What We've Been Reading Lately - August 2019

Three fiction books this month, and only one non-fiction title. That's a quite unusual for me and a big switch from 2-3 years ago when I read almost entirely non-fiction. I'm glad novels are taking up a bigger chunk of my reading life these days.

The River by Peter Heller

They shoved off and picked up the paddles. They could see their breath. In the gray dawn the river smoked with tendrils of mist. No wind, the water glass-smooth. No sound but the current frilling the stones of the bank. No bird chatter, no crickets. The river and the burns on either side were very still, the only movement there the tatters of flame worrying the biggest fallen logs.

This book is the only title I've finished so far from Anne Bogel's Summer Reading Guide. It started out very slow for me, and I thought about dropping it, but I'm so glad I didn't. About 50 pages in, the action picked up and from that point on I couldn't put it down.

I feel I must warn you that this is a very sad book with some heart-wrenching surprises. It's one of only a handful of books that has made me shed actual tears of grief (this one is another one with some striking similarities to The River). You might want to pass this one by if you're hoping for a feel good ending where everything wraps up in a nice, neat bow.

That being said, the beautiful prose, the way the writing transports you to the Canadian wilderness and immerses you in the setting, and the intense connection I felt for the characters mean in the end I loved it and will probably read it again.

4.5 out of 5 stars

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

"People always think that happiness is a faraway thing," thought Francie, "something cocmplicated and hard to get. Yet, what little things can make it up; a place of shelter when it rains - a cup of strong hot coffee when you're blue; for a man, a cigarette for contentment; a book to read when you're alone - just to be with someone you love. Those things make happiness."

I've been meaning to read this one for forever, and it did not disappoint. I fell in love with Francie Nolan, a smart, saavy young girl trying to find the beautiful in her poverty-stricken life. Her love of books and her longing to sneak off to a quiet place to read won her my undying devotion.

5 out of 5 stars 

The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty

Thirty-nine-year-old moderately successful Human Resources Director. Interests include regency romances, reality TV, and baking large novelty birthday cakes for other people's children. Hobbies include drinking Tia Maria and eating Turkish delight in the bath and dining out with her mum and dad. Wanted to be a ballerina but didn't end up with a ballerina body; however, has been told she is an impressive dirty dancer when drunk. Godmother to nine children, member of two book clubs, Social Club Manager for the Australian Payroll Officers' Association. Suffers from a severe blushing problem but is not shy and will probably end up better friends with your friends than you, which you'll find highly irritating after we break up. Has recently become so worried about meeting the love of her life and having children before she reaches menopause that she has cried piteously in the middle of the night. But otherwise is generally quite cheerful and has on at least three separate occaisions that she knows of been described as 'Charming'. Yep, that about summed it up. What a catch.

This light-hearted, playful book follows a career woman searching for love who unexpectedly inherits an island home from her ex-boyfriend's aunt. This was good beach reading. I definitely enjoyed in more than Nine Perfect Strangers. Not deep, not life-changing, but an entertaining way to spend the afternoon. And sometimes that's all I need my reading life to be :) 

3.5 out of 5 stars

Tell Me More: Stories About the 12 Hardest Things I'm Learning to Say by Kelly Corrigan

This abstract performance art called Family Life is our one run at the ultimate improv. Our chance to be great for someone, to give another person enough of what they need to be happy. Ours to overlook or lost track of or bemoan, ours to recommit to, to apologize for, to try again for. Ours to watch disappear into their next self - toddler to tyke, tween to teen - ours to drop off somewhere and miss forever. It's happening right now, whether we attend to it or not. Like after preparing a nutritious meal that no one really liked and a lot of blame-gaming over who forgot to take out the compost, your peevish, greasy "young adult" tramps off to take the shower she should have taken two days ago, and the evening is shot to shit and not one minute of it looked like the thing you prayed for so long ago, but then you hear something. You head up the stairs, hover outside the bathroom door. "All the single ladies, all the single ladies..." - The kid is singing in the shower. Your profoundly ordinary kid is singing in the shower and you get to be here to hear it.

I loved this irreverent, hilarious, yet deeply profound memoir about the author's attempts to live and love and parent in the midst of a battle with cancer, the death of her beloved father, the loss of a dear friend and all the other regular ups and downs of life. I especially appreciated her hard-won wisdom about how to ask good questions and really listen when we walk alongside someone in pain. Definitely recommend this one.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Andrew Henry's Meadow by Doris Burn

Mrs. Thatcher was usually busy in the kitchen, and Mr. Thatcher was tired when he came home from work. He liked to read the paper and have things quiet. Marian and Martha liked to dress up or try new ways to wear their hair. Robert and Ronald liked to play with toy cars and coloring books. But Andrew Henry liked to build things. 

On the kid lit side of things, Andrew Henry's Meadow was our very favorite read this month. I can't believe I'd never heard of it before. Andrew Henry's bustling family doesn't appreciate his passion for inventing, so he runs off to the meadow where he is soon joined by other neighborhood children. He builds a unique house for each child that matches their gifts and abilities. It's a heart-warming story about accepting children for who they really are, and even though it was written back in 1967 it's timeless message still resonates today.

What are you reading this month? Head on over to Modern Mrs. Darcy to hear from others who are sharing their quick reviews for August.