Book Thoughts: July Wrap-Up
I’ve been notoriously bad at these (as in, I never stay on top of them), so here’s my wrap-up.
Paris Never Leaves You by Ellen Feldman ★★☆☆☆
Living through World War II working in a Paris bookstore with her young daughter, Vivi, and fighting for her life, Charlotte is no victim, she is a survivor. But can she survive the next chapter of her life? Alternating between wartime Paris and 1950s New York publishing, Ellen Feldman's Paris Never Leaves You is an extraordinary story of resilience, love, and impossible choices, exploring how survival never comes without a cost. The war is over, but the past is never past.
First off, I want to thank St. Martin’s Press for reaching out to me and providing a free ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me.
The story has a dual timeline - one in New York, the other in Paris. There is no clear delineation of the time jumps, and the two timelines read as if they are in constant conflict with each other.
The main character, Charlotte, once thinks that she hadn’t known her late husband very well. But, as a reader, I could say the same about her. You know of her survivor’s guilt, but because the story gives you only bits and pieces of her life in Paris, there is so little of Charlotte herself left for the reader cling to. The lack of characterization didn’t give me much to connect with, frankly. The other characters also lacked dimension, and because there wasn’t much of a plot, I felt like I was missing details critical to the story.
Because of this, I was confused for much of the story. Some of the plot didn’t sit well with me, but I can’t elaborate, since I’m not entirely sure what happened in the book. However, I do want to point out that I was not in the a mindset conducive to reading a story like this, which could be why I felt so disconnected to the story.
Despite the fact I was not impressed, again, thank you to St. Martin’s Press for this opportunity - I really appreciate it. The book goes on sale August 4, 2020.
2. Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde ★★★★★
I couldn’t recommend this book enough; I highlighted almost every single page of this book, and Lorde’s genius is a surprise to no one. I had so many thoughts while reading, but the beauty of Lorde’s writing and the feelings her words evoke speak for themselves better than I ever could. Full review on my Instagram.
3. Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine ★★★★★
I’m rereading the print version of this as soon as I can get my hands on it. It was simply everything - the writing was exquisite, and I felt that same kind of awe that you feel when you walk into an art museum. The book also featured a lot of art, which I can’t wait to see in non-ebook form. The writing itself was a mix of poetry and prose, and dare I say...lyrical? I absolutely loved it. I can’t wait to pick up more of Rankine’s work, but I’m doing it justice this time around, and waiting until I can pick up the print version. Full review (complete with quotes) on my Instagram.
4. Frederica by Georgette Heyer ★★★★☆
This was a fun one. I didn’t like it as much as I enjoyed Venetia, but Frederica is my girl. I’m living for these women who have resigned themselves to spinsterhood, so they do exactly what they want. I could read a million stories like these.
5. More historical romances, all by Tessa Dare
Admittedly, all of these have varying degrees of problematic aspects. But they were perfect for mindless, entertaining reads, which is just what I needed.
When a Scot Ties the Knot ★★★☆☆
Romancing the Duke ★★★★☆
The Wallflower Wager ★★★★☆
Any Duchess Will Do ★★★★★
6. If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin ★★★★☆
I listened to the audiobook, which made me realize that audiobooks are not my preferred way of reading. The fifth star is for when I can get my hands on the book and properly digest the story and connect with the characters. Needless to say, Baldwin’s prose is incredible, even when I couldn’t catch most of it.
