The sky is definitely falling, and I’ve lost track of how I even write this newsletter. Besides getting locked out of Substack while traveling abroad, I just have not been super-motivated to pen my silly, little updates while the US Supreme Court & Friends slowly strips away our democracy and our planet burns (it is 105 degrees as I type this from Northern California!). In summary, life is the pits, but I love you.
Nonetheless, here are some very quick and dirty June books recaps.
Summer-feeling Books That Were a Blast
Margo’s Got Money Troubles (fiction, Rufi Thorpe): Margo is maybe my favorite main character of 2024 thus far. She’s a 19-year old single mom, pregnant by her college professor and rooming with her ex-pro-wrestler dad who pivots to Only Fans as a source of income when her restaurant job fires her and childcare gets tough. Hilarious, heart-warming (yes, really!) and slyly feminist, this book was a joy.
Perfume & Pain (fiction, Anna Dorn): A sapphic romance that centers lesbian pulp fiction? SAY MORE. This is a great one on audio and was a delight in my ears and on the page. I LOL’d every chapter. Messy, honest and real. Aquarian protagonists are the best protagonists??
Sandwich (fiction, Catherine Newman): A true beach read (it is set on the MA coast) that -while the family is a bit idealized and privileged- kept me flipping pages at a clip and warmed my heart. Lots of interspersed laughs along with some Real Issues.
The Husbands (fiction, Holly Gramazio): Look, I won’t lie. There are too many husbands in this fantasy book about a woman who keeps trying out husbands who come down from her attic (and sending them back). The good part is: if you zone out for a husband or two, it really won’t matter! I don’t think the author knew how to nail the end, but plenty of points for trying. A breezy vacation read that doesn’t require much brain power.
More “Literary” Books That I Really Loved
Bear (fiction, Julia Phillips): My favorite of the month, but I may be biased. Most summers of recent years, I rent a house in the San Juan Islands (where this story takes place). So, this story about struggling sisters trying to care for their ailing mother and make ends meet until a bear swims to the island and shakes up their lives, was more than just A Plot to me. An atmospheric, fairy tale-like read. Some of you may find the central character too clueless and grating, but this book worked for me and shook me with its ending.
Whale Fall (fiction, Elizabeth O’Connor) - a great companion to the Booker nominated, This Other Eden, though this time, the small island community is off the coast of Wales. This book is nearly all VIBES, but our guide and heroine in this 1930s based story is up to the task. A summer plus: takes place mostly in winter and the descriptions of bracing winds and icy seas were just right in a heat wave. Plus, we love a short but powerful read!! Make books shorter!!
Not a River (fiction, Selva Almada, translated by Annie McDermott): I’d call this a novella and urge you to devour it, as I did, in one sitting. This is an allegorical, opaque read, also about living in a secluded community. It was nominated for the International Booker (but didn’t win), and I can see why. This book brought heat, the way Whale Fall brought chill. Read ‘em both over the course of a weekend!
Books That Had Positive Elements But Were Not Raves for Me
Solito (memoir, Javier Zamora): Don’t kill me, but even though this memoir’s story of a 9-year old Zamora crossing the border between Mexico and the US is extremely moving and highly evocative of place, I couldn’t get into it. I’ve learned books in the POV of a child are usually not for me and the 400 pages this story takes to tell itself were a bit more detail-oriented than I prefer. (If you can’t tell, I’m a vibes reader, guys.) The writing is impeccable, and most people I know that have read it name it a Book of Their Life, so please don’t let me stop you.
Little Rot (fiction, Akwaeke Emezi): This book is full of terrible people doing truly terrible things. I wanted to get into the whole mess of it all (sex parties, orgies, swapping partners, etc) but certain elements went a bit too far for me to truly enjoy it. I like Emezi’s genre-bending work and provocative-style but sometimes, it just doesn’t land for me. This is one of those times.
EEK
The Ministry of Time (fiction, Katherine Bradley): Why do so many people LOVE this book? In abstract, this story sounds fantastic! In practice, what a mess! The anti-Margo, our lead Adina is one of the most (unintentionally???) unlikable characters in recent memory. She is bad at her job, she is bad as a girlfriend and she is (very) bad as a friend! The author tells us early on, “don’t worry about the logistics of time travel” and then hard pivots 2/3s in to say, “WORRIES ABOUT THE LOGISTICS OF TIME TRAVEL”. The ending is a convoluted disaster, and the most compelling characters get little page time. I really hated this book! Good idea, wretchedly executed.
It Ends with Us (fiction, Colleen Hoover): I dunno know, we read it for The Stacks Book Club. CoHo is not my jam, but honestly, it could have been worse.
Here’s what I need to know- Do you want me to do a half-year recap with my Top 5 books so far? Do you want other entertainment in there, too? (Such as: movies, tv, podcasts?) Please tell me what you want to see and how many of each in the comments! I’m glad you’re here and please remember that some days surviving is enough!
"Only" 94 today here in the San Fernando Valley, but we're promised 108 by Tuesday. Strongly dislike. May the a/c hang in there and keep me cool while the rest of this stupid country falls to pieces.
I loved SOLITO, but I'm not mad that you didn't. I feel like there's more to THE HUSBANDS than meets the eye, but it's such a mess toward the end that it's hard to fish it out. But something something who you are/who you're with/life/home. I don't know. Maybe it WAS just fluff. I still enjoyed the ride. SANDWICH is over there on the shelf. I love her newsletter, but I don't know when I'll get to the book.
I aspire to read as many books as you do, but I get caught up in slow read groups and too-many-newsletters and rabbit holes and I just don't get there. As for your content, do what you enjoy doing! I will happily read it.