This summer has been busier than I anticipated and I never posted the books I read in July. That means you get a double whammy as we wrap up August (even though by the time I post this I am sure it will be September 😂).
Throughout July & August I completed 11 books and had one DNF. Not bad, although the book piles on my floor indicate I had hoped for more! I am still gravitating towards reading and enjoying suspense and thrillers – a side effect of Covid19 quarantine for me. I have however returned to some literary fiction, and there were a couple great ones. I also have dove into some anti-racism reading and plan on continuing to educate myself in this area and push my awareness.
Here is what books I read over the last 2 months – definitely some great one reads! I think some of my favorite books for the whole year will wind up from these two months, definitely some of my top ten.
Dear Edward – Ann Napolitano
A beautiful story about Eddie/Edward, the sole survivor of a plane crash who goes to live with his aunt and uncle. As he struggles with his life before and after you will learn about the other passengers and how the stories intertwine. How do you move forward when everything you know is behind you? Heartbreakingly beautiful. Do not read on a plane.
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Heft – Liz Moore
Liz Moore is one of my favorite authors. The only bummer for me with her is that I have now finished all of her books and I have nothing left of hers to read. 😂
Heft is the tale of Arthur Opp and Kel Keller who are tied together by Kel’s mom, Charlene. This was a bit of an aching tale – one where you really FEEL for all of the characters. There is a bit of everything, extreme obesity, a shut in, a fatherless child, alcoholism, a touch of everything. So, yeah, not a happy read. But through it all the humanity was breathtaking. Ms Moore has a true gift with words, thoughts and ideas.
If there was one thing that I could change, I would wish the ending was a bit different. But still this was an exceptional book to read.
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White Fragility – Robin DiAngelo
This book has bene discussed so much this summer I think everyone knows what it is about. An excellent read that opened my eyes to thinks I had not considered before.
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What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism – Dan Rather & Elliot Kirschner
I have one regret with this book, that I did not read it sooner. In a time that our nation is more divided than ever in my lifetime, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the perspective of Mr. Rather on what it truly means to be an American. I hope that more folks would read it – there is a chance for us to all find common ground.
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The Last Flight – Julie Clark
I think everyone that knows my knows I love the thrillers and suspense genres. But a pet peeve always has been that the women wind up being delusional, addicts or just down right out of their minds and generally are unreliable narrators. Hip, Hip Hooray for Julie Clark that gave us this gift of a suspense type thriller with strong, relatable women that aren’t cray-cray! Do they always make the best choices? No! Do they have some major issues and conflicts? Yes. But they push on! This was an un-put-downable read for me which has been rare this year in our state of chaos. I will definitely be reading more of Clark’s books.
🍷🍷🍷🍷 1/2
The Vanishing Half – Brit Bennett
4.5 The narrative flipping was a bit too abrupt for me to always follow on audible, perhaps there were more noticeable breaks in the written book. Otherwise excellent. Two twin sisters with lighter black skin. The run away together and as they grow older they separate and one marries a very dark man, the other assumes the life as white with a white husband. A compelling read.
🍷🍷🍷🍷 1/2
Waking Up White – Debby Irving
Another book hitting the lists on racial tensions. I do think it is an important topic of course and an important book to read but I was not able to relate as much to Irving’s experiences, even growing up near her. I don’t want to discount her experiences because they are hers, I just found it harder to relate than some of the other books on the topic I have read. Still very good points and theories and ways to further educate ourselves and better our world.
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The Guest List – Lucy Foley
There’s a wide range in the cast of characters here and the one thing they have in common is they are all together/stranded on island for a wedding. Well, maybe that isn’t the only thing in common…
This was fairly entertaining but not extremely believable. I had guessed the twist early on, and the doubted myself because it seemed a bit too crazy. However, I was right.
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The Half Sister – Sandie Jones
The Half Sister was just ok for me. I was expecting more of a mystery/thriller but I would classify as family drama instead. Not a lot of likable characters to connect to and pretty predictable. It was fairly entertaining and I kept with it to the end. Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for sending me an ARC copy of The Half Sister in exchange for my honest opinion. It is now available for purchase.
🍷🍷🍷 1/2
The Other Mrs. Miller – Allison M. Dickson
3.5 rounded up. Entertaining enough but lacks something to mark it a solid 4. Did you read what I wrote about about The Last Flight? This is exactly what I was talking about. Here’s another book about a woman who is crazy, unreliable and makes choices that makes you think – who does that? It was fine, but there are much better books out there.
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All Adults Here – Emma Straub
I am not going to lie. I was disappointed in this. There are really good reviews out there. However I was bored, big time. I did finish it but debated giving up several times. I do think that this year in its entirety has been weird for me with reading and this may have been better for me at a different time.
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DNF No One’s Home – D.M. Pulley
Book of the Month(s):
July – Dear Edward
August – Picking 2: Heft & The Last Flight
