The New York Times features eight new book recommendations, showcasing a diverse range of genres and themes. These include a graphic memoir detailing childhood sexual abuse, a satirical novel about U.S. internment camps targeting Vietnamese Americans, a book exploring the complex relationship between the United States and Latin America, and a dystopian novel where married sex is taboo.
A notable recommendation is Kayla E.'s graphic memoir, "Precious Rubbish." This work uses a playful art style reminiscent of midcentury comic books, contrasting with the serious subject matter of childhood sexual abuse and the family's complicity. Despite the difficult content, the book is described as a pleasure to read due to its grim humor and artistic style.
Cultures collide in a number of our recommended books this week: There’s an account of Jewish refugees who escaped Nazi Europe thanks to personal ads in a British newspaper, a poetry collection by a Nobel laureate who fled Stalinist Poland, a historian’s look at the complicated relationship between the United States and Latin America, and a satirical novel about U.S. internment camps targeting Vietnamese Americans. Also up: a graphic memoir of childhood trauma, a linguistic tour of pronouns and their evolution, and two books that seem accidentally in conversation with each other: a dystopian novel in which married sex is taboo, and a history of Christian sexual mores in which, surprisingly often, married sex is also taboo. Happy reading. — Gregory Cowles
The art in this graphic memoir by a talented young cartoonist borrows knowingly from the midcentury comic-book series “Little Lulu” — but the subject matter, detailing the protagonist’s childhood sexual abuse at the hands of her older brother, and her religious parents’ tacit acceptance of it, represents a brave stance against old-fashioned cultural norms and enforced silence. If the content of “Precious Rubbish” makes it difficult to read, the playful form and frequent grim humor make that difficulty a pleasure as well. Read our review.
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