First of all, isn’t that photo dreamy? I could lie there all day reading. Of course, that would mean I had a month’s worth of books I couldn’t put down, which, based on my Friday post, was not the case. I read 14 books in July, but only because three of them were DNFs. For a booklover this is a very sad state of affairs. Except that two July books were 5 star worthy (Fitness Junkie and Goodbye, Vitamin) which helped but did not erase what was a fairly depressing month.
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
Published by Pamela Dorman Books/Viking
Publication date: July 28th 2015
Kitchens of the Great Midwest is one of those novels with a tremendously rewarding ending. Not Disney-like or too sweet, but a perfect wrapping up of a story. Eva is blessed with the kind of palate that leads to Michelin star level cooking, but her personality is too eclectic for a restaurant. She is the constant in a novel that feels more like a series of short stories until the end. At times, this bothered me because characters appeared in one chapter and left the next (never to be heard from again) and I wanted more—especially about Eva. Thankfully, Stradal pulls it out in the final chapters. It reminded me of Bellweather Rhapsody—unusual, inventive characters in a layered plot (flavorful gravy on top, meat underneath).
I got this recommendation from Gayle at The Readerly Report, a podcast with lots of reading ideas. She’s also part of a great bookish site, Readerly. Stop by if you’re in need of ideas!
The Architecture of Loss by Z.P. Dala: Review to follow in August
Hum if You Don’t Know the Words by Bianca Marais: Review to follow in August
Published by William Morrow Paperbacks
Publication date: May 9th 2017
It Happens in the Hamptons is the kind of chick-lit that gives the genre a bad name. It uses every worn out sexist, trope and plays stereotypes hard against each other: slutty over-plasticized women going after every man in sight, single mother cute in her naturalness being preyed upon, sexually insatiable teenager girls…it’s just yuck. I was hoping for fun, fluffy silliness—the kind of chick-lit I love and NEED these days and instead I got all-around dreadful. And if you think only women were caricaturized in this one? Nope. The male characters are just as bad—stoner, horny surfers, mama’s boy sexual predators…I know, I know. You’re thinking I got exactly what I deserved for choosing something with such a dreadful cover photo.
Amatka by Karin Tidbeck: Review to follow in August
How was your July? Read anything great I need to know about?
As you know, my July has also been a struggle. Here’s to a better August and September and I do love that photo!
Glad to hear you think Goodbye Vitamin is a 5 star read. I’m hoping to get it from the library. Now what do you think about Bianca Marais’s novel? I’ve been looking at that one. I just finished Everybody’s Son and liked it quite a bit.
I’m rating the Marais as one of those that didn’t work for me, but might be great for everyone else. Working on the review now.
I’m so thrilled that you enjoyed Goodbye, Vitamin and Fitness Junkie; I loved them both, as well! In fact, I’d already received an early copy of Fitness Junkie but was not fully invested until I read your comments and then KNEW that I would love it. 🙂 Hope your August is off to a good start!
They were both perfect reads, weren’t they?!