This was an extremely good month of reading. For the first time ever, I read an audiobook and actually concentrated. I have tried audiobooks before but always end up daydreaming. I always finish the book but honestly speaking I do not know what exactly happened. For this reason, I end up reading the book again. This year, Sue Klebold changed that for me!
A Mother’s Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy by Sue Klebold ⭐⭐⭐⭐
tw: mass shootings and suicide
I had an ambitious goal of rewatching all 15 seasons of Criminal Minds and CSI this year and I am always so shaken by the episodes with children/teenagers (basically minors) as the perpetrator of a crime. How do their parents feel when their children commit horrific acts? Did the parents notice any signs and wish they could have done something differently?
These are the questions that Sue Klebold struggles to answer after her son committed the 1999 Columbine shootings. At the time, it was the deadliest high school shooting in America until the Stoneman Douglas shooting in 2018. In A Mother’s Reckoning, Sue Klebold reflects on her journey as a mother using personal journals, her son’s writings and mental health experts to understand her son’s actions and her denial. I listened to the audio version and gained another perspective on an important issue.
Jodi Picoult used the Columbine Massacre as research materials for her novel, Nineteen Minutes.
*All the book profits go to mental health charities.
Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
tw: eating disorders and drugs
I loved this book! Tell Me Lies is about Lucy Albright who moves to a small liberal arts college and meets Stephen DeMarco who quite frankly ruined her college experience and adulthood. They both have secrets that affect how they relate with other people and approach relationships, if exposed their lives could change forever.
I honestly thought this book was so fascinating to me! Tell Me Lies is a toxic love story full of betrayal but the mess was so addictive to read. I loved the back and forth with the timelines and how each chapter alternates between Lucy and Stephen. I enjoyed Stephen’s chapter! Stephen is a master manipulator, gaslighter and lies every second! Unpopular opinion but I loved Stephen’s character! If a character makes me this angry, the writer succeeded in painting the villain well. Stephen’s lack of remorse for his actions, the lies and erratic behaviour had me on my toes.
I am slowly watching the screen adaption by Hulu and they have changed so many significant things that honestly deserved some screen time. As always, the book is always better than the screen adaptation.
Lastly, the way the college boys, especially Stephen spoke about the women had me concerned!!
The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama is a follow up of her 2018 memoir. I felt that Becoming focused more on her professional career and journey to becoming a lawyer so less personal compared to The Light We Carry.
This book definitely gave subtle hints of self-help (I detest self help books) but I actually enjoyed it. Michelle uses her experience as a mother, former lawyer and First Lady to share some practical advice to help you learn how to overcome challenges. I loved how she talked about dating (my most memorable chapter), relationships, work-life balance but I still felt like some chapters were from Becoming.
I read this book and felt like I can do anything I set my mind to. Fear robs so many of us from taking risks! The answer will always be NO if you do not put yourself out there.
I would recommend this memoir if you enjoy self-help books!
Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory ⭐⭐⭐
This book did nothing for me. Not boring but also not that good. This is my 8th novel by Jasmine Guillory and this might be at the bottom (By The Book is still the worst)
Drunk on Love is a mildly steamy novel about Margot who owns a winery with her brother. She has a one night stand with a random man called Luke and the next day he joins his workplace as an employee. This is a workplace romance but I did not feel the spark and the way their relationship progressed. It felt rushed and I hated the miscommunication trope between the two.
I cannot even remember the conflict between Luke and Margot and they resolved because their story started to drain me. Margo was also so annoying especially during their party and over-thinks every single thing which makes her unlikable. It was nice to see some familiar characters from her other books visit Margot’s winery.
I have learnt that with Jasmine Guillory, her books are either a hit or miss. I would only recommend The Proposal and The Wedding Date by her. I still think that The Wedding Date is her best romance story. The rest are kinda meh….but I will still be reading her books because I have a love hate relationship with her!
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw ⭐⭐⭐
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is a collection of nine stories about Black women from the south who grew up in a conservative church. I loved how some of the stories were intimate, funny and showcased their present relationships with the church. I thought Instructions for Married Christian Husbands was the most interesting. A woman creates a set of rules for the married men she plans to sleep with which honestly surprised me!
I loved Peach Cobbler, a story about a girl who witnessed her mother have an extra-marital affair with their local preacher. I also loved the story about the lesbian couple and how they chose to abandon their mothers because they did not accept their sexuality. You get to understand why so many people, mostly women, choose to leave their church because they do not feel accepted.
This book reminded me of The Mothers by Brit Bennet as they both explore the role of the church and how it affects Black women and girls. I would recommend both books.
From Scratch by Tembi Locke
I started reading From Scratch last year then my time lapsed so I never got to finish it. Tembi Locke shares how she met her Italian husband during her college study abroad program. During their marriage, they adopt a baby and Saro is diagnosed with cancer and ultimately dies from cancer. Tembi mourns Saro’s passing and visits Saro’s hometown in Sicily to piece together a life without her husband
I reread it and honestly felt that one might enjoy this memoir more if you are a foodie and enjoy the art of cooking. I felt that so much was spent on describing food and the process of cooking that it felt like a culinary book instead of a memoir. There was too much description regarding the food which did not interest me at all but it makes sense because her husband was a chef.
I always struggle rating memoirs because it’s someone’s real life and how do you truly rate someone’s life?