Whatcha Readin'?

We are officially halfway through the year, and thanks to the Thompson Falls Public Library book sale last weekend, my shelves are back to overflowing. Unfortunately, I’m not keeping up with my personal goal of reading 175 books this year. I’m currently at 80, which my tracking app tells me means I’m eight books behind; eep!

Despite being behind, I managed to read 13 books in June, nine of which were four stars or better. Here they are in no particular order:

Funny Story by Emily Henry is a contemporary romance that’s hilarious, hopeful, and medium-to-fast-paced. It’s got a tiny bit of spice, comparable to or less than her other books. The main character and her love interest are two of my favorite Emily Henry characters of all time to this point, and the story is *chef’s kiss*

Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell is a classic historical fiction book that was recommended by Montana author Russell Rowland as well as humorist Steve Almond. A slow-paced, reflective, and emotional book, it’s the first in a two-book series that was later made into a movie called Mr. & Mrs. Bridge starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. An absolutely fascinating look at women’s lives and roles around World War II.

My Blue Skin Lover by Monona Wali is a medium-paced fiction with touches of magical realism. A book about spiritual transformation told through a romance with Shiva, it’s an interesting glance into Hinduism with some unexpected spice.

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck is a literary fiction book with loads of magical realism. I am completely obsessed with this book as it’s totally different from anything I’ve ever read. Medium-paced, reflective, a bit sad and funny, it’s such an odd book that I really don’t know how to recommend it to people, but I also can’t not recommend it to people…it’s fascinating and so well done it’s entirely believable. What would you do if your husband mutated into a shark, and people shrugged their shoulders because these things happen?

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka is a historical fiction that’s slow-paced, emotional, and reflective. Apparently it’s a follow-up to another book which I didn’t realize when I started reading it, so you may want to read When the Emperor Was Divine first (which I still haven’t, although it’s on my TBR now). A beautiful look at Japanese brides coming to America to wed just before the war and their experiences here before ultimately being shipped off to concentration camps.

Where Rivers Change Direction by Mark Spragg is a coming-of-age nature memoir that’s slow-paced and reflective. It won the Mountains & Plains Independent Bookseller Award, and for good reason. Stunningly beautiful imagery of a boy growing up on a dude ranch in Wyoming. The eloquent writing alone makes it worth reading, and the insight into the male psyche and the relationships between father and son are an enormous bonus.

Twilight of the Tenderfoot by Diane Ackerman is a medium-paced memoir about ranching: the relationships between the workers, the horses, the cattle, and the land. It’s adventurous, funny, and informative.

The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton is a complete collection of all her poems, including unpublished ones. Slow-paced, reflective, and emotional, her poems touch on feminist, racial, and biblical themes with many of her later poems involving breast cancer.

Divergent by Veronica Roth (yes, that Divergent…I’m super late to this party, y’all) is a Young Adult dystopian fiction book that’s the first in a trilogy (although there’s also apparently a fourth book, Four, that’s a collection of short stories told from the perspective of the main male character). All of these books are out and available and I’m reading the second book in the series now. There’s a very wee bit of romance in the first book, nothing to raise any eyebrows, and it’s a fast-paced and intense read.

Rather than telling you what I’m reading now, I’d like to tell you what I hope to get through by August, to get me back on track and through the insanity that is this month:

-New Life, No Instructions by Gail Caldwell

-My Name is Lillian by Sandy Compton

-Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

-The Dark Tower I by Stephen King

-Pack of Two by Caroline Knapp

-Crafting the Personal Essay by Dinty W. Moore

-Prozac Diary by Lauren Slater

-Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner

Finally, a huge thank you to reader Melissa R. who sent me a bunch of suggestions for summer reading: “Anything by Deanna Raybourn- she tops my list in historical fiction….Another fun author is Jodi Taylor, who writes an amazing series about witnessing historical events in contemporary time….Sherry Thomas's Lady Sherlock series is fun and well written. Another great historical fiction option.” As always, drop me a line and let me know 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]