I knew going into June that my reading would suffer. My family and I were away on vacation, and, while I did get quite a bit of reading done during our flights, I did not get much read in between. And then there was the bout of COVID we suffered through towards the end of the month . . . Not much reading was done then either, sad to say. I did manage to finish three books in June and also was actively reading three other books that carried over into July though, so there was that.
I am sad to see the Electra McDonnell historical mystery/espionage series by Ashley Weaver come to an end. What a fitting title though, One Final Turn (#5). It was a satisfying ending to this series set in World War II England, featuring a lock pick thief turned spy. I would be lying if I said I wasn't crying by the end. Action packed with a good dose of romance. It's such a fun series.
I could not wait to pick up Kate Khavari's latest historical mystery book, A Botanist's Guide to Rituals and Revenge (#4). It's always a pleasure to spend time with Saffron Everleigh, and this time the reader gets a glimpse into her past when she reluctantly returns home to visit with her sick grandfather. Seances and blackmail and family secrets--this was a great addition to the series, even if a bit slower in pace. Saffron is such a great character. Despite it's cozy feel, I appreciate that the author does not skirt around the impact war had on the soldiers, especially in her character of Alexander. I wasn't his biggest fan after the second book, but he's one of my favorites now.
And then there was How to Have a Killer Time in D.C., the first in a contemporary mystery series featuring travel guide journalist Oliver Popp by Sam Lumley. I decided to read this one when I did specifically for it's title and location. As Oliver was flying into the Ronald Reagan Airport, so was I. His Washington D.C. travel experience was much more adventuresome than mine though. Oliver was nearly killed and got tangled up in a murder investigation while I only got soaked during two especially crazy thunderstorms--our umbrellas survived, but weren't much use due to the wind--not to mention getting caught under the heat dome, visiting when temperatures were at a record high--so much for beating the heat at home. Oh, and there was the lost key and hat and that time we were racing to find a restroom and met the nicest man who let us into the children's aquarium in Maryland despite them being closed for a birthday party; we won't talk about flying with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and what a pain that was! Anyway, Lumley's book was a bit on the silly side at times, but I liked Oliver instantly and found him relatable. I was not so sure about his love interest--but perhaps he will grow on me if he features in future books. I liked that Oliver is neurodivergent and was realistically portrayed, a characteristic not too common as mystery protagonists, although it seems to be coming up more than it once did.
At the beginning of June, I began reading Religion in the Lands That Became America: A New History by Thomas A. Tweed. I am not a particularly religious person, but I do find the history of religions interesting, and so was curious about Tweed's book after reading the description: "a sweeping retelling of American religious history, showing how religion has enhanced and hindered human flourishing from the Ice Age to the Information Age." This is a more academic book than I usually prefer to read, and so it took me a while to work my way through it, finishing it over a month later. About the time my family and I were touring places like the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the U.S. Capitol building, I had reached the part in the book about the formation of the United States up through the Civil War, and the book was never far from my mind as we explored the exhibits and took everything in. Religion in the Lands That Became America is well researched. The author makes every effort to be objective in his presentation of his subject matter, which I appreciated. History, in all its reality, is not pretty and is at times uncomfortable. He did not gloss over the fact that religion was used to subjugate and justify cruelty to women, enslaved and indigenous people and create division between communities, both internally and externally; but he also relates the positives of religion throughout America's history, including the ideas and actions taken to help the disenfranchised and disadvantaged among other things. Although I had a basic knowledge on the history described in the book, it was fascinating to read about the shifting of religious beliefs and practices, and the influence that had on society over time, not to mention the relationship and conflicts between various religions and the part that has played. Tweed's book is more of an overview, rather than an deep dive into any one particular area. I came away from the book wanting to explore some of the areas he wrote about more.
I had every intention of finishing The Edge of Water by Olufunke Grace Bankole in time for my book club in June, but it was not meant to be, but I did finish it in July. The Edge of Water is a multi-generational novel, spanning the lives of three women. It was an emotional read, taking the reader from Nigeria to New Orleans, a story in which tradition, prophecy and faith play a large part. A mother raises her daughter on her own as best she can; a daughter moves across the ocean dreaming of a better life only to fall pregnant, giving birth to her own baby girl. Then Hurricane Katrina hits. I couldn't help but think of Jesmyn Ward's Salvage the Bones, and one scene in particular that has stayed with me to this day--how quickly the water rose and the the damage it caused for so many. I felt like I was there in that moment, the panic rising within me. The way Olufunke Grace Bankole describes the scene in the Louisiana Superdome in The Edge of Water had the same effect on me. The Edge of Water has its share of tragedy, but it is also a book about three brave women, the strength of family even despite the odds, and one of hope.
Like with Sam Lumley's book, I decided to pick up Kate Quinn's historical novel The Briar Club because of the Washington D.C. setting during the McCarthy era. I started it before my trip but wasn't able to finish it until we were home again and not until July at that. I listened to the audio version which was narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. Each chapter is narrated by a different character who lives in a boarding house, with occasional interruptions by the house itself. This novel touched on so many different issues during the time it was set, from the lavender and red scares, antisemitism, to domestic violence, misogyny. There are mobsters too! All five of the characters at the center of the novel are fully fleshed out and have distinct voices. There's a mystery at the heart of the novel, that of murder, and I was not sure which direction the author was going to take us until near the end. The writing is beautiful, and I loved every minute of The Briar Club.
July was a big audiobook month for me. I think they are growing on me. Or rather I'm finding more time to listen when I cannot read a print book. They come in especially handy for book club selections I need to fit in during a short amount of time. Go ahead. Tell me you told me so. My July audiobooks:
I downloaded the audiobook of The Lilac People by Mylo Todd, narrated by Max Meyers, for one of my book clubs. The Briar Club was in the lead as my July favorite until I read The Lilac People. This. Book. Oh my gosh, everyone! Given the World War II Holocaust setting, you can imagine the book was heart-wrenching and painful to read at times. The writing is beautiful, the narration was spot on, and the characters are so well-drawn. I had not known much about the real life Magnus Hirshfeld, a German physician and sexologist who advocated for the LGBTQ community before this, admittedly. And while this book isn't about him specifically, he does make an appearance. At the novel's heart is a trans man named Bertie, his girlfriend Sofie, and a young trans man, Karl. There is such a huge contrast between the life of the LGBTQ community in Berlin before Hitler came into power compared to after. The freedoms once enjoyed were stolen right from under them; they were forced into hiding or into camps where they facing death, rape, torture, or both. The novel's narrative follows a dual time line, the time approaching and into the war, and the time after as the Americans arrive, proving to be both a blessing and a curse. There were so many moments in this novel that mirror what is happening in the U.S. today. I felt so many emotions while reading The Lilac People. My heart ached for Bertie, Sofie and Karl, and all the other characters impacted by the prejudice and evils they faced for simply existing. The Lilac People is such a compelling, moving and powerful novel. This is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time to come.
I was not able to get to the Science Fiction/Fantasy book club selection in June, but I did squeeze in the audiobook of Little Thieves (#1) by Margaret Owen, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld during the month of July. The funny thing was, I did not realize it was the same narrator I had just listened to when reading The Briar Club until after. I am so glad I took the time to fit in this fantasy novel about a servant who steals her mistress's life for her own. I cannot say enough about the awesome world building and and intricately woven story in Little Thieves. It is dark and suspenseful, with a bit of a fairytale feel (not the Disney kind). I definitely plan to follow up with the next two books in the trilogy.
In the mood for something light and romantic, I browsed through the library audiobook catalog and came across Abby Jiminez's The Friend Zone (#1), narrated by Teddy Hamilton & Erin Mallon. This one hit the spot for what I was looking for, but it was not exactly on the light side. It actually was quite an emotional read, tackling subjects like infertility, mental illness, loss, and grief. I did have a couple of issues with the novel (I understood why the female protagonist was so secretive, but it got old after awhile; and then an issue I had with the ending), but overall I really enjoyed it.
In July, I also listened to The Villa by Rachel Hawkins, narrated by Julia Whelan and Kimberly M. Wetherell. I had been looking forward to reading this one for quite a while, having enjoyed the author's The Wife Upstairs years ago. I loved the ending of The Villa, but the rest of the book was just okay for me. I can enjoy a mystery/thriller without liking the characters much, and this was definitely an instance where no one was particularly likeable. I just don't think I was fully invested in the story, at least not the modern day one. I did quite enjoy the historical narrative of this dual time line novel. The Villa was an entertaining way to spend a few hours, but I am not sure this thriller will stick with me for long.
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July's Mystery book club selection was a winner. I read The Hunter (Cal Hooper #2) by Tana French. I almost decided to skip it because I have not read the first book (The Searcher), but I went ahead and read it anyway. I am so glad I did. While I am sure I was missing an important piece of backstory, it never really felt like I was. I read In the Woods years ago (an unrelated book) and loved it. So, I suspected I would enjoy this one too. I think of Tana French's novels as being literary mysteries, the characters themselves and their relationships to one another playing a significant, sometimes primary role, in the novels. She has a gift for getting into the heads of her characters and making them seem so real. I love her writing and the way she brings her setting to life in The Hunter. My book club had a good discussion about the book, about how tight knit small communities can be, but also about how resentments can build, how outsiders are not always welcome, and how protective they can be.
I had every intention of going to the Science Fiction/Fantasy book club discussion of Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis this past month, but I hadn't yet finished enough of the book to feel like being a part of the discussion would be worthwhile. I had high expectations for Floating Hotel, especially after the praise it's received, but I was not as enamored with it was I had hoped. I did like it on many levels, getting to know the guests and employees of the hotel, and what a unique setting, a hotel that travels through space! The novel seemed to be made up of interconnected short stories, leading up to the climax. When I was reading chapters, each focused on a different character, I was swept up into their stories, and yet when I put the book down, I wasn't always eager to pick it back up again. I cannot say why exactly. Perhaps it was just my mood.
My daughter got me hooked on the anime Fruits Basket, and I begged her to let me read her copy of the first volume in the series, Fruits Basket Collector's Edition, Vol. 1 by Natsuki Takaya. I love these characters! Dare I confess that I think I like the anime better than the manga? Maybe because I watched it before reading it . . . It's a fun series and surprisingly deep considering the premise. On our last visit to the bookstore, Mouse picked up a copy of the second volume for me. I look forward to reading it!
I closed out my July reading with a book that had been languishing on my e-reader far too long, Bindle Punk Bruja (Bindle Punk #1) by Desideria Mesa. This book was such an interesting mix of just about everything. I admit I had my doubts once I started reading, but I eventually became invested in the characters and the story. The protagonist is a journalist by day and a night club owner by night. Luna, aka Rose, is half Mexican and therefore half bruja--both are secrets she keeps well hidden because it could ruin her if anyone outside her family finds out. Set in the 1920's during prohibition, with mobsters, the Ku Klux Klan, corrupt politicians, Mexican folklore, and misogyny, homophobia, and racism impossible to avoid, Bindle Punk Bruja was dark, at times funny, with a good dose of romance, and always suspenseful.
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