For the Love of Reading: September 2024

It’s a new month and that means it’s time to look back on what I read in September. Only 5 books this time and, while there’s story about why I think I read so little, it’s not the focus for today. Here are my reviews.

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The writer writes the words. The given reader reads the words. And the book, the unique and unrepeatable book, doesn’t exist until the given reader meets the writer on the page.
I loved this book about second chances and redemption and the family we create when the one we are given lets us down. It’s tender and hopeful and on the surface is an easy read but a bit of retrospection reveals some truly painful situations. The writing is lovely and the overall feeling is uplifting without being overly sweet. Recommended for anyone who has ever made a mistake and wishes they could turn back time.

Clear by Carys Davies
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A book that begs to be read a second time, Clear is a novel of few words and yet it tells a powerful story. An impoverished minister is sent to a remote island in Scotland to evict it’s last remaining resident but when he is hurt and then nursed back to health by this same person, how can he carry out his original mission? The themes of loneliness and longing, betrayal and compassion, this short and seemingly simple story packs a punch that will stay with you for a long, long time.

Grief Is for People by Sloane Crosley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book came highly recommended and yet it fell flat for me. Crosley is trying to come to terms with the suicide of her dear friend and, as it happens quickly after a break in at her apartment, she seems to be attempting to use coming to terms with the burglary as a metaphor for the loss of her friend. At least, I think that’s what she is trying to do. While I think the writing is beautiful and her description of grief as all consuming is very realistic, the book lacked any insights I could truly relate to.

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
But I reckon a single life is made up of a dozen or more roles and responsibilities. I can count the versions of myself like friend and foe. Mistakes are the detours that remind you of the true way, Saint. To love and be loved is more than can ever be expected, more than enough for a thousand ordinary lifetimes. I liked this book but I did not love it the way I hoped I would. I was expecting to be completely captivated by an epic story and instead I was given a slow burn story of love, longing, abuse, and childhood trauma. There were a lot of different things happening and Whitaker did a pretty clever job of bringing them all together but I think some of those side plots could have been eliminated completely for a tighter story over all. Recommended, but with reservations.

My Mama, Cass: A Memoir by Owen Elliot-Kugell
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I don’t like to give negative reviews on memoirs because it feels wrong to criticize someone’s story. And, it feels particularly wrong in this case since it’s someone’s story about losing their mom at a young age and living with her absence. However. I must be completely honest and say that the title of this book is misleading as it’s not really about Cass Elliot and much more about Owen Elliot-Kugell. I enjoyed learning more about Cass Elliot and her music but Elliot-Kugell’s life didn’t really hold my interest. I already knew that the story about choking on a ham sandwich was an urban legend, but I think the big reveal of that was pretty anticlimactic. The pacing is uneven and the timeline is confusing. Finally, I found the audio to be annoying in a sing-song sort of way that took away from the seriousness of the book overall. I can’t recommend this one in good conscience.

Certainly not the best reading month I’ve had but there’s always something new to learn and understand, even if it’s learning and understanding about making better choices when it comes to the books I add to my list!