Another month has cruised by and being near the beach in Bali, I’ve had some time to knock back a few more books. There were some that I’ve been waiting to read for a while and they finally became available at the library. Plus, a few that really surprised me and came out of nowhere. I’m adding some of my favorite quotes from the books I love because I’ve gotten into the rhythm of highlighting in my Kindle. Plus, Chelsea does it in her book recaps and I love that.
Linking up with Steph & Jana for another month of “Show Us Your Books” and you should go check out what others are reading.
Books I’ve Read Lately
Books I Loved
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
I was worried about this book because of all the hype. My bookclub back home picked this, so I needed to make sure I was still reading along. I loved it. I loved the way Delia Owens writes. I had so many feelings of loneliness while reading it, but also so much compassion. I love weird characters because they stick in my mind for so long.
“When cornered, desperate, or isolated, man reverts to those instincts that aim straight at survival. Quick and just. They will always be the trump cards because they are passed on more frequently from one generation to the next than the gentler genes. It is not a morality, but simple math. Among themselves, doves fight as often as hawks.”
Unbelieveable: My Front-Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History by Katy Tur
As much as I cringe when I even hear Donald Trump’s name, I couldn’t help checking this book out. It’s a journalist that was on his campaign trail from day one when it all seemed like a big joke. It’s heartbreaking reading the things that she suffered during this time. She tells her story being the “fake news” that he always yelled about and the threats she received. I could have highlighted one million points from this book, but here are the two that give you a glimpse of what you’ll read.
“He is the polar opposite of President Obama. Where Obama’s rhetoric soars, Trump’s rhetoric slithers. While Obama eats arugula, Trump scarfs Burger King. Where Obama is controlled and calculating, Trump is petulant and loud.“
“George Orwell said seeing what’s in front of your nose demands a constant struggle. It’s also a constant struggle to recall what’s in the back of your mind.”
A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum
I saw this pop up a lot on social media and a lot of lists. I was surprised to get it from the library right away. I couldn’t put it down. It’s a story about a Palestinian family that has moved to Brooklyn and the different generations of women in the family. Understanding the changes in culture between generations is something I love reading about because as quickly as the world is changing with technology, I’m interested to see if and how people are hanging on to older customs. I would definitely recommend this book.
“Too often being happy means being passive or playing it safe. There’s no skill required in happiness, no strength of character, nothing extraordinary. Its discontent that drives creation the most—passion, desire, defiance. Revolutions don’t come from a place of happiness. If anything, I think it’s sadness, or discontent at least, that’s at the root of everything beautiful.”
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
A classic that I thought most people had read at some point in life. It was a childhood book for me, but I hadn’t picked it up in a while. We visited Hobbiton in New Zealand (see the pictures by clicking here) and I learned that only 40% of people that do the tour have even seen the movies or read the book. Reading it again was nostalgic for me. I don’t know if I would love it at much if I read it for the first time now, but I still think it should be on the list of classics.
“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something (or so Thorin said to the young dwarves). You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after. So it proved on this occasion.”
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
This is another story that switches narrators throughout the book which I love when done right. This was no exception. I loved the writing in this book. I loved the characters. It is such a sad story of love and dealing with circumstances out of your control. The author wrote this story after overhearing a blip of a conversation of two strangers. I thought that was fascinating. The only reason I didn’t give this 5 stars on Goodreads was that the ending seemed so abrupt for me and that didn’t sit well with me. I will remember this story and these characters though.
“But home isn’t where you land; home is where you launch. You can’t pick your home any more than you can choose your family. In poker, you get five cards. Three of them you can swap out, but two are yours to keep: family and native land.”
Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
A story about a 22 year old lawn boy that is angry and waiting for something to happen in life. It hits on so many different socioeconomic issues that are reality to so many people. The quote below stuck with me because it was a reminder that my view of the world is so narrow and small and I have to keep listening and learning. It’s not a true story, but it probably is close for lots of people. I loved Mike and his story in a way that is hard to describe.
“After all, most of us are mowing someone else’s lawn, one way or another, and most of us can’t afford to travel the world or live in New York City. Most of us feel like the world is giving us a big fat middle finger when it’s not kicking us in the face with a steel-toed boot. And most of us feel powerless. Motivated but powerless. Entertained but powerless. Informed but powerless. Fleetingly content, most of the time broke, sometimes hopeful, but ultimately powerless. And angry. Don’t forget angry.”
Books I Liked
Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah
I cannot remember how I found this book, but it was something on my Kindle. When I couldn’t connect to WiFi to download a library book, I dove into this with no idea what it was about. It started a little strange, but I had to keep reading. It seemed like it was going to be some sort of fantasy type story, but it definitely takes a turn. I liked it and it was a perfect front porch read.
Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier
A story of three friends, one of whom was brutally murdered, one who went to jail and one that spent his life searching for the answers. This book is messed up in all kinds of ways. If you are into mysteries/thrillers, I would definitely recommend this book. They usually aren’t my top, but I liked this one and had to finish it to know what happened.
Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine
Another suspenseful book on the list and another one that I could not put down. I got this with my prime subscription for free (which I’m just discovering is a thing recently). It is the first book in a series and I will probably be looking for the rest of these from the library. I’ll have to spread them out though because this story is super creepy.
And the Rest
Hey Ladies: The Story of 8 Best Friends & Way Too Many Emails by Michelle Markowitz & Caroline Moss
This was a VERY quick read and I hated most characters. It’s just a series of email communication between friends in NYC. It’s pretty obnoxious. I did finish it because it was fast, but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you love to dislike people.
Thanks for reading what I’ve been reading. Let me know if you agree or disagree with any of my picks. Also, I’d love to see comments about what you’re most excited to read this summer so I can add some more to my list.
