Books I finished reading in March 2026 (and also Persepolis 2 since I forgot to add to my previous reading log whoops)
Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi
As a memoir about an Iranian returning to Iran after the Islamic regime was fully established, this is an extremely relevant book in the current political climate. Satrapi does a great job at showing how she feels at different moments of her life, the simple drawings add a lot to her words. We see both the positives and the negatives at every step of the way as well as her evolving relationships with everyone around her. This and its predecessor are powerful books that show the day-to-day realities of Iranian women in the late 20th century.
Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die by Greer Stothers
This is a fun fantasy debut novel by Greer Stothers. It's an easy read with plenty of twists so it's perfect if you want something silly and quick. The characters definitely need to be fleshed out more, but, as this is the first in a series, I assume we will learn more about them in later books. I did appreciate that elves are explicitly racist and awful instead of them just subconsciously mirroring the author's racist idea of the perfect people, as is often the case in fantasy. Overall, although not perfect, the series has potential.
Why Sharks Matter by David Shiffman
I had been wanting to read this book for years. For a long time now, I've appreciated Shiffman's social media presence and his educational outreach, always seeking to correct misinformation regarding ocean-related science (often, of course, centering sharks). Why Sharks Matter definitely lived up to its expectations. I learned a lot and the book managed to change my perspective on a couple of topics now that I am more informed. I greatly appreciated that Shiffman made an effort to spotlight female scientists as well as scientists of colour, including their opinions on subjects related to their research. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in ocean conservation.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Piranesi is a beautifully written novel. I went into it knowing nothing about it as I had heard that is the ideal reading experience; the sense of unknown definitely kept me on my toes during the entire book. While reading, the reader slowly pieces together everything that's happening around Piranesi, the main character. The setting itself is also a character, similar to how the House in House of Leaves is its own entity within the novel. I would've loved to explore more of how the world of Piranesi works, but the choice of main character unfortunately limits that exploration. Regardless, this is a beautiful book and I highly recommend it.
