Books I Read in June

Four regular books, three children's books, and one DNF. June has felt short and long all at the same time. Summer is here, warmer weather, our first mini-vacation to visit my in-laws. Time is flying, but sometimes moving very slowly. With Maryland lifting all COVID-19 restrictions on July 1, I went into the grocery store without a mask last night for the first time in about 15 months. To say that felt weird is the understatement of the year. So, here's to maybe moving back toward a new normal that encompasses some of the old, but some of the new.

Most of these books provided a much-needed escape when times were busy, tough, strange, and everything in between.

The Couch Potato (Bad Seed #2) by Jory John, Pete Oswald (Illustrator)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Shelves: Children's Lit

Review: Out of the Jory John books I've read, this one is my least favorite. It's still very cute, and I loved the puns and TV show names especially, but I am finding it difficult to pinpoint which age group would be most affected by this message. The overall message of enjoying the outdoors and how fun it could be doesn't feel as appealing in its writing the way staying inside was described. (Maybe my adult perspective is just too biased! Lol, even though I love the outdoors.)

The pictures? Adorable, cute. The puns? Adorable, cute. The overall writing/story arc? Could have been stronger for me.

Still a super enjoyable read though! :)

World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Fumi Nakamura (Illustrator)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Shelves: Environmental, Favorites, Memoir-Biography

Review: If Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer were simplified and shortened, I believe it would be this book. It is filled with beautifully written essays on elements of nature that have brought the author to moments of wonder and awe throughout her life which she then pairs with memories from her childhood, adulthood, and motherhood. She discusses racism, safety, belonging, and stories of her parents, who are from India and the Philippines. I thought the descriptive writing was just right, and I especially loved her essays on lightning bugs, axolotls, and monarch butterflies.

Because of its length and clarity, I found it much easier to follow than other books with a similar premise and it held my interest. There were a number of typos, which I feel like only bothers me because I edit/proofread as part of my job. If that sort of thing doesn't bother you, then you should be fine. Also, some stories didn't have a super clear correlation to the animals or parts of nature she was equating them to (they felt like a bit of a stretch), but it didn't deter from the overall messages she was trying to convey.

Overall a book I would suggest if you want an easy read that sparks your imagination, maybe brings some nostalgia, and is well-written. I'll end with a quote that really resonates with me lately: "Maybe what we can do when we feel overwhelmed is to start small. Start with what we have loved as kids and see where that leads us."

The Caiman by Maria Eugenia Manrique, Ramon Paris (Illustrator), Amy Brill (Translator)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Shelves: Children's Lit, Favorites, History, Memoir-Biography

Review: I received this book for free through Amazon FirstReads, and was so enamored by the story of Jose Faoro and Night the Caiman. This book is based on a true story, which makes it even more adorable. It helps that it's illustrated beautifully as well.

Night the Caiman is found at only three days old along the river, abandoned by her mother, by a group of children in a small town in Venezuela. Faoro, the local clockmaker, takes her home to raise her and keeps her for the rest of his life. Their bond is special and makes him a well-known clockmaker in the town. Night accompanies him through life, through marriage, and even in death.

It's cute but also sad, which is what makes me think the book might be suited for children who are capable or emotionally prepared to handle the subject of death. I'm glad I own this now! Made all the better by the fact that it actually happened!

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Shelves: Children's Lit, Favorites, Self-Help, Young Adult

Review: While this book wasn't exactly what I thought it would be (I expected a nice, flowing story), it was still beautifully done. After reading the introduction and seeing that the author's purpose of the book was to write something that could be picked up, turned open to any page, and read with the hopes of encouraging you where you were, the lack of flow kind of stopped bothering me. Inspirational quotes and important reminders with cute drawings.

I liked the intention of the author with this book and think this would be a lovely addition to any library, whether it's to empower your children or to empower yourself. I really, really loved this book.

Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love by Jonathan Van Ness

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Shelves: Book Club, Memoir-Biography

Review: I didn't know anything about JVN (Jonathan Van Ness) before reading their biography - had never watched Queer Eye, or listened to their podcast - I just knew they were a big personality.

With that said, I thought this was a biography that felt real in the sense that some topics, which are hard for anyone to discuss but especially for the people who went through them, actually felt difficult for JVN to write about. This biography wasn't super in-depth, but it presented enough information to get the points across, and it gave an overall uplifting and positive message. Their little sayings and detours didn't really translate for me always, but that's okay.

This book had heavy topics, but it was definitely a book I think we need more of. More LGBTQIA+ stories! It was a privilege to read this biography during Pride Month with my book club, and I'm glad their story and their message is out in the world.

West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Shelves: Beach Reads, Favorites, History, Modern Lit

Review: This book started out slow for me. I didn't really enjoy the writing style - it felt rushed, a little stereotypical, a little lacking - but once I got a little further into the story, I couldn't put the book down. There was a personal connection for me because I had driven the same route the giraffes take across the country when I was on a family road trip in high school (just coming back east instead of going west). I live in Maryland, and my husband has family in one of the places mentioned.

There were parts where the action kept me on my toes, emotional and touching moments, and some deeper insights into life all set during 1938-1945. It was a touching story that I ended up really enjoying. The animal lover in me fell in love with this, the history major in me fell in love with this, and the kid in me fell in love with the idea of traveling across the country with a pair of giraffes as my companions.

I wasn't fully satisfied with the way it all ended, but life doesn't always go by way of a fairytale, so I accepted it. Lol. Overall surprised by how much I enjoyed it, and have a feeling it will be a book I'll a) wish I was reading for the first time again and b) be thinking about for the rest of the week.

Bonus: If you're interested in learning more about the history of this story, here are some fun links!

• Blog post by Zoo Walks Through History: https://zoohistories.com/2021/02/11/west-with-giraffes/

• San Diego Zoo article: https://sandiegozoo100.org/100-animals/lofty-and-patches

The Nasty Bits: Collected Varietal Cuts, Usable Trim, Scraps, and Bones by Anthony Bourdain

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Shelves: Memoir-Biography, Short Stories, Travel, Essays

Review: I liked the format of this book because it's a collection of articles (non-fiction and fiction) that he wrote throughout his extensive career in the food and travel worlds. It was easy to pick up, read a couple articles and put it down. It was a nice filler in between other books or when I needed to "travel" from my living room.

It is quintessentially Anthony Bourdain. His signature voice and writing style are both there, and I think if you enjoyed his other books, you'll enjoy this one.

The book didn't hold my attention always, which is why it took me three months to get through, but I enjoyed something pretty much every time I had a session with it. Highly recommend, especially, if you find yourself longing for travel and all its culinary wonders but maybe don't have a way or desire to do that right now. It won't cure the travel/wanderlust bug, but it'll give your mind something to paint with in your imagination.

DID NOT FINISH

A Deadly Education (The Scholomance #1) by Naomi Novik

Rating: ⭐️

Shelves: D-N-F

Review: I can't review/rate this accurately because I only got to page 20 and called it quits. Too much information all at once, an unlikeable character, and so. much. rambling.

Plus, the idea of a school for wizards/witches set in the UK (HP reference anyone?) with no teachers and students living in a constant state of fear because monsters are trying to kill them? It might appeal to other people, but it's not really doing much for me. I have too many books I'm looking forward to reading to continue on with this one, which wasn't holding my attention or my interest.