Annnnd… here’s round two of everything I’ve been devouring during these hot heat wave days – stay cool, friends!
–Marissa
Heating and Cooling by Beth Ann Fennelly was a re-read – 52 fantastic “micro-memoirs”. I love dipping in and out of this collection!
The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan, because I’m getting deeper into my birdwatching era, i.e. fully turning into my parents.😉 Author Tan’s book is filled with essays, observations, her own drawings of her birds, and noticing nature all around us. This is another one to dip in and out of, reading an entry here at there to start my day or wind down.
Set Piece by Lana Schwartz is a short romance novel, again out of the stables of 831 Stories. I’d read one previously, and wanted to give another one a go. This is billed as romantic, modern fiction and usually features glitzy locales and one of our romance tropes (this time, Hollywood and second chance). A short, pleasant enough diversion, but not particularly memorable for me.
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall has been EVERYWHERE since its debut earlier this year and was picked as a Reese’s book club, so I finally managed to snag the audiobook version, and of course, immediately got sucked into the story. This is a love story, a thriller, a simmering burn, filled with consequences and flashbacks and first loves, and all of it propulsive and heartbreaking and plotted beautifully. Highly recommended!
A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst has been everywhere this summer, and after tearing through this 256-page work of nonfiction, I get it. Maurice and Maralyn are an unlikely couple, but they marry, quit their jobs and run away from it all onto a boat – only to be sunk by a breaching whale and stuck in a life raft for MONTHS. I mean… with a setup like that, who wouldn’t want to “dive” into this one?!
So Happy Together by Olivia Worley was an audiobook listen and it was a wild ride of a suspense novel for sure. Jane is convinced she’s destined to be with Colin after they meet, but he breaks it off after 6 dates… but that doesn’t stop Jane in, oh, so many ways. This was twisty, engaging, wackadoodle, and just big fun. I love a crazytown novel!
Rage by Linda Castillo is the latest in the Chief Burkholder series, and as always, is solid, engaging, and great to come back each summer to “visit” my fictional friends! I can’t believe this is #17 in this series!
In Defense of Dabbling by Karen Walrond was an ARC I picked up at the ALA annual conference, and it was right up my alley… how to do things you love even if you are a total amateur. We then follow Karen through a number of pursuits (and some of her friends too!), and all of it is kind and joyful and warm. I really just enjoyed dipping in and out of this one!
The New Book by Nikki Giovanni was another ALA score, and is her final collection of letters, essays, poems, blurbs and thoughts from the late poet and commentator.
The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater had such an interesting premise, but my GOD it plodded along with stilted language, a languid plot, and absolutely no motivation for me to care about anyone or the plot. Skimmed to finish, yikes.
stubbornsunshine.com 