All evidence to the contrary, there was more than eating and drinking done on our vacation in Maine. There was reading, too! And there has been reading since which is all just to say that I’ve got 3 bingos on my Summer Book Bingo Card.

I’ve got plans for all of the squares that are left except for one: originally published in the 19th century. I’m open to suggestions but just know that I was an English major in college and I specialized in 19th Century English Literature. So. I’ve read a lot of the good ones already.

Here are my reviews since we last talked about books.

The Invited by Jennifer McMahon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jennifer McMahon writes great ghost stories and this one is entertaining with a twist I didn’t expect. Highly recommended for fans of supernatural mysteries.

Bingo Square: Thriller

 

Women Talking by Miriam Toews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just as the title suggests, this book is about women talking – talking about sexual abuse, religion, loyalty, rage, power, choices, the future and so much more. I felt like it dragged sometimes but the ending was powerful and full of hope.

Bingo Square: Title that’s a character’s name

 

March: Book One by John Lewis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first of 3 graphic novels telling the story of John Lewis. I enjoyed the format and the narrative and will definitely be reading the other 2.

Bingo Square: Month or day of the week in the title

 

Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works by Evelyn Tribole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book has given me a lot to think about. I am learning to honor my hunger and give my body the food it wants without judgment or shame. Recommended for anyone who has struggled with dieting.

Bingo Square: About food

 

Rising Strong by Brené Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I highlighted 48 sections of this book, that should tell you just how meaningful I found it to be. Great stuff for anyone working with exploring vulnerability, enhancing relationships, and living your best life. Highly recommended.

Bingo Square: Any book

 

Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A beautifully written and truly moving tale about a friendship that develops between two people who find each other at just the right time in an unexpected way. Themes of love and loss, despair and hope, make this a really wonderful epistolary novel. Highly recommended.

Bingo Square: Protagonist with a different gender from your own

 

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this engrossing family drama. It’s story is tragic but beautiful and the themes of love and forgiveness filled me with hope.

Bingo Square: Recommended in Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Summer Reading Guide

 

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is an entertaining book for the summer, a fast and simple read. It won’t challenge you or stretch your imagination but it will possibly enchant you and probably make you smile.

Bingo Square: Speculative fiction

 

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I never read this as a child, probably because I tended to avoid fantasy and science fiction. Truth be told, I still do. Nevertheless, I truly enjoyed this classic story and the world that L’Engle created. The wonder, awe, fear and hope the characters experience resonated with me.

Bingo Square: Fantasy

Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls by Lauren Graham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fun and delightful, particularly for fans of Gilmore Girls.

Bingo Square: Biography

 

A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety by Jimmy Carter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Carter was president when I was a child and it was interesting to read this and remember the things that were on the news back then and hear his perspective on what was happening. I enjoyed reading about his childhood, military career and post presidential life as well.

Bingo Square: Memoir or autobiography of a US political figure

 

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A brutally honest and eerily real story of the descent into mental illness and depression. It’s sad because of the parallels to Plath’s own struggles but that’s what makes it very very brilliant.

Bingo Square: An author from the state where you live

 

And that’s my summer reading update for mid July.

Last week I set up my Summer Book Bingo journal pages. It’s a little different from last year but I’m happy with it. Truthfully, I really enjoy tracking my reading this way and I love the satisfaction of coloring in a square when I finish a book! I’ve actually colored in 2 more squares since I took this photo, bringing me to 6 finished books.

Now, here’s where this post gets a little wonky. Not every book I’ve finished since my last reading update is part of Summer Book Bingo. So, in the interest of catching you up on my reading, just know that the first book I’m listing was finished prior to Memorial Day weekend. I realize this is probably only an issue for me and my need to keep things . . . organized and orderly . . . but I can’t help myself.

The House on Tradd Street by Karen White
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Much more a romance than a mystery, I enjoyed this mainly for the Charleston setting. Recommended for fans of the genre.

 

 

Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A well written and honest tale of a family and the struggles they face: mental illness, depression, multiple moves, job loss, stilted conversations and more. I felt it dragged at times but in the end it was quite moving and insightful. Bingo Square: Prize Winner

 

Public Library and Other Stories by Ali Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A mingling of short stories and library love – it’s perfect for anyone who values the public library. Bingo Square: A collection of essays.

 

 

The Girl On Legare Street by Karen White
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A fast, entertaining and light read, I’m looking forward to reading the next one in this series. Bingo Square: Part of a series.

 

 

 

You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Excellent advice for both those new to mindfulness and those who have practiced for a long time. I highlighted a lot of passages and think this is a book I will return to over and over. Bingo Square: about religion.

 

 

Ghosted by Rosie Walsh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this story about a couple who meet and instantly fall in love, spend 7 days together, and then the man disappears, i.e., he ghosts the woman. I was compelled to read it quickly to find out the reason why this happened but I’ll admit there are some flaws in the story, including the fact that after the big reveal there are a few more contrived twists that just felt unnecessary. Overall I enjoyed the light, easy romance but did feel it was tedious at times. Bingo Square: That you want to read because of the cover.

 

All the Ever Afters: The Untold Story of Cinderella’s Stepmother by Danielle Teller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An excellent retelling of the Cinderalla fairy tale from the point of view of her stepmother. The writing is quite good, the story is fascinating, and it will change the way you think of those ugly stepsisters forever! Bingo Square: Retelling.

 

 

I’d say my summer reading is off to a terrific start!

Time for a book update, friends. Here’s a list, with reviews, of what I’ve read since April 2nd.

The Dakota Winters by Tom Barbash
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I truly enjoyed this book and I’d categorize it as a fictional memoir. It’s full of famous people but the main character and his family are fictional. It’s set in the early 80s and the cultural references to that time are on point. The dialogue is great and the story is entertaining. I’m glad to recommend it.

 

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I’ve read a lot of Holocaust fiction and this one is just . . . okay. I feel terrible saying that because it’s based on a true story and the details are horrific but the writing is flat and there is no real character development. It’s like a retelling of all the horrible details but without any of the emotion.

 

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This powerful book brings back the early days of the AIDS crisis in a heartbreaking and realistic way. The dialogue is terrific, the characters are flawed and realistic, and the whole thing is really just fantastic.

 

When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Strong, important and heartbreaking, this memoir provides a real understanding of the founding of the Black Lives Matter movement. I highly recommend it.

 

Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a beautiful memoir on what it means to be a family, how secrets can destroy a carefully crafted life, and how grace and love can carry us through live changing events. Highly recommended.

 

Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Even I, organized and neat as I am, picked up some great pointers from this little book on clearing clutter. It’s inspiring and accessible and truly helpful.

 

The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding by Jennifer Robson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this story about the making of Queen Elizabeth’s wedding gown. The details about the embroidery and design, the friendship between two of the women who worked on the gown side by side, and the little bit of intrigue involved in unraveling their story made for a light and enjoyable read.

 

Finding Jake by Bryan Reardon
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I had a hard time making a connection with the characters in this book and found the father to be particularly self-absorbed and unlikable. I finished it quickly because I wanted to know what happened with the story but the writing isn’t that great and it felt very repetitive and slow. I think We Need to Talk About Kevin is a much better book if you’re looking to read something on this topic.

 

Hello From the Gillespies by Monica McInerney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this family saga for the story and the setting in the Australian outback. That said, it could have used some really strong editing because it’s just way too long. Still, recommended for those who enjoy a good, straight forward story.

And that’s it for me. What have you been reading lately? You know I want to know!

How about a book update? Here’s a list, with reviews, of what I’ve read since February 19th.

Almost Everything: Notes on Hope by Anne Lamott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

And I promise that the people you lose here on this side of eternity, whom you can no longer call or text, will live fully again both in your heart and in the world. They will make you smile and talk out loud at the most inappropriate times. Of course, their absence will cause lifelong pangs of homesickness, but grief, friends, time, and tears will heal you to some extent.

Full of thoughts not just on hope but also on gratitude, love, forgiveness, writing and more, this book is like sitting down for lunch with a trusted old friend.

Florida by Lauren Groff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m giving this 4 stars because the writing is brilliant, Groff captures a setting in a way that makes me feel like I’m right there. I just wish the settings in these short stories weren’t so sad, bleak and gross. I was compelled to finish it and I’m not a big fan of short stories which is an indication of just how great Lauren Groff writes.

 

The Museum of Modern Love by Heather Rose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Beautifully written story about art, love, grief, hope, and so much more. I really enjoyed this one.

 

 

The Library Book by Susan Orlean
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

All the things that are wrong in the world seem conquered by a library’s simple unspoken promise: Here I am, please tell me your story; here is my story, please listen.

I love libraries and reading a book dedicated to libraries and their place in our world was wonderful. While the author’s main focus is on the LA Public Library there is still much to be taken from this with regards to all libraries everywhere.

Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America by Michael Eric Dyson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The most radical action a white person can take is to acknowledge this denied privilege, to say, “Yes, you’re right. In our institutional structures, and in deep psychological structures, our underlying assumption is that our lives are worth more than yours.” But that is a tough thing for most of you to do.
There is so much to take from this book, stories of police brutality and the fear a black person lives with daily, wisdom on the history of racism in our country and the pervasiveness of white fragility, and practical advice on books to read, actions to take, and things to do to improve race relations. Highly recommended.

The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Light and easy, a perfect romance novel!

 

 

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book had all the things that would normally prompt a 5 star rating from me: interesting characters, great descriptions of the settings, and an intriguing plot. And yet I’m only giving it 3 stars because something that I can’t quite put my finger on was missing. I’d say I’m glad I read it and I know I’ll be thinking about it for a while but it wasn’t the masterpiece I was expecting.

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fast-paced, clever, and full of dark humor, this book is a thoroughly entertaining read.

 

 

One Day in December by Josie Silver
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This romance just never got off the ground for me. The characters are dull, the story is predictable, and it just takes WAY too long to get to the resolution you know is going to happen from the outset.

 

 

The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the plot of this book but overall it never really took off for me. The characters are one dimensional, the descriptions are simple, and there are just too many . . . rescuers to make it believable. Don’t get me wrong, it’s entertaining, but it could have been so much more.

 

And there you have it. Mostly really great books. What have you read lately? You know I want to know!