Books I Read in May + June

Well, hello, hello JULY.

We’re officially halfway through 2020 (thank goodness) and as of June 30th, I’ve read 35 books this year! I’m well on my way to hitting my 50 Books goal.

This month’s Book Recap is a bit longer than usual. You mayyy have noticed that I never shared the books I read in May. Honestly, there were more important things to share and talk about here when it came time to post my May book recap so I decided to roll it into June’s recap instead.

Think of this as your summer reading guide if you need a new book to read. Some of these may look familiar since I also mentioned them in my recent post, 20 Books That Changed My Life.

Also, shameless plug. If you have a Goodreads account, let’s be friends!

May

The Bassoon King by Rainn Wilson (4/5 stars)

Earlier in quarantine, Luke and I watched The Office from start to finish. We’ve seen it before but you can never watch The Office too many times. My friend Katie loaned me The Bassoon King written by Dwight — I mean, Rainn Wilson — and I found it fascinating to learn more about his life. Also, yes, Rainn is Dwight in real life. It’s hilarious.

Embrace Your Weird by Felicia Day (4/5 stars)

I listened to this since it was read by the author. It was weird and entertaining, but absolutely worth the listen/read. I wish I had read a physical copy because it’s all about creativity and has a bunch of creative exercises to get you out of a rut. Definitely recommend the physical copy instead, so you can play along and not just listen to the prompts!

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg (3/5 stars)

I heard lots of good things about Lean In so I was eager to read it. I have to admit, it was so-so. Although not one of my favorite books, I appreciated Sheryl’s views on not judging women for what they decide to do, whether they decide to work full-time or be a full-time stay-at-home mom. She’s definitely an advocate for women’s rights in and out of the home.

Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah (4/5 stars)

I’m a huge Kristin Hannah fan (she wrote Firefly Lane and The Nightingale, which are two of my favorite books EVER). I purchased a used copy of Magic Hour solely because Kristin wrote it. It was worth the read, although Firefly Lane and The Nightingale still remain my faves. Halfway through the book, I couldn’t put it down! It was fascinating.

The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking (3.5/5 stars)

I listened to this since it was read by the author. Meik has such a calming voice. The idea of “hygge” is basically the feeling of comfort and happiness in the little things. Think: curled up on the couch with a blanket while it’s snowing outside or reading a book in your favorite hoodie and sipping tea. The book detailed ways to include “hygge” in your everyday life, like burning candles and keeping blankets close-by. I didn’t agree with some of his viewpoints but the general idea of inviting coziness into your home was interesting.

With: Reimagining the Way You Relate to God by Skye Jethani (4/5 stars)

This book took me out of my comfort zone. I typically am drawn to fiction but when my friend Katie suggested I read it, I knew I should give it a try. This book made me think deeper about how I connect with God. Instead of living live Under, Over, From or For God, we are called to live in communion WITH Him. I have chills just thinking about it.

June

Eliza Hamilton: The Extraordinary Life and Times of the Wife of Alexander Hamilton by Tilar J. Mazzeo (5/5 stars)

The day this post is going up is also the day HAMILTON PREMIERES ON DISNEY+. Sorry not sorry for being so excited. I absolutely LOVE the soundtrack and I’d be lying if I said that it didn’t inspire me to learn more about Eliza Hamilton, the wife of Alexander Hamilton. This biography was fascinating and Eliza truly was an incredible person. Although it was a detailed count of her life, this book read like a novel. I was sad when I finished it!

Why We Can’t Wait by Martin Luther King, Jr. (5/5 stars)

I am frankly embarrassed it took me this long to read this book. It’s a life-changing read about racism in our country and why we can’t wait to fight against it. It’s written by MLK, Jr. and still holds true today.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (4.5/5 stars)

Another great read for June! I was hesitant to read this because of so many incredible reviews — I was afraid I’d be disappointed. It took a few chapters to get into, and it’s a sad story to begin with, but it gets better and ended up being a book I couldn’t put down.

Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari (1.5/5 stars)

I’m a huge fan of Parks and Rec, so when I saw Aziz Ansari had written a book, I thought I’d give it a try. This was an audiobook read by the author, so it seemed like a win-win! Although it’s an interesting concept — Azia travels around surveying people on love and dating to see how it’s changed from previous generations — I didn’t enjoy his commentary at all. There was a lot of cursing in the book, which I didn’t think was necessary. Definitely for a more mature audience, but frankly, I wouldn’t recommend reading it.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games Novel) by Suzanne Collins (4.5/5 stars)

My brother Josh and I love the Hunger Games. We both read the books, saw the movies in theatre together, and love the soundtracks. When we heard that Suzanne Collins was writing a prequel about the 10th Hunger Games and President Snow, we were eager to read it. Josh read it first then let me borrow it. I really enjoyed it. It’s definitely thicker than the other books, and although I liked the others a bit more, this is still worth reading. It made me understand President Snow’s character a lot more and now I want to re-read the series again!