What are you reading for June?

[Anonymous]

The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher sounds like a fun read, thanks!

I am in the middle of (listening to) Cloud Cuckoo Land (Doerr), and I am on the fence. I'm really enjoying some of the story vignettes that are woven through the book, but the main conceit*--that these stories are linked by an incredibly unfunny Greek myth called Cloud Cuckoo Land--is tiresome... Tiresome, like every time we return to the myth I'm gritting my teeth. We'll see.

[*Promise I'm not giving anything away--the "myth" shows up page one I believe.]

Also reading (non-fiction) Outlive by Peter Attia which is totally outside my wheelhouse. Would usually disregard as "tech bro tries to live forever" but actually is very data-driven, surprisingly well written (ghost writer perhaps?), and altogether an unexpectedly interesting read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty? I'm just starting it. There's so much hype around it that I'm excited!

I have read and enjoyed everything that Shannon Chakraborty has written. Jealous that you get to read it for the first time!

So I'm taking that as an endorsement of City of Brass. I've seen mixed reviews, but perhaps it belongs on my tbr.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Last Tudor by Philippa Gregory. I haven't read anything of hers since the Other Boleyn Girl many years ago, but I love a hefty historical fiction with romance elements in the summertime, and as I recall, she really does her research. So far, enjoying it.

I, too, love historical fiction, the longer the better (assuming it’s any good). Would love to hear some of your favorite authors. Besides Philippe Gregory, I loved Hilary Mantel’s trilogy. She also wrote a great novel set during the French Recolution (but very detailed, took a while to really click for me). Also Margaret George.

[Anonymous]

Just finished Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty, which was fun. Before that read Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls. Was disappointed. I kept waiting for it to go deep, but it never did.

[Anonymous]

Crying in H Mart finally came up on my digital hold list. I was underwhelmed. Not a hard read, but didn’t find it as compelling as all the hype led me to expect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Last Tudor by Philippa Gregory. I haven't read anything of hers since the Other Boleyn Girl many years ago, but I love a hefty historical fiction with romance elements in the summertime, and as I recall, she really does her research. So far, enjoying it.

I, too, love historical fiction, the longer the better (assuming it’s any good). Would love to hear some of your favorite authors. Besides Philippe Gregory, I loved Hilary Mantel’s trilogy. She also wrote a great novel set during the French Recolution (but very detailed, took a while to really click for me). Also Margaret George.

Have you read anything by Dorothy Dunnett?

[Anonymous]

I just started Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. I’ve been meaning to read it for years but for some reason this month is the month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Crying in H Mart finally came up on my digital hold list. I was underwhelmed. Not a hard read, but didn’t find it as compelling as all the hype led me to expect.

Wow this surprises me. I absolutely loved it. I teach high school English and use the original Crying in H Mart New Yorker piece in class (it’s basically the first chapter of the book) and my girl students just love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Last Tudor by Philippa Gregory. I haven't read anything of hers since the Other Boleyn Girl many years ago, but I love a hefty historical fiction with romance elements in the summertime, and as I recall, she really does her research. So far, enjoying it.

I, too, love historical fiction, the longer the better (assuming it’s any good). Would love to hear some of your favorite authors. Besides Philippe Gregory, I loved Hilary Mantel’s trilogy. She also wrote a great novel set during the French Recolution (but very detailed, took a while to really click for me). Also Margaret George.

Have you read anything by Dorothy Dunnett?

Hmm. The name is familiar but I’m not sure I have. Will go investigate— thanks for the suggestion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Recent reads...

Our Missing Hearts - I've liked her other books better. I really did not like that one.
Lessons in Chemistry - fun/fine book but I don't really understand why everyone is going bananas about it.
Covenant of Water - I loved Cutting for Stone. This was good, but not in the same class in my opinion.
Migrations - I don't know how this got good reviews. I barely made it through.

I think that between Our Missing Hearts and Migrations I've realized that I'm not a fan of the dystopian future genre.

To the other PP -- I read Claire Keegan for the first time a couple months ago and her writing is absolutely beautiful. I loved both of the books. My only complaint is that I wished they'd go on and on!

Reading Covenant of Water now and I agree!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Crying in H Mart finally came up on my digital hold list. I was underwhelmed. Not a hard read, but didn’t find it as compelling as all the hype led me to expect.

Wow this surprises me. I absolutely loved it. I teach high school English and use the original Crying in H Mart New Yorker piece in class (it’s basically the first chapter of the book) and my girl students just love it.

NP. I loved the standalone piece/first chapter much more than the rest of the book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Crying in H Mart finally came up on my digital hold list. I was underwhelmed. Not a hard read, but didn’t find it as compelling as all the hype led me to expect.

Wow this surprises me. I absolutely loved it. I teach high school English and use the original Crying in H Mart New Yorker piece in class (it’s basically the first chapter of the book) and my girl students just love it.

NP. I loved the standalone piece/first chapter much more than the rest of the book.

That’s fair. I really loved when Michelle described her trips to Korea with her mom and being with her Korean family there.

[Anonymous]

I just finished Bewilderment by Richard Powers. It is very good—beautiful, disturbing, thought provoking—but maybe I was not ready for how dark it was. Death and loss PLUS ecological end times PLUS fascism. I maybe don’t need that many scales to fall from my eyes all at once. My next read will be one to help me avoid existential dread rather than feeding it, I think.

[Anonymous]

The Three Elissas (memoir)
Great so far!

[Anonymous]

My three favorites so far this month:

- Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
Teenage Ojibwe girl works to reclaim and return/rebury ancestors (and their possessions) stolen from graves in the name of anthropology.

- Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Retelling of David Copperfield in Appalachia: opioid crisis, “deplorables”, foster care, Appalachian culture/setting, addiction, redemption.

- The Change by Kirsten Miller
Thanks to those who recommended here! Middle aged women discover their powers and work together to solve a series of murders.