Wow, it’s been a minute. I have been reading some great books lately, just not finding the time (or energy) to write about them. I had felt a bit meh after a couple books April, but May is really bringing it’s A game to my reading life. I think a lot of this has to do with switching up genres frequently.

You’ll notice my reading life is all over the place. I love to switch up genres for two reasons. One, being that it keeps my reading life spicy. Reading too much of one genre makes it feel stale to me. Two, being that I believe there is much to be learned from each genre. And if I didn’t dive into all of them, I would be missing out greatly on the experience that a great book can take you on. I need different topics, different writing styles, and definitely different era’s in my reading life.

I write my book reviews in the order that I read them, in hopes that if you too are feeling a little stale in your reading life, the sharp right turn I took after a recent read is exactly what you may need as well.

Anywho, enough of my rambles… here’s what’s up in books these days.

What I’ve Been Reading:

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, by Grady Hendrix. (5 stars). This book completely shocked me, and was unputdownable. Yes, it’s a book about an actual vampire, set in Charleston in the 80’s-90’s, but it’s SO much more. This book club of women who mainly devours true crime, finds out a handsome, cunning, new neighbour is a vampire. And this book club has to take him down to save their families, and the town. It’s a little gory in parts, but the women’s friendship tackled that odd area of when a woman has kids, and a partner, and doesn’t really know where she belongs. It’s a novel about feminism, friendships, and trusting your gut… and it’s FULL of nostalgia. It’s a perfect novel. I haven’t read a ton of Stephen King, but this gave me all his vibes… smart, spooky, and a page turner.

The Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson. (4 stars). Ooopfh. This non-fiction book has been sitting on my shelf kind of just waiting for the right time. And I’m so glad I finally decided to pick it up. It tells two stories of two men’s lives, one, the man responsible for the building of the 1893 World Fair in Chicago. The other storyline is the serial killer H.H. Holmes who is also in Chicago during this time. I’m fascinated with his research process, I can’t even begin to imagine how long his book took him to write, and also just how life consuming it would be to write a book like this. There are little facts buried in here about Annie Oakley, Walt Disney, and so many more. Don’t get me wrong, this is a hefty book… it’s not something you can just breeze through, but it’s worth reading and taking your time with. I think this would be the perfect gift for Father’s Day!

The Mothers, by Brit Bennett. (3.5 stars). Here’s another wonderful book. It’s told from greek chorus style, and set in modern day California, mostly within the church of a black community. Nadia is a young 17 year old grieving with the loss of her mother, and her wild behaviour has overtaken her. When her older boyfriend (the Pastor’s son) and her discover she is unexpectedly pregnant, their secret is covered up and dealt with… until years later down the road when their fates collide again in a love triangle that have them questioning what if. This book has some really complex family vibes, and explores mother/daughter relationships a ton. I really enjoyed it and blasted through it quite quickly.

My Dark Vanessa, by Kate Elizabeth Russell. (4.5 stars). This debut novel is very dark, psychoanalytical, and all things that a beautifully written thriller should be. But, this book is full of triggers, and not for the hypersensitive type. It follows Vanessa, a now 32 year old woman, who finds out that her former teacher, and lover, is being accused of sexual abuse. They entered their “relationship” when she was 15, and he was 42. It slides back and forth in time to when she was a teenager, and throughout the years between. This novel is fiction, and Kate had been writing it forever. It really sums up the whole experience of sexual abuse, and the confusing lines that surround it and who receives the blame. I think there are two types of people who will read this book… 1) Will be cringing the whole time, and it will make them feel sad.  2) Will feel icky, but also compelled to read Lolita, and all the other literary references in this book.

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen. (2 stars). This is my second Jane Austen novel, and perhaps my last. I don’t know, I just can’t with her frilly writing, and silly romantic nonsense. I can appreciate tons of readers love it, and she ability to go against the grain and laugh at the societal pressures on women during this time. This is a dysfunctional family story, with several of the daughters who are trying to clamp down a marriage. The big love story is between Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. Even though this isn’t my favourite classic, I do understand many of the romance novel tropes a little better when I read Austen. But, long story short, I will take a moody Brontë romance novel over an Austen any day.

Faithful Place, by Tana French. (4.5 stars). Holy smokes, this series is amazing. I read The Likeness not too long ago, and LOVED it. Well, this is the third in her Dublin Murder Squad series, and she takes a new member of the Department in each book and gives their life the centre stage. Faithful Place is based on the Undercover Detective Frank Mackey, and the mystery of his first love… and her murder. In the novel Frank has to go back to his old stomping grounds, which is very much like a scene out of Angela’s Ashes, and uncover the truth of the 20 year old murder. French’s voice is just incredible. She describes the setting so richly, and her ability to take on a character and really become them gives the reader an immersive experience. Highly recommend this series, and I’m off to order book #4 and #5.

Alright, so that’s all for today. Hopefully you can find something in this post to read!

Happy reading!