What I Read: April & May

As April wound down and I finished my critique class, I also abandoned The 2015 Book Project. When we went on vacation in May, I let myself roam free in the fiction world and devoured much of what I could get my hands on. Here’s what I read in April & May.

Fiction, Fiction, Fiction!

The Name of the World by Denis Johnson

I read this for my critique class, and it was okay. Johnson has a way of writing beautifully and imbuing his images with layers of meaning, but it was not the kind of book I would recommend to read for entertainment.

You’re Not You by Michelle Wildgen – (I also watched the movie)

Michelle Wildgen was the instructor for the critique class that I took earlier this year, so I thought it about time to pick up one of her novels – I didn’t have time to read any of them before or during the class. You’re Not You tells the story of a caretaker to a woman with ALS, and while the story could have been purely depressing, Wildgen infused much of the text with quick bits of humor and wit making it an enjoyable read in addition to one that makes you think a little more about life.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

This is one of my favorite books. I’ve read it three times in three years and learn something new each time. I’m writing a full review on Thursday, but put it on your list now – it is magical. My full review of The Night Circus is here.

Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler

This book by a Wisconsin author was a beautiful read. I highly recommend it. I wrote a full review here.

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar

A quirky Young Adult novel, Lubar’s Sleeping Freshman Never Lie was adorable, heartfelt, and a wonderful picture of what it looks like to make it through your freshman year.

The Door in the Wall by Marguerite De Angeli

We were staying with some friends in Louisiana who are also readers, and I picked this children’s book off the living room shelf one afternoon and sat down to read it. It is an endearing book about learning to work within your limits, but also to push your limits when you need to do so. Like most books for children published in the 1950s, it is highly moralistic and really drives home the lesson.

Sea Creatures by Susanna Daniel

This is a lovely novel that takes a hard look at what it means to be a parent. This novel was lyrical, full of twists, and hit all the right notes by the end. I’m excited to pick up Daniel’s Stiltsville from the library later this week. My full review of Sea Creatures is here.

The Color of Water in July by Nora Carroll

This was a re-read for me, something familiar to dive into on my iPad as we flew to Louisiana. I wrote a full review of the book (and my opinions still stand!) last year.

That Summer by Sarah Dessen

I have a friend who loves Dessen and everything she writes, so I decided I would start with her first novel, That Summer. It was okay. I was expecting more to happen, but it ended up being a very internal book about 15 year old Haven who goes through a tough summer and finds herself growing up. Other than two weddings bookend the novel, there isn’t much else to really say about it. I was disappointed that my first go with a Dessen novel wasn’t a winner, but I’m going to give a second a try later this month and see if she gets better. Maybe if I was a teenage girl I might have a different opinion?

In Progress

Non-fiction has been a bit of a struggle for me lately. I am slowly trading through these two:

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.

I’ll let you know how they go!

What have you been reading lately? Anything good?