August Reads

Our favorite books of August (*Yesteryear not pictured)

With Summer winding down, we've been loving carving out time to sit outside and read. Here's a round-up of our favorite reads of the month.

1. Yesteryear, Caro Claire Burke - 9/10

This was our book club pick of the month and I was not disappointed. Being familiar with he "Ballerina Farm" lore I was so intrigued to dive into this book (allegedly) loosely based on Hannah Neeleman. This book had me questioning what I thought about gender roles, feminism, and family dynamics. The time jumps were a bit confusing in the beginning but once i settled in to the book it was smooth sailing. I had no idea how this book was going to end and I absolutely loved the twist and towards the end I wasn't able to put this book down. A timely commentary on trad-wife culture.

2. Things I'm Seeing Without You, Peter Bognanni - 6/10

I found this book in my neighborhood book library and was struck by the cover and that it was written by a Minnesota writer. This book was an easy ready and I finished in just a few days. The story was an interesting one that made me question life and mortality and how we celebrate those that have passed on. Centered around a teenage girl that has just lost her long-distance "boyfriend" it felt a bit like a young adult novel but ultimately I enjoyed it.

3. The Paris Hours, Alex George - 8/10

Another book found in the neighborhood book library. Stories of grief, loss, and hope interwoven through various characters with post-war Paris as the setting. This novel did a great job of painting a picture of the city after the great war and the characters felt real and relatable.

4. Atmosphere - Taylor Jenkins Reid, 3/10

I really wanted to like this book...but I didn't. I've loved Jenkins Reid's writing in the past and hoped this book would be another to add to the bookshelf. However, that was not the case. With part of the backdrop being space, I found the story a bit dull with forgettable characters and underwhelming arcs.

5. Hunger, Roxane Gay - 10/10

It's hard for me to judge a memoir because how to you rate someone's lived experience? Being somewhat familiar with Roxane Gay's writing I was intrigued to jump into this memoir of trauma and how it can manifest throughout one's life. This read was absolutely heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. Roxane's ability to recount her life and the pivotal moments that have shaped her into the person she is today is truly impressive. I would recommend this book in a heartbeat and think anyone that has dealt with trauma will be able to relate to her writing.

6. Station Eleven, Emily St, John Mandel - 10/10

   
   

After watching the HBO miniseries a couple of year ago I absolutely had to read the book, and let me tell you it did not disappoint. After living through a global pandemic this novel definitely hits different and is so much more relatable. Though there were some slight changes from the series and much of it was the same, I was still at the edge of my seat reading this novel. I walked away from this read feeling sad yet hopeful about humanity and our ability to band together to get through difficult (and catastrophic) things.