I can’t believe we are halfway through 2022 already. I know we all say that just about every year, but I feel like Christmas was only about three months ago. It’s been an eventful year for me so far; how has it been for you?
Anyway, here are the books I read in June.
The Cartographers, Peng Shepherd.
A young aspirational cartographer is plunged into uncovering secrets and connections in the wake of her highly esteemed cartographer father’s mysterious and sudden death.
The plot twists in this book were too good, I wish I could savor them all over again. It’s very well plotted and paced. I find the context on geography and cartography helpful but not overwhelming or boring. When I finally discovered the antagonist’s identity, my mouth was agape, and I had to momentarily put my Kobo down. This has singlehandedly been the best mystery novel I’ve read in years. I absolutely loved this book, and it deserves a well-made film adaptation. I stand by my convictions.
Stoner, John Williams.
This was an influenced read from @jaytheauthor on Instagram. This novel is about a young man’s grapple with hardship and disappointment throughout his lifetime: in career, family, and friendships. It is not very plot-driven; if you are looking for books that look like predecessors to Sally Rooney’s, I suspect this may be one of them. If you love characters who examine and struggle with their humanity throughout a book, this may be interesting for you.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Axie Oh.
After reading Stoner, which is tragedy upon tragedy, I needed something whimsical and adventurous. Axie Oh delivered. What I really appreciated about this novel was the vivid imagery. Something about fictional settings with Asian cultural inspiration adds extra magic. Is that just me?
In My Dreams I Hold A Knife, Ashley Winstead.
This book was a plot twist. A sociopathic perfectionist young woman returns to a college reunion hoping to best everyone. Instead of receiving the admiration she wanted, she is plunged down memory lane. A really unpleasant memory lane, and then some. I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. I think it’s safe to say I am now hooked on mystery novels. I highly recommend this.
June has been a busy month for me, so this list is short. My reading has slowed considerably over the past month to make way for other things in life. I also went through the whole month of reading fiction. For July, I plan to incorporate at least two nonfiction books into my line-up again. As much as I love fiction, sometimes I do need to learn other things besides typical morals like people are crazy.
Will you be picking any of these books up? Let me know in the comments below!
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