These are the books I read in July 2020 with a rating reflecting my opinion on them. I am leaving books not in English out for your convenience. At the bottom, I will be sharing some recommendations that fall under the category fiction, non-fiction, or non-fiction political. These recommendations are books I have not read myself, so proceed with caution as I cannot speak to their actual quality.
Read
The Silence of our Friends by Mark Long, Jim Demonakos and Nate Powell
A moving semi-biographical story set in Houston, Texas in the late 1960s, this beautifully illustrated graphic novel focuses on two families, one black and one white. Their paths cross through the men in their family, one a civil rights activist and lawyer, the other a local reporter. Culminating in a violent altercation between protesters and police and a subsequent trial, this story is as poignant as ever.
Dear Rachel Maddow by Adrienne Kisner
Brynn starts writing emails she mostly doesn’t send to Rachel Maddow, TV news reporter extraordinaire. Dealing with her messed-up family, grief over her dead brother, heartbreak over her first girlfriend and a healthy mix of high school drama of the infuriatingly serious kind. There is a lot of joy in this book, from first love to a colorful array of swear words. There is also a lot of pain and uncertainty and vulnerability. I did not have a firm idea of what this book would be, but it really blew me away.
The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek by Rhett McLaughlin & Link Neal
A sweet southern town with a dark underbelly is the setting of this book full of friendship and exploration and horror. Leif, Rex and Alicia are best friends working on their own horror movie when a tragic accident occurs, prompting Alicia’s parents to send her to Whitewood, a mysterious and secluded reform school outside of town. Determined to save their friend, they team up with runaway Ben, filmmaker Janine and her cousin Donna. Slowly they uncover the mystery and bone-chilling truth behind Wayne Whitewood and his school. I was invested from the first page on and couldn’t stop reading!
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Reading this classic for the first time was certainly an interesting experience, so I am glad it was picked for VC Book Club. A group of boys stranded on an island, slowly but harshly decending into violence and tribalism. The vibrant imagery, the plot progression and the central characters of Ralph, Jack and Piggy were incredibly compelling. The age of the book was mainly evident in its language which occasionally made it difficult to understand. A few scenes were quite vague and the scenery descriptions could get a little confusing at times. Despite knowing the general tone of the story beforehand, it was still a very interesting read.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Charlie is a high school freshman and has always been an outsider. Meeting a few seniors and befriending them sets him off on a journey of self-discovery. This book took me on a journey and I am thrilled that it did. The confusion and brief euphoric moments, laced with so much pain. It’s raw and beautiful, like a rare flower. Really, there are few words I can say except read this book.
The Next Person you Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
Just like the the first book “The Five People You Meet in Heaven”, this one was incredibly touching and immersive. I practically devoured this book in one sitting, fully submerged in this story of loss and forgiveness. It’s difficult to formulate my thoughts about this book, all I can say is that it was a brilliant follow up as well as a stand-alone work that inspires us to hold those we love closer.
Lightness by Catherine Meurisse
A vivid graphic novel about a woman dealing with the aftermath of intense trauma. The art style is beautiful and very emotional, but the writing font made it a bit of a chore to read. Some of the dialogue was a little dry, while the internal monologue was consistently engaging.
Mr. and Mrs. Madison’s War by Hugh Howard
Read for VC Book Club, this book offers an in-depth look into the War of 1812 with a strong focus on the political and military details surrounding this important historical event. With vivid language and occasionally accompanied by maps, illustrations and photographs, this book transports the reader back into the early 19th century. While the pacing is a little off at times and the focus a bit uneven, this was a very interesting and educational read.
The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
It’s a few weeks before graduation and things are getting weird in Mikey’s small hometown in Washington state. Magical blue lights start appearing. In this beautiful, funny and heart-wrenching blend of fantasy and realism, a group of friends deal with not being the heroes. There is so much sheer brilliance in this book I devoured it in one day. The author is not afraid to challenge the characters and they feel incredibly life-like. A lovely book!
Diabolical Summer by Smolderen & Clérisse
A gorgeously illustrated abstract graphic novel, set partially in the 60s and partially in the 80s. It is a very meta story in which the protagonist is the author of the book as well. It’s very bizarre at times, featuring multiple languages, an LSD trip (with appropriate imagery), multiple perspectives weaving in and out between the pages. It is an experience difficult to describe, but definitely worthy to have, even if it is very weird.
The Blood Cell by James Goss
A prison deep in space just received a new prisoner unlike anything they’ve ever seen before. Told from the perspective of the prison’s Governor, this book focuses on the slow unfurling of a present threat to the safety of all trapped on this asteroid and the past of the Governor as well as several key figures. At times the descriptions were a little too detailed and the pacing varied a bit throughout the book, but overall it was a compelling and engaging story.
Large Animals by Jess Arndt
I don’t claim to understand all that was going on in this book, but it was an interesting and engaging experience. Intricately woven words and a thoroughly surreal disposition are blended with a sense of loss, confusion and yearning in how the characters perceive their bodies and identities. Definitely a unique read!
The Bad Beginning or: Orphans! by Lemony Snicket
A simple story about 3 orphans told in a peculiar and interesting way. A sold start to a series.
Recommendations
Fiction
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
“Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices… Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?”
All He Knew by Helen Frost
“Henry has been deaf from an early age—he is intelligent and aware of langauge, but by age six, he has decided it’s not safe to speak to strangers. When the time comes for him to start school, he is labeled “unteachable.” Becasue his family has very little money, his parents and older sister, Molly, feel powerless to help him. Henry is sent to Riverview, a bleak institution where he is misunderstood, underestimated, and harshly treated.
Victor, a conscientious objector to World War II, is part of a Civilian Public Service program offered as an alternative to the draft. In 1942, he arrives at Riverview to serve as an attendant and quickly sees that Henry is far from unteachable—he is brave, clever, and sometimes mischievous. In Victor’s care, Henry begins to see how things can change for the better.”
Political
Capitalism in America: A History by Noah Andre Trudeau
“From the legendary former Fed Chairman and the acclaimed Economist writer and historian, the full, epic story of America’s evolution from a small patchwork of threadbare colonies to the most powerful engine of wealth and innovation the world has ever seen.”
Who Cares Wins: Reasons For Optimism in Our Changing World by Lily Cole
“Optimism demands action. Optimism is an active choice. Optimism is not naïve and it is not impossible.
We are living in an age of turmoil, destruction and uncertainty. Global warming has reached terrifying heights of severity, human expansion has caused the extinction of countless species, and Neoliberalism has led to a destructive divide in wealth and a polarisation of mainstream politics. But, there is a constructive way to meet this challenge, there is a reason to keep on fighting and there are plenty of reasons for optimism.”
Nonfiction
The Power of Ritual: How to Create Meaning and Connection in Everything You Do by Casper Ter Kuile
“Casper ter Kuile, a Harvard Divinity School fellow and cohost of the popular Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast, explores how we can nourish our souls by transforming common, everyday practices—yoga, reading, walking the dog—into sacred rituals that can heal our crisis of social isolation and struggle to find purpose.”
A Very Human Ending: How suicide haunts our species by Jesse Bering
“Suicide remains one of the biggest killers in the Western world, yet we struggle to talk about the factors that lead someone to take their own life. More often than not, it is negative social evaluations – real or imagined – that drive us to such an extreme course of action. So what is it about the human brain that means that we may not only entertain suicidal thoughts but, in some cases, actually act upon them?
In A Very Human Ending, psychologist Jesse Bering dispels the silence and shame that surround the subject of suicide. Combining cutting-edge scientific research with investigative journalism and first-person testimony, Bering seeks to provide a better understanding of the suicidal mind. He speculates as to why we are the only species on earth that deliberately ends its own life and analyzes the journals and notes left behind by suicides for clues about why humans end it all.”
The Congressional Report 