Note – I originally wrote this nearing the end of May and it has taken me weeks to add the images and proofread. How quickly once again the world has changed. Recent events have even changed my views on two books that I read last month, so I have indicated those thoughts below.
May was a pretty good reading month for me. We are still sticking with staying at home most of the time with very few exceptions. I am in a groove for the most part and have been able to focus when reading much better than before. I read a few great books this month, in total I finished 9 and there was also – 2 DNF’s. Some people are surprised that I occasionally don’t finish a book – but this is a practice that I gave myself “permission” a few years back and it has been such a gift! If I don’t like it, I just stop. It has awarded me the ability to just move on and enjoy what I am reading!
Even though there were some DNF books in May – I thoroughly enjoyed quite a few others. Here is what I read.
The Only Plane In the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 – Garrett M. Graff
This is a book that I experienced on Audible, which I recommend – the emotion of the stories and voices brings another element to it. It is definitely an incredibly difficult book to complete; so raw and devastating. It goes without saying but I will say it anyway – this is the Storie of 9/11. From workers, family member, firefighter, law enforcement, hospital workers, clergy, secret service, government staff, military to President George Bush, these are the stories they experienced throughout the day of 9/11. It took me quite some time to complete as it kept taking me back to this horrific day. While so hard to experience, it is very well done. #neverforget
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Fitness After 40: Your Strong Body at 40, 50, 60 and Beyond – Vonda Wright
In the last year or so I have made a pretty big change in my life in becoming more physical active that I have really ever been. I attribute this almost completely to the purchase of a Peloton bike. I have fallen in love with that crazy bike and ride almost exclusively rides that are a part of the Power Zone training program. On one particular ride, the instructor – my coach – (yes I call him my coach) Matt Wilpers mentioned this book. I immediately put it on hold at the library where I checked it out and returned it many times before reading it. I finally sat down and read it cover to cover this month and then immediately bought my own copy. It helped me feel empowered that I can do this – changing is achievable for me even if it is little by little. I find many fitness books, videos, people are over my head and it feels arrogant. That was not the case with this book at all – Vonda’s style is similar to Matt’s – very much a YOU CAN DO THIS attitude.
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Eight Perfect Murders – Peter Swanson
Peter Swanson has been a go-to author for me in the last year, I have devoured many of his books and only have a few to read still. Generally speaking, the books I have read have been very dark and disturbing and I LOVE THEM. Eight Perfect Murders is Swanson’s new release and while not as dark or disturbing as the others I have read so far – I still really enjoyed it. I loved how he weaved other mystery books throughout the story and found it unique and creative. If you haven’t read Swanson but don’t want to dive deep into his dark and twisty reads, this could be a good one to start with.
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American Dirt – Jeanine Cummins
Before this book was published, there was a lot of hype and I immediately put it on my To Read list. And then came all of the controversy. I decided to put off reading it at that time. But low and behold it was picked as the current read for one of my book clubs and I did read it and enjoy it. I understand the controversy, I do – and I agree with pretty much all of it. But this is a well written work of fiction and in the end – it has people talking and thinking and acting. It has challenged my own thoughts and I feel like I have grown form it. I do plan on reading many of the books suggestions by diverse authors and hope I will continue to learn and grow. Edited to add – I understand the controversy even more than when I first wrote this brief review. I have taken action and have begun making an intentional effort to reading more diverse authors.
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What You Wish For – Katherine Center
I have enjoyed other books by Katherine Center so I was very excited to receive this ARC copy. I think sometimes that timing is everything. There have been many books that are probably very good I have not been able to read during quarantine, it just wasn’t the right time. And on the flip, I do think I liked this book much more now than I would have if I had read it during “normal” times. Center tends to take quirky, likable characters and weave some serious issues throughout their life. She does that again with Sam and Duncan. Ultimately it’s about living life to its fullest and finding joy and that was a welcome message for me right now. Because I have so many friends impacted personally by school violence I do want to provide a content warning on this issue.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. What You Wish For will be available on July 14, 2020.
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Beach Read – Emily Henry
A cute, quirky romance with great character development. Some laughs, some tears and everything in between. Light enough to get through easily in these tough times and want to continue, but deep enough to feel something for the characters and also want to continue. Just what the doctor ordered. There’s definitely a few steamy scenes if that is or isn’t your thing…
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The Water Keeper – Charles Martin
I really was hoping to love this book. It was ok. I felt like it was written to become a movie and that is one of my biggest pet peeves. I want a book to just be a book, and if it can become a movie later, that is great. But I would be willing to bet that the eyes were on the movie prize on this one. It does portray the crucial current issue of human trafficking and I always see any book as bringing such an important issue to light as a positive one, so for that I did finish it and give kudos there. But otherwise, I just wanted more.
I received this ARC e-reader edition from NetGalley and publisher Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to both.
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The Marriage Lie – Kimberly Belle
I really liked this book until I was close to the end. But.
*Spoilers ahead.* – And I RARELY write spoilers here.
The lone Black African American Male in the book that appears to be a great, wonderful character is the bad guy. It was so cliche and in such poor taste that I just can’t give it more than 2 stars. (To be transparent – I read this book and initially wrote that sentence before the current events of the George Floyd murder and protests. That incident did not influence my statement and feelings – it is just how I felt – although I stand by those initial gut reactions even more so today than I did even then.) For what it is worth, I did see where she was going and suspected he would be the one that did “it” in some way from the moment we met him, before I even knew what “it” was. Which makes it even worse in my mind. How I would have loved for him to be the hero. Now that would have earned 4 or 5 stars.
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A New Way to Age – Suzanne Sommers
I saw this book on some list or something as one to read if you are over forty. I checked it out and read about 75% and skimmed the rest. I think there is some good advice here but overall I would say that most of the topics and recommendations are not for the average Joe. I also didn’t love the interview style. While the doctors were informative I found Sommers’ commentary pretentious and overall weird.
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DNF – In An Instant & The Jetsetters
Book of the Month: I have decided not to pick one book this month as a favorite as I truly enjoyed everything I rated 4 or 5 🍷s very much and they all are worthy of your choosing for different reasons.
