Books of August 2021
I know I’ve said that the last couple of months have been busy, and also that August was going to be the culmination - but wow, was that an understatement.
August was insane.
It started out with a vacation, and I did get a lot of reading done, but the amount of work I tackled when I got home and the other things going on behind the scenes in my personal life were pretty overwhelming.
But now the month is over. And I’m hoping for a smooth and slow transition into fall. I guess we’ll see if I get it.
This month I read the following 2 books in my set categories:
Classic: The Bluest Eye - 2 Stars. I’ve read other books by Toni Morrison and appreciated them for the classics they are, but this book made me purely uncomfortable. I had a difficult time following the character and plot - especially since the plot itself was dark and disturbing. Maybe my brain just didn’t want to understand. Contrasted against the content, Toni Morrison’s writing style is beautiful as ever, and certain sections felt much more like poetry than prose. But the depictions conveyed were in stark contrast to the beautiful language.
Re-Read: The Unexpected Spy: From the CIA to the FBI, My Secret Life Taking Down Some of the World's Most Notorious Terrorists - I read this book last year and was surprised by how much I liked it. Based on other books I have been reading in the last several months (and how much I liked them as well), I decided to read this one again. I enjoyed it just as much this time through, if not more (thanks to the added context I’ve gained from the other reading!). This time though, since I had an idea of where the book was going, there were times when the narrative felt a bit disconnected or disjointed and didn’t quite seem to flow smoothly. On the whole, however, I really appreciate Tracy Walder’s frank writing style and of course, all that she did to serve our country.
In August I also read the following 14 books:
The Man from the Train: The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery - 3 Stars. There have been several books on these lists in the last several months that have dealt with serial killers (my recent crime kick has been obvious), but this one depicts the most prolific - or potentially prolific - one that I have read about yet. And not in a good way. Dozens of individuals, incidents, and murders were detailed and I found it more than impossible to keep them apart. Luckily, the authors did a good job separating out the inconsequential details and labeling them as such - although at times I wondered if it was really necessary then that they be included in the first place. I found it interesting to see how many and what kind of records were kept a century ago, especially in relation to how far we have come in even the last several decades. The information and evidence shared about the different events were inconsistent (largely because the records were as well), and the sheer amount of it was often overwhelming. In addition to that, the whole story, and even some of the facts, are surrounded by so much speculation that I was shocked that the authors were able to determine a potential (and likely) suspect. Although several of the investigative books I have read recently have had inconclusive endings, this one felt particularly so. That may be because of the time that has passed since the incidents, because so much of the book was speculative to begin with, or maybe something else entirely.
The Woman in Cabin 10 - 3 Stars. I’ve always really enjoyed thrillers - at least, as an adult. I have seen this book on shelves for years without reading it, so I was excited to finally dive in. Maybe it was the years of expectations built up in my head, or maybe that I’ve read so many similar books lately that have been fantastic, but I found this one to be a bit underwhelming. The moments of action in the story felt disjointed and rare. The characters I found hard to relate or connect to. And there was really only one moment of suspense or revelation that I remember.
Crying in H Mart - 3 Stars. It has been a while since the Happier podcast picked a book for their “book club” but they finally did, and so I added it to my list - although, by the time I started it, the episode with the author had already come out. I appreciated the book’s insight into a culture that I don’t have much experience with and was intrigued by the idea of exploring that culture, and life more broadly, in the context of food. The story told in the memoir itself is real, raw, and for many people, I am sure, relatable. Although the relationship between a mother and daughter is one that is oft-discussed and depicted, the one shared in this book has a level of vulnerability I have not often seen.
The Newcomer - 4 Stars. I knew nothing about this book going in other than that I was on vacation and it looked like a great summer read. It was. The story was light and engaging. The characters were interesting, if a bit stiff. And since it seems no summer novel is complete without some amount of romance, this one made sure to have some - although it did feel a bit forced and unnatural. I was kept engaged throughout the book - and with the sun and waves fighting for my attention, that’s a pretty impressive feat. Although I’m a newcomer to Mary Kay Andrews’ work, I will probably look to read more in the future.
The Flight Attendant - 4 Stars. I started the TV show based on this novel a few months ago, but didn’t get too far into it. So although I knew the general story, I still had no idea of the particular twists and turns that lay in store. And there were several. Even still, this book is the epitome of anticlimax. The most pivotal moments of the story are dropped in the middle of a sentence with little or no fanfare - sometimes making me re-read a passage several times to make sure I hadn’t missed something after I was smacked in the face with some new information. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that at first, but in hindsight, I appreciated what it did to the pace of the story. Over the years, I’ve heard some women complain about the way that men write women characters. And although that is something that I have seen some valid examples of, it has never been something that I noticed on my own - until I read this book. Some of the things the protagonist said, as well as how she thought about herself and came across just seemed so unnatural that I had to check the author - and sure enough, it was a guy. The character wasn’t my favorite to begin with, but I think that was only exacerbated by the fact that she seemed a bit unreal - and that could potentially be the reason why.
That Summer - 3 Stars. I was shocked to read a passing reference to one of Jennifer Weiner’s other books that I read last summer in this one. It has always fascinated me when different books, movies, or TV shows establish that they exist in the same reality or “universe” as another - and seeing an author do that within her own stories, even when they had no real reason to be connected, was particularly amusing. The underlying story in this book felt particularly appropriate, especially given all that is going on in the world - even if most of the events referenced seem to have taken place over the last couple of summers, whereas attention has been pulled to other worldwide issues during this one. Although shifting between different perspectives is one of my least favorite literary devices, it was handled well for the most part, and I was only left confused a few times. I understand why the book was written that way, and it was utilized efficiently to reveal different layers and aspects of the story. As I read, I felt that for a book that I consumed primarily under the summer sun, this one was particularly and startlingly dark. It is a painfully realistic depiction of some of the different ways men build or drop cages over women - and some of the situations when we let them, as well as the more painful ones where we don’t.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft - 3 Stars. Even with all the hundreds of books I have read, I have never read any fiction by Stephen King. And if I’m being honest, I really have no desire to. However, I had heard good things about this work of nonfiction and so I added it to my reading list. Although I haven’t written much fiction since I was a child, I found a lot of his insights and advice to be powerful and startlingly accurate (even given my limited writing experience - I guess, my agreement with it may come from all of my reading experience). The book does start out a bit slow, and some of the stories he shares throughout feel a bit unnecessary. But if I ever return to writing fiction (or maybe even if I don’t), I will return to the insights he shares in this book, as well as his witty and engaging style.
Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And how anyone can harness it. Even you.) - 3 Stars. For a book on humor, I expected this book to be much more humorous than it actually is. Apart from a few witty sentences, the only really funny parts are when jokes or comedians are quoted to illustrate a point. While I understand that this book is meant to be educational and useful, I guess I expected it to be a bit more amusing as well. There were definitely some interesting concepts woven throughout, although many of them would be considered applicable beyond the realm of levity. Humor may be something that can be taught and which you can increase, but I’m not how much I will work to apply the tools shared in the book to develop my ability.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed - 4 Stars. As a coach, I am familiar with many of the concepts, ideas, and tools that Lori Gottlieb uses in the room with her clients - and that her therapist, in turn, uses with her. Although the context and application are often different, it is amazing to see the similar power that they hold, even in a different realm of personal work. The chapters in the book aren’t in strict chronological order, which I felt distracted a bit from the structure of the narrative. I did read the book over several months, however, so that could also be part of why I found the chapters to be somewhat disjointed, and the bouncing back and forth between different patients and time periods to be a bit disconcerting. Regardless, throughout the book, Lori Gottlieb paints a compelling picture of her life and weaves the different narratives together very well. Seeing the vulnerabilities so often laid forth in therapy presented so concisely, and through the use of examples and story, helps us to better understand both ourselves and humanity as a whole.
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet - 4 Stars. I have long credited John Green and the Crash Course YouTube channel with much of my high school education. As a reviewer of books (and admittedly, other things) I loved reading his review of such reviews, and then his reviews of so many other topics, concepts, and things that grace our planet - from a hot dog stand in Iceland, to Diet Dr. Pepper, to human’s capacity to wonder. Although I don’t inherently agree with all of his conclusions (I don’t really like Diet Dr. Pepper), I appreciated his logic, the articulation of his thought process, and the variety of subjects chosen. However, I believe in a greater sense of purpose and meaning to the world than he tends to ascribe to it. Regardless, I enjoyed seeing John Green express himself through nonfiction in an almost blog or journal-esque format. There is not really an existential purpose of all the reviews, but I think that inherent meaning underlies the book as a whole anyway - our perceptions and the values we impart to them impact the entirety of the world which we have created for ourselves to live.
The Other Passenger - 3 Stars. This book is a thriller, but while I was definitely surprised at parts, I’m not sure I would go as far as to say I was “thrilled.” The story was a bit choppy as it jumped back and forth between the “present” tense and the backstory. It also left me a bit unsatisfied since the backstory ended up feeling very incomplete (I can’t say more or else you are even less likely to be thrilled if you read it). I also found the protagonist of this book unbelievably pathetic. Actually, all of the characters were. They were annoying, petty, and utterly shallow. I was able to mostly look past this, however, since the story was engaging and had some good twists - even at the end. There wasn’t much redeeming about the book, but (for the most part) I enjoyed the read.
The Hero Code: Lessons Learned from Lives Well Lived - 3 Stars. I greatly admire Admiral William H. McRaven and his service to our country. The stories that he shares in this book (and his others) are simultaneously moving and inspiring. They also perfectly illustrate the points that he is trying to make regarding the principles that “heroes” follow in the way that they live. None of them are particularly new or revelatory, but still of vital importance. Although not all of us chose to serve our country through the military, this book once again made me unendingly grateful for those who do, while also reminding me of the importance of being a “hero” by following the same principles in my own daily life.
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel - 3 Stars. Since I’m currently rewatching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, the hotel depicted reminds me strongly of the resort that the family stays at in season 2 - at least, the way the hotel from the book is depicted in flashbacks. But while the setting is fascinating, the characters are less so. Even jumping back and forth between way too many of them did little to help me relate or empathize with any individuals. They each seem more like caricatures than actual people, but since they are technically “characters,” I guess I can’t hold it against them too much. The significance of the title didn't fully register until the climax of the story, but when that moment felt quite underwhelming, I realized that was why. This book is definitely a fun summer read, but really lacks any depth beyond that of the kidney-shaped pool in the story.
Not a Happy Family - 3 Stars. This was another book where I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters - they were all awful in their own unique ways. The arch of the story built well and kept me guessing the whole time. The beginning and end, however, were disappointing. It started out with extreme exposition. And near the end, the bland reveal as to the perpetrator of the crime depicted was lackluster and left me feeling unsurprised. The very end of the book was even worse - open-ended and leaving me guessing in an entirely different way, although I’m sure that was largely the point. So while I was not exactly a happy reader by the time the book concluded, but I did enjoy all that built up to it.
This month I bought How to Give Up Plastic: A Guide to Changing the World, One Plastic Bottle at a Time and I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. No BS. Just a 6-Week Program That Works - two books that I refer to all the time in conversation and have turned to for information and insight again and again. I’m so glad that I set the goal to buy at least one of my favorite books every month because my bookshelf is getting much more full and I love the full rainbow that I have now (ROYGBIV is the only way I will organize my books). Despite all my purchases, however, the list of books I want to buy only seems to be growing - but that’s not the worst problem to have.
I can hardly believe that summer is basically over. Here in the Pacific Northwest, September tends to be one of the nicest months of the year, so I’m not worried about the weather turning quite yet, but all of the fall decorations and clothes that seem to be everywhere all of a sudden are too much for me.
Mentally, I’m still deep in swimsuit and sunglasses season. But don’t worry, I’ll break out the boots and scarves before too long.
I’m curious to see if my reading tendencies shift along with the seasons - maybe from crime and novels to something else entirely? I’m still loving both genres though, so who knows. Only time and the falling of the leaves will tell.
Until next time,