June's reading list

Time for June's reading list! I had very little luck in the fiction/story books I read this month. I found one book that I enjoyed/was intrigued by -- only to find out that it was fictional -- even though the author originally billed it as a true story. The story was still compelling, but it definitely lost something when I found out it was NOT based on the author's life.

I read a lot of non-fiction this month . . . and I think I'm going to start keeping track of those books as well. Next month!

(*) "Saving the World" by Julia Alvarez. I really enjoyed another of her novels a couple months ago, but was disappointed in this one. The story fluctuated back and forth between time periods hundreds of years apart - and I didn't care about any of the characters. I gave up about 1/2 way through and began skimming.

(**) "Time Was Soft There" by Jeremy Mercer. A memoir based on his time living at a bookstore in Paris. The story definitely dragged in many places, and I'm sorry to say that the poor man's life was rather boring. Perhaps that was the point? I don't know . . . but it was a boring read.

(no stars) "Tropic of Night" by Michael Gruber. OH MY GOODNESS was this book gruesome and disgusting. It disturbed my dreams for weeks and I didn't even read the entire thing. I jumped to the end to find out the conclusion. I picked it up because someone else's blog had recommended the author - but I will never touch another thing this depraved man wrote.

(**) "SAHM I AM" by Meredith Efken. Christian chick-lit light. Very light! LOL! The book consisted of email messages from the members of an online group made up of stay-at-home moms. It was amusing in places because I recognized some of the personalities that tend to show up in almost any online email group. Fast read - good for the beach.

(*) "Kitchen Congregation" by Nora Seton. Very melancholy look at mothers and daughters and the role of the kitchen in their lives. Too melancholy for me!

(***) "Honor Lost" by Norma Khourin. This is the book that I thought was a true story. It was about 2 women in Jordan who were best friends. One was killed by her family in an "honor killing" because she fell in love with a Catholic man (she was a Muslim who followed the Islam faith. Do I have that right?) It was well written, interesting and kept me turning the pages. Unfortunately, I found out after I read it that the author didn't actually experience any of it - since she left Jordan at the age of 3. Oh, well, still an interesting read.

(*) "Codex" by Lev Grossman. Tried to be a thriller - but he apparently got tired of writing the book and ended it without explaining 1/2 of what happened. First half was better than 2nd half - but after the conclusion, I wish I hadn't bothered reading any of it.

(***) "Closers" by Michael Connelly. Mystery - fairly well-written and I was able to connect with some of the characters. I didn't know who the bad guy was until late in the book. Another good beach read.

(*) "Across the Bridge of Sighs - Venetian Stories" by Jane Rylands. BORING. Sometimes I like short stories because they give me a quick conclusion - these were just boring.