Me, every month: I’m totally going to start writing more!
Life: LOLOLOLOL
And that about sums it up. Guys, I have so many things to say but I don’t know where to start and blogging just seems so pointless right now and it’s all just a mess. If you have any suggestions, I’m all for them.
Separately, we do go on a short vacation last month, so the fact that I read 10 books can be attributed to that. I haven’t lost my reading mojo at all through this pandemic but it’s only been of late that I’ve been able to read nonfiction. And some of the nonfiction I read last month are probably some of the best nonfiction books I’ve ever read. For real.
Hollywood Park by Mikel Jollett. He’s also the singer for The Airborne Toxic Event, if the name sounds familiar. And he’s had a few viral tweets, I believe. In any case, this book was phenomenal. Like Educated but 1000x better, in my opinion. It’s honest and rough to read (trigger warning: he describes both physical abuse and the killing of an animal. The latter was for food, though, so it wasn’t gratuitous murder) but worth every minute you’ll put into it. I could write a whole post just about this book.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller. Speaking of books I could write a whole post about, add this one to the list. I hate that this outstanding woman was assaulted by a that piece of shit Brock Turner, but her book is spectacular. Like We Should All Be Feminists, this book needs to be required reading. Obviously there’s trigger warnings for rape but trust me when I say you need to read this book, particularly if you want a greater understanding of what rape survivors experience.
She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper. Thanks to Steph for reminding me that I have this on my TBR. Another brutal, violent read but for very different reasons than the previous two I mentioned. However, it is also excellent and I read it in a day. Could not put it down.
Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Crosby. Thanks to Netgalley for this one. It was like if Ocean’s Eleven and Baby Driver were married and made into a book, but also with lots of racism and deep dives into what makes a person who they are. It’s so well done and interesting, and the only problem with it was the main character was named Beauregard and I kept thinking of that one Muppet. That’s my issue, though.
I Was Told it Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman. It’s no secret around here what a giant Abbi Waxman fan I am, but this book was just okay. I found it kind of shallow and annoying and I really disliked Jessica at times. But it was a cute, easy vacation read.
Three Perfect Liars: One Deadly Secret by Heidi Perks. Thanks to Netgalley for this one, too. This was another mashup, but if Big Little Lies met The Whisper Network. It was an intriguing enough mystery and the end kind of surprised me, but it was not my favorite of the month.
The New Corner Office: How the Most Successful People Work from Home by Laura Vanderkam. It’s also no secret what a huge Laura Vanderkam fan I am and I read this book because I read everything she writes. I don’t really have an issue with WFH habits but if you do, this is a quick, informative read. Or you could just listen to the podcast of the same name.
Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner. This was a weird book. It was two books in one, and I feel like she stretched combining them into one. The mystery part felt super shallow and underdeveloped (although who the murderer was was a shock to me) but I liked all the body image and social media stuff. This is a good brain cleanser for in between heavy books.
Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham. Like a lot of people, apparently, I didn’t know about the Tulsa Race Massacre until I watched Watchmen earlier this year. Which is awful and such a testament to the whitewashing of our history. Anyway, this book is set against that, as well as the Jim Crow South as it bounces back and forth between now and 1921. It is a hard book to read; it’s a gut punch. Like a hard gut punch. But it’s a punch well worth taking.
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. Okay, so I know that there’s some controversy around this one and it’s…closeness to the The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek (which I do own and plan to read next month) but I found myself loving this book so much. I didn’t want to because plagiarism is wrong but I couldn’t help it.
TL; DR: Do yourself a favor and definitely read Hollywood Park, Know My Name, She Rides Shotgun, Dreamland Burning, and Blacktop Wasteland. The others are all fine.
Currently reading: Other People’s Pets by R.L. Maizes
Now that you know what I read, it’s time to show us your books! Don’t forget to visit my cohost Steph and the other bloggers joining us today. And mark your calendars for September 8 for the next one.
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I know so many people who have said that about the Giver of Stars and Troublesome Creek but they were published less than 5 month apart…. can you really plagiarize and have something published in that short a time frame? I don’t know. I get that they are quite similar and I know this is a huge controversy right now but I just don’t know that I truly buy into it. I guess I’ll have to read Troublesome Creek!
Joanne recently posted…10 Favorite Books, Movies, and TV Shows
10 books in one month – I’m super envious! 3 Perfect Liars and Big Summer are going onto my TBR list.
Totally hear you on blogging during a pandemic – every month I intend to write more and it just doesn’t happen.
I haven’t been reading much non-fiction, but maybe in September I’ll embrace the whole back to school thing and read a few. Hollywood Park sounds like a good place to start.
Jill K recently posted…Show Us Your Books August 2020 & A Giveaway!
Wow! I can’t wait to add some to my list! Thanks for hosting!
Shelley
Calypso in the Country recently posted…Sherwin Williams Naval – Dining Room Ideas for Every Season
Ohh I have been out of the bookish loop and hadn’t heard anything about The Giver of Stars, but now I’m going to go Google. I have it and was hoping to get to it sometime this year. I started Three Perfect Liars but couldn’t get into it at the time but hope to give it another try.
Carly recently posted…Reading Roundup 6 | 2020
I loved Dreamland Burning. Know My Name has been on my TBR for a while now, I really need to get to that one soon. I hadn’t heard of Hollywood Park, but now I’m intrigued!
Shea recently posted…books to read {august round-up}
She Rides Shotgun and Know My Name have been on my to read list. I think at the moment though, I’m looking for lighter reads. I too found I Was Told It Would Get Easier to be just okay. I enjoyed Big Summer and liked the mystery aspect, which is not Weiner’s usual style. I’ve heard such good things about The Giver of Stars which is also on my list.
Thanks for the nonfiction recs – I wish I had the emotional bandwidth for stressful reads right now but I think I will likely just stick to the WFH book until I’m a bit steadier! and 10 books in a month WOW!!!
sara recently posted…show us your books – july 2020 reads
Know My Name was so good! A must read.
Dara recently posted…10 Favorite Books / Movies / TV Shows / Podcasts
I do want to read Know My Name, but the TBR list is long and somehow always growing! Thanks for sharing and enjoy your month 🙂
Becki recently posted…Show Us Your Books – July 2020
I’m so glad that someone felt the same way I did about BIg Summer – I couldn’t get into it at all. Definitely adding Hollywood Park to my list!
I had Big Summer on my list, but I had heard some people didn’t love it and it sort of dropped off my radar. I have Know My Name on my list, and I am glad to hear another good review.
the giver of stars has been on my TBR list forever, sounds like you have a pretty good reading month. I liked I was told this would get easier.
I love Abbi Waxman too. I’ve read all of her books and my favorite is The Bookish Life of Nina Hill.
Amy recently posted…Books Read In July 2020
I don’t feel like writing and I am definitely not reading as much as I normally would. But I am very whatever about both.
Hollywood Park sounds interesting! I know his name from Twitter
Oh man I still havent read know my name and Im note sure what Im waiting on. I know I was irrationally angry yet I could stop reading about her story even before the book so I know that one would be a tough but great read.
I liked Dreamland Burning. It was definitely hard to stomach at times. My only issue was the MC was sooo YA. I related much more to her parents.
I really enjoyed both Giver of Stars but I absolutely LOVED The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. There were definitely similarities and it made me feel a little suspicious of plagiarism but I felt like the plots had enough differences to stand apart. I am glad you gave the warning about the punch to the gut with Dreamland Burning. I have been wanting to read it for a long time but did not know if it would have a lot of triggers/hard to deal with themes. It is good to know that going in.
Elena recently posted…Travel Tuesday: Rome [Day One]
I say it every month too – I’m going to draft posts; I’m going to blog more. HA! It never happens. I literally had tothrow today’s post together because I hadn’t drafted it at all. SMH.
Giver of Stars has been sitting in my drawer for months! I’m glad that you think it’s worth reading despite all the controversy, etc. that surrounded it. Know My Name is another one I need to get to.
Karly
https://www.whatkarlysaid.com
Karly recently posted…What I Read in July 2020 + Reviews
So back when my husband and I were dating/engaged and super broke, we would pick books we both wanted to read and read them aloud to each other. He loves the Airborne Toxic Event so ordered the book and record and I was like “hey we have nothing to do, let’s read together.” So we did and he was graciously able to skim the rabbit parts and not read them aloud because I couldn’t take them. It reminded me of Educated too and so interesting how even such a seemingly small amount of time in a cult can seriously screw you up. Also, his mother. Whoa.
Chanel was on the Terrible, Thanks for Asking podcast and hearing her side of the story – beyond the powerful letter – was SO interesting. I’m adding her book to my TBR.
Lauren Martinez recently posted…quarantine, week two
I agree that Big Summer did feel like it wasn’t quite right for one book and that Abbi Waxman’s characters were a little annoying, but I enjoyed it. I’ve got the Giver of Stars on my list for next month. You did some great reading this month!
Sarah recently posted…Show Us Your Books – 8/11/20
I LOVE Dreamland Burning. I was familiar with the words Tulsa Race Riots, but I didn’t really know anything about them until I read this book. Such a good, important read.
I want to read Know My Name. I just love that powerful title!
-Lauren
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…August 2020: Mini Reviews and Giveaways Too!
I love you have 5 books that are suggestions – that’s a good reading month!
I wish I had suggestions for you. i’m finding it a struggle to blog right now too because I feel like if you REALLY say how you feel or what you think – you’re going to have 50% of the people angry at you. crazy times
I might hit up Big Summer just because I can’t handle heavier books right now. Ten books in a month is great. I had ten books in .. 5 months?
Kimberly recently posted…Show Us Your Books SPRING/SUMMER 2020
Read Dreamland Burning with my book club a year or two ago, and we loved it – great read, great discussion. And I have been seeing Blacktop Wasteland a bit on social media and am so pleased to hear you liked it. Sounds like my wheelhouse but also kind of a change of pace at the same time… excited to check it out!
Anne recently posted…wearing lately: yoga on demand
i feel the same, i think of things to say but it all just feels so pointless and blah and i can’t be bothered. thank goodness for SUYB lol.
hollywood park sounds very interesting! adding know my name to my list. i was kind of disappointed in the abbi waxman book. it was okay, but seemed kind of pointless? i am intrigued by big summer. it’s a maybe for me right now.
i know there is a lot out there about the jojo moyes book and i don’t mean to be a fangirl, but i saw her right before it was published and i thought the way she (and the interviewer) talked about it kind of put my mind at ease about it? like, a book very similar to me before you came out right around the same time as me before you. i understand this is more than just ‘similar books’, but i don’t want to fully judge until i’ve read those 2 – and apparently there’s 2 more that came out around the same time with the exact same setting (but none of the specific things that made people say jojo plagiarised the book women one), so i kind of want to read them all at the same time.
kristen recently posted…Books Lately
I learned about the Book Woman/Giver of Stars drama from this linkup, so I read Book Woman which was very good! I feel like I’ve been seeing Big Summer advertised all over the place.
Kasey recently posted…Show Us Your Books: Summer?
I LOVED Dreamland Burning! Ruby was my favorite character. But like you said, it’s totally tough to read. Blacktop Wasteland ended up being a real favorite of mine- will definitely go on my best of the year list!
I usually love non-fiction but have been having a hard time reading it this year. Maybe I need to turn to audio- I usually do better with non-fiction in that format.
I’m currently reading The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek but had no idea about the plagiarism controversy. She Rides Shotgun is on my TBR as well!
I also loved The Giver of Stars and I feel okay about it since I read it before we knew of any of that?! I’m still disappointed by all of that though, and I still plan to read Troublesome Creek someday. Dreamland Burning is on my list! That’s weird about Big Summer – I’ve heard that same comment from others about the mash up of genres and it sounds intriguing that way!
Finally getting around to commenting. Yikes.
I don’t read a lot of nonfiction (or a lot of anything at the moment, tbh) but it sounds like you read some important ones. Same with the fiction you read. Vacations are such a hit or miss for me with reading. I always bring a ton of books and sometimes I read a page and sometimes I read 5 whole books. Lol
Audrey recently posted…It’s Not You, It’s Me