Dear America, Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas: I was talking with a colleague at the library about how we both tend to avoid non-fiction despite always enjoying it once we make time for it. So.. we formed a two person book club with the goal of bringing more non-fiction into our lives. I listened to Dear America and while this is a slightly older title, I learned a ton about what it means to be undocumented in this country.
The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker: I loved this book until the very end. After reading the last page I was so disappointed by the choice I thought the author made. That said, in talking about this book with our library director, I think I may have missed something really important about the ending. Such a good reminder that while reading is typically a solo activity, talking with other readers is so beneficial.
The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar: This is a fairy tale, a form that I don’t usually gravitate toward, that left me feeling confused a fair amount of time but I LOVED it. I am grateful for its length because I am quite sure this story could benefit from a second reading.
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy: I am so sad to say that I did not love this book. I loved McConaghy’s Migrations and liked Once There Were Wolves. So needless to say, I was so excited that McConaghy had a new title releasing this month. Unfortunately, I didn’t think her writing was as good as it has been and I problems with more than one plot point.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb: This book has sat on my shelf for ages and I am so glad a book club finally pushed me to read it. I found it so fascinating to see behind the curtain of the therapy process and to get to know the author and the people in her life.
The Lost and the Found: A True Story of Homelessness, Found Family and Second Chances by Kevin Fagan: This is the second book in my non-fiction book club and I was disappointed by it. As the unhoused population grows, I want to learn more about this national crisis and I felt like this book did little to push my knowledge forward.