For the first time in a very long time, I have nothing bookish to share. Oh, I’ll get to what I’m reading this week, but my reading last week was so uninspiring it left me without a book to review today. Quite honestly, I feel drained. My ability to enjoy reading faltered in the early days of the lockdown as the COVID numbers rose across the country. Then the economy cratered, but somehow my mind had settled and I was reading again. George Floyd’s murder and the attendant awakening of white America to systemic racism and broken criminal justice and policing institutions have made normalcy feel like a quaint and long-lost concept. We need drastic changes and educating ourselves to the truth of what has been and is going on around us is critical.
Suffice it to say, my nonfiction reading has pivoted to include more books on racism and Black Lives Matter. This is profoundly bleak reading. The statistics alone feel impossible to absorb, but it is vital to learn and then act. I encourage you all to find reading that takes you to uncomfortable places and challenges your privilege—especially if you don’t think you have any. If you’re white, you do. Beyond that, as a white woman, mine is not a voice to listen to. There are loads of reading lists, organizations, NGOs, and community action ideas from black writers and leaders that can easily be found on Google. Make the time to listen, learn, and act.
While this is necessary reading, I also need to balance it with entertaining reading. I haven’t had success with that in the last few weeks. What I found, if it was good was heavy, and everything else was meh. This means I’m running dry. I’m hoping that this week’s books will provide some respite and replenish my reading mind.
(for a more in-depth synopsis of each book, click on title link to go to Goodreads)
Set in Japan, What’s Left of Me is Yours looks to be a literary thriller. The victim is known from the beginning—a wife whose husband hires a man to seduce to her so he can win the advantage in their divorce proceedings. Much of the story is told 20 years after the fact when the daughter, now a lawyer, tries to find out what really happened to her mother.
I’m moving from the dark side of Asian culture to what I hope will be all sunshine and unicorns and embarrassing displays of wealth. Sex and Vanity is the book I’m most looking forward to this summer. I’m hoping this story about a wealthy American girl who suppresses her Asian heritage, but meets a mysterious Chinese man after she’s already engaged. Given how 2020 has gone so far, the lighter and frothier this book is the better!
Girl Decoded is the memoir of an Egyptian-American Muslim woman who breaks all the barriers as a scientist working to humanize technology. Rana el Kaliouby is trying to create software that recognizes non-verbal cues. So far, it is fascinating in so far as how she has navigated her traditional Muslim upbringing in Egypt and yet still been able to work towards her goals.
I’ve heard great things from numerous sources about Anna K. It’s a young adult modern day re-telling of Anna Karenina but set in NYC with Anna as a teenager. Again, wealthy people behaving badly and love gone wrong sounds right for me right now.
How is life in your area? Have you read anything great I need to know about?
I hope you enjoy the books on your list they have been getting good reviews.
For the first time since the pandemic started I have read 7 books this month. I have been getting all the books I had on hold at the library. My favorite so far this month has been Hello Summer by Mary Kay Andrews, then On Oceans Blvd by Mary Alice Monroe, and Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner. Even though they are considered “beachy” books the writing is solid with good plots, well developed characters you can root for or hate.
I hope you find some books to enjoy soon.
I really liked Big Summer, even though I didn’t think she needed the murder. I loved the frenemies part of the story!
That’s great about your reading! I was doing all right, but read two memoirs about racism in a row and even though it’s so important to do it’s draining. I am so uneducated.
It is a tough time for everything. I’m enjoying the necessary nonfiction reading I’m doing, but it is like being back in school. I really have to focus and pay attention, but continue to be amazed at how much I didn’t know or maybe didn’t let myself know.
Fiction has been very up and down this month. Lots of B books for me, though Saving Ruby King is excellent. I think you would really like it. I bought it, not wanting to wait for a copy on Libby.
Hope this week is a little better, my friend.
Maybe it is the amount of focus it requires. That plus feeling I have been so sheltered all my life.
I’ve heard great things about Ruby, but am going to wait for it at the library. Like you, my July TBR is out of control!
I hope you find some exciting reading in your batch of books. It’s frustrating to be in a slump. Good luck!
Thank you! I had one miss, but started Sex and Vanity and it’s so good!