Sky Creatures and Us
Are you ready for dragons and birds and creatures that FLY? Spread your wings and try something new!
Conversations with Birds by Priyanka Kumar – This is an eloquent and enchanting reflection on the meditative power of birding and the interconnectedness of nature. In a series of essays, rooted in transformative bird sightings, Kumar explores her past, shares her concerns about climate change, and her dreams for the future. Wild and evocative, this memoir is sure to delight and inspire.
The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan – Tan’s insightful and engaging journal observations are paired with her delightful color sketches, making this a truly joyful read! Her backyard bird visitors are described with curiosity and wit and the wonder of nature is celebrated in each encounter.
Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton – If you’ve always wish for witty, apocalyptic fiction where the hope for humanity’s survival lies in the beak of a clever, foul-mouthed Seattle crow and his less-than-clever, but endearing sidekick dog, then this is the book for you! Humorous, hopeful (despite the zombies) and utterly original!
Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan – Dive into the richly detailed world of Tiankawi, a semi-submerged city home to humans and fathomfolk (sea creatures inspired by Scottish, East, and South East Asian mythology). Humans destroyed most of the planet, including the seas, forcing fathomfolk to immigrate to Tiankawi where they are exploited and discriminated against in every way. Through alternating points of view, Chan illustrates the different ways fathomfolk and humans fight back – calls to burn it to the ground, working from within, and by trying to bring the horrors to light and inspire change. This is a character-driven second world fantasy for readers who enjoy a strong sense of place, real world parallels to immigrant experiences, and strong characters. One of the unique elements to this story is how well done the relationships are. Each individual’s strength is expanded through their friends, familial, and romantic ties. It also has a delightfully fleshed out villain!
Daughter of the Dragon by Yunte Huang – In their review, Kirkus notes, “Though Wong was a controversial figure for her contribution to the negative ‘Dragon Lady’ stereotype for Asian women via her titular role in Daughter of the Dragon, Huang paints his subject in a compassionate light… Wong had an incredible yet short life, and the author documents it in an evenhanded, bittersweet manner. An intimate Hollywood profile perfect for students of film and pop culture.” This book is a unique balance of a zoomed in look at Wong’s life while also detailing the broader political and community context that drove her personal and professional choices and actions. It is quite detailed, especially for its relatively short length of just over 300 pages. A can’t miss read for fans of the arts!