I know we are eking closer August, which will call for the July Book Round Up, but summer has been keeping me very busy so far. I cannot believe it is almost August – for so many reasons. Since we got back from Germany, I have been very busy with work (in good ways!) and keeping up with the summer plans of a rising first grader (cannot believe we are done with kindergarten already!). Camp and extracurriculars and play dates and a LOT of swimming, plus spending time with family and friends. Because of our travel in June and the amount of time we spent with family, I didn’t get to nearly as many books as I would normally. Fear not, I am making up for it in July now! I just finished a 10 book series by my favorite, CJ Archer.
- This book had been floating around my TBR for a while so it surprised me that getting through The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards, was actually difficult. I thought this story had so much potential and was just so poorly told. I also didn’t understand the titles relationship to the story – it didn’t make sense.
- The most recent book in the Cleopatra Fox mystery series by CJ Archer did not disappoint, of course. Cleo continues her murder solving in Murder at Hambledon Hall, which is book 10 and according to Archer, not the last!
- Another Brooklyn was a quick and literary read. One of the reviews on Goodreads described it as, “[…] a poem. It is a love letter to black girlhood.” and I agree completely! Very well done.
- Interestingly, this was my first read by Sophie Kinsella and although it made me vaguely curious to read some of her other books, I haven’t, because I am honestly not sure they’re my thing. What Does It Feel Like? is semi-autobiographical in that Kinsella herself is a write who was diagnosed with cancer and experienced many of the things her FMC does, but it’s not a memoir. It was sad and tragic and deeply moving, and of course, well written.
- June is the month I finally finished My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg (with Mary Hartnett and Wendy W. Williams). This was a beast to get through, I’m not going to lie. Looking back, the title is accurate, but I was fully expecting more of a…life story type memoir and this book contained an analysis and deep dive into many of her rulings and lectures, with many read in whole or part, throughout the book. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t what I had hoped for so it took me ages to get through it.
- Last but not least, a much recommended Lisa See novel, China Dolls. I’ve read a bunch of See’s books and have enjoyed every single one of them. They’re impeccably researched and beautifully told. The intertwining stories of Grace, Ruby, and Helen and their start at The Forbidden City and their adventures traveling the “chop suey circuit” kept me entranced as I listened and I wanted more. I enjoy See finishing many of her books with some sort of epilogue/reunion and China Dolls was no exception. Pick it up, if you have the chance!
As for July, I am plowing through books – I have read 85 books total so far this year. I still have two physical books from the library and I am going to read them this week – that’s my goal. They’re short, I just need to focus. What are you reading right now? What did you finish recently? What do you think I should read?
-M
