My Week in Books for 6/8/20 | More

How’s everyone doing? We are living history right now and that’s a good thing. It’s also a hard thing, but change is always hard. As a privileged white woman I know that I have a lot to learn about systemic racism in our country and I am determined to do that. As you’ll see in this week’s reads, I’ve begun that process in the best way I know and that’s with books. After realizing print is better for really learning, I’ve ordered a few more and am waiting for them to be back in stock. This will not be a quick study. I think it’s important to realize that in this I am NOT the teacher. I am the STUDENT.

Hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Last Week’s Reads

• I started out the week finishing The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. I had been nervous about this Hunger Games prequel after seeing some mixed reviews, but I enjoyed it. It ran a little slower than its predecessors, but that didn’t bother me. I’ll have a full review this week.
• After listening to and loving 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand (my review), I decided to give another of her books a chance on audio, so turned to The Identicals. Unfortunately, it just didn’t do that much for me with far too many unlikely and/or cute plot points.
• On my path to greater understanding of all issues around race and racism I read White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. I highly recommend this book, but would also advise that you get it in print. Physical books were on backorder, so I read it on my Kindle. I learned so much from this book and highlighted many, many passages that I want to revisit. That’s so much easier to do in print. I may yet order a print copy.
• A Burning by debut author Megha Majumdar is a character driven novel about three different people each in their own way trying to save themselves in modern day India. Through most of the book I wasn’t overwhelmingly invested in the story, in the last 20% it all came together for me. Mini-review later this month.

Currently Reading

• I’m nearly finished listening to Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates and have been awed by the author’s word and hearing his own voice as he reads the book he wrote for his son. This is another book I wish I had in print. Many times I’ve gone back over and over passages, letting them sink in. I am in study mode right now and have realized I need to underline, to highlight, to reread. This is a very short book and would be a great place for people just starting on their own journey of understanding to start.
• The Margot Affair by Sanaë Lemoine has been a very pleasant surprise. I’m completely engrossed in the debut coming-of-age story about the secret child of a French politician and his longtime actress mistress. As she grows older, she becomes more and more weary of the secrecy and sets in motion the outing of her father’s double life.

Likely to Read Next

• Next up on audio for me will be The House on Fripp Island by Rebecca Kauffman. I was a big fan of her last book, The Gunners (my review) and this one seems to have a similar structure of a group of adult friends facing secrets that in this case may upend their summer vacation.
• Depending on when the books I’ve ordered become available, I may or may not get to Thin Girls by Diana Clark this week. When I get around to it, this will be my third book about twins in June! Isn’t it weird how things like that happen over and over again within a series of books we read?

I hope you have a great week in books!