Reading Recap June and July 2024

 

I got a little behind so here is two month's worth of reading from the summer!

Books Read in June

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaimen: A crazy fun fantasy about an angel and a demon trying to get the apocalypse going. Lots of fun banter, and lots of silly culture references, some I got and some I didn't.  There were spots I got bogged down, but for the most part I enjoyed the experience. ⭐⭐⭐

Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton: Listened to this one on the road tripping and loved all the behind the scene stories for Harry Potter. And all the interactions he shares with all the main leads from the movies. He seems like he had a fairly normal life despite being in such huge movies, but still had the rock bottom alphol infused drop. Sad, but fairly quickly recovered.⭐⭐⭐⭐

Guts by Raina Telgemeier: Read this one "with" my 8 year old granddaughter. She devoured in in one sitting. A sort of middle grade graphic memoir about the authors struggle with OCD and massive anxiety in 4th grade. Much to relate to for those of us suffering anxiety things. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Radical Love by Zachary Levi: Another listen on the road, where Zachary shares his life long struggle with depression and the issues he's had with his family particularly his mom. He's so raw and honest and emotional. So good, and heart-wrenching. But also very hopeful. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Books Read in July

Vanderbilt by Anderson Cooper: Another road trip audio book, this one more of a history lesson than a memoir, though the author has many personal stories to share too. We learn about how the Vanderbilt's got their money and all the struggles they've had to keep it as the years have gone on. Such elaborate wealth that it's hard to even imagine. But lots of sadness throughout the years too. Too bad these sorts of stories don't come without the sadness and corruption.⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Measure by Nikki Erlick: Finally read this popular one about what would happen if we all knew when we were going to die. How would that affect everyday life and our dealings with each other. Very telling and very eye opening. It follows the stories of 8 or so different characters and how they all had to come to terms with their fate.⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Little Free Library Book by Margret Aldrich: A fun beautiful book about the story of how Little Free Libraries got started, and the story of many many LFL around the world. Lots of ideas on how to be steward for one, with lots of pictures and plans for how to get started. So fun!⭐⭐⭐

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton: A book I've had on my shelf forever that I finally got to! This one a subtle gothic story that flashes back and forth between the years of 1992 and 1940 when our main character is trying to figure out what happened to the three girls who live in the castle back during WWII. A very slow book, but so beautifully written with a crazy story that little by little unfolds.⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Unwedding by Ally Condie: The first adult novel by a local author favorite that was in fact chosen as a Reese Witherspoon book club book! It's a mystery, nodding to the classic tales of Agatha Christie, where our main character ends up stuck at a resort on the coast of California after the groom of the wedding that was meant to happen there, turns up dead. She gets involved in solving it all, whether she wanted to or not!⭐⭐⭐