Reading-wise, this was a bit of a below average month. Only 7 books. 2,317 pages. An average of 77 pages a day. But most of the books were really good this month- honestly only one that I didn’t really care for.
Elphie: A Wicked Childhood by Gregory Maguire (277 pages). Elphie did not live a golden childhood. Her father, Frexspar, was a missionary from Munchkinland to Quadling Country, taking his high born Munchkinlander wife Melena Thropp with him. Their oldest daughter Elphba was born green. Their middle daughter (or the child of Melena’s affair with Quadling Turtle Heart) Nessarose was born without arms. Their youngest son Sheltergod is the only one born physically perfect (but he’s literally a hellion). I really wanted to like this book. I wanted answers, like why is Elphie harmed by water. The book was too slow for me. Sorry, I’m still pro musical, anti book (which is SHOCKING for me!). I finished in 4 days.
The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick (368 pages). This was the book for my non-gym book club. In 1963, 4 neighborhood women in northern Virginia start a book club. Their first book is The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. And suddenly, the Betty’s (as they dub themselves) start to realize the feelings they have been having. Newest neighbor Charlotte is a glamorous transplant from New York City. But she struggles with neuroses and prescriptions. Margaret thought she was happy, married with kids. But when she gets a job as a columnist for A Woman’s Place magazine, she remembers what it was like to do things for herself. War nurse and mom of 6 Viv goes back to work, even though she’s pregnant with baby #7. Bitsy is married to an equine vet who is much older than she is. Their struggles with infertility and his dismissal of her brains lead to problems in the marriage. During their year of book club, their friendships deepen into lifelong sisters. The women learn that they can be so much more than wives and mothers; they can be women. As someone who has friendships from high school/college and more recent friendships, this idea of a sisterhood that lifts you up was so wonderful. I finished in 4 days.
Olivia Twist by Lorie Langdon (328 pages). In 1841 London, a baby girl is born in a workhouse. She is raised as a boy amongst thieves and ruffians until her uncle takes her in and forces society upon her. 18 years later, Olivia Brownlow (formerly known as Oliver Twist) meets Jack MacCarron. Jack is new to society, having been taken in by his elderly aunt. But something about him seems so familiar to Olivia. Because Jack isn’t really new to the London streets. He used to be known as the Artful Dodger. When the orphan boys Olivia has taken under her wing are threatened by a new menacing street lord named Monks, Olivia needs Jack’s help to save them. And herself, as it turns out Monks is her half-brother and he has a vendetta against her. This was a very creative twist (get it?) on Oliver Twist. I finished in 4 days.
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid (327 pages). Emma and Jesse fell in love at 17. And for the next 10 years, they created an amazing life in California and around the world- Emma as a travel journalist and Jesse as a production assistant on travel documentaries. But when Jesse’s helicopter was lost as sea the day before their first wedding anniversary, Emma’s life is upended. She moves home to Massachusetts. And rekindles a friendship with Sam, a schoolmate who had worked at her parents’ bookstore. That friendship turns to love and they get engaged roughly 3 years after Jesse disappeared. Then Jesse calls her. It was like Castaway if it had only been told from Helen Hunt’s perspective. Or like Jane the Virgin. The question is can you have more than one true love in your lifetime? And does a new love negate the old one? This was really a beautiful story of learning who you were and who you are and appreciating both. I finished in 4 days.
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley (350 pages). Francesca Meadows inherited her family home in Tome, on the southern coast of England. She decided to turn the home, with the help of her architect husband Owen, into The Manor. The Manor is a boutique resort that specializes in holistic and sylvan experiences. But there’s a dark history in Tome and surrounding the Manor. And the local justice is handed out by The Birds. The opening weekend of The Manor falls on the summer solstice, so Francesca wants to take full advantage of that magic with an al fresco midnight feast. But secrets have a way of making themselves known. And the aftermath of the midnight feast leaves a fire and several bodies. I finished in 3 days.
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (416 pages). This was the book for my gym book club. Celebrity journalist Alice Scott is hoping she finally has her shot- the chance to tell the life story of Margaret Grace Ives. Margaret is in her 80’s and has lived quite a life- newspaper heiress, wife of rock royalty, tabloid princess. All before she disappeared from public. But Alice is in competition with Hayden Anderson, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist. Margaret has both of them move to Georgia for a month and compete for the chance to tell her story. But she doesn’t give either of them the full story. Soon the competition (and Georgia heat) becomes too steamy. Margaret’s story is sad and beautiful. And she is willing to share the public’s story and her truth. I finished in 5 days.
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle (251 pages). Corporate lawyer Dannie Kohan’s life is perfect. She just nailed an interview for her dream job and said yes to her boyfriend David’s proposal. But one of the questions from the interview must have struck deeper than she realized. Because when they got home from the Rainbow Room, Dannie found herself exactly five years in the future for one hour. And it was NOT the future she thought she’d have. She wasn’t with David anymore. In fact, she was engaged to a different man and living in a different part of New York. When she comes back to current time, she tries to forget Aaron and her future, as she and David continue to create the future they had planned. But four and a half years after her hour with Aaron, she sees him. In person. As her best friend Bella’s new boyfriend. While Dannie tries desperately to keep the future she lived for an hour to come to fruition, life shows her that no matter what you try to do, things unfold as they are meant to. Y’all- this one gutted me. I was in tears for the last several chapters. I finished in 3 days.
This month’s favorite is……..In Five Years. I know I just finished it, so it’s freshest. But there was just something about it.
No comments:
Post a Comment