This past month has not been my favorite. I mean, some good things have happened like I’m fully vaccinated and accepting hugs from a select few people I’m not related to and who I don’t mind touching me. I also got to see my family for the first time since November 2019. However, the reason why is because my grandma passed away last week from COVID. And if you didn’t see my tweet, I am definitely not OK.
I don’t want to go on a rant but if you aren’t still wearing a mask and you’re sharing misinformation about the vaccine, please stop doing that. Put on a mask. Trust the science. Because people are still dying and it’s fucking horrible. I don’t care if they’re old or have underlying conditions or if they’re healthier than The Rock. They’re still dying. COVID is still very much real and I have zero tolerance for anyone saying different.
(If you can’t tell, in addition to grief, I’m feeling a fuckton of anger.)
Through it all though, I keep on reading. My grandma loved reading and while I have almost no memories of her reading to me, I do know that she used to give me books and I can’t remember a time when she didn’t have a book or a newspaper with her. Even when she started using a walker, she had one in the little pocket thing that was attached to it. So, despite wanting to hide away in my own mourning cave, it’s important to me that I honor my grandma by talking books.
I only read 5 since we last met but one of them was such a beast, it should count as 3 books. It was a mixed group this month, which is fine. I don’t expect every month to be filled with 5-star reads.
Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee. This is the book beast. It tells the story of a Korean woman in NYC in the mid-90s and what seems like everyone she ever met. It’s a highly detailed, very wordy, slog of a story at times but the last 200 or so pages really picked up. I cared enough about Casey to not quit on it, and I use the DNF with gusto when I need to. It’s a good book for the right readers but I caution you to put some thought into whether you are that reader.
Free Lunch by Rex Ogle. A middle grade memoir about the author’s sixth (?) grade year and what it was like being poor in a wealthy school. It should come with a trigger warning for abuse (it might. I’m not sure). It’s harrowing, brutal, honest, and I highly recommend it.
Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May. I thought this book was just fine. Nothing special. I do see why people connect with it, the idea of using a personal “winter” to, I don’t know, reform themselves or whatever point she was trying to make beyond understanding that dark times happen to everyone and you can come out stronger. As someone with depression, I feel like the whole book feel flat. I also found her stories slightly long-winded and annoying at times.
The Night Always Comes by Willy Vlautin. This is a short, fast-paced book that isn’t quite a thriller but isn’t NOT a thriller, either. Maybe it’s fiction with a thriller filling. I don’t know. Anyway, I really liked it. It’s dark and twisted and also makes some social commentary and even though some parts seemed kind of unnecessary, I’d actually like to see this turned into one of those one-season shows. It’d be fantastic.
The Last Secret You’ll Ever Keep by Laurie Faria Stolarz. I had to think a little harder about what this book was about. It’s not that it was bad, but it’s more one of those you read and it just blends into the shelf. For me, it wasn’t that memorable. I’m not sure I even remember how it ends. Which fits with the theme of memory loss that was in the book. So that’s cool.
TL; DR: Free Lunch and The Night Always Comes get a solid recommendation for me. The others are fine depending on your preferences.
Currently reading: The 57 Bus (via audio with my daughter on trips to NY) and Fucked at Birth.
Now it’s your turn. Link up and show us your books! Don’t forget to visit my co-host Steph and some other bloggers on the list, and make sure to mark June 8 for the next one (and June is my birthday month so that’s extra fun).
So sorry for your loss. 🙁 People still not respecting life and death through the pandemic is truly infuriating. That being said, yay for books 😉 Glad reading is giving you some solace and I hope to keep reading all the time, everywhere, just like your grandmother. My big book last month was Obama’s A Promised Land. Lots of words, but I liked hearing it in his voice (not an audiobook, just my imagination…).
Becki recently posted…Show Us Your Books – April 2021
I’m sorry for your loss Jana. We have lost someone to Covid too, and done the I only see you at funerals because of the pandemic thing too. It’s quite a thing.
I am so sorry about your grandma, Jana. You have every right to be angry too. There are some selfish people in this world.
Free Lunch sounds fascinating. I’ve been trying to read more middle grade lately, but haven’t read many memoirs that are middle grade.
I am so sorry to hear about your Gran. Also sorry that the first time you saw your family since 2019 was under such sad conditions. Thinking of you and your family at this difficult time.
I am so sorry about your grandmother.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Amy D. recently posted…What’s Up Wednesday: April 2021 Edition
I am truly sorry for your loss Jana. Continued prayers for you and your family.
Mackenzie recently posted…As The Page Turns: May Edition
I have serious rage for blowing this pandemic off, it is like an additional slap in the face to families who have lost people. I am so so sorry.
I am glad I didn’t go for the wintering book.
Am so sorry to hear about your grandma’s passing. I’m glad that reading gave you some solace through it all. Adding the Night Always Comes to my TBR.
i am so sorry for your loss Jana. i love that your grandma loved reading too. my nana was the same and as she got older and lost her eyesight, she was the most sad about not being able to read. i don’t have any memories of her reading to me exactly, but i have a million memories of her reading, walking to the library with her, her encouraging me to read. i’ll always be thankful for that. miss her terribly. hugs <3
Oh Jana, I’m so sorry. People have been just awful throughout this whole thing.
I’m glad I’m not the only person who will sometimes forget how a “meh” book ends. Wintering sounds a little intriguing but the Goodreads reviews are very uneven.
Warm thoughts to you and your family.
I am so sorry to hear about your grandmother.
I am so sorry for your loss. And talking about books, one of her loves, is a great way to honor her!
I like the title of the book Free Food for Millionaires, but based on your description, I don’t think it’s a book that I’d enjoy.
I’d never heard of The Night Always Comes but am intrigued – thanks for the recommendation! As for Free Food for Millionaires, you’re making me think I should just move my copy to my donate pile… I loved Pachinko so much that I picked up a copy of this one, and it’s been sitting on my shelf for years now because I haven’t been truly motivated to pick it up. Your mixed review I think tells me why! Rather put my reading time elsewhere.
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I am so sorry for your loss. I’m sure your grandma is touched that you still felt compelled to share your reads with us this month. What a way to honor her and her love of reading. Sending you prayers and well wishes.
Karly
https://www.whatkarlysaid.com
I am so sorry to hear about your grandmother passing. My passed away in November and while it wasn’t from Covid, her boyfriend did pass from it two months later. It is devastating. I still have a hard time. I am glad you read in honor of your grandmother.
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I’m so sorry to hear about your grandma. Thinking of you and your family.
Oh gosh, I am so so sorry to hear about your grandma. I lost mine recently too (not Covid, but it was pretty sudden) so *virtual hugs* And yeah, people pretending that Covid just magically gone and nobody is dying anymore really does piss me off, so I get the anger.
I’m glad you had some enjoyable reads, and I hope your next ones are awesome!
-Lauren
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Oh I’m so, so sorry to hear about your grandmother, Jana. Thinking of you and so lovely that you got your love of reading from her. Will be keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Book-wise, I’ve heard of none of these so I am off to check them out!!