Recently I’ve read a lot, but I haven’t reviewed a lot, so I thought to remedy that I’d just do one big post to sum up everything I’ve read (but not reviewed) this summer. I hope you’re ready.
The Humans
Life, especially human life, was an act of defiance. It was never meant to be, and yet it existed in an incredible number of places across a near-infinite amount of solar systems.
Well, we all know my feelings about Matt Haig anyway so you can already see where this is going. Not my favourite, but still wonderful. That was surprisingly short and sweet.
The Girl of Ink and Stars
But while Yote was a lazy demon he was also a proud one. He did not want the islanders to know a girl had outwitted him, but he could not destroy the island, for oaths bound demons for a thousand years.
Absolutely beautiful. If you love Moana, you need to read The Girl of Ink and Stars. Female protagonists of colour having great adventures with no over-bearing romance subplot.
Impossible Views of The World
I…. did not finish this. The plot sounded wonderful, and I was looking forward to it but it fell flat for me. The dialogue was broken and jolting, and I didn’t really connect with the characters so for me it didn’t work unfortunately. I do want to try again, so I’ll check back when I’ve given it a second look.
The Girl on the Train
I know, another ‘The Girl’ title, but very different books. I’m so late to the party on this one, but I finally understand what the hype was about. This is a great book with a pretty unique take on addiction. The end was a little surreal for me but the build-up was great.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Then, because it was a Saturday he said he was going to take me on an expedition to show me that he was properly sorry, and we were going to Twycross Zoo. So he made me some sandwiches with white bread and tomatoes and lettuce and ham and strawberry jam for me to eat because I don’t like eating food from places I don’t know. And he said it would be okay because there wouldn’t be too many people at the zoo because it was forecast to rain, and I was glad about that because I don’t like crowds of people and I like it when it is raining. So I went and got my waterproof which is orange. Then we drove to Twycross Zoo.
Another one I’m really, really late to the party on. I doubt I need to tell you that this is a brilliant book. The Curious Incident looks at autism and the autistic spectrum in a way I’ve certainly never seen before. This is such an important read.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
I’ve been meaning to read more of Maya Angelou’s work, and her autobiographical memoirs seemed like a good place to start. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings covers the first 17 years of her life, and is written with the grace and poise she was so well known and loved for. I’m not a biography person, but I was hooked by this and can’t wait to read the others (she wrote 7!).
The Great Gatsby
I have read this before, but not in a long time. I’ll be honest, the first time didn’t really leave much of an impression. I guess because it’s such an iconic book there was a lot of pressure to love it, and at the time teenage me and books were a little estranged. Coming back as a reformed and intensely analytical graduate made me appreciate it a lot more, though it will always seem a little overrated to me. Sorry.
Nineteen Eighty-Four
It is often necessary for a member of the Inner Party to know that this or that item of war news is untruthful, and he may often be aware that the entire war is spurious and is either not happening or is being waged for purposes quite other than the declared ones; but such knowledge is easily neutralised by the technique of doublethink. Meanwhile no Inner Party member wavers for an instant in his mystical belief that the war is real and that it is bound to end victoriously.
I could go on and on and on about this book. A lot of people have pointed out similarities between 1984 and our reality – it’s certainly hard to deny that Orwell’s future seems closer than ever. It is both scary and calming to read; we’re getting nearer, but at least we’re not there yet. I intend to write more about this one so stay tuned.
Those are my summer reads (so far), but what have you been reading? Any recommendations?
See you soon,
Always in the Write 