It’s been an interesting reading month! Beta reading and recovering from beta reading made for less books on my own time. (I don’t mind at all.) Participating in a “Christmas in July” reading challenge made for some unusual summer choices.
Favorite: HELLO BEAUTIFUL, BY ANN NAPOLITANO I really wanted to dedicate an entire blog post to this book, but I just didn’t have the mental bandwidth. Suffice to say, I loved it. It is a polarizing book. I know some who have not enjoyed it and felt it was slow paced. For me it was about the writing, which is to be savored. There was something old-world about it, one that did not depend on shock value to convey a lovely story. I definitely recommend it. I also recommend reading it in print or digital form as opposed to listening to the audio. It could be interpreted as a modern-day Little Women (one boy, several sisters,) but is still very much its own unique plot. It’s quite character-driven, so be prepared to follow them around a lot as they navigate their lives. 9/10 Stars
Surprise favorite discovery: AGAINST THE POLLUTION OF THE “I,” BY JACQUES LUSSEYRAN I have a new historical hero, and his name is Jacques Lusseyran, a French Resistance leader who survived time in a Nazi concentration camp. A blind French Resistance leader. Lusseyran lost his sight in a freak accident when he was eight years old, yet still accomplished and lived through more than most of us could ever imagine. He was brilliant and humble, with strong opinions that he expressed with terrific eloquence. This is one of two books he wrote before dying in 1971 at the young age of 46. His most notable work, which I have yet to read, is called And There Was Light. Seek out his work. He needs more attention. 9.5/10 Stars
Biggest disappointment: DELIVER ME, BY ASHLEY HAWTHORNE Deliver Me was a double-whammy let down. First, because the author said she would send me an advanced copy and never did. Second, because a story with a great premise and potentially fantastic characters plummeted into a pile of literary ashes. I was so intrigued at the idea of a pastor’s daughter exchanging letters with an inmate convicted of murdering his father, that I ended up buying the book. It started out wonderfully and kept my attention until the midpoint. At this point it turned vulgar and graphic. The writing became lazy and I stopped caring. It toyed with my feelings and lost all of its depth. Sadly, there is no way I can recommend it. 3/10 Stars
And on to August! I have two advanced copies that need reading and reviewing very soon: The Paris Assignment, by Rhys Bowen, and Summer in the Spotlight, by Liz Johnson. Both will be released on August 8, so I’d better get cracking!
Happy Reading!
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