What are you reading for July?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I just finished Yellowface. I thought most of it was well-done - great job with a protaganist who is racist and oblivious about it. Good insights about the publishing industry as well.

I eventually got a little impatient for it to end. There was only so much that could keep the plot moving forward, and it got a little repetitive.

Like the PP above, though, I'm glad I read it.

I'm interested to read this. You know it's fiction though I'm sure, so those "insights" into the publishing industry are not officially factual.

Yeah, I know it's fiction. Anyone who read it would not need to have that point clarified. That doesn't mean that the book's insights are any less valid, perceptive, and thought-provoking.

Sure but they're not "insights" if its fiction.

Of course they are. Did you not get insights into the expat life in 1920s Spain from The Bell Also Rises? Did you not get insight into the meatpacking industry from The Jungle? Some fiction is divorced from any reality - but much of it reflects real lives. People in publishing are treating Yellowface like it does shine a mirror, too, fwiw.

Sorry, the SUN Also Rises

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just finished Yellowface. I thought most of it was well-done - great job with a protaganist who is racist and oblivious about it. Good insights about the publishing industry as well.

I eventually got a little impatient for it to end. There was only so much that could keep the plot moving forward, and it got a little repetitive.

Like the PP above, though, I'm glad I read it.

I'm interested to read this. You know it's fiction though I'm sure, so those "insights" into the publishing industry are not officially factual.

I like the author of Yellowface, and just finished The Burning God (second book in the Poppy War trilogy). I'll probably read it eventually but have a long tbr.

Just started Happy Place by Emily Henry as a complete about face in terms of content and style.

[Anonymous]

I am currently reading East of Eden. Started a thread on that.

The next book on my list is An Immense a World by Ed Yong And after that will be Caste, the origins of our discontent by Isabel Wilkerson

[Anonymous]

Earlier this year, I read two of Dani Shapiro's memoirs ("Slow Motion" and "Inheritance") and loved them both. She's an excellent writer!!

I'm now listening to her most recent novel ("Signal Fires") and think it's very good, too. (I'm listening on audiobook - she has prior acting experience and is a great narrator.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Earlier this year, I read two of Dani Shapiro's memoirs ("Slow Motion" and "Inheritance") and loved them both. She's an excellent writer!!

I'm now listening to her most recent novel ("Signal Fires") and think it's very good, too. (I'm listening on audiobook - she has prior acting experience and is a great narrator.)

I really loved her book “Still Writing” if you’re in the mood for more from her at some point. I had a hard time getting into “Inheritance” but i haven’t tried the others you mention. I’ll check them out!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just finished Yellowface. I thought most of it was well-done - great job with a protaganist who is racist and oblivious about it. Good insights about the publishing industry as well.

I eventually got a little impatient for it to end. There was only so much that could keep the plot moving forward, and it got a little repetitive.

Like the PP above, though, I'm glad I read it.

I'm interested to read this. You know it's fiction though I'm sure, so those "insights" into the publishing industry are not officially factual.

Yeah, I know it's fiction. Anyone who read it would not need to have that point clarified. That doesn't mean that the book's insights are any less valid, perceptive, and thought-provoking.

Sure but they're not "insights" if its fiction.

Of course they are. Did you not get insights into the expat life in 1920s Spain from The Bell Also Rises? Did you not get insight into the meatpacking industry from The Jungle? Some fiction is divorced from any reality - but much of it reflects real lives. People in publishing are treating Yellowface like it does shine a mirror, too, fwiw.

Agreed! Thank you for saying this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am currently reading East of Eden. Started a thread on that.

The next book on my list is An Immense a World by Ed Yong And after that will be Caste, the origins of our discontent by Isabel Wilkerson

Just remembered that before I start East of Eden, I read demon copperhead from Barbara Kingsolver I really enjoyed that book.

[Anonymous]

The Song of the Cell by Siddhartha Mukherjee - and so excited that he'll be attending National Book Festival.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just started The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi because I adore Shannon (S.A) Chakraborty. So far so good!

To the poster who didn’t enjoy The Nine Taylor’s I was the culprit recommending it. For something much closer to Christie, read “Strong Poison” if you’re willing to give Sayers another try.

I really enjoyed this book - love the middle-aged mom pirate perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just finished Yellowface. I thought most of it was well-done - great job with a protaganist who is racist and oblivious about it. Good insights about the publishing industry as well.

I eventually got a little impatient for it to end. There was only so much that could keep the plot moving forward, and it got a little repetitive.

Like the PP above, though, I'm glad I read it.

I'm interested to read this. You know it's fiction though I'm sure, so those "insights" into the publishing industry are not officially factual.

Yeah, I know it's fiction. Anyone who read it would not need to have that point clarified. That doesn't mean that the book's insights are any less valid, perceptive, and thought-provoking.

Sure but they're not "insights" if its fiction.

Of course they are. Did you not get insights into the expat life in 1920s Spain from The Bell Also Rises? Did you not get insight into the meatpacking industry from The Jungle? Some fiction is divorced from any reality - but much of it reflects real lives. People in publishing are treating Yellowface like it does shine a mirror, too, fwiw.

Agreed! Thank you for saying this.

if you want to believe the marketing which is designed solely to sell books, then more fool you, sadly

[Anonymous]

Started Pineapple Street, by Jenny Jackson, a few days ago. So far, meh. I'm not finding any of the characters really engaging and overall the narrative reads like a contest to see how many ultra-rich WASP cliches the author can throw into a single paragraph. I'll stick with it though, because so many raved about this book, and it's a fast read so I don't have to slog through it before DNF at 50%.

Finished Thunderstruck, by Erik Larson. Not a new book, but another solid read from him.

[Anonymous]

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. I'm not a gamer. I am surprised how much I love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just finished Yellowface. I thought most of it was well-done - great job with a protaganist who is racist and oblivious about it. Good insights about the publishing industry as well.

I eventually got a little impatient for it to end. There was only so much that could keep the plot moving forward, and it got a little repetitive.

Like the PP above, though, I'm glad I read it.

I'm interested to read this. You know it's fiction though I'm sure, so those "insights" into the publishing industry are not officially factual.

Yeah, I know it's fiction. Anyone who read it would not need to have that point clarified. That doesn't mean that the book's insights are any less valid, perceptive, and thought-provoking.

Sure but they're not "insights" if its fiction.

Of course they are. Did you not get insights into the expat life in 1920s Spain from The Bell Also Rises? Did you not get insight into the meatpacking industry from The Jungle? Some fiction is divorced from any reality - but much of it reflects real lives. People in publishing are treating Yellowface like it does shine a mirror, too, fwiw.

Agreed! Thank you for saying this.

if you want to believe the marketing which is designed solely to sell books, then more fool you, sadly

Dude. People IN publishing are treating this book as if it reflects some reality. No one is saying it's nonfiction. But fiction works when it reveals/reflects something about the actual world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. I'm not a gamer. I am surprised how much I love it.

I read this book a couple months ago. I also really enjoyed it!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I liked part of your world too. But the summary sounds like another book by the same author- Yours Truly. I liked that one even more. Both of them had incredibly an appealing male lead character to me.

Oh this is embarrassing … I meant Yours Truly! The descriptions are very similar and I mixed them up.

Don’t be embarrassed! They were both good! Any recommendations for similar books?

Yes! I really enjoy romcoms and I'm also a bit picky about them. Besides Abby Jimenez, I really like:

Rachel Lynn Solomon -- I've really enjoyed all of them, but I think "Weather Girl," "The Ex Talk," and her new one "Business or Pleasure" are especially strong. If you are okay with YA then "See You Yesterday" and "Today Tonight Tomorrow" are very good.

Trish Doller - "Float Plan," "The Suite Spot," and "Off the Map." I suggest reading in this order--differnet MCs but it takes place in the same universe so reading out of order would spoil a few things.

Christina Lauren - I like most of their books (co-written under a pseudonym) but some didn't click for me at all. I really enjoyed: "The Honey Don't List," "Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating," "The Unhoneymooners," "Roomies," and "The Soulmate Equation" (I actually think I liked its sequel "The True Love Experiment" even more).

Emily Henry, "Book Lovers" is my favorite of hers.

Not sure if Annabel Monaghan exactly belongs in this category--her books seem a little heavier to me--but I did enjoy "Nora Goes Off Script" and her new one "Same Time Next Summer"

PP you are responding to and thank you so much! I loved Emily Henry and Christina Lauren’s books so I’m excited to check out these other recommendations!