Whatcha Readin'?

There ought to be at least two more books on this list, but I got distracted by the photos on Montana History Portal and their meme contest (it’s not too late to enter!). It’s been loads of fun creating funny memes related to reading, writing, and Montana life. Even with the beautiful distraction, I managed to read twelve books in April, and all of them were four stars or better. Here they are, in no particular order:

Part of Your World and Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez are books one and two in a new contemporary romance series that’s funny and fast-paced. These books are laugh-out-loud funny and perfect for people who grew up in the 80s/90s; fantastic nostalgia factor. An enormous thank you to Thompson Falls librarian, Sara, for recommending them.

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon is a medium-paced historical fiction thriller that I’d say is more mysterious than thrilling. I’ll read just about anything with a midwife for a main character and this book did not disappoint. A fascinating and feminist leaning look at Maine in 1789.

There There by Tommy Orange is contemporary literary fiction that’s medium-paced, reflective, and emotional. The book that documents what happened before his latest book, Wandering Stars, the books stand alone and do not need to be read in order, although reading this certainly helped with my understanding of some of the things in book two.

Holding Silvan by Monica Wesolowska is a medium-paced grief memoir that will require several boxes of tissues by the time you’re done. Detailing the emotional roller-coaster of new parents as they watch their only baby die, it was both impossible to keep reading and impossible not to finish.

Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey is an emotional true crime memoir that’s medium-paced and reflective. The story speaks of Natasha’s relationship with her mother who was murdered by her stepfather. The author is a poet and it shows in her tight and brutal prose.

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado is a dark and medium-paced LGBTQIA+ memoir that left me stunned. Aspects of the fantastical and horrific play out in this unusually formatted book that sheds light on domestic abuse. If you liked the unconventional format of Maggie Smith’s You Could Make This Place Beautiful, you’ll likely enjoy this as well.

Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow by Steve Almond is a nonfiction craft book on writing. It’s now one of my favorite craft books of all time, right up there with On Writing by Stephen King and Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott. Excellent insight if you don’t mind cursing. This book destroys some writing myths and provides writing prompts. *swoon*

Wild Mind by Natalie Goldberg is a fast-paced idea book for writers, all about leaning into the possibilities for writing based on getting out of your inner-critic’s way. If you enjoyed her other books, you’ll enjoy this one as well. They are all slightly different even as they follow a similar structure. I’ve gotten a little something out of every one of her books.

Writers Dreaming by Naomi Epel is a slow-paced nonfiction anthology of writers detailing their dreams and how

their dreams affected their books and craft. Fascinating and with great authors like Amy Tan, Anne Rice, Stephen

King, Isabel Allende, etc. It’s interesting that all these authors paid attention to their dreams at some point in their

lives whether or not they could relate what they dreamt to what they wrote.

Write Away by Elizabeth George is a nonfiction craft book for writers, more specifically and especially writers of

mysteries, but craft is craft and there’s a bevy of info for all writers locked within. Slow-paced and very informative,

the examples are a wee bit long, but the explanations are brilliant.

The 12 Week Year for Writers by A. Trevor Thrall is a fast-paced nonfiction book for writers trying to do it all. The formula (allegedly) allows writers to fit all their necessary writing into their days to also allow for some semblance of a balanced personal life as well. I’ll let you know if I institute what I read and if it works.

Some of the books I’m reading now are:

No Baggage by Clara Bensen

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

The 90-Day Memoir by Alan Watt

Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery

Take a few minutes out of your reading day to check out the Montana History Portal, create a meme or two (Canva

is free, easy, and robust), and then drop me an email about Whatcha Readin’!

Sunday Dutro is an avid reader and eBook convert living in Thompson Falls with her beautiful family and an enormous “to be read” pile. Reach her at [email protected].