too . Coincidence or something more sinister and deliberate ? As the novel goes on , the reasons for the pair falling out become clearer , and everyone must reevaluate how they feel about one another as secrets are revealed and old feelings are remembered .
THE FAVOURITE SISTER BY JESSICAL KNOLL
A reality show that ends in murder … we may have all wondered about it , but in this novel , which is in turn both comedic and tragic , the story really unfolds . Five self-made women who appear on the reality show Goal Diggers are household names . The viewers love the show for the backstabbing and the social media comments that are also so scathing ( and which the producers are behind ), but when one of the stars is killed and a real murder investigation has to take place , that ’ s when things get serious .
FEEL FREE BY ZADIE SMITH
Zadie Smith is well known and well-loved for her fiction , but this book is a little different . It consists of a number of fascinating and cleverly conceived essays on everything from politics to culture and the prevalence of social media . Whether you ’ re a fan of Smith ’ s other work , or if you enjoy social comment and ideas , this book will satisfy .
THE HOUSE OF IMPOSSIBLE BEAUTIES BY JOSEPH CASSARA
If you have ever seen the documentary Paris is Burning , you ’ ll know about the real House of Xtravaganza . The House of Impossible Beauties takes this as its inspiration and goes on to explore the gorgeously fabulous 1980 ’ s subculture as it follows a group of beautiful young people in New York .
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