‘Youth Novels’ by Lykke Li

Despite its title, “Youth Novel” is an indie rock album by Swedish artist Lykke Li. This novel is the kind of album that you keep playing in the background day-to-day and soon find yourself singing. Lykke Li has the voice of a five-year-old that causes her lyrics to sting more than the average female artist, especially when she sings: “I think I’m a little bit in love with you but only if you’re a little bit in love with me.” She talks frankly about sex, love and about being the abuser in an abusive relationship, all with melodies that are complemented with mystifying synths that feel netherworldly. It’s an album that will stay close to your heart, and remind you of when your first girlfriend dumped you at Jew camp.
– Candice Bautista

‘Kindred’ by Octavia Butler

Octavia Butler’s 1979 novel “Kindred” is one of the most beautiful pieces of literature I’ve ever read. While Butler technically writes science fiction, her novels are so much more and “Kindred” explores both time travel, slavery in the South and racism. The novel follows Edana, a young black woman who lives in California in 1976; Edana begins time-traveling back to the slave-holding South. While there she experiences firsthand the brutality of slavery
and the odd relationship dynamic that existed between slaves and their masters.
This is not a novel for those who are squeamish or emotionally fragile as there are very intense and disturbing scenes in Master Rufe’s home. Despite this, “Kindred” should be read by everyone, both for the beautiful prose and for its candid look at American slavery. Octavia
Butler does meticulous research for all of her novels and that really shines through in the
vibrancy of this book. I wholeheartedly recommend all of Octavia Butler’s works but, if you
only read one, read “Kindred.”

By Yael Katzwer, Editor