Springfield-Greene County Library District discussion

Hello everyone,

May's ReadUps topic is DEBUT NOVELS! These books could be brand new or older, a one-hit wonder or the first of many in a writer's career. As long as a book is the first published novel from the author, it fits our category.

To start our conversation, comment and tell us about your favorite debut novels!

If you're looking for a title to read this month, here a few lists with ideas:

Best Debut Novel category of the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards

Best Debuts of 2020 via Barnes and Noble

27 Debuts to Look Forward To in the First Half of 2021 via Electric Lit

One of my all-time favorite debuts is Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. This historical novel completely blew me away. It begins in 18-century Ghana, where two sisters are born into different villages. One is married off to an Englishman, while the other is sold into slavery and shipped to America. The novel follows the descendants of each sister through present day. The writing is haunting and beautiful, and also incredibly efficient. I don't think I've ever read an author who conveys so much in so few words. Each chapter features different characters, and in each, Gyasi somehow creates fleshed-out characters that you deeply care about, in just a few pages. I often have trouble keeping track of the narrative in novels with a lot of characters, but due to the linear timeline and Gyasi's writing style, I did not have that trouble with this book. Gyasi's second novel, Transcendent Kingdom, came out last year, and I loved it as well. I'm really excited about her future writing.

The debut novel that I'm going to read this month is Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera. The summary: Juliet is leaving the Bronx and headed to Portland, Oregon. She just came out to her family and isn’t sure if her mom will ever speak to her again. But Juliet has a plan that’s going to help her figure out this whole “Puerto Rican lesbian” thing. She’s interning with the author of her favorite book. Will Juliet be able to figure out her life over the course of one magical summer? Or is she running away from all the problems that seem too big to handle? I bought a copy of this book last year but still haven't read it, and I'm excited about finally getting to it! I'll report back!

Behold the Dreamersnby Imbolo Mbue. Story of a family try to get American citizenship.

Greetings Heather

The debut novel that I chose to read this month is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. This narrative was just exceptional, and I adored the March family. The book has deceptively simple English, but the concepts of familial hope and unity are most profound. I do believe that anyone, of any age, could read this book, and they probably should. As I read this story, I was taken with just how civilized everyone behaved within both public, and private; such a contrast to my proximal contemporary culture. I think this story all the more interesting because the story is something of a documentary of nineteenth century America; for the novella is an account of the family life of Ms. March. I left the story feeling as though I could empathize with the characters, and a warm fuzzy feeling still endures within me as I think of this familial drama. This is such a great read, and I hope the feelings that I felt while reading it remain with me.

My absolute favorite First Book from an author would have to be The Color Purple by Alice Walker; a story of an enduring friendship. The story follows the life an impoverished, uneducated woman within the American South, who forms a friendship with another person that supplants every other friendship they would ever experience. The book is a friendship novel. These two people form a friendship and are separated by the malintent of a wicked man. What is amazing is that by the end of the narrative, I was actually crying while I empathized with this wicked man. I cannot recommend this story enough, and this was immediately the first story that I thought of; and the best First Novel I could possibly choose.

What great suggestions, Linda and Boniccal! I've wanted to read Behold the Dreamers for a while but I forgot about it, so I'm glad you mentioned it.

Little WomenLittle Women is one of my faves, too. I haven't read it in years and should probably reread it. I get warm and fuzzy feelings just thinking about the March sisters and the love within their family. I admire Jo and her feistiness. The Color Purple is another classic that I love and should reread.

Has anyone read additional books by these authors? How do they compare? I have read a few other books by Louisa May Alcott, including Eight Cousins and Little Men, but I think Little Women is my favorite. The others are enjoyable, but for some reason don't have that same feeling for me. Unfortunately, I haven't read any other Alice Walker.

Yesterday I finished the debut novel I read this month: Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera. It's about a young Puerto Rican woman from the Bronx who is spending the summer interning for one of her favorite feminist authors in Portland, Oregon. The night before she leaves, she comes out as a lesbian to her family, and her mother reacts badly. In Oregon, she finds that the eccentric author she so looked up to is not what she expected, and struggles to maintain a long-distance relationship with her girlfriend. Rivera provides some interesting food for thought on family, feminism, and race, but it's never preachy. Juliet learns about herself and her place in the world, and there are some really fun secondary characters. A very enjoyable coming-of-age story!

Did anyone else read a new-to-you debut novel this month?