Happy Summer everyone! It has been so good to have a bit of a break and spend time with the kids. Though I still had to work on a course through July, being on summer holidays made all the difference in terms of time to spend on other things. And, of course, a lot of that time went into reading. Now, I definitely got sucked into a VERY long book, but even so, I got through a few things this month.
Without further ado, here is the list of books I read last month, and my book reviews. If you click the links, you’ll be taken to Amazon.ca. Just so you know, if you choose to make a purchase using these links, I will get a small commission, at no cost to you.
Wildwood by Colin Meloy
This was a whimsical journey with a delicate touch. This is a story I would read to my kids but which was thoroughly enjoyable as an adult! Set in Portland, Oregon, in a wilderness set very close to the city but which is impenetrable to all but the residents of the wood. And two children. A murder of crows has kidnapped Prue’s 2-year old brother and she has to make her way into the forest to save him, bringing a friend and discovering the layered conflicts and mysteries amid the animals who live there. Lots of fun, and very sweet.
Everything is F*cked: A Book About Hope by Mark Manson
Now, this was completely different from the first book of the month. Mark Manson shares his thoughts about modern-day stresses and how we respond to them. He considers the way in which our happiness and need for novelty drive how we perceive our own lives, showing that many of our difficulties are of our own making in a world that is very much easier than any that has come before in human history.
It’s an interesting book, all told. Some of the narrative felt a bit like he was trying to be funny and missed being a bit more substantial, but, on the other hand, it made for a good audiobook. A lot of the ideas were thought-provoking and it really made me consider my own thinking when I get stressed out. As in, I am super stressed, but, logically, this response is of a scale of what one might expect when running from large, hungry animals on the savannah, rather than simply meeting a deadline. Hmm…my early human brain is tricking my modern-day teacher break. Chill out, brain. It’s great for putting things in perspective. And, upon reflection, for prompting helpful self-talk. 😜
Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
Another book that would be appropriate as a read aloud for my kids. I will be definitely sharing this with my Grade 7 class this year, as it had all the mystery and adventure that one could hope for at that age. Nizhoni Begay is a Grade 7 student who has always been able to detect monsters. One day she sees on in the bleachers of her basketball game and he turns out to be her father’s new boss. He is showing intense interest in both Nizhoni and her brother, and in their Navajo heritage. When her father disappears the next day, warning his kids only to “run!”, she knows what’s going on and where the monsters are. Nizhoni, her brother, and her best friend embark on a quest to find her father, with lots of adventures on the way.
I’ve read other books by Rebecca Roanhorse, and loved every single one of them. This is the first time I’ve read one of her young adult offerings, and it’s just as good as the others! Really good book, and amazing author if you have not yet tried her work.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
A twisty-turny telling of the old warning: “be careful what you wish for”. Addie, 300 years ago, makes a bargain for her own independence, and is condemned to live by the letter of it for centuries. This story really stuck with me. I loved the paths that she and the characters took in the novel. Schwab shows immense skill in how she takes her invented premise, then writes a tale that felt so very realistic.
This story is both believable and full of magic. It shows the importance of being seen, having others know us, and the human need for connection. I loved this one.
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
1984, Tokyo. A woman enters a parallel world. A writer becomes a ghostwriter. A 17-year old student experiences visions. An elderly woman runs a shelter for abused women. A private investigator seeks answers. A mysterious cult joins, divides, and enters a competitive real estate market. A television-fee collector demonstrates obsessive passion for doing his job well. All these characters become interwoven in this story in a seamless and fascinating way.
I really enjoyed this book. It was surprisingly long, though, as I read it on my Kobo Ereader, I couldn’t actually tell you how long, only that it took me a long time to read. However, I really enjoyed seeing all the different plot lines come together in this novel. The story was fascinating, but, even more so, the way that Murakami was able to take such disparate tales and bring the together into a conclusion that was satisfying and fulfilled earlier foreshadowing was downright impressive.
What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad
This book describes the struggle and journey of one nine year old refugee boy who washes up on the beach of a northern Mediterranean Island. This unnamed island is analogous to any of the coastlines along the Mediterranean sea that so frequently and tragically see broken boats and refugees washed up upon them. The single surviving child and a girl who lives on the island, a 15 year old with her own tale to tell, share this story. The timeline bounces back and forth from present day to the past, describing the journey of the boy and how he came to be on the boat.
This was such a necessary book. Like al Akkad’s previous work, American War, it was so evocative of the way things are. The language is both concise and evocative, and includes the strange kindnesses and ignorant brutality that are so frequently part of these journeys. It’s an excellent book and I highly recommend it.
So there they are – book reviews for last month
I really enjoyed my reading this month. While reading a variety of books, it was fun to bounce around from subject to subject. I am definitely someone who does not read a whole series all together, one after the other. Instead, I prefer to have each book differ, sometimes wildly, from the one that came before it, and then circle back to the next in a series when I am feeling like revisiting a world or set of characters .
How about you? Are you a steadfast finisher of the full works of an author before moving onto the next? Or do you flit about, landing lightly upon each author or subject as the whim strikes you, revisiting those who are memorable enough to grab your attention? I would love to know. You could answer in the comments below or send me a message on the About Me page.
Until next time, happy reading, Friends!
Great choices!