Somehow, it’s almost summer. My calendar is filling up with events—town festivals, kid birthday parties, cabin trips…hopefully there are a few minutes of reading time that can be found in there somewhere.
Here’s a list of what a few of us read in May. Quite a variety we have!
Cathy
Playing for Freedom: The Journey of a Young Afghan Girl by Zarifa Adiba, Anne Chaon, Susanna Lea Associates (Translator)
Zarifa Adiba is a sixteen year old living in Kabul, Afgahnistan, attending the Afghanistan National Institute of Music and hiding her passion and talent for music in a culture that sees music as “sinful”. This short book is a gripping insight into Zarifa’s life in a country and culture that is completely different to the one I grew up in. Zarifa is a strong young woman who’s living a complicated life and though she faces prejudices and adversity at different points, she doesn’t let this dampen her shine. I really liked the way that Zarifa’s story has been written – it’s engaging, amusing at times and passionate. I can feel Zarifa’s passion and enthusiasm through her words, the two emotions jump off the page at you. I have a complete review coming soon but I’ve enjoyed this book.
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
Jess
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
This is the first book I’ve finished since my son was born 7 months ago. I’ve been in a reading rut; I would pick up a book and put it down 4 pages later. I made excuse after excuse not to read a book. But not with this one.
When Women Were Dragons tells the story of protagonist Alex as she navigates the Mass Dragoning of 1955 – and other subsequent dragonings. The book is fantasy turned historical fiction, two genres that I don’t typically prefer, but they were woven together to create a beautiful story. I found myself caught up in the action (talk about suspended disbelief), and I desperately wanted to solve the pressing question of the novel: Why were women turning into dragons?
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Joli
The Lady of the Loch by Elena Collins (Audiobook)
I have to confess, I started about 4 different audiobooks, trying to find the one that fit my fancy. I was in a particular kind of mood, but couldn’t really decide what kind of mood that was! Finally I stumbled upon The Lady of the Loch, and a dual-timeline historical mystery set in Scotland at an old castle hit me just right.
This one was definitely entertaining to listen to. There were a few present-day relationships in the story that I found a little odd, and therefore rated it down a little. It also got a bit darker than I anticipated, but not so dark that I wanted to quit listening. Overall I thought the narrator was great, I liked the Scottish accents, and the story kept me entertained.
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The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Like a lot of other reviewers of this book and series, I loved the characters in The Thursday Murder Club. You just feel the urge to jump in and befriend them all. There were a few things that I thought could have been different, but the mystery kept me guessing until the end. I may have to pick up the next book in the series at some point to see where it goes.
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle (Audiobook)
Because I had fun listening to Serle’s One Italian Summer, I decided to start the audiobook version of In Five Years. I have to say, I was pretty surprised by how different the two books are. This one was a lot more serious, although it also included a small amount of magical realism, just like One Italian Summer.
I usually like the serious-leaning books more, but this was kind of the opposite. It was a little heavier than what I was expecting, and I just…didn’t like it that much. It had a redeeming ending, but otherwise was just pretty okay.
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
The Waves Take You Home by María Alejandra Barrios Vélez
This book stood out to me immediately because of the gorgeous cover. Of course, the story and author piqued my interest as well, so I had to give it a try. I’m glad I did! The Waves Take You Home is the story of a young woman, torn between her home in Columbia and the new life she’s started building for herself in NYC. Her grandmother leaves the (in debt) family restaurant to her in her will, and she’s got to decide what she’s going to do with it.
This was a story I enjoyed! Read my full review of The Waves Take You Home here.
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Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley
My book club chose this book for May, and I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. I wasn’t sure what to expect based on the synopsis and was afraid it would edge into the cheesy territory. While there were definitely some parts that may have been close, I ended up loving it!
Basically, people who all usually ride the same commuter train but never speak have a shared experience, and they start talking to each other a little bit. That little bit snowballs, until they’re one big, super odd-couple group of friends. They range in age from 60s to high school teenager.bEach one is dealing with his or her own trials, and they all narrate their own stories. Overall a really fun, lighter-but-not-too-cheesy read that you might want to pick up this summer.
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
Molly
Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey
Laugh out loud funny story of a millennial woman going through a divorce in her late twenties. Protagonist Maggie is relatable, messy, and real as she navigates trying to be a good friend, learning dating apps after ten years in a relationship, and trying to keep her job. An inspiring and hilarious tale of what it looks like to hit rock bottom and claw your way back to contentment.
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennet
An interesting dystopian fantasy with a murder mystery to solve. Political intrigue and magic poisons make for a riveting plot. The narrator is naive but lovable and his Sherlockian boss brings eccentric flair to the novel.
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller
This slow-paced, cozy fantasy is all about the importance of family and the power of love between sisters. Its folklore-like magic system is simple yet enticing. While Alaine and Delphine have their flaws, you can’t help but root for them as they try to save the family farm by making ever-increasingly dangerous deals with the local Fae.
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
That’s our list! What did you read in May?
