Recently Read {Quick Lit}

I love Modern Mrs Darcy’s invitation to share our “short and sweet reviews” of what we’ve been reading. I enjoy the challenge of trying to say what I liked or didn’t like about a book, and a tiny peek into the story in just a couple of sentences. It is a way to keep a reading journal without feeling obliged to write too much about each read.

Anyway, the short and sweet of it is: It appeals to me and feels useful. So here’s mine. ;)

In June, I read seven fiction and five non-fiction books. Many of them notably good. Here are my thoughts!

Non-Fiction:

The Right to Write by Julia Cameron – 5 Stars. short reflections, strategies, prompts, and encouragement to just say the words. Like looking over the author’s shoulder into her normal writing world while she encourages me to find out what my normal writing world looks like.

I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death by Maggie O’Farrell – 4 stars. Very present to the heft and lightness of life and her own being. Enthralling, and not disheartening.

Raising World Changers in a Changing World by Kristen Strong – 4 stars. Basic argument: Generous kids = world changers. Not quite what I expected, but still good. Keep in mind people are called to live out their world-changing in many different ways, not just this one.

A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman – 5 Stars. Just as good the second time. Affirmation that we are all artists and all our occupations are a creative way to serve God. No matter how small.

The Artful Edit by Susan Bell – 4 stars. Great for someone jumping into a big editing project. I gleaned some insight, but skimmed the last third because it felt tedious.

Fiction:

A Storied Life by Leigh Kramer – 5 stars. Made me laugh and almost cry. A story about family, creativity, vocation, and navigating end of life situations with a firm sense of place (loved how familiar and lived in it felt). And a little love story on the side. Loved it.

The Resurrection of Joan Ashby by Cherise Wolas – 3 stars. A story about a writer turned reluctant mother claiming back her writing. I liked the tensions and plot twists, I didn’t like how it resolved. I simultaneously didn’t want to pick it and couldn’t put it down.

The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler – 4 stars. honestly, violent, but an intriguing set of characters, special abilities, belief systems that made for an intriguing dystopian novel. I will read the second in the series soon.

In Between (Katie Parker #1) by Jenny B Jones – 4 stars. Since it was recommended by my mom, dad and three sisters I had to read it. ;) Hilarious, touching, and fun. I will be returning to this series.

The Glitch by Elisabeth Cohen – 4 Stars. A library impulse pick that turned out fine. A fast-paced satirical read about a overachieving silicon valley woman killing it as a CEO and Mom, getting pulled in every direction. It was bizarre, a little stressful, and entertaining.

The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey – 5 stars. The story of three muslim widows living in purdah and the female lawyer motivated by her own past to solve the mystery surrounding their estate. Really intense at times, but I love a chance to look into another time and culture. If you like Louise Penny, this is for you.

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan – 5 stars – about a teenager dealing with the loss of her mother to depression told through a magical collision of memory, present day, raw emotions, and fascinating surrealism. Stunning.

Have you read any of these? What have you read recently?

Find me on Instagram for more books and everything else!

Linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy for July’s Quick Lit!

Disclaimers: