Happy birthday month to me! My actual birthday was a few days ago, but I haven’t done all of my personal traditions (which involve coffee, nail polish, and books. Although technically I have done them, just not in my normal way) so I’ll keep celebrating until those are all complete. Anyway. If you also have a June birthday, happy birthday to you as well!
And if you happen to also buy books as your birthday tradition, or if you’re curious about what I read last month, you’re in the right place. Because that’s what we do on the second Tuesday of the month. We talk books. I mean, we don’t talk much else here anymore despite my best intentions, but books > most things so that’s all that matters.
When we last met, I was reading Fucked at Birth: Recalibrating the American Dream by Dale Maharidge. I liked it but did not love it. It was a look at poverty within the context of BLM, COVID, and some other things over the last year. He was trying to channel some other journalists who also traveled the country and reported in somewhat real-time, but it kind of just wound up bothering me that he was traveling during COVID. In any case, it is an interesting look at poverty and community-level activism. If you want to read it, I’ll send you my copy.
Here’s what else I read:
The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater. I listened to this on audio with my daughter on a few trips to Long Island and it tells the story of what happened when one teenager set a non-binary teenager on fire on a bus because they were wearing a skirt and he didn’t like it. It’s a close look at both of the kids and their families, hate crimes, especially against the LGBTQIA+ population, the juvenile justice system, consequences to actions, and also serves as a primer for all things LGBTQIA+. It’s intense, and it’s probably a much easier read than listen.
Nothing Can Hurt You by Nicola Maye Goldberg. A few years ago, I read Violent Ends and it was one story told from 20ish perspectives. It was outstanding. This book also does that, and I believe it’s based on a true story/crime, but it is not outstanding. It’s good, and I’m not sorry I read it, but I just didn’t love it like I had hoped I would. And some of the versions, particularly the one from the POV of the victim, needed more. I appreciate what she did, but it could have been more impactful and better in another style of storytelling.
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann. Others may disagree, but this should be in true crime canon like In Cold Blood or Devil in the White City (which I did NOT like but I get why it’s highly-regarded). It’s up on my list of top true crime books (probably top 5). It was fascinating, well-written and researched, and I learned so much about so many things. I had forgotten it was on my list until I saw that Leonardo DiCaprio (and Jesse Plemmons!) is in the movie adaptation and I am so glad I read it.
American Rust by Philipp Meyer. I loved the plot, the characters, the fuzzy morality, the idea of family – basically the whole book. The writing, though, got on my nerves at times. I can’t put my finger on why it bugged me, because it was really only his writing for one character (it sort of reminded me of Owen Meany which was a big fat DNF. That’s probably why), but I was able to get through it since I loved everything else. This is also being adapted and I hope it doesn’t suck.
Seven Perfect Things by Catherine Ryan Hyde. I’m normally a big fan of her books, but this one was just meh. She tried to tackle a VERY heavy topic – domestic violence – and it didn’t work like her other books do, even with her normal formula. It kind of seemed like she did very cursory research and the rest was created based on what she THINKS it would be, not so much how it is. I’m not sure I’m explaining that well. Anyway, puppies are a central part of the book and who doesn’t love when dogs are involved?
TL; DR: Killers of the Flower Moon and American Rust were my favorites. You might like the rest based on your preferences. I thought they were just OK. But nothing actually sucked, and there were no DNFs.
Currently reading: Abundance by Jakob Guanzon.
Now it’s your turn! Link up and show us your books or if you don’t have a blog, tell me what you’re reading in the comments. Don’t forget to visit my co-host Steph and some of the other bloggers for more recommendations. And also don’t forget to mark down July 13th for the next one. There’s no minimum required so don’t worry about how few books you feel you read. Reading isn’t a competitive sport.
Happy birthday! American Rust sounds interesting.
Happy Birthday!! And thanks for the wishes – my birthday is this weekend 🙂 I’ve wanted to read Killers of the Flower Moon since I’ve seen it mentioned. I’ve been supposed to read Devil in the White City a couple times and couldn’t get into it :hide:. I’m supposed to read it (again) near the end of the year for a book club. Good luck to me! LOL Thanks for hosting and enjoy your birthday month!
Becki recently posted…Show Us Your Books – May 2021
Happy Birthday month! Killers of the Flower Moon sounds interesting, I will add it to my list.
Nadine recently posted…Books – June 2021
I read The 57 Bus and thought it was interesting. I haven’t read the others!
Dara recently posted…Books to Read For Pride Month
Happy birthday month! I have not read any of these, and I’m glad there were no DNFs even if you didn’t love them all.
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Show Us Your Books (June 2021): Introverts, Bisexuality, and More
Happy happy!
The 57 Bus sounds like a lot. I don’t think I’ve even heard of that happening let alone that there was a book about it.
Happy Birthday! 57 bus was available at my library, so going to dive into it now.
American Rust sounds interesting.
I gave Owen Meany 3 stars. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it either – it was definitely weird! And long.
Confuzzled Bev recently posted…What I read in May 2021
Happy Belated Birthday! I haven’t heard of American Rust but thought it sounded good & then you mentioned Owen Meany and totally sold me since I loved it, lol.
Happy belated birthday! No better way to celebrate a birthday than with some decent, solid reads.
Karly
https://www.whatkarlysaid.com
Karly recently posted…What I Read + Reviews | May 2021
Happy Birthday month to you!
Sounds like you had a good reading month. The 57 Bus sounds interesting.
happy birthday to you!
hmm american rust sounds interesting, might add it to my list. the same story from multiple perspectives sounds fascinating, i’ll add the violent ends one to my list instead lol
Sounds like you had a good reading month! 🙂
mackenzie recently posted…As The Page Turns: June Edition
Happy Birthday month! Those sound like fine ways to treat yourself (and at least it’s summer…my January birthday bothers me more and more every year lol).
I have had every Catherine Ryan Hyde book on my TBR and I’ve never gotten around to any of them. What’s your favorite?
Happy Belated Birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
I don’t know what I was expecting for Killers of the Flower Moon, like I feel like whoever had suggested it to me made it sound like it was fiction or something, but it broke my heart and made me mad and taught me stuff I didn’t know and I could NOT put it down .
Kasey recently posted…Show Us Your Books: I Started This Post In March So It Would Be Ready for May
Happy belated birthday! If I had to pick any month to have a birthday in, it would be June, hands down. Early September is the pits.
Killers of the Flower Moon sounds fascinating and another piece of history I never heard of until I started following bookish bloggers.
Happy birthday month to a fellow June baby! I think I’m going to adopt your pedicure, coffee, books tradition for myself. I might already buy myself a lot of books, but now there’s a REASON!
Have not even heard of American Rust but am intrigued by your thoughts…
Happy birthday! I’ve only read one Catherine Ryan Hyde book and I wasn’t a huge fan.
The 57 Bus is one I want to read. I read Killers of the Flower Moon, but I listened on audio and had a hard time paying attention sometimes. I did think it was really well done, but I probably would have gotten more out of it had I read it.
Happy Birthday Month! I’m glad nothing sucked. I’ve had a year of solid three and four star reads. I’m still waiting on my 5 star unicorn, lol. But I also think I’m just fussy this year. Ha.
Audrey recently posted…What I Read…
Hope you had a great birthday!
I hope you had a great birthday! 🙂
Amy D. recently posted…Books Read In May 2021
Happy belated birthday! I ahven’t been able to read anything heavy lately, but The 57 Bus is definitely on my TBR when I’m ready again!
Dani recently posted…Recent Reads
I’m always looking for book recs so I’m definitely taking your picks from these into my own TBR!