August 2021 Show Us Your Books

July was a month of decent but not great books. I’m hoping that this month will give me a knock my socks off, wow oh wow, amazing summer read. Fingers crossed.

Four Star Reads

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin - This book was so well written. I loved how Baldwin showed us things with words rather than telling us. The story itself was really sad. I can’t believe we haven’t fixed this yet.

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler - I really liked this novelization of Zelda Fitzgerald’s house. It was more sympathetic than other books I’ve read about her, and it gave a whole other side to the story.

Way Out There by J.R. Harris - Loved the memories of a lifetime of backcountry backpacking. Really loved that he works in market research (as do I.) Recommend if you like armchair hiking.

A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles - This was my 4th time trying to read this, and I even thought about bailing again. Then I got to the end, and wow, I want to read it again.

Three Stars

The Sisters Weiss by Naomi Ragen - I enjoyed this novel about Ultra Orthodox sisters growing up in Brooklyn in the 1950’s and the turns their lives took.

Rough Magic by Lara Prior-Palmer - A true adventure story about a horse race across Mongolia. I’ll forgive the author a little immaturity and weirdness since she was only 18 at the time.

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane - This was a really sad book, but it was told with empathy. Good on audio.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang - I don’t usually read romance, but it’s summer so I gave this a try. Happy to say I thought it was super cute, and I will read more by this author.

This post is linked to Show Us Your Books and Quick Lit.

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