Recent Reads April 2022
I definitely got back into the swing of reading in April. Being able to get outside and put some work into the yard has made it easier to listen to audiobooks for sure, and having a good physical book to read obviously makes it so much easier as well! I used to trudge my way through books I was having a hard time getting into, but I feel like I’ve come to the realization that it’s ok to not finish a book if I’m not that into it; I’d much rather read something I am into. Check out what I read in April and let me know your thoughts in the comments.
The Secret Life of Groceries: The Dark Miracle of the American Supermarket - Benjamin Lorr
Wow, did thisbook put into perspective the tradgedy behind modern-day grocery stores! I feel like especially with the current state of the working population and the AntiWork movement that developed during the pandemic due to “essential workers” being egregiously underpaid, this book has hit me extra hard. From the terrible way workers on fishing boats are treated, to the rough life on the road of the delivery truck drivers, to the awful stench and sludge dealt with on a regular basis by grocery store fish counter workers… this book really lays it all bare and puts a totally different look into grocery stores as we know them. Definitely worth the read!
My Dark Vanessa - Kate Elizabeth Russell
This was a weird one. I’m pretty sure it was a suggested book in a post of one of the books subreddits I follow, and now I’m going to do a little more research into the suggested books I come across on Reddit! This is a very Lolita-esque story, with many references to the actual book throughout the text and the context of the #metoo movement woven into the story. This is definitely trigger warning worthy, as it deals with grooming and sexual abuse. The story is about Vanessa and switches between two timelines; her as an adult, dealing with the sexual abuse allegations of a former teacher of hers and how it affects her life currently, and her as a teen in his class and the relationship that unfolds between them, and how that shapes her life. It’s definitely an uncomfortable read, but an interesting look into how someone who had been groomed earlier in their life deals with the fallout. I’m not sure if I would necessarily recommend this, again, it’s uncomfortable, but it is interesting.
The Personal Librarian - Marie Benedict & Mictoria Christopher Murray
This was my book club’s pick for this month, and I think we unanimously agreed that we LOVED it! This is a ficticious story about real life people; J.P. Morgan and his personal librarian, Belle da Costa Green, formerly Belle Marion Greener, a black woman who spent her life passing as white and becoming one of the most influental women of her time. Whilte rooted in truth, this book obviously takes many creative liberties, but what a tale it weaves! From her initial interview to becoming one of the most famous women of her time, the story of Belle da Costa Green is extraordinary. The co-authors are really able to give depth to her character, and you can truly grasp the internal struggle she feels navigating her life as one person, while feeling that she is another. On a side note, my husband and I are taking a trip to NYC soon, and I am hoping to be able to visit the Morgan Museum, formerly the Pierpont Morgan Library, and hopefully will get to see some of the items mentioned in this book for myself! I definitely recommend reading this book if you haven’t already.
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis - J.D. Vance
So I think it is evident if you follow my IG and blog that my political leanings are more liberal than not, but I do think it is important to listen to all different types of voices to truly have educated opinions, which is why I had no problem picking up this memoir, despite the conservative political leanings of the author. This was a very eye-opening book of what life can be like in Appalachia, a very different area of the country than where I grew up. While poor is certainly a thing in Philadelphia, poor in Appalachia is on a whole different level, and hearing about it from someone that had lived through it, and trying to understand how these circumstances may shape who someone grows into, is certainly an interesting idea to entertain. If for nothing else, I recommend reading this book because it just feels gritty and real and gives an insight into a different way of life and thinking.
The Last Book Party - Karen Dukess
This is an 80’s coming of age story set in the literary world. Eve, a twenty-something aspiring writer currently working as a secretary at a publishing house, feels that her career is floundering compared to her golden-child brother. After a sordid encounter with one of her publishing house’s clients, Eve winds up at a party in Cape Cod where she is offered another job, to become the research assistant for a different writer, Henry Grey. Eve jumps at the chance to try out something new, which includes an affair with her new employer who also happens to be 30 years her senior. The story culminates with the Grey family’s annual Book Party, where each attendee is required to dress up as a book character, and Henry has to guess who they are. I listened to this on audiobook, and it really kept me attention despite always doing something else while listening. I’d recommend this one, especially if spring is a busy time for you; you’ll be able to follow along even if you’re caught up in other things!
The 80/80 Marriage: A New Model For a Happier, Stronger Relationship - Nate Klemp, PhD & Kelly Klemp
This book was recommended to me by one of the women in my neighborhood’s womens club. We had an after-party from one of our events and a few of us were talking about the stress of the mental load, a well known issue in many modern-day relationships. This book takes a fresh look on how to split the mental load and emotional load of relationships; split it 80/80. While that obviously doesn’t equal 100%, we are all imperfect humans, and some days even when we try to give 80% we may not be able to, but if each partner is striving to put in 80%, more than likely your relationship as a whole will make it to 100%. I think this is a great book for couples to read, not only for the writings, but there are exercises as well for couples to practice together to really see where things lie.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Annie Barrows
This is a book that I was really excited to read, but it fell really short of my expectations. I think part of the issue is that I listened to this book instead of reading the physical book; I think if I had it in front of me, it would have been easier. The fact that it was letters back and forth to and from multiple people made it a bit difficult for me to follow along and know who was who while listening. I used the Libby app instead of Hoopla for this one, and it only let me borrow the book for 7 days. My borrow ran out when I was about 60% into the book, and I just didn’t care enough to jump back on the waitlist to re-borrow and finish. I think this is supposed to be turned into a Netflix movie, so I’ll just watch that.
This book was a recommendation to me on my library app, and wow was it a bizarre story that definitely went in a direction I certainly wasn’t expecting! Evelyn Caldwell is a celebrated geneticist who has developed her own method for cloning people, however, her husband Nathan has used these method to clone Evelyn herself, and has taken up wtih Martine, the clone of Evelyn. This story shuffles between past and present building up to Evelyn’s horrifying discovery. This book is a little sci-fi, a little murder mystery, and definitely a page-turner!
Beyond the Point - Claire Gibson
This is another one that was a recommendation on my library app, and this was a really good read! This story revolves around three girls-turned-women, Danni, Hannah, and Avery. The women meet during basic training at Westpoint and though they don’t seem like they would be friends at first, become life-long friends supporting each other through the ups and downs of life. While it does get a bit Jesus-y at points (and if you’ve been following my blog, by now you know that is not my thing!), but the guts of the story and the relationship are great, and it’s just a great story about the bonds we form with other women throughout our lives, and the ebbs and flows of these relationships. I really enjoyed this one, it was an easy, sweet read (even with a few tearful moments!).
