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Books I Read in June and July
Summer is my designated season for reading. I love reading for pleasure, and I was determined to branch out from my collection of re-reads. For the most part, all of the books I read this summer were page-turners, but there were certainly some that were better than others. I'm hoping to get in a few more good reads before it's back to textbooks!
This book has been on my reading list for a few months, but I wanted to wait until I had time to carefully read the book and absorb all of the information and emotions. Minor Feelings is informative, entertaining, and incredibly important. Not only does the book address racism towards the Asian American community, but also towards other minorities and the racism that occurs within the POC community as well. This collection of essays reveals the complexity of the Asian American identity, and it's an engaging combination of historical analysis, self-realization, and societal criticism. As Hong notes, her collection does not reflect the experience of all Asian Americans, but it certainly adds a depth to the conversation that's unlike anything I've ever read or watched.
Not Her Daughter by Rea Frey- 2.5/5
I really expected to enjoy this book but I found it very slow and I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. I think if I were a mother or had stronger maternal instincts the book would have posed a greater moral question. That said, I did read it in two days so it wasn't awful. I tend to judge books based on the likelihood of me rereading them, and I will definitely not be reaching for this book again. As my mom (who also read the book) and I discussed, there are a few holes in the plot that makes the story less believable and harder to get engrossed in.
Atonement by Ian McEwan- 4.5/5
I decided to read Atonement after watching the movie. Agree to disagree, but as far as movies based on books go, I always prefer to watch the movie first and then read the book. As expected, the book did not disappoint. This was definitely one of the more challenging reads I've read in a long time. The writing style is very wordy (which I love) so it's easy to miss small details. In order to appreciate this book for everything it is, I definitely think it needs to be read at least a couple of times. That said, Atonement is beautifully written and makes you think of life's tragedies, the power of guilt, and the long-term impact of misguided decisions.
This isn't a book I would typically reach for but my mom recommended it to me because much of the story takes place in Paris. I would place this book in the "easy, uplifting, beach-read" category - not really my cup of tea . The story is interesting enough to make it a page-turner but it lacks the intensity and emotion that I prefer. However, I did enjoy escaping to Paris each time I read the book and I've compiled a list of places I would like to visit. So, even though I wasn't in love with the storyline, the book did give me some travel inspiration. If you're an American going to Paris anytime soon, this book might be a fun way to learn about what NOT to do.
Simply captivating and beautifully written. I've read many WWII historical fiction books, and this now ranks as one of my favorites. This story stands out from some of the other WWII books I've read because it offers so many different perspectives. The book explores the lives of a broken-hearted professor hiding his Jewish student, the young Jewish student waiting for the war to end so he can be reunited with his Dutch girlfriend, the girlfriend hoping her boyfriend is alive, a university secretary who accidently becomes parts of the Resistance in Amsterdam, and the professor's naïve niece who becomes a member of the Nazi party. I couldn't put this book down and absolutely loved it from start to finish. There's so much to be learned about love, perseverance, sacrifice, courage, and all the emotions in between.
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