It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? 05-24-21 #IMWAYR

Currently Reading

Count the Ways by Joyce Maynard

“Sensitively plumbing the complexity of human emotions, of love and forgiveness, [Maynard] draws readers into a deep, aching attachment to her characters, creating an ultimately hopeful tale just right for this moment.”
– Booklist (starred review)

Count the Ways by Joyce Maynard is coming out in July from William Morrow. I was the lucky winner of a publisher’s giveaway!

The novels by Joyce Maynard I have read usually have to do with families in crisis or families that are dysfunctional in some way. Count the Ways starts with an author’s note reminding readers that while there are similarities to the author’s own family and life experiences in this novel, it is a work of fiction.

If you like novels that delve deeply into marriage relationship and family dynamics – including estrangement and other painful times, but also peaks of hope and joy – through one woman’s lifetime and connected to historical changes in society, look for this one.

The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde

“A political satire cloaked in Fforde’s trademark bizarre whimsy, the novel reads like a crazed cross between Watership Down and Nineteen Eighty-Four.” —The Guardian

^ Sums it up well! If you have read any of Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next novels, you can deal with anthropomorphic (talking) rabbits.

Recently Read

The Smash-Up by Ali Benjamin

I read and enjoyed this novel about a contemporary family in a period of upheaval, reflecting the fractious political scene at the time, without realizing that the male main character Ethan’s last name was “Frome” and that The Smash-Up is a modern take on the classic novella about “a strained marriage in a small town” by Edith Wharton. The Smash-Up is a compelling story on its own, with enough acidic commentary from both husband and wife to keep you siding first with one and then the other, set against the backdrop of the #metoo movement.

But the family’s wildly smart, rambunctious sixth-grade daughter, Alex, steals the show.

All the Children Are Home by Patry Francis

One of my top ten favorite books of 2021 for sure, All the Children Are Home by Patry Francis, author of The Orphans of Race Point, needs more love!

My rave review will be up tomorrow, along with a giveaway of a brand-new print copy of All the Children Are Home from the author to celebrate my upcoming blogiversary.

I haven’t been writing reviews, but All the Children Are Home has inspired me out of my reviewing slump!

Temporarily Not Reading

All the Things I Should Have Known by Tiffany L. Warren

I recently read the sequel to All the Things I Should Have Known, which stood fine on its own, but I wanted to go back and see how the story of the three friends Hahna, Twila, and Kimberly began. I had to set it aside to read after The Constant Rabbit because I was able to renew one library e-book loan and not the other.

Recently Listened To

Transcendent Kingdom (Harper Audio, 2020) by Yaa Gyasi

Bahni Turpin is one of my favorite audiobook narrators, so combined with the excellent writing of author Yaa Gyasi, Transcendent Kingdom was a 2021 favorite for me.

Currently Listening To

Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy

Goodnight Beautiful (Harper Audio, 2020) by Aimee Molloy

Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy turns the ubiquitous psychological-suspense-with-unreliable-narrator trope on its head and triumphantly stomps on it in this page-turner of a story.

I’m right at the end and could barely stop listening to it to get this post put up.

This post is linked to “It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?” hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. Check out the link-up party there for more book lists!