Another month and another chance to be optimistic about the reading that lies ahead! Of course, who knows what else this month is going to bring. From the looks of it, the states that haven’t re-opened yet are going to slowly start coming back to life. In Michigan we’ll see a partial re-opening on May 15th. It doesn’t mean any change in my life, but at least certain segments of the workforce who can work safely can go back to their jobs.
As for my reading, I’ve got 12 books on my to-be-read (TBR) pile, some of which I discussed with Sarah on her podcast back in April. Two I revisit, but there are four more I haven’t mentioned before. I’m excited to read all of them.
(for a more in-depth synopsis of each book, click on title link to go to Goodreads)
Old Lovegood Girls has all the signs of the kind of fiction that works for me more often than not. It’s a novel set in the 50s and 60s about two young women who become friends while at college. They go their separate ways, the friendship falls away, until life events bring them back into each other’s lives. I may be projecting now, but this premise resonates with me as so many of my deepest friendships have their own tides—ebbing and flowing as the years pass. (May 5, Bloomsbury Publishing)
The Motion of the Body Through Space is billed as an incisive look at the religion of exercise. Not just the getting healthy kind, but the fanatical devotee sort. When Serenata’s husband’s hits retirement he decides to train for a marathon. His success upends their marriage and turns him into a fitness boor. Lionel Shriver is one of those authors who lives in the space of being so smart it’s intimidating, but she also accurately pings the human psyche in ways that are unnerving. I’m really looking forward to this one. (May 5, Harper)
Author Stephanie Danler achieved fame fast and early (when she was only 25) with her debut novel, Sweetbitter. Now she has a memoir coming out, called Stray. While publishing a memoir before even turning 33 may seem precocious, I loved Danler’s style in the novel so I’m keeping an open mind. (May 19, Knopf)
Elliot Ackerman’s last novel, Waiting for Eden, was a searing story of one veteran’s last days trapped in his body unable to communicate. It is a slender novel but with all the staying power of much longer books. Red Dress in Black and White is Ackerman’s new novel and looks to be as explosive as Eden. An American woman married to a wealthy Turkish man and living in Turkey with their son, has an affair and decides to go back to America. A move her husband vehemently opposes. Given Ackerman’s military and political savvy and the current situation in Turkey, this feels like it’s going to be can’t-stop reading. (May 26, Knopf)
C.W. Gortner does a wonderful job of writing historical fiction about famous daring women of their time. He’s back with the life of Sarah Bernhardt—a theater actress about whom I know very little, except she is still considered to be one of the greats. The novel is The First Actress and I’m really intrigued to learn more about this fascinating woman. She was a trailblazer. (May 26, Ballantine)
Sometimes the reason I choose a book is as simple as a title that hooks me. All My Mother’s Lovers definitely qualifies. A young woman’s mother dies unexpectedly, leaving behind five letters addressed to men unknown to anyone in her family. She is tasked with delivering them. This could go wrong in so many ways, but the synopsis alludes to wit, family ties, and grief in such a way that I’m hopeful it’s going to be the kind of insightful literary fiction I love. (May 26, Dutton)
How is life in your neck of the woods? What are you looking forward to reading in May?
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The only book on your list that’s NOT on mine is The First Actress. I’m very hopeful about most and for some reasons especially All My Mother’s Lovers. (I think part of it is the vibrant cover!)
Well, I already put down The Motion- felt like it was going to be more depressing than I can handle right now. On the other hand I’m enjoying Lovegood even though it is really a character study with very little plot. Somehow it’s soothing…
I have preordered “Old Lovegood Girls” by Gail Godwin, as I have read many of her other books and love the way she writes. I did read a great review of this book the other day so I am hopeful. I also ordered Paulette Jiles new book, “Simon the Fiddler.” Ordering books is making me happy…well ordering anything is making me happy. Thank you to the postal and UPS workers who continue to make deliveries.
I’m halfway through Lovegood and enjoying it, although it is slower than I expected. It’s a quiet study of a long time friendship. I like her writing, too.
I am SO grateful to any of the people working right now. My bookstore has a curbside delivery where you call in in the morning and they put the book out for you. No contact at all, but I still stand outside the window and wave in- even if no one’s there.
I definitely want to read Stray. I loved Sweetbitter.
This month I am trying to finish my Classics Club pick, Adam Bede. I’m eight chapters in, only 47 more to go! I can’t only read that, of course, so I’m also reading Shirley Jackson’s memoir Living With Savages. It’s my bedtime book since I have a paper copy.
I’m struggling with Stray. She is a deeply unhappy, negative person. I like her writing but her life is dreadful. I’m not sure I’m in the right headspace to finish it.
I have never read Adam Bede. I don’t know if I could read classics right now. Maybe because they are so very different ti would feel like a relief, but the slower language and movement…I don’t know if I could stay focused.
These look like strong picks. The top 4 are on my radar … the bottom 2 I didn’t know about. And how about Rodham is that on your list? I’ll be eager to hear your thoughts on these. BTW, how did those AK47 nuts get into the Capitol there? They shouldn’t be near there! Those guns & their nuts make me crazy.
Rodham is definitely a pick, but I already wrote about it as one of the Spring books I wanted to read so I wanted to cover different books.
Don’t get me started. Those macho militia fools without masks screaming in the face of police officers? If they’d been black they would have been shot dead before they got to the steps. As for being inside, it’s legal to take firearms inside the Michigan capitol. Yup. I love our governor, but I don’t like the state much. Someone killed a store security guard for telling them to put a mask on or leave the store. I can’t wrap my head around that kind of insanity. Of course, it’s all encouraged by the White House.
Grrrr. The state sounds crazy! Firearms in the Capitol? that’s encouraging violence. Hope you can someday return to the progressive Northwest … visiting Portland last March … sort of blew me away … I liked it. Cool place. This WH admin is killing us. Why did Mich vote him in in the first place?!? blech.
Who knows?! Because they bought into his populist lies? Plus, like so many states it’s all about city vs. rural. West Michigan is the home of the DeVos family and their Amway money. Lots of militia. racist, anti-Semitic people out there. I’m not sure he can pull it off again here. He’s not done anything and has belittled the governor too much- who, even if they don’t like her, is still a Michigander. Who knows? I’ve given up on what is going to happen in this country. I just think it’s going to get worse long before it gets better.