I just finished T. Kingfisher's A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking (2020). I probably shouldn't have been reading it while also listening to Beloved on audio, since they have overlapping themes: bigotry and how it can be weaponized for political power. But Defensive Baking is a YA, and does not have NEARLY the depth of lived experience of racism, history, pain, and tragedy behind it, not does it have anywhere near Toni Morrison's dense, masterful writing style. Kingfisher's book is, of course, quite light in comparison, and that's not really her fault: she had different goals. But still, the two are not a good combo for reading at the same time.
Anyway, I can recommend Defensive Baking for someone in search of something light that also has some darkness and seriousness. Also good for a teen or even pre-teen reader. As the author says, YA readers are often not only able to handle but are eager to read somewhat darker, more serious stories than teachers, parents, librarians, and publishers think they are.
Having won the Hugo this year for Best Novel with Nettle & Bone, I'll definitely be reading more of T. Kingfisher/Ursula Vernon's work.
No comments:
Post a Comment