Snowden: Review Haiku

A primer, with an
agenda. Is he a
patriot? Or traitor?

Snowden by Ted Rall. Seven Stories Press, 2015, 224 pages.

The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl: Review Haiku

If you haven't heard
of Issa Rae, consider
this your one-stop shop.

The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae. Atria, 2015, 204 pages.

Step Aside, Pops: Review Haiku

When you don't know what
to get your smart-a$$ friends for
their birthdays, try this.

Step Aside, Pops: A Hark! A Vagrant! Collection by Kate Beaton. Drawn & Quarterly, 2015,

The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine: Review Haiku

Smith is my new Meg Cabot:
all the books are the same,
but I can't stop.

The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine (The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series) by Alexander McCall Smith. Pantheon, 2015, 213 pages.

St. Paul: Review Haiku

As we approach Holy
Week, a clear-eyed look at
maybe-not a jerk.

St. Paul: The Apostle We Love to Hate by Karen Armstrong. New Harvest, 2015, 143 pages.

Lafayette in the Somewhat United States: Review Haiku

He's taking this horse
by the reins, makin' Redcoats
redder with bloodstains.

Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell. Riverhead, 2015, 288 pages.

The Relevance of Religion: Review Haiku

In this Lenten
political season, some timely
manna for thought.

The Relevance of Religion: How Faithful People Can Change Politics by John Danforth. Random, 2015, 268 pages.

The Shift: Review Haiku

More medical-memoir
p0rn? YES PLEASE. Nurses are
effing magical.

The Shift: One Nurse, Twelve Hours, Four Patients' Lives by Theresa Brown. Algonquin, 2015, 256 pages.

Tricky Twenty-Two: Review Haiku

Too easy to figure
out, but the flea collars
were pretty inspired.

Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich. BDD, 2015, 304 pages.

Penguins with People Problems: Review Haiku

You're going to wish
you'd gotten this in your stocking.
(Commence guffaws.)

Penguins with People Problems by Mary Laura Philpott. Penguin, 2015, 112 pages.

Unfinished Business: Review Haiku

Clear-eyed assessment
of problems and solutions
with work and family.

Unfinished Business: Women, Men, Work, Family by Anne-Marie Slaughter. Random, 2015, 328 pages.

Exquisite Corpse: Review Haiku

Well, if this is not
delicious, shocking revenge,
I don't know what is.

Exquisite Corpse by Penelope Bagieu. First Second, 2015, 124 pages.

Come Rain or Come Shine: Review Haiku

Just as sweet as
orange marmalade cake -- and just
as believable.

Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon. Putnam, 2015, 304 pages.

Good Mourning: Review Haiku

Insanely rich girl
takes job at funeral home;
friends, family gape.

Good Mourning by Elizabeth Meyer. Gallery Books, 2015, 280 pages.

Furiously Happy: Review Haiku

Come for the promise
of taxidermy; stay for
the affirmations.

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book about Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson. Flatiron Books, 2015, 329 pages.

Irrationally Yours: Review Haiku

Perfect stocking stuffer/
Secret Santa gift for
your acquaintances.

Irrationally Yours by Dan Ariely. Harper, 2015, 240 pages.

We Should All Be Feminists: Review Haiku

A stocking stuffer
for all the feminists
in your whole family.

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Anchor, 2015, 65 pages.

Royal Wedding: Review Haiku

The weirdest part was

reading the middle-school version

before this one.

Royal Wedding (Princess Diaries) by Meg Cabot. Morrow, 2015, 448 pages.

Syllabus: Review Haiku

Now and forever,

Lynda Barry is the funk
queen of everywhere.

Syllabus: Notes from an Accidental Professor by Lynda Barry. Drawn and Quarterly, 2014, 200 pages.

March, Book 2: Review Haiku

How long shall my
enemy be exalted over
me, O my Lord?

March: Book 2 by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell. Top Shelf, 2015, 192 pages.