More July Reading

All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle

People compared this one to Ove, but honestly, I think I liked this story better! Hubert tells the story of his life as a Jamaican immigrant to England, his marriage, his work, his friends, his family. His past is woven through his current life of loneliness, as a widower waiting for his daughter's visit. As Hubert tries to make friends to keep his daughter happy, he creates a group of eclectic humans who also want to combat their own loneliness, as well as the town's where they live. Ultimately, it is a thoughtful look at the disease of loneliness, a disease that kills in and of itself. The audio is exceptional - highly recommend:)

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

Are you like me, tired of WWII novels? If so, this book is worth the exception. It tells a unique story, of the women who worked as code breakers at Bletchley Park in the UK, during the war years. (think Hidden Figures meets The Imitation Game, and yes, Alan Turing makes a guest appearance). The research done by Quinn is exceptional - when I took issue with Prince Phillip being made a character, I learned that YES, he did date a suspected codebreaker during the war. I mean, who knew?? This was a fascinating read.

Boundary Waters and Purgatory Ridge (Cork O'Connor, #2 and #3) by William Kent Krueger

If you're looking for a new mystery series, look no further - this one from the author of Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land is a WINNER! And just like the Louise Penny series, each book is better than the last. Boundary Waters is an incredibly tense odyssey through the lakes district as a diverse crew of Native, family, and law men search for a famous young woman. And Purgatory Ridge was literally un-put-downable, combining the story of a decades old ship wreck, eco-terrorism, and deadly love. Each book has Native lore and characters woven through, and the character of Cork O'Connor is a brilliantly flawed lead man.

An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi, Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram, and Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri

Okay, it might be weird to put three separate books by varied authors in one review, but trust me here. All three are young adult, written by Persian authors, and each tells the story of Iranian immigrants through a young person's eyes. Emotion focuses on the teen daughter, who is struggling with how to be accepted when wearing a hijab, how to accept the young love in front of her, and how her family deals with great tragedy. In Darius, we meet a teenage boy, struggling with clinical depression in the midst of his first trip to Iran to see his mother's family. It is a thoughtful look at mental health, as well as dealing with peer pressure. And finally, in Everything, we meet a younger Iranian boy who acts as Scheherazade to his classroom, spinning tales of his ancestors in Iran as well as making his parents into storybook heroes. I laughed out loud over some poop stories, and fell in love with this memoir. What a wonderful group of diverse books for any young person in your life!

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur (The Henna Artist) by Alka Joshi

If you liked The Henna Artist, I suspect you will like this sequel. I did - not as much as the first, but it's a worthy follow up. Years later, we meet the entire cast of characters from Henna, as Lakshmi has now married and works in the mountain country, Malik has been sent to learn the world of construction, and Nimmi, the tribal girl, seeks a new life with both Malik and Lakshmi. Threaded through the life story of these three, is the mysterious collapse of a movie theatre in Jaipur. I'm not sure if I would have liked it quite so much on paper, but oh my, the audio was truly spectacular.

The Premonition: A Pandemic Story by Michael Lewis

The latest book from Michael Lewis (𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘩 𝘙𝘪𝘴𝘬, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵, 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭) had my full attention. As in, I could NOT put it down. This one is less about the 2020 pandemic than it is how America got where it did in dealing with it. Once again, this author writes a gripping story of facts that had my jaw dropping over and over. And Dr. Charity Dean is just simply my hero: “𝘔𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘦…𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯.” If you want to learn, read this book.

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

A story of three people - Reese, a transexual who identifies as a woman, former lover of Amy; Ames, aka Amy, a former transexual who has detransitioned, and is now once again living life as a man; and Katrina, Ames' boss and lover, who finds herself pregnant with Ames' baby. This is a groundbreaking tale of family, gender identity, social bias, work-place culture, and sooooo much more. I struggled with this one at times, as I did not much care for the characters of Reese and Katrina, but was so invested in Ames/Amy. I wanted to stay in their story the entire time, and occasionally was resentful when it went back to the other two characters. I found myself skim reading towards the end due to my aggravation (probably not fair), but ultimately I was glad to have read such a unique book. And oh my, what a book club discussion this book would elicit!

July 2.0

 The 22 Murders of Madison May by Max Barry

Take the multiverse of Dark Matter, mix it with the time traveling serial killer of The Shining Girls, and put it all together with the wild brain of the author of Lexicon, and you've got a helluva ride in this new book from Max Barry. Madison, aka Maddie in some worlds, has multiple career choices, the same tired ex-boyfriend, and the same creep following her around, just waiting to stab her to death. Felicity, erstwhile political reporter, falls into the coverage of her first murder and the hunt across the multiverse commences. Don't even try to figure out all the worlds, the signs, the clues, the mind-bending chases across worlds - just sit back and enjoy the ride because it is AWESOME!

The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson

Part of the Truly Devious YA mystery series, this book stands alone, so if you need a quick unhealthy snack, pick this one up - I dare you to be able to put it down! It's a delicious little mystery, involving a summer camp and every hilarious trope of the famous 80's slasher movies. Johnson's ability to do tongue-in-cheek and laugh at her own plot twists is genius, as is her development of an entertaining and eclectic troop of characters. Feel free to start with this one, and then backtrack and do the rest of the trilogy; these books are just plain FUN!

Falling by T.J. Newman

Written on the napkin during a flight, this debut by a former flight attendant is chilling, suspenseful, and all together impossible to put down. Not since Gone Girl have I been tempted to just go buy the book when I was listening to the audio, because I could not listen fast enough. Yes, my dog got extra long walks and I might have made two batches of cookies just so I could finish this audio in 24 hours! As far as the actual plot goes, think airlines pilot put in a REALLY bad position, the ultimate rock-and-a-hard-place, and enjoy the heart-clenching ride. (PS skip the prologue - it's gory and completely unrelated to anything in the book - it was just weird). 

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

If you are up for an epic saga, that marches across the aviation history of the 20th century, then this book is for you. However, strap in because it's a looooong ride, as in over 600 pages. Shipstead's writing is sublime as she explores the life of Marian and Jamie Graves, twins abandoned by parents, raised by their uncle in Montana, both dreaming, searching, finding unique lives as an aviator and an artist. Spliced into the story is the modern day take of an actress enmeshed in pop-culture controversy while playing the fictional Marian Graves in a film. The intertwining of these two stories was at times, awkward for me, but ultimately, I think I understood the reasoning behind it. Is this book 150 pages too long? Yes, it was for me. Was it worth? Also, Yes, it was for me; I loved the female-centric focus, the push and pull society puts on women who want to soar above the men, the strength and weakness it takes to be different, the loneliness of those choices. 

Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-lyimide

This YA debut novel is a a combo of satire and social commentary, amidst a high school mystery and I LOVED it! This new young author sets the scene at the very start, as we meet the private school prefects during the beginning year assembly; the focus stays on Chiamaka, a wealthy young Black teen who's all about staying at the top of the popularity hill, and Devon Richards, a young gay Black teen whose single mom has worked three jobs just to keep him in this 'special' school. Soon, these two teenagers will find out how 'special' this school is as this roller coaster ride takes off through the history of white supremacy, privilege, and secrecy. This was a hard one to put down, stating some hard truths, providing some uncomfortable moments, and a lot of tension as each rabbit hole gets explored.

The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin

I was super excited by this new fantasy debut, intertwining the idea of climate change and the society of witches. Yet, ultimately, I was rather disappointed. The plot focuses on a society of witches who each have magical power connected to a season; the main character, Clara, though, is an Everwitch who can call on all the power of the seasons, no matter what time of year. There's some tension over climate catastrophes, the humans (aka shaders) who want to ignore it (hello GOP), and a little romance with her fellow student. However, the world-creation was a bit weak for me, and some thin plotting did not help. Sadly, this was not my favorite.

Good Company by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

I was not a 'theater kid' in high school; my school was so crappy I'm not even sure we had a drama program??? But as a high school English teacher, the drama kids were always some of my favorites and this book played right into that theme. Focused around two couples, we watch their lives unfold with the small theater group named Good Company used as the backdrop. What I loved about this book was the interplay of their lives, with all the messiness of marriage, parenting, careers, health issues, and friendship; I thought Sweeney nailed that. While the middle dragged a bit for me, if you love theater, family drama, and character-driven stories, I suspect you will like this book as much as I did.

July Reading

Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby 

“𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳. 𝘐𝘵 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘱 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘛𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘺. 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮.” Two men lose their sons…one Black, one White, married to each other, leaving a child behind. So what do these dads do??Isiah’s father, Randolph, wants to stay out of trouble, after spending 15 years in prison. Derek’s father, Buddy Lee, wants retribution. And for the record, Buddy Lee has some shady friends, with LOTS of guns. This is not a story of hope, of redemption, of healing - it is a story of Vengeance. The racism, the homophobia, the violence - it is all disturbing. The complexity of the fathers’ feelings about their sons is heart wrenching. But it is the authenticity of it, the brutal truth of it all that disturbs. This latest novel from the author of Blacktop Wasteland hits every current problem in America today - homegrown terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of war, hatred of the ‘Other.’ This is a tour de force that I could not put down until the final page was turned. I understand why Hollywood already optioned it; every great actor should be chomping at the bit to get their hands on these two lead roles!

The Night Watchman by Louise Erdhich

"The services that the government provides to Indians might be likened to rent. The rent for use of the entire country of the United States." Yeah, let that quote sink in a little bit. Fishing rights, taxes, federal aid, etc.  - is it a handout, a hand up, or just due to an indigenous people against whom America has committed genocide? In Louise Erdhich's Pulitzer prize winning new book, she provokes us to think about all these issues as she embeds us into a tribe of people who are fighting to keep their tribe as a recognized entity of the government. Based on Erdhich's grandfather, this is a story of the Turtle Mountain people, of Thomas the night watchman, of Pixie the jewelry bearing plant worker, of Wood the boxer, of Vera the kidnapped sister, of Valentine the friend and sister, of Stack the math teacher. So many characters, so many connections, so much heartbreak and love and connection. This book slowly and insidiously wormed its way into my heart; it is unforgettable.

Aristotle and Dante Discovered the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Two boys and a friendship in 1987 California - can it be that simple?? Yes. And it is one of the most beautiful coming of age stories I have ever read. Seriously. This book has been a huge hit for the last eight years, and should be put in the hands of every teenager, read by every parents, as well as every adult. It is that good - don't miss it as the long-awaited sequel comes out this fall!

The Fortunate Ones by Ed Tarkington

This is the story of a poor kid pulled into the world of Nashville's rich society, and an ugly look at the entitled, privileged, 'fortunate' people. When Charlie is offered a scholarship to the elite private high school in Nashville, he thinks it is a dream come true. His single mom had struggled for years in a bad part of town so they said a resounding yes to all the perks that came their way - a new job for mom, clothes and friends for Charlie, a guest house on the grounds of a wealthy family. Yes, there's a catch and when it comes, it impacts Charlie and his life for decades. This was a page turner for me, and provoked much thinking about what people will, and won't do, to get to the head of the line - push, pull, trample whoever gets in their way. It would be a fantastic book club read as there's a lot of meat on that bone to discuss.

Bath Haus by P.J. Vernon

Are you looking for a dark, gritty thriller that you cannot put down? Found it! Wow, this book led me on quite the ride, with one bad decision after another. It begins with Bad Decision #1 by Oliver - go to a gay bathhouse to cheat on your live-in boyfriend, Nathan, and then try to cover up all the bad shit that happens afterwards. And trust me, it is baaaaaad. This book has it all - betrayal, murder, social media, deadly secrets, family dysfunction - it will keep you up far later than you want just to find out what the heck is actually going on!

The Plague Year: America in the Time of Covid by Lawrence Wright

Yes, the same man who wrote The End of October (remember, that prescient thriller on a plague that came out in April of 2020!!), has now written a non-fiction book, examining the year of Covid. I cannot begin to tell you how fascinating this book is, and no, it was not too soon. If anything, it was perfect timing for me. To see where this pandemic emerged, the mistakes made by so many different countries, the lack of compassionate leadership in countries that the world depended on for sanity, the variety of people trying ot make to make their voices heard. At times, he gets stuck in the weeds a bit scientifically, which is why the audio worked so well for me. Highly highly highly recommend this one - knowledge is power, for the next time a plague comes to call.

After the Fall: Being American in the World We've Made by Ben Rhodes

In the aftermath of 2016, when many of us were shell-shocked by a television reality star conning his way into the presidency of America, a former official of the Obama administration decided to find out what happened, and not just with Brexit and Trump winning. Ben Rhodes goes in search of how the world has shifted from the pro-democracy direction that was at its zenith in the early 90's, to the embracing of autocracies world wide over these last thirty years. He looks specifically at Hungary, China, Russia, and yes, America, but all in the context of how we got here, and how to course correct. If you're a political junkie like me, this book will satisfy every nerdy obsession you have - I loved it. (Okay, not as much as his memoir The World As It Is, but I did learn an enormous amount)

The Ivies by Alexa Donne

This book is just a YA potato-chip-bag-of-temptation! Mean girls + cutthroat college admissions + boarding school = addictive entertainment. I couldn't eat, I mean read, it fast enough. Just pure fun!

More June Reading

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

You know those books that you sneak away to read, even if it’s only a few pages? The ones you can’t put down, that live and breathe in your brain, that envelope every moment and invade your dreams? Think Game of Thrones meeting Arabian nights, creating the most incredible Middle Eastern world. Chakraborty gives us a strong complicated female lead, a rigid yet compassionate second son, and a hot, fairly amoral djinn, tied together in a world of six unique kingdoms, some political and cultural disagreements, and some pretty cool magic tricks. I was already requesting book two from my library before I was even finished. And since then, I’ve finished the entire trilogy, all 1,800 pages, all 5star reads. This is escapist reading at its finest level!

We the Animals by Justin Torre

On the surface this is the story of three brothers, yet it is so very much more. It is 127 pages of lyrical writing that makes your heart sing, as well as break. It is the story of love and loss, poverty and want, family and warped love, of identity and finding oneself against all odds. And that’s all I’m gonna say except - take an afternoon and read this from beginning to end. It broke me in some places, left my soul aching, but also inspired me with the resilience and talent of this incredible writer. Perfect finish to my Pride Month reading.

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

More outstanding Pride Month reading in this adorable rom-com, read to me in the perfect British accent. Luc is the son of a very famous old rock star (think Mick Jagger-ish), so the nasty British tabloids love him, and make his life fairly miserable. On top of that, Luc is rather immature and still recovering from a nasty break up. On the verge of losing his job over his personal life, he listens to his riotously hilarious and totally wonderful friend group and goes about getting a 'fake' boyfriend. Enter Oliver, an uptight London barrister, with a super judgmental family and issues of his own. I laughed out loud so often, swooned a few times with these two lovely men as they fell in love for 'reals' and thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment.

Iron Lake (Cork O'Connor, #1) by William Kent Krueger

I know MANY of you have read and loved 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘥  and 𝘖𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦, yet may have never read Kent’s looooong mystery series on Cork O’Connor?! I do love this man’s pen and a good mystery so of course I had to check it out. 𝘐𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦 did not disappoint! Take a troubled ex-sheriff, separated from his attorney wife and his children, place him in his hometown of Iron Lake, in the middle of the Anishinaabe reservation, and mix in a few murders, some politics, some money - you get the drift. Solid mystery, very intriguing characters, beautiful mix of nature and indigenous lore, I already have book two on hold. If you’re as excited as I am about Kent’s new book coming out this August (𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘬𝘦), a prequel to the Cork O’Connor series, trust me - you’re gonna want to read this first one:)

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe

I thought I knew everything I needed to know about the opioid epidemic, the complicity of the drug companies, the bribery of the medical community, etc. But oh, how wrong I was! This deep dive into the Sackler family, from its inception to the finality of settlements in 2020 is utterly fascinating and well worth the many hours of the listen. Patrick Keefe, who also wrote Say Nothing (incredible book about the Troubles in Ireland), is a masterful author, combining long ago history, family connections, interviews with current employees, medical professionals, and FDA authorities. And yes, the Sackler family is a monstrous entity. One of the best non-fiction books of 2021!

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren

My heart has been a bit heavy lately so I knew I needed a sweet lil rom-com to lighten the load and this latest from Lauren did not disappoint. My beef with rom-coms is usually the sexism in them, but not with this author! She creates a strong female lead, single mom Jess, a brilliant statistician who runs her own business. Jess meets Dr. River Pena (okay, his name is soooo cheesy!) who has created a new matchmaker app using DNA to find your 'soulmate.' (Okay, the whole soulmate term is also a lil cheesy for me but I rolled with it!). Of course, Jess and River 'match' and all kinds of romance, problems, and issues ensue. Fun escapist romance:)

Majesty (American Royals, #2) by Katherine McGee

This isn't even a potato chip book; its a cotton-candy book. I mean, so sweet, occasionally nauseating, and nothing worthwhile in it and yet...I couldn't put it down. I loved American Royalty and the way it flipped American history on it's nose, with George Washington saying "Yes" to a crown, and hence, we have an American Royal family. This sequel was not quite as good for me, maybe because it no longer felt so unique? The royal kids are still getting up to their shenanigans and I did chuckle out loud a few times, but I also gagged more than once, so there's that. If theres a third, I don't think I'll bite.

The First Day of Spring by Nancy Tucker

Oh my, I felt like I needed to take a shower after this book. I mean, the premise alone is rather stomach churning: After an eight year old girl commits murder, we see her now as a young mother, trying to raise her own child. The time line moves back and forth, showing us the neglect and abuse of Chrissie, the truly devastating impact on a child, the aftermath of the years lived in custody, the attempt to assimilate back into society. This book asks some big questions: is a child responsible for horrific crimes? Is a parent responsible for those crimes? Is it possible to find redemption, remorse, a moral compass? The brilliance of this book comes in the aftermath of reading it, as to be honest, I didn't care for it much as I read it. It was just so ugly and dark. Yet...I have thought about it since, rather more often that I would like. It made me think more deeply about how our society today neglects abused children, looks away, ignores, or throws the book at them - what is the right answer?

Providence by Max Barry

The Martian meets up with the Hail Mary Project, unleashes Alien on Independence Day, and we get the ending of every Bruce Willis action film ever. Yeah, this sci-fi took me on a ride! I loved his previous book, Lexicon, also a total mind-f#*k of a plot line. This one is more straight forward: Earth has met aliens, and they’re not very nice, so in typical bull-in-a-china-shop, asshole-American style, we try to kill every one of them (unlike in Weir’s book Hail Mary Project, where they make friends!). Needless to say, this was some awesome entertainment, especially for someone who doesn’t read a lot of science fiction:) 

 

June 2.0

The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who

Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore 

How many times have you been accused of being ‘crazy,’ when you are fighting for your voice to be heard, your rights to be respected, your body to be your own to do with as you will? This is a book about a woman, Elizabeth Packard, who said enough is enough. When her husband had her imprisoned in an insane asylum, when authorities acquiesced to his decisions about her wellbeing, when doctors lied and made up diagnoses, Elizabeth never backed down. And I mean never. This non-fiction book, from the author of Radium Girls, has done the impossible - written not only another powerhouse book about women vs. authority, but in my opinion, it is even better than Radium Girls. This time in history, the late 19th century, was essential in the genesis of the fight for  women’s equality; it is a time in history that has been ignored too long. Thanks to this book and its author Kate Moore, Elizabeth Packard should be a name we ALL know, admire, and can find inspiration within. Is this book long? Yep, at 500 pages it sure is. But wow, it reads fast as you won’t be able to put it down, trust. me.

“So in the end, this is a book about power. Who wields it. Who owns it. And the methods they use. And above all, it’s about fighting back.” 

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris

No one else could have written this book. No one. A former publishing world employee, Ms. Harris knows her setting, knows her voice, knows her audience, and knows how to connect. Damn. I picked this book up in the afternoon and finished it the next day, resentful that I actually had to sleep. A wicked tale of race in America, the story is set in an NYC office where Nella, a young Black woman, works as an assistant to an editor. Then one day, in walks Hazel, the Other Black Girl. And now I've said enough on the plot because this is a mind-bending trip down a dark, creepy hole, full of all the stupid shit white people say and do, the misperceptions that get turned into facts, the f-ed way the publishing world keeps Black writers and editors looking through the windows instead of being part of the solution, oh damn, just so much meat on this bone to chew over with your book club. One of the most provocative reads of 2021, do not miss this book.

Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann

If you know me, you know I'm a sucker for anything steeped in mythology. So, even tho I firmly believe Romany mythology is crap (I mean, they just stole every god from Greece and renamed them using Latin), I could roll with this story. Just think Dallas (the TV show - I know, I'm dating myself) set in Olympus, Texas where every character represents a god-like critter. I mean, the patriarch of the family cheats with every woman that breathes (Hi, Zeus), his long-suffering wife likes to take revenge on the poor women (Hello, Hera), one kid builds stuff out of metal, is unattractive, and has a hot wife (Yep, you guessed it, Hephaestus and Aphrodite). Throw in the twins and a nasty sibling with a bad temper, and you've got yourself a helluva story along with a plethora of allusions. Feel free to ignore the mythology and just enjoy the melodrama - it's pretty dark, and some wicked fun literature.

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

You know when you just need some mindless entertainment and you want a thriller that actually works?! This book is it. Read it in a day, turned pages obsessively, couldn't put it down. The premise...Hannah's husband is a hotshot tech guy, waiting for the big IPO offering to hit. Yet scandal hits instead, the husband goes AWOL, and Hannah is left with the daughter to find out wtf is happening. Just rollicking good entertainment!

Punch Me Up to the Gods: A Memoir by Brian Broome

As an'aged' heterosexual white woman who lives in one of the whitest towns in America, it is books like this that are so important for me to pick up. Brian Broome's story of his life as a Black gay man is like visiting another universe for me; it opened my eyes in powerful and profound ways. His childhood in Ohio, his move to Pittsburgh, his relationship with his parents and siblings, Brian took me into his world and allowed me to see that world through his eyes. Interspersed through Brian's own childhood and youth, is the tale of Tuan, a young Black child he first sees on the playground. Tuan shows us the societal constructs that create a Black boy in America, that turns boys into people to be feared years before they are even grown, that shows the power of parenting, and how influential stereotypes, biases, and long-held false beliefs can shape a child. Broome reminded me how far we have come in our LGBTQIA views and actions in America, and yet how far we have to go. I won't forget this book anytime soon, the perfect way to begin my Pride month reading.

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

Yikes, this one is hard for me to review. I loved his debut novel, The Silent Patient; it was a brilliant, dark, psychological thriller that would be hard to surpass. I went into this one trying to lower my expectations, knowing it was a ridiculously high bar. Tho it had potential (college campus murder, female therapist involved in solving whodunnit, weird cult-like crew), it sadly lived down to all my fears. All kinds of literary references and mythology allusions should have made my heart sing, yet the high melodrama and implausibility factor got to me, as did the misogyny and sexist tropes used. And the finale which used some offensive 'blame the victim' bs, blech blech and blech. It went off the rails fast and just never came back.

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Another Pride month read for me, I had high hopes for this one as well. I adored Red, White and Royal Blue, which was a sweet romantic story of two gay sons of world leaders, trying to make their romance work. This one didn't hit the same mark for me. And yet McQuiston gets high marks for using such a wide cast of diverse, LGBTQIA characters - honestly, one of the best I've seen. The plot line is also unique (a girl stuck in time on a subway, not able to leave the Q-Line for over forty years, and new NYC girl August falls in love). However, I think I was not the target audience as I just found all these twenty-somethings annoying and silly. I suspect thousands of other readers will fall in love with this diverse, eclectic crew!

June

 

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

First, let's just address the elephant in the room...everyone, but everyone loved Reid's last two books (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and the Six) so it is fair to compare? I don't think so, so here's my thoughts on her latest... One, she's created some lovely characters in the four Riva children, who were abandoned by their famous singer of a father, raised by their alcoholic mother and oldest sister, these four are magical. Oh, how I wish I had siblings this loyal, this fierce, this passionate. Second, I did love the Malibu 1983 setting, as well as the slow march through the decades that involved the Riva's parents and their love story. Reid addresses some deep family issues, as well as what was going on in society during those crazy 1980's. Ultimately, I did enjoy this book (especially the final 30 pages), but I'm not sure it will be memorable? Yet, is that necessary? It was entertaining, thoughtful, had some strong women, but a bit fluffy for my taste. A around a good summer read. I think.  

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

I am still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that this is a DEBUT - seriously? This book is just so damn good, one of my favorite YA books I have read in years. A mystery set in the upper peninsula of Michigan, this story encompasses so much but never seems to over do it. The main character, Daunis, is just starting college, having chosen to attend the local state school rather than the University of Michigan. Torn between her mother's family of French background and her father's Native tribe, Daunis is just simply a stud. Smart, strong, courageous, loyal, and deeply committed to her indigenous roots, she chooses to work with the FBI to uncover the meth network wreaking havoc on her tribe, and her own family life. I learned so much from this book about traditional medicine as well as lifestyle, but also was so thoroughly entertained by the plot line and characters that I never wanted to put book down. Highly recommend the audio as the narrator is spot on. Wow, just wow - this book will give you one huge, five-martini book hangover! (PS the author is a serious badass, having been Director of the Office of Indian Education for the U.S. Dept of Ed., and this book has already been optioned by the Obama's for a Netflix series, so yeah, read this book!)

Deep River by Karl Malantes

Yikes, this book was looooong at over 700 pages. Set in the PNW where I was raised, it covers the first thirty years of the twentieth century from the lives of Finnish immigrants. Logging, fishing, farming, unionizing, family, life, death, it is an epic story of an epic time here in my neck of the woods. This story visited places of my childhood where I camped and fished, used real characters from my WA state history class in high school, and helped explain why I look at old railroad ties still in the lake on which I live, as they led to the timber baron’s camp further up Lake Whatcom. So for me, it was in many ways a story of my own ancestry in my small PNW world - I loved it. Would others from a different background and homeland? Unsure. It is epic, a bit too preachy with the union battles, but ultimately I thoroughly enjoyed this tale loosely based on Finnish folklore and my own home state.

One Two Three by Laurie Frankel

Laurie Frankel (This is How It Always Is) is back with a new book! Three is a magic number in fairytales, but this story is not fairytale. Triplets Mab, Monday, and Mirabel (yes, corresponding syllables for their birth order) are quite the trio in their birthplace of Bourne, a town ruined by a chemical company years ago. Since the river turned green, their mother Nora gave birth to these girls, one who is hangs with the high-achievers in their high school, one who is somewhere on the spectrum and has a deep love for libraries and the color yellow, and the final girl, Mirabel, who is wheelchair bound, using a voice amplifier that translates her typed words, and is brilliant and wise beyond belief. As the new boy in town throws all three for a loop, seeing as he is the grandson of the owner of the original chemical plant, the story plays out. Can the town be reborn (yes, the pun is apropos). Can their mother win the class action law suit? Can the girls come together or will they be torn apart by opposing goals? I laughed out loud so many times; the audio is money, with the three girls’ voices. This is a book that makes you think about the environment and its impact on personal health, of how towns live and die due to the industry that is a vital part of their being, of how public perception of ‘normal’ is so f-ed up and inaccurate, and how three girls can squeeze your heart so hard, that you will never forget them. 

Who Is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews

Another thriller about an author, an assistant, a stolen idea, a traded identity? Is it worth your time? Hell yes! The fun piece of this novel is the characters - they are all heartily detestable. As in, I couldn’t root for any of them but good grief, I was curious to see where this story was going? Florence Darrow, a young woman who aspires to writing but writes pretty much crap that no one likes, is arrogant, prickly, and all together unpleasant. She leaves her editing job and becomes an assistant To Maud Dixon. Who is she? Just the author of the biggest book of the year, but who lives incognito and writes under a pseudonym. She’s also weird as hell. And that’s all you get as I wouldn’t want to give more away. Definitely a thriller that satisfies!!

Landslide by Susan Conley

Many trusted book sources raved over this novel, and granted, I did find it to be very well-written. However, I also found it to be rather boring. It is the story of a mother with two teenage sons, whose fisherman husband has been hospitalized due to a boat explosion. An introspective character study of motherhood, focused solely on sons, is the entirety of the book. For me, it felt too narrow. I found myself being judge-y, but then also apathetic about some life decisions. Yet in the end, it felt like nothing changed from the beginning of the story to the end. Perhaps that was the point? Ultimately, this book was just not my cup of tea. Just keeping it real so you always know I'm honest:)

The Blue Between Sky and Water by Susan Abulhawa

A multi-generational story of a Palestinian family, whose beginning story comes from the inception of Israel in 1948 and the unceasing violence between the two cultures since then. I do not pretend to know all the many details, the years-long clash, the political overview of this region. What I do know is that each side is deserving of its story to be told. Palestinian-American writer Susan Abulhawa gives us a family for the ages, of women who see beyond life into a world beyond, of family ties that cross continents, of children who are traumatized and shaped into adults. Once I began this book, it was literally impossible to put it down. So many complex characters and situations, with a myriad of opinions, choices, possibilities. This book will make you think, to question, to be angry, to be sad, to be joyful, to feel all the feels. Cannot recommend it highly enough.

Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams

I loved No Exit, Adam's huge hit two years ago, so I was excited to get my hands on this early copy of his latest. Ultimately, however, I was pretty disappointed. It read like a rough, rough, rough draft with inconsistent POV, weird plot movement, and needing a lot of patience to get to the satisfying ending. I wish he had switched up genres a bit, instead of trying to replicate the success of No Exit.