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What I’m Reading in July

July 10, 2020

 

I realize we’re already 10 days into July, but honestly, can you really tell at this point? If anything, the news feels as if we’re moving backwards. With no guidance or support from the federal government the first ‘wave’ keeps growing. Who knows what’s next?

All of which means, I’m behind in sharing the July reading I’m looking forward to. I’ve already had some success with several July books: The Heir Affair, Becoming Duchess Goldblatt, and From Scratch that I’ll be reviewing soon.

(for a more in-depth synopsis of each book, click on title link to go to Goodreads)

 

utopia

 

Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell is a dicey choice because it’s almost 600 pages. Except I love David Mitchell so much that I trust he’ll make this novel about a 60s British rock band compelling. He wrote Cloud Atlas and The Bone Clocks, both of which rank high on my list of most inventive novels. Another plus? It’s told from the perspective of the lead singer, a woman, so I’m getting a Daisy Jones & the Six vibe. There are lots of 60s pop culture references as well so I’m optimistic. (July 14, Random House)

 

 

july

 

This novel is one of my off-the-beaten-path choices. Natural History is about a collaboration between a fashion designer and a museum of natural history curator. The exhibit is never finished, but seven years after the designer’s death the curator revisits everything they completed and begins to uncover hidden truths about the designer. It’s a bit risky because my sense is this is going to be one of those books that requires suspending too much questioning and just letting the book unfold. I don’t know if I’m in that headspace or not. We’ll see. (July 14, FSG)

 

 

july

 

 

Novels about women are always interesting to me, but especially about those whose voices we’ve seldom heard. Crooked Hallelujah is about a family of three generations of Cherokee women beginning in 1970s Oklahoma. The novel follows the daughter, Justine and then her daughter Reney, through the 1980s and into Texas. I recently read and loved another novel of Texas women, Valentine, and this sounds similar. Strong women surviving in adverse circumstances. There’s so little Native American fiction out there that I’m always excited when I find it. (July 14, Grove/Atlantic)

 

afterland

 

 

Maybe it’s not the best time to read a dystopian novel about a pandemic, but the premise of Afterland has me intrigued. This pandemic only kills men. Oops. The novel opens three years after most males have been erased from the planet. Cole’s 12-year-old son is one of the few left and she’s desperate to save him from a grim fate. Look, I’m all for toppling the patriarchy, but even I know absolute power corrupts absolutely so I’m ready for a nerve-wracking thriller. (July 28, Mulholland Books)

 

butterfly

 

When Francie is a young girl her mother has a psychotic breakdown and Francie is sent to live with her aunt and uncle. From there the novel The Butterfly Lampshade fast forwards 20 years and Francie is trying to make sense of some of the events of that night. The author is Aimee Bender and I loved her novel The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake. She has the kind of gorgeous style, insight, and character development that make for my favorite kind of reading. (July 28, Doubleday)

 

 

 

Let’s end on a happy note—yesterday was the 8 year anniversary of this blog! I’ve written over 1,100 reviews which means I could have finished writing my own novel if I had the gumption. Instead, I hope I’ve helped you find some great reading when you needed it. Thank you so much, dear readers, for supporting me!

 

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I get a small commission (at no cost to you).

 

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16 Comments
Filed Under: Feature Tagged: dystopia, historical fiction, lists, literary

Comments

  1. Gayle Weiswasser says

    July 10, 2020 at 12:51 am

    Happy blogiversary! Thanks for your gorgeously written reviews – they’ve guided me to many books.

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      July 12, 2020 at 11:33 am

      Thank you and thank you for your support! We have a nice balance- I find books from you that I hadn’t thought of either.

      Reply
  2. Susan says

    July 10, 2020 at 5:41 am

    I haven’t read any of these authors before. Utopia Avenue sounds interesting; I hope you will review it for us,

    Congratulations on your blog anniversary! 8 years is a long time!

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      July 12, 2020 at 11:35 am

      It’s a lot longer than I thought! This year is the first one where I’ve questioned continuing, but I’m still here.

      Utopia Avenue is good, but I was mistaken in thinking it would be like Daisy Jones. That was easy reading that pulled you along. This is still good, but heavy with detail and requires concentration. I feel as if it should be a fall/winter release, especially these days.

      Reply
  3. Susie | Novel Visits says

    July 10, 2020 at 10:07 am

    You have some really interesting books here including a couple I hadn’t even heard of. The David Mitchell book sounds great, but the length scares me, plus I didn’t finish The Bone Clocks.

    I want to read Afterland, too, but did not get approved for an ARC, so likely won’t get to it for a while. If I have time, I might try it on audio. Happy reading!

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      July 12, 2020 at 11:36 am

      So far so good, but I wouldn’t recommend for you. It’s not effortless reading. I’m really having to concentrate and if you didn’t like Bone Clocks, he may not be the author for you.

      Reply
  4. kathryn mcdonald says

    July 10, 2020 at 12:03 pm

    Happy Anniversary to The Gilmore Guide! What a milestone. Let yourself be proud of this moment. This blog is a source of happiness and community — what could be more important during these troubled times?!?!
    Keep on truckin’, Catherine!

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      July 12, 2020 at 11:37 am

      Thank you so much! Hope you find some good reading and that we can meet up again at some point in the future.

      Reply
  5. Jennifer Hartling says

    July 10, 2020 at 5:46 pm

    Oooh ooh, you’ve got some goodies coming up. The cover of Natural History is amazing!

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      July 12, 2020 at 11:38 am

      You’re back!!!! I am so happy to see this comment. I feel as if we should re-activate Slack and go back to lengthy chats about books. I’ve missed you and your blog so much.

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        July 12, 2020 at 7:39 pm

        I would love that more than you know! 😀

        Reply
  6. Laila says

    July 11, 2020 at 7:08 pm

    Congratulations on your blogiversary!

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      July 12, 2020 at 11:38 am

      Thank you and thank you for supporting me. It’s meant so much getting to know other bloggers through the years!

      Reply
  7. Susan says

    July 12, 2020 at 12:55 am

    Happy 8th blogiversary! I’ve enjoyed your blog very much so I hope you keep going. I too have my eye on David Mitchell’s new book. Gosh we could use a good rock ‘n roll novel …. right about now … while the country is going to seed. Hunker down & plow on … or rock on? Do you have a pool there? Nice if so. I liked your flamingo picture. Enjoy your reading.

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      July 12, 2020 at 11:41 am

      Ha! No. That graphic is my fantasy. No pool, just more humidity than I ever wanted.

      The Mitchell is good, but it’s not like Daisy Jones at all. Much meatier and so plenty of people won’t like it. I’m having to concentrate as I read- no easy feat these days. I really think they should have pushed the release to fall or winter.

      And now, there’s nowhere to run away to. Even you nice Canadians won’t let us in! We deserve everything we get and depending on what happens in Nov it could get much worse.

      Reply
      • susan says

        July 15, 2020 at 8:20 am

        Yeah the Mitchell book sounds like too much thinking right now. I need a breezy summer read. It should have been a winter release! Canadians are definitely pushing back on reopening the border … we are scared by what we see to the south. But I’m flying to LAX on Monday (gulp) for a month. Need to check on my parents. I plan to quarantine first when I get there. Oh it’s been complicated. November must have a better result. Oh god. please.

        Reply

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