×
Subscribe

Subscribe Today

26 Issues

In addition to receiving 26 issues of The Independent Kansas City’s Journal of Society, your subscription will include our annual publication, the Charitable Events Calendar and a subscription to our e-newsletter, The Insider. Questions about your current subscription? Contact Laura Gabriel at 816-471-2800.

Rachel’s Reads – October 2020

As we have entered a new season with new demands on our time, sometimes the most satisfying feeling is sitting down and devouring an entire book in one sitting. It might be rare to find the time for some uninterrupted binge reading, but below is a selection of recent releases that are all short enough to finish quickly but certainly pack a punch. They are all books that I couldn’t put down and heartily recommend, no matter whether you are looking to laugh, cry, or just escape for a few hours.

The Disaster Tourist: A Novel by Yun Ko-eun, translated by Lizzie Buehler
This engrossing novel is the first of Yun Ko-eun’s to be translated into English. Jungle is a travel agency that specializes in tourism to disaster areas and those affected by climate change. Yona, who used to be a top representative, is given a proposition: take a “paid” vacation or resign. This short novel packs a punch.

A Burning by Megha Majumdar
Just long listed for The National Book Award for Fiction, this debut novel centers around three characters who are all attempting to rise above their current stations as they find their lives entangled in the wake of a catastrophe in India. This novel will keep you enthralled from the first page.

Enter the Aardvark by Jessica Anthony
This edge-of-your-seat novel begins with a young congressman discovering a stuffed aardvark on his doorstep. The wackiness starts there and doesn’t stop in this book that is at once a ghost story, a love story, and a political satire.

Tiny Imperfections by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans
This heartwarming new novel had me smiling throughout its pages. A former model, Josie now works as the director of admission for the most sought after private school in San Fransisco as she tries to keep her 17-year-old daughter in line. This book offers a delightful view of the cutthroat world of school admissions that is both cringe-worthy and hilarious.

If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
This debut is set in contemporary Seoul and revolves around four young women trying to make their way in a world that is defined by impossible beauty standards, social hierarchies, after-hours salons, and K-pop fandom. Their stories tell a gripping tale that is universal about how friendship can be the thing that ultimately saves them.

Sin Eater: A Novel by Megan Campisi
This dark and thrilling page turner casts its eye on 16th-century England. Fourteen-year-old May is sentenced to be a Sin Eater for the crime of stealing bread. She must hear the final confessions and eat ritual foods as part of the funeral rite, and thereby taking their sins to be her own. Although May cannot speak, she stumbles upon a treasonous plot and must uncover the truth.

You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria
This hilarious rom-com is set in the drama-filled world of telenovelas. Jasmine is fresh off a nasty break-up and Ashton keeps people at arm’s length. With their careers on the line, they must come together to make their scenes work, which of course leads to a soap opera-worthy romance off stage. This book was a delight from beginning to end.

Also featured in the October 3, 2020 issue of The Independent
Happy Reading!

RACHEL LEWIS FALCON

Rachel became the publisher of The Independent in March of 2017 and then married her husband Jake in May. Their goldendoodle Einstein joined the family in 2019. Rachel is an avid reader and loves to share book recommendations. (Don’t miss her column, Rachel’s Reads in the Magazine!) She can always be found with a book nearby, especially while traveling (another of her favorite things).

Bailey Pianalto Photography

Ad

Features

Rachel’s Reads – June 2024

It’s often been said that literature helps us find the words for that which we already know. That is especially true when it comes to love. To me, it feels…

Rachel’s Reads – May 2024

Book clubs provide more than just thought-provoking discussions of books. They provide connection, camaraderie, and an enriching experience for readers. Interested in the advent of fully digital book clubs, I…

Rachel’s Reads – April 2024

Not surprisingly, books are my favorite gift to give. I love giving books because they aren’t just presents. They can be stories of adventure or romance, a way to try…

Rachel’s Reads – March 2024

This Women’s History Month, we reached out to women in the community to find our their favorite reads. I’m excited to share their responses below. Kathy Donovan I am a…