I haven’t done one of these for a while, but I thought it might be a good thing to start again. I’ve been reading a little bit more this year, and as a result my reviews aren’t up to date with my reading. This is a good way to give a brief overview of what I’ve been reading in a more timely manner! I think I might also do the first three months of the year really, really late. We’ll see how this goes!
APRIL
I mostly enjoyed Homeland Elegies. Well, maybe enjoyed isn’t the right word. I mostly felt like I was glad I was reading it, and that I was getting something from it. The first half of the book I felt like it might be a favourite. The second half was a little rocky. Not bad, though, and gave me a lot to think about. A Children’s Bible was interesting, but not one I really enjoyed all that much. I’m not religious, so I don’t have a background in or connection to Biblical themes, and while this book doesn’t require that you do, I think it will offer more to those who have such a background. Real Life was the first of my official books read for this year’s BookTube Prize. I had a hard time feeling my way into it, but at the same time I can see why it has been so widely talked about and has meant so much to many readers. I had a hard time connecting to the character and the plot, so though I think the themes are important, I didn’t have much of an emotional stake in it. Many others have not felt that disconnect, though, and have loved it, so I definitely think that if it appeals to you, you should give it a try.
MAY
Writers and Lovers was my first Lily King book. It was alright, I wanted to know what was going to happen and could empathize with some of the experiences the main character had. But like with Real Life, I didn’t feel fully invested in it, and since finishing I haven’t thought back on it much. Shuggie Bain, on the other hand, was impossible not to connect to. It’s a deeply emotional and distressing read, but at the same time full of beauty and love. It delivered the emotional complexity I tend to love in my books, and the writing was brilliant. I can see why it has been getting so much attention, particularly as it’s a debut. The Glass Hotel is Emily St. John Mandel’s newest book, and one I’ve been looking forward to reading. I love Mandel’s writing – it is always haunting, a bit disturbing, full of the contradictions of human nature and not at all worried about the comfort of the reader. In the best possible way. Broken is potentially my favourite book of the year so far, which is really saying something. I adore Jenny Lawson. Her sense of humour is right down my street, her experiences with mental and physical health issues are similar enough to my own to give me a sense of solidarity and recognition.
I was excited to try Piranesi. I had heard glowing praise and not a single bit of criticism. I think this was my downfall. My expectations being far too high. It wasn’t a bad book – in fact, I really enjoyed some elements of it. But some of it felt meandery, some of it was repetitive, some if it was overly complex in ways that didn’t add to the story. It just wasn’t totally my thing. I’m Still Here, on the other hand was. I have had this book on my shelves for so long that I kind of stopped seeing it. But I finally got to it, and it was excellent. As was Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race, which is thought provoking and direct. Spinning Silver is a book I never would have chosen for myself, but one of my best friends recommended it to me and he was right – I loved it. Great if you’re not into complex world building and overly complex fantasy, but want to dip a toe in the genre. Also great if you’re sick of guys getting centre stage – this one is full of powerful women.
I’m still not sure what I thought of Consent. It was okay as far as the plot goes, but it wasn’t a very enjoyable read. I think the best (and most unsettling) part of the book was that one of my old apartment buildings was in it. Catalogue Baby, on the other hand, was a highlight of my reading this year. I loved it completely, and it touched a part of me that has been feeling lonely and vulnerable since going through my own difficult fertility journey. My struggles weren’t the same ones, but some of the feelings and difficult decisions felt familiar. I don’t think women talk about when pregnancy doesn’t happen as we imagine it (or at all) enough, and it’s so much more common to experience issues along that road than many of us realize. And so important to share them so we all feel less alone.
JUNE
I actually picked up Diary of a Somebody because my Dad was reading it, and said it was amusing him. It was definitely amusing, though also a bit silly and not one that will really stick with me. But I enjoyed the journey, and it was a nice, light read. I finally circled back to Born A Crime – a book I’ve tried to read a few times and have always known I would love – but this time as an audiobook. Which was a very good decision. It’s read by the author, and hearing the stories in Trevor Noah’s voice is exactly how they should be experienced. It’s an eye-opening account of what it was like to grow up as a bi-racial child during apartheid (hence the title – it was illegal for White and Black people to be in relationships), and the various challenges he had to face and overcome. But funny, because it’s Trevor Noah. It’s a brilliant read.
So that was my last three months of reading! It was pretty awesome, for the most part. I’m having a great reading year so far. Have any of you guys read any of these books? Which books have you read and loved in the last few months?
