Books that Will Confuse Your Family for the Holidays
By Jules Rivera and The Gang
It’s the holiday season! You’re probably going to be seeing a lot of your family. It can be super fun, or maybe not! You’re going to want things to talk about, so why share books that could bring everyone together when you can bring up books that perplex, frustrate, and maybe upset your family? Add a little drama to the festivities! It’s what the holidays are all about!
Here’s a list of books that are bound to confuse your families straight through to the new year. Happy Holidays!
– Jules
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
This book is about a woman named Korede whose sister Ayoola keeps ending up with dead boyfriends. She’s constantly cleaning up her literal messes while trying to justify Ayoola’s actions as much as she can. But after she’s done this enough times she’s left to wonder: is her sister actually defending herself like she claims, or is there something darker living in that beautiful head of hers? This is a fun conversation starter. You can ask your family if they would help you cover up some (hypothetical) murders and see how the rest of the dinner conversation goes!
– Jules
The Pisces by Melissa Broder
I was kind of confused by this, so I feel like it would be more confusing to my mom. There were many times while reading that I put the book down and just stared into space for a bit. It's about a woman who is housesitting and has sex with a fish/merman. It's very funny, but it's honestly more about the main character having all these issues (like, she judges the women in her therapy group, which probably isn't a good sign) instead of any romance or fun sex romps with the merman/fish. Probably not the type of book you give Mom as a gift unless she's into that sort of thing.
– Camryn
The Book of Ayn by Lexi Freiman
A traditional Randgirl plot, including but not limited to Ayn Rand as talking animal Ayn Ram. A perfect way to lure your Libertarian uncle who doesn't do the dishes into conversation and then remind him that communities matter! Without other people, who would do the dishes!
– Bex
Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture by Virginia Sole-Smith
I think this book is amazing, but I feel like it would cause a lot of discussion (re: fighting) with my family if I tried to share it at Thanksgiving or something. Sole-Smith unpacks a lot of unhealthy, but really commonly held beliefs about weight and fatness in this and I think a lot of people would simply argue that she's wrong. She suggests you should let your kids eat what they want, even junk food, and that a lot of doctors are fatphobic in their treatment of fat people, especially fat children. These ideas are gaining traction, but definitely aren't mainstream, and it might be hard to defend them, even if they're right!
– Camryn
Disentangling from Emotionally Immature People by Lindsay C. Gibson
Let's get into it! Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD eschews hot-button words like "narcissist" and "abuser" to describe a subset of people– a rather large subset given the criteria– who are emotionally rigid, childishly self-interested and generally unsafe, particularly parents. Holy sh*t, this book is a read, and the anecdotes that emerge from this text are jaw-dropping. If you have a messed-up family, read for your own sense of peace! And if the book resonates for you maybe like, talk to a professional.
– Aatia
Thrust by Lydia Yuknavitch
Not only does this book have a bunch of weird, kinky sex in it, it dives headfirst into discussions of climate change, immigrant and workers rights, land appropriation and indigenous histories, and the evolution of feminism and freedom in an increasingly terrifying surveillance state. Tell your conservative aunt, “It’s sexy, you’ll love it!”; tell your history-loving uncle, “It’s about the construction of the Statue of Liberty, so interesting!” and then sit back and watch the drama unfold.
– Amali
Dyke Geology by Sabrina Embler
First, you might have to explain the concept of a chapbook. Then you might have to venture into the reclaiming of the word “Dyke.” But that’s all just preamble for this weird, intimate, perfect little read on sapphic love, never ending breakups, and the sexiness of volcanoes. It is short; it is sweet; it is jealous; it is longing; it is the sweet sorrow of first love; it is the queer origin myth you've always wanted -it is a masterpice! Pertect Subway read for fans of Maggie Nelson or Anne Carson. Your grandmother might just love it if she can give it a chance!
– Anna
