Hello, June and welcome, summer. I’m not sure what to expect here in Michigan, but so far, humidity seems to be a very real thing.
Thankfully, even though I’m not going anywhere anytime soon, I have a great crop of book lined up to start my summer reading. It’s a nice blend of authors I already know and new voices. Bring on the cocktails, a comfy place to read and let’s get this summer started!
(for a more in-depth synopsis of each book, click on title link to go to Goodreads)
If you’re anti-magical realism you might want to skip this one. However, I adored Bertino’s debut 2a.m. at the Cat’s Pajamas. She wrote the perfect stalwart, sassy little girl who wasn’t precocious or annoying—not an easy feat. Parakeet is about a young woman whose dead grandmother appears to her in the form of a, wait for it…parakeet. Who warns her not to get married and sets her on a journey to find her estranged brother. This is going to be my risky pick because it could go wrong in so many ways. I’m trusting Bertino’s writing will keep it real. (June 2, FSG)
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett is a timely novel given what’s happening in America right now. It’s about black twin sisters who run away from their Southern town when they’re teens. One returns as a single mother to raise her daughter, while the other lives in Los Angeles, passing as white. Given what’s happening in America, this feels as if it could be explosive reading, especially given Bennett’s strength as a writer (The Mothers). (June 2, Riverhead Books)
I’m finding that family dramas continue to work for me even as other genres fall by the wayside, so I’m excited for The Second Home a debut novel by Christina Clancy. The novel centers around three siblings and their family’s summer home on Cape Cod. There’s drama one summer, the siblings split, and only come back together after their parents’ deaths to decide what to do with the house. All of which is right up my reading alley. (June 2, St. Martin’s Press)
In Exciting Times a young Irish woman goes to Hong Kong to teach English to small children. Not for any altruistic reason, but because she doesn’t know what to do with her life, but knows she wants out of Dublin. There she meets two very different people who impact her life forcing her to decide what she really wants. I’ve already started this novel and am finding it to be sharp, dry, and a contemporary take on relationships. (June 2, Ecco)
Set in modern-day India, A Burning by Megha Majumdar is a debut about three people whose lives intersect over a terrorist act. One is a Muslim woman who stands accused, the other seeks to build himself up on her misfortune, and the third can upend the story completely. I realize this is going to be heavy lifting, but looking at and learning about the unrest in other countries is more important than ever. We have a lot to learn. (June 2, Knopf)
First of all…the cover! Secondly, after A Burning I’m going to want some thing light about India. I loved Diksha Basu’s debut, The Windfall, so was pleased to hear she has a new novel coming out in June. Even better, it’s about a lavish wedding, hence the title Destination Wedding. Tina Das is trying to make a success of her streaming network and figure out where she belongs. India? Or America? When her uber-wealthy cousin gets married, she uses the wedding to work on both issues. It’s a big cast, including Tina’s best friend and her divorced parents, who are returning to India after decades away. I’m looking forward to a Bollywood/Kevin Kwan mashup of humor and insane wealth. (June 30, Ballantine Books)
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I feel like my summer reading list is shallow, and light compared to yours but heavy stories aren’t working for me at this moment in time. I have 11 books on request at the moment and I have been reading most of these authors for years.
I just started Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner yesterday so far so good. The Vanishing Half, and The Second Home are both getting a lot of positive reviews, and I have them on my tbr list, so I may read them once I get caught up on my anticipated books.
I told you last week that our library is open, it is but its very different now. You have to wear a mask, can only stay an hour at most, there are shields up between you and the library workers like at the grocery stores. I prefer by far to have my books delivered.
Oh that makes me sad about the library. we still have no opening date, but their Facebook page has indicated it will be very limited. I think they’re just going to have curbside pick-up of holds. Of course, right now thinking about books feels frivolous when so many people are struggling. I’m really having trouble reading at all.
Big Summer is a good choice! I’m starting The Second Home tomorrow so will let you know what I think.
I was going to say a big, bold “No” to PARROT until I saw who wrote it. I also loved CAT’S PAJAMAS, so I’ll anxiously await your word on this one.
This is the first time I’ve ever gone through this, but at 80% of the way through Parakeet I’m not sure I can finish it. Not because it is bad, but because the main character’s mind is so distracted and anxious, almost with PTSD caused by her life, that I can’t read it. It sounds self-indulgent to say it’s triggering me, but I’m going to have to put it down without knowing what happens. And we’re talking about a wedding, for hell’s sake! Not police brutality. I feel childish even writing this, but it’s affecting me.
I have half these books on my June, TBR list and might want to add Exciting Times if you end up loving it. The other two I don’t think would be for me. I DNF’d The Windfall and am sadly not a fan of Kevin Kwan style books. Oh, well! Keeps things interesting.
I did love Exciting Times and will review it on Monday, but with a huge caveat. It is SLOW. A contemplative novel, mostly inside the head of one young woman. It’s a sign of how messed up my reading is that it I was all right with it. Maybe because the subject was so clearly defined- her life in Hong Kong and her relationships. Who knows if I’ll be able to pull my thoughts together enough to write about it…
Oh nice list for June. I just put out my June Preview post and we have 2 of the same picks : I’m keen to check out Parakeet and The Vanishing Half. I read The Mothers so I know Brit Bennett’s writing … but I need to read Bertino! I just picked up her first one Cat’s Pajamas (glad you liked it) and Parakeet is getting such high praise … so I hope I will like it. I don’t have a copy yet. Is your library even open? I will let you vet A Burning for me … much reading to do this month, enjoy! (meanwhile news distractions continue …. sigh)
Oh dear, Parakeet didn’t work for me, but it could be my broken brain. I loved Cat’s Pajamas and think I may re-read it.
A Burning is really strong, but depressing as hell. I can’t do another book like that anytime soon.
Our library has just started accepting returns via the book drop. Of course, I promptly returned a book from another library system! I feel like such an idiot. The next phase is you can pick up physical holds curbside, but as for getting to go in, sit down, and relax with People magazine- who knows when that will happen.
Hi — I thought I commented on this post? But perhaps it didn’t go through? If not, I just wanted to say that I too hope to get to The Vanishing Half and Parakeet books. I’d also like to read Bertino’s first one “2 a.m. at the Cat’s Pajamas.” She is getting good praise for her writing, so I need to read her sooner rather than later. ps. Last week’s Trump antics …. i thought were the worst yet (though I know I say that about every week) … proposing to use military on the protestors (his Defense Sec had to say no) and invoking Mr. Floyd’s name … saying he would’ve thought it was a “great day.” Whhhaaaa? the guy’s unbalanced, immoral & nuts.
You did- I’m just so slow at getting anything done these days.
The Floyd comment made me want to simultaneously throw up and punch him. You probably already know this, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics has already admitted they made a mistake and the unemployment numbers they released were wrong. Unemployment stands at almost 17%- not something anyone would say is “great”.