“Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic.” This story is a classic, but I had never finished reading it before. (See: Pride and Prejudice shhhh!) I was thrilled as I read through this quick story of a man who becomes obsessed with his youth and beauty. I was not expecting such a complex and deep character development, nor was I ready for the epigrams that were scattered throughout the narrative. Oscar Wilde is a poet and a genius. The only thing I would say is that I would get stuck on his theories that are embedded in each page, and was often taken out of the narrative because of them. An excellent thinking book/conversation starter though!

“I learned that, to survive, it was best to live in the present. On this island, there was no past or future. Your destiny was today.” If you know me, you know I love me a good historical fiction book. This story follows a young girl on her journey to escape Germany during the beginning of World War II. As she journey's to Cuba, she is faced with a multitude of obstacles that leave her and her family facing difficult choices. I loved all of the relationships in this book, as well as the seamless crossover from the past to present.

“Humbling women seems to me a chief pastime of poets. As if there can be no story unless we crawl and weep.”
Another Miller story that I picked up right after reading "The Song of Achilles". This is a wonderful story as it sews together a myriad of greek myths into one comprehensive novel. Allowing you to learn more about the classic stories, but in a fun and relatable manner. It also paints the usually villainized Circe in a more complex manner, which I love.

“And you never know when a meal will be your last . . . None of us do.” "The critically acclaimed cult novelist makes visceral the terrors of life in Jim Crow America and its lingering effects in this brilliant and wondrous work of the imagination that melds historical fiction, pulp noir, and Lovecraftian horror and fantasy." What a ride. Now a hit show on HBO, this novel had me turning pages one after another as I hopped between each short story/scene. The characters remain the same in this anthology, allowing the reader to build a relationship with each of them as we get a glimpse into their lives. Highly recommend!