I squeaked by this month with six books read, which, all
in all was pretty good, considering how crazy life has been. I am right on
track with my goal to read 72 books this year, although I am admittedly a
little disappointed, since I like to be ahead. I guess that’s what summer is
for!
I started off the month reading Rebecca Makkai’s The Great Believers, which I wrote about
here. I really, really enjoyed the book and is one I still think about
wistfully, wishing I wasn’t done. In terms of fiction I also read Oyinkan
Braithwaite’s My Sister, the Serial
Killer, about a woman named Korede’s experiences dealing with her seemingly
narcissistic, sociopathic sister, who kills the men she dates. It was a sort of
witty, sometimes profound, take on the normal mystery novel, and was also set
in Africa. It was a super quick read and will definitely make my list of recs
for the summer. I reread Sophocles’ Antigone,
to teach to my students, and I have to admit that I really, truly like it now.
It’s taken approximately five reads, but I’m on board.
Rounding out the fiction was Kevin Wilson’s collection of
short stories, Baby, You’re Gonna Be Mine.
I have enjoyed his other books, especially Family
Fang, so I had high hopes going into this. For the most part I found his
stories quirky and an interesting take on family dynamics, although there were
one or two that fell a bit flat. Also, an important warning: if you find child
loss triggering, stay away. Since becoming a mom I find myself deeply affected
by those sorts of stories and found myself doing that rapid
“IwillnotcryIwillnotcry” blink on the bus yesterday while chaperoning.
I try to read at least one nonfiction book a month, and
in April it was two. I loved Susan Orlean’s The
Library Book, her account of the fire at the Central Branch of the LA
Public Library System (read more of my thoughts here). I
also read Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic,
a look at living your best creative life. It was… fine. I know this is an unpopular
opinion, but I find her writing a tad annoying. There were some really good
reminders in the book, though, and I appreciate her sentiment.
1,631 pages
No comments:
Post a Comment