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For the Love of Reading: July 2021

It’s the beginning of the month and that means it’s time to share what I read last month.

Revival Season by Monica West

Revival Season by Monica West
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this coming-of-age story as a young woman questions her unchallenged faith in her father and God. The author does a good job setting the scene of tent revivals throughout the deep South in the summer and the narrator’s voice mostly rings true. I would have enjoyed hearing the story from the perspective of other members in the family. I was initially disappointed in the ambiguous ending but have worked out in my own mind what I wanted to happen and I’m good with that.
Bingo Square: Free square

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I read this for a Bingo square, retelling. And, while it is sort of a retelling of Jane Eyre, it’s actually pretty different. There are some key elements that are the same, though, and some clever details that only people who have read Jane Eyre multiple times might catch. It’s an enjoyable mystery and it kept me guessing (almost) until the end.
Bingo Square: Retelling

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A big, juicy, gossipy, celebrity lifestyle novel, this is the perfect summer read. It takes place over the course of one day in the life of the Riva family but there are flashbacks that fill in the story of how this family came to be. It’s full of cultural references from the 1950s through the 1980s, plenty of family drama, and I highly recommend it for something light and fun.
Bingo Square: Best-seller


Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny

Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a delightful novel full of quirky characters with a heartwarming lesson about accepting the people who wind up in your life, whether by choice or by accident. Reminiscent of Fredrik Backman but without the Swedish stoicism, I truly enjoyed this story. Does a lot happen? Nope. And that’s part of the charm of the whole thing. Small town life at it’s finest.
Bingo Square: A family saga

Song for a Whale by Lynne   Kelly

Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I wanted to love this book for all it represents: growing up, accepting limitations, pushing the boundaries, overcoming fear and loneliness. And yet, the writing often felt stilted to me . . . it just didn’t flow along and it was somewhat repetitive. The resolution of the plot felt unrealistic and rushed. There were parts that redeemed the flaws but I think it could have been so much better.
Bingo Square: About a person with a disability

Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian

Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I am in awe of Bohjalian’s versatility as a writer, his books cover a wide range of topics, from current events to historical periods. While this may not be my favorite of his novels, it kept me entertained and I felt a wide range of emotions as I read it. I thought the ending was a bit unrealistic but it was satisfying.
Bingo Square: An author you love

Shine, Pamela! Shine! by Kate Atkinson

Shine, Pamela! Shine! by Kate Atkinson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I think Kate Atkinson is a brilliant writer and her book Life After Life is one of my most favorite novels. This short story, however, was just not Atkinson’s best. Some things are too vague and others are too specific and the whole thing just fell flat for me.
Bingo Square: Less than 200 pages

It was a bit of a mixed bag and nothing stands out as particularly spectacular, but that sometimes happens when I’m reading for Summer Book Bingo. It’s still all good, though, because reading is my favorite pasttime!

This Post Has 10 Comments

  1. What an excellent month of reading you had! I just started Tana French’s The Searcher and so far, I am enjoying it!

  2. I agree with you about the ending of Hour of the Witch being unrealistic but also satisfying. Early Morning Riser sounds really good, so thanks for that recommendation!

  3. I always look forward to these. I’ve been struggling to read new material, especially suspenseful stories since a dramatic event a few months ago. Perhaps a trusted review will help me hop over that hurdle. Thanks for sharing with us. It’s like having a virtual librarian, and librarians were always some of my favorite grownups.

  4. A month of three and four star books is not too bad! I hope August brings a five star read or two (or maybe September since the wedding is coming up). I’m reading The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian and agree that his books cover a very wide range of topics.

  5. I have Hour of the Witch and Early Morning Riser on my to-read list right now. I liked Malibu Rising and The Wife Upstairs ok. I’m reading another Jane Eyre retelling now called “Mrs. Rochester’s Ghost” and it’s pretty good–more like the original but updated in a way that makes perfect sense.

  6. Thanks for continuing to be everyone’s virtual librarian on your blog, Carole. Everyone enjoys reading these posts. Reading is my favorite way to spend time as well, but I have hit a dry spell lately after reading A Town Like Alice. I’m reading Klara and the Sun, and I am intrigued, but it is slow.

  7. well ugh. disappointing books are so … disappointing! We watched Flight Attendant (on HBO Max maybe?) and I was surprised to see that it was based on a Chris Bohjalian novel (of the same name). Have you read it? If it’s half as good as the TV show, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

  8. I always look forward to your reading reviews. You have introduced me to new books, some of which I have come to love. I have been gobbling up Sue Miller’s books after your review of Monogomy. ??

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