What I read in May, in reverse order:
It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
format: physical
pages: 444
genre:YA contemporary
rating: 4 stars
one sentence summary: Craig is a depressed teenager who gets accepted into an elite school in New York and ends up checking himself into a mental hospital from the stress.
thoughts: I have many but how to put them into words? I am glad I read this. It was a quick read considering the length and subject matter. I have questions about the main character, Craig, being able to check himself into a mental hospital, and being able to walk out in five days (which is true, based on the author's own life) because he declared himself well. I liked how Craig found a talent/passion while he was there though. There is a romance thread in the story that was weird...
Depend on Katie John by Mary Calhoun
format: physical
pages: 190
genre: middle grade fiction? 1960s contemporary? unknown
rating: 4 stars
one sentence summary: We return to Barton's Bluff Missouri for more adventures with Katie John and her boarding house friends.
thoughts: This was the hardest Katie John book to get a hold of (and due to a shipping error, I have two copies, anyone want one?) so I have not read this one since I checked it out of my hometown library when I was 10-12 years old. It's considered YA, but in today's world, and the shelf I found it on in the 80s, I'd say it's middle grade.
I don't think know if I realized when I originally read this that when Katie John was complaining about doing laundry, it was on one of those hand cranked washing machines. Also, I don't dust my house nearly as much as the Tucker's at their boarding house.
I enjoyed the book, the adventures, and Katie John is still one of my favorite characters. I wish I could find this book in hardcover, but since I could barely find it in paperback... where are all the hardcovers hiding?
Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive by Stephanie Land
format: audio
length: 8 hours 34 minutes
genre: adult, non- fiction, memoir
rating: 4.25 stars
one sentence summary: Stephanie documents life as a single mom, and an underpaid maid on seven types of government/state assistance, in Washington in the late 90s, early 2000s.
thoughts: I enjoyed this audiobook (read by the author). I recognized a lot of the place names because it takes place in my current state of residence which was nice.
I never want to be a maid (I'm a terrible housekeeper), will never hire a maid because I'd feel bad and end up cleaning everything myself before they got here anyway.
I'd probably be nicknamed the Lego house because they are in every drawer, cabinet, box, and under every piece of furniture...
I read this from my privileged, I don't know how to spell that word...life so that might alter my perspective. I once had to pay taxes (considering my income at the time it was completely ridiculous that I owed anything) with my financial aid money... so maybe I wasn't that poor, but it sure hurt at the time. Anyway, it was a good book, very enlightening about how things work, or don't work.
After I was done listening to this book, I binge watched the ten episode mini-TV show (while I was sick with Covid) and really enjoyed it, but it was much different than the book. I liked both, for different reasons... The mom character (not in the book) played by Andie MacDowell was a nice addition.
I recommend both the book and the show.
The Lost Man by Jane Harper
pages: 352
genre: adult crime mystery
rating:4.5 stars
one sentence summary: In the very dry vast Australian outback, one of three cattle ranching brother's is found dead.
thoughts: This is my third Jane Harper book, and probably my second favorite so far. The atmosphere of her books... This is classified as a thriller, but I thought it was more of a mystery.
I enjoyed the story, and the unraveling layers to solve the crime. This takes place at Christmas and it was fun to read about Christmas in the middle of summer. Also, all the prep that goes into living in an area that is so scorching hot-- I probably wouldn't enjoy living that way. I am part hermit, but 3 hours from anyone/anywhere is too much, even for me.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
format: physical
pages: 384 pages
genre: adult historical?
rating: 4.5 stars
one sentence summary: It's California in the 1980's, a family of four siblings with a famous musician father grow up along the coast of Malibu.
thoughts: I resent that a story set in the 1980s is classified as historical! This is my second Taylor Jenkins Reid book, as I mentioned on Instagram, I have not read Daisy Jones and the Six which this is a spin-off of. I started Daisy Jones once, but think I need to listen to it on audio (tons of characters.)
Anyway, for being a spin-off, I enjoyed spending time with the Riva family, and their party prep, and the format of the book (the events of one day, rotating with chapters on the backstory). The ending was... too brief. I wanted a little more... I overall enjoyed this one and flew through it.
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
format: physical (library book)
pages: 272
genre: adult contemporary/sci fi
rating: 4.25 stars
one sentence summary: Dannie Kohan wakes up and spends a very short time in the future where she discovers she is not married to, or living, where/to who she expected in five years.
thoughts: This kind of reminded me of The Time Traveler's Wife in it's writing style. The story did not go where I thought it was going to go. I really liked it... It was not as time travelly as I expected (really only one tiny part) but I enjoyed it. I have another book by the author on my shelf, I should read it...
The Passengers by John Marrs
format: physical (library book)
pages 352
genre: adult sci- fi thriller
rating: 4 stars
one sentence summary: in the future, all cars in England are driverless, then the AI develops a mind of it's own and takes people hostage.
thoughts: John Marrs is on my author's to try in 2022 list... checkmark. I'm not adding the author to my favorite author's list, but it was an OK book. There were A LOT of characters to keep track of (and I didn't do a very good job, maybe I should have taken notes), and the ending was confusing. Still, I read it and enjoyed most of it. I can't say much more without giving away stuff.
books read: 7
fiction: 6, non-fiction: 1
middle grade: 1 adult: 5, YA: 1
owned: 4, borrowed:3
physical: 6, audio:1, ebook: 0
pages read: 2570 (includes dnf books), hours listened: 8 hours, 34 minutes
dnf: 1
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