Recently Read - August 2021

Hello everyone! It has been a long time since I’ve posted a book review post, so this is quite the list! I would say I’ve definitely been enjoying a lot which is lucky.

I set out to read 60 books this year, and I’m currently sitting at 37. I’m hoping to get to 50 by the end of the summer which is entirely do-able. For now, please enjoy my last round of books.

Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel – Jason Reynolds – 4.5 Stars

I made a bit of a mistake on this one. I meant to request the physical copy of this book, but I ended up with the eBook version. I think the experience would have been so much better as a physical book since it was a graphic novel, but nevertheless, I loved this.

This story told is tragic and heartbreaking. The images bring the story to life in such a vivid fashion. It is so well written and I love how it takes place in a single location. It emphasizes just how quickly lives can change. I highly suggest this one.

The Finkler Question – Howard Jacobson – 3 Stars

This book was fine. It is about three men coming to grips with their Jewish identity. There were parts that were interesting and discussions that made me think, but I missed the humour. It’s supposedly this hilarious Man Book prize winning book, but I just don’t get it. I clearly didn’t spend enough time in England to understand what’s supposed to be funny.

However, the parts I did enjoy were all about identity. It is a situation everyone deals with at some point in their life, and I think the questions and discussions were relatable.

Ireland – Frank Delaney – 4.5 Stars

My mum left this book on my desk, and it is not new by any means. She read it last summer and thought I would appreciate it. It is about a storyteller that comes to a town in Ireland and leaves one boy completely captured by the art of stories. The boy spends his life trying to find the storyteller again and collects his own stories along the way.

The best part of this is how many different stories within stories there are. There are stories about religion, history, and mythology. Delaney also brilliantly captures the essence of oral storytelling. There is a distinct difference between the story and the storytelling. It was a book full of the magic of these stories. I couldn’t help but gush about it to the students I was teaching at the time. I suggest this for any lover of stories.

The Hating Game – Sally Thorne – 4 Stars

This is so different from the books I usually pick up. I’m not one for romance and cheesy books, but this was on a 2 for $15 sale, so I went for it because I liked the premise. I was not disappointed. I feel like the summary of the book is pretty straightforward based on everything I’ve already said here, but this novel centres around two co-workers that hate each other. When they are both put up for the same promotion, the stakes are raised. Their relationship becomes even more complicated as they begrudgingly get to know each other.

In all honesty, I loved this book. It kind of kicked off my summer reading, and it was perfect. There was depth to both of the characters as well as some surprising character arcs. It was also quite steamy which is definitely a change for me. I think this is an awesome summer read.

The Huntress – Kate Quinn – 4 Stars

I liked this book so much as a historical fiction. It was a little different than most historical fictions I’ve read. It was all about mixing the past war years with the “current” years right after the war. We delve into how families were affected and how much emotion goes into forgetting the past.

The best part about this book was the way it centers strong women. The stories that are told are twists and different aspects of war that aren’t normally told in the books I’ve read. I saw the twist coming for sure, but it did not take away from the enjoyment of the story. I would suggest this for anyone who wants to read historical fiction with a focus on women.

Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 1 – Sorata Akiduki – 3 Stars

This is my first manga ever! A student I tutor gave it to me, and it was very enjoyable. I tore through it because the story was interesting. I didn’t love the way it left off, and I found a lot of parts rather repetitive, but I’m glad I tried something completely new.

The Kommandant’s Girl – Pam Jenoff – 4 Stars

This is my second Pam Jenoff book this year, and I’m really enjoying her work! This is another historical fiction, and I started reading it last year but had to return it to the library before I could finish it. Similarly to The Huntress, this is a different side to WWII. It is about a woman who finds herself working in a high powered Nazi’s office as part of the resistance while keeping her Jewish identity a secret.

This was not the most intricate of storylines, but I was so wrapped up in the main character herself. She goes through so much in terms of her identity and values. The ending left me speechless, and I didn’t see it coming. It was a great read.

Whiskey and Ribbons – Leesa Cross-Smith – 3 Stars

While I was reading this book, I thought it was fine. It has been a while since I read it, and it’s quite forgettable, but I know it was well-written. There were paragraphs and sentences I found myself reading over again because it was so beautiful. I remember thinking this book felt soft. Although it was wrapped in tragedy, I found it to be a slow-burn, comfortable read.

My Sister, the Serial Killer – Oyinkan Braithwaite – 4 Stars

This was another book given to me by a student I tutor. It has been on my list since it came out, and it did not disappoint. Oh my goodness, it was so funny. That was unexpected given the title, but it was all shocking. It made me smile because it was all about being a big sister (although in a very extreme way), but it also shows how strong bonds between opposite people can be. I feel like this book did a great job at taking the typical comparisons that sisters do and bring it to the extreme. This is dark and purely satire, and I finished it in two sittings. I loved it.

Fruit of the Drunken Tree – Ingrid Rojas Contreras – 3 Stars

I absolutely loved the way this book was written. The setting is interesting and colourful and terrifying all at once. It is in the midst of the Escobar years, and this is not something I know enough about to have been interested in that aspect of the novel. I was personally fascinated by the relationship the main character has with their house maid. It is a light in this little girl’s life.

Like I said, I thought it was so well written. From the beginning, I was so hooked on the style of writing. I liked each of the characters and the development that we are privy to. I liked the contrasting ways of living and the way the main character was written in a naïve way since she was, in fact, a child.  I got too lost when it came to the historical events which made me lose some of the plot as well, so that accounts for the lower rating.

Dear Mrs. Bird – A.J. Pearce – 3 Stars

This was quite a nice book to read. It is an interesting story about a young woman so desperate to be a war journalist that she joins a small woman’s magazine that is losing its readers daily. She gets stuck working on the advice column under the eyes of Mrs. Bird who will not take on any advice that can be seen as unladylike. I felt for this girl who so desperately wants to help the women writing in but doesn’t know how to go about it an ethical way.

I would say this is an easy read. It’s fun while also taking on serious themes of war and death. There are a multitude of relationships including the one with her best friend, which I appreciated. There isn’t anything too intricate or overwhelmingly outstanding, but I would suggest this to many people.

The Friend – Sigrid Nunez – 4 Stars

I finished this book so quickly and absolutely loved it. When someone’s friend unexpectedly commits suicide, they are left with both grief and their dog. Nunez examines grief in such an apt and moving way. It is not a straightforward line, and it is not something that can be done through a series of steps. This dog becomes this symbol for what the main character really needs, and it is stunning.

I also love the way it was written. Both the friend and the main character were in the literary community, so references to the works of other authors is plentiful. Every word and quotation is picked and integrated so carefully, and I was drawn in right away.

Milk and Honey – Rupi Kaur – 3 Stars

I’m going to be controversial – I cannot say I’m a fan. Individually, I don’t think these poems are that great. I do, however, like this book as an overall healing process. I like it as a story. I like that it’s obvious through the formatting that change and growth can happen from trauma. It is personal and definitely emotional, but not the best poetry out there.

Ragged Company – Richard Wagamese – 4 Stars

My friend left me this book when she moved to a different province because Wagamese is her favourite Indigenous author. I can definitely see why. I started this book with apprehension because it is told from the perspective of many different people. However, Wagamese does this very well. Each person has a unique voice and there are structural differences that differentiate the stories being told.

This book is about a group of chronically homeless people that find a winning lottery ticket. With the help of a guilted journalist, the group is able to claim their winnings and start a new life. We see the group struggle with their identities as life as they know it changes completely. Shadows from the past emerge and relationships are tested as the group tries to exist in a different world. The ending is stunning and emotional, and I cannot suggest this book enough.

500 Words or Less – Juleah del Rosario – 4.5 Stars

I wish I remembered how I heard about this book because they fully deserve props for the recommendation. This book is so wonderful. It’s a YA about a high school girl who is dealing with not only regular high school issues but issues beyond her years. Through writing college admission essays for her peers, she starts questioning her own identity. She has a talent for seeing people through her writing, and we get to see the introspection that comes as a result of writing for others.

The best element about this book is that it is fiction written in prose. I have not read many books like this, and it made for a quick read that also gripped me entirely. I want to buy it for my future classrooms because I think it would make for a fantastic teaching tool.

Life of Pi – Yann Martel – 4 Stars

This book was loooooong. I’ll also mention that I have not seen the movie, so this was a completely new experience. In the beginning, I was not into it. There was a lot of exposition about the main character and his love of religion that did not make sense to me. However, the majority of the book was exciting, adventurous, scary at times, and so well paced. The end was funny, and I thoroughly enjoyed it by the end.

I also loved the storytelling aspect of the book. It felt so personal to read, and it made for a great read. I found myself flying through sections at nighttime and losing sleep because I went through so much quicker than expected. I would definitely suggest this one.

The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho – 3 Stars

This book is an absolute sensation isn’t it? I’d been waiting close to a year for the eBook copy from the library to be available. I’m probably going to be controversial again here, but I thought it was just okay. I liked the allegorical aspect of looking for the signs around you as you seek your purpose in life, but I didn’t think there was anything groundbreaking about the text. It was enjoyable, but that’s about it.

Sunburn – Laura Lippman – 2 Stars

I did not like this book. I thought the premise was so interesting and potentially full of so many twists. I was disappointed. I found the book repetitive, confusing with random different perspectives that meant nothing in the long-term plot unfolding, and there were phrases that were put in to clearly appease readers. I would still suggest this as a light thriller for people who wouldn’t notice this kind of stuff, but this is not on the top of my recommendation list at all.

The Hunting Party – Lucy Foley – 3 Stars

I would say I enjoyed this book. It’s a classic thriller, and my brain managed to shut down enough that it didn’t see the ending coming. There may have been an actual gasp at the “big reveal.” It took me about 100 pages to get into it because there were so many characters and perspectives, but I loved the tangled webs of their lives once I sorted out who was who.

This book is full of intrigue. From the cover of the book, we know there is a murder, but we have no idea who it is or who did. I liked this. I liked that it kept me focus on the end and trying to pick up on clues for who could have done what. I like that the characters’ pasts are revealed slowly. I loved how there was a distinct change in the way the murderer’s perspective was written. And you know what? I loved the murderer. It wasn’t the most complex or best book, but I loved it as a thriller.

The Husbands – Chandler Baker – 4 Stars

I read a previous book by Chandler Baker which was in a review back in January of this year.  I enjoyed that book so much that I pre-ordered The Husbands right away. Bake does a great job at taking on the woman’s perspective and flipping the script entirely. I find her writing funny, inspiring, and powerful. This book was no different. The added mysterious, creepy element to this book brought so much more to this text.

This is all about a high-end neighborhood with highly successful women and their husbands who are a little too eager to share the load of running a household. When Nora and her own husband look for a house in the neighborhood, she gets caught up in the house fire that left one of the women widowed. We meet an interesting cast of characters and get pulled into this neighborhood just as much as Nora does. This book is gripping and interesting, and I absolutely love Baker’s writing.

This was a long list of books today! They are also a wide range of types of texts which I think show off what kind of reader I truly am. Let me know if you’ve read any!

-          Daniella