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Best Books of May 2022
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- Title Secret Seven Fireworks- AuthorEnid Blyton
- Rating 4 star
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) kindle
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) I had noen elft but could be soruce of light on cover, at a push female detective and now book of the month thread
- Brief reason why it was the best A good story and the msytery came together well as did the examiantion of sibling rivalry
- The City & the City- China Mieville
- 4 stars
- Format - Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for - 19. Alternate reality/history/world
- Brief reason why it was the best - though the mystery component of the plot could have been better, the concept of two cities sharing space and time kept it interesting
Honorable mention to Dave Grohl's The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music
I had two tying this month!- Title: The Lotus Palace
- Author: Jeannie Lin
- Rating: 5/5
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): ebook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 1. A book with a main character whose name starts with A, T, or Y
- Brief reason why it was the best: A sincere and passionate romance, that was beautifully written
- Title: The Rakess
- Author: Scarlett Peckham
- Rating: 5/5
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): ebook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 24. A book related to inclement weather
- Brief reason why it was the best: flawed in some ways, but also a truly astonishing amount of fun. I found myself gripped by this from start to finish. A really lovely romance between a lovely bloke and the kind of female character that is still all too rare in fiction.
I read 2 great books during the read-a-thon, they are so fresh I had to share both. - Title - The Office of Historical Corrections
- Author - Danielle Evans
- Rating - 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - Audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - Best Book of the Month
- Brief reason why it was the best - The stories were all compelling, they make you think, laugh and get the feels. Sometime I feel like audiobook short stories done buy one narrator blend together but it was the option I had from the library so decided to give it a try. This had many different narrators and were all fantastic.
- Title - The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett
- Author - Annie Lyons
- Rating - 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - ebook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - A book that involves aging, or a character in their golden years
- Brief reason why it was the best - Death is often sad and scary to think and read about, the author did a great job of making it thoughtful and not so difficult.
May- Title: Gods of Jade and Shadow
- Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
- Rating: 4.5 stars
- Format: eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for: It would work for several, but I’ll probably be using it for the Latin American author prompt
- Brief reason why it was the best: It’s reminiscent of some of my favorite retellings of myths and fairy tales from authors such as Neil Gaiman, Tanith Lee, and Marion Zimmer Bradley. My knowledge of Mayan mythology was pretty much nil going into this, but the mythic elements felt familiar anyway and the author wove them together in an appealing way.
Title: A Psalm for the Wild-BuiltAuthor: Becky Chambers
Rating: 5 stars
Format: print
ATY prompt you used it for: I'm reading in order, and this didn't fit into the prompts I finished in May. It would work well for #25, under 225 pages, #37, all 5 vowels in title, #40, Major Arcana (Chariot), #41, theme of food or drink (tea); #43, set in a small town or rural area; #46, a book with a non-human as one of the main characters (robot), or #49, here be dragons (theme of exploration).
Brief reason why it was the best: A haunting, beautifully written meditation on the meaning of life.
- Title: From Dust, a Flame- Author: Rebecca Podos
- Rating: 4.5/5
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for: #22. a book about a Jewish character or by a Jewish author
- Brief reason why it was the best: I didn't expect this book to hit me hard in the feels but it did. A wonderfully heartfelt story about intergenerational trauma and complicated family relationships, and about finding your place in the world. I also learnt a lot about Judaism, which I wasn't hugely familiar with before.
My May favorite: Still Life by Sarah Winman
- Rating: 5/5
- Audio: Read wonderfully by the author
- ATY Prompt you used it for: I don't know what I'll use it for, but it fits:
* No person on the cover
* Set between 1900-1951 (it goes beyond, but a significant portion is in this time frame)
* Has more than 440 pages (462)
* Has characters in their golden years
- Brief reason why it was the best: It's just so beautifully written. It's character-driven, and the characters are lovely.
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5 stars, listened on audio
I used this for 'woman in STEM' as there were several women in psychiatry and psychology who were prominently featured.
It was such compelling writing and a really fascinating history joined with the personal experiences of one family.
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Title: Project Hail Mary
Author: Andy Weir
Rating: 5 Stars
Format: Print, though I hear it's excellent on audio
ATY Prompt you used it for: Alternate history/timeline/etc.
Brief reason why it was the best: This book featured everything I want in a sci-fi novel, and most things I want in any novel. It was spacey and sciencey, for sure, but it also had such touching relationships and lots of suspense and drama. So good. I can't do it justice with words.
- Title: Juliet Takes a Breath- Author: Gabby Rivera
- Rating: 5/5
- Format: Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for: #38 Book by a Latin American author
- Brief reason why it was the best: This book was relatable to me and it made me feel seen.
Title: When Women Were DragonsAuthor: Kelly Barnhill
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Format: Hardback
ATY Prompt you used it for: 49. A book connected to the phrase "Here (There) Be Dragons"
This was such a unique book, in 1955 thousands of women spontaneously turn into dragons. This book is the story of the aftermath, when the US government start to deny it ever happening. Deals with McCarthyism and misogyny through the medium of dragons!
Title: Book Lovers
Author: Emily Henry
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Format: Ebook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): Related to a tarot card (The Lovers)
Brief reason why it was the best: This was an ode to all those Hallmark romance movies. Basically, the author wanted to write a happy ending for the poor woman who ends up being dumped by the hero so he can move to the small town with his new found love. And as those things are one of my guilty pleasures, I knew I had to read this. 😋
Title: ScriberAuthor: Ben S. Dobson
Rating: 5/5
Format: Ebook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 47. A book with handwriting on the cover
Brief reason why it was the best: Solid, unique, standalone fantasy. Interesting magic system, non-standard protagonist. This was an unexpected rec from a friend that I couldn't put down.
Title: Jackie and Maria: A Novel of Jackie Kennedy & Maria CallasAuthor: Gill Paul
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Audio
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): Undecided, but possibly for a character whose name starts with A, T, Y. Aristotle Onassis was the connection between these two ladies.
Brief reason why it was the best: This won't be everyone's favorite book but with a Greek background and a musical background, I loved reading about Maria Callas. I had no idea about her long-time connection to Aristotle Onasis.
Title: My Cousin RachelAuthor: Daphne du Maurier
Rating: 4
Format: Print
ATY Prompt: #44- Gothic elements
Brief reason why it was the best: It was very engaging and suspenseful.
FictionTitle: These Silent Woods
Author: Kimi Cunningham Grant
Rating: 5
Format: eBook
ATY Prompt: N/A
Brief reason why it was the best: Great writing, lots of twists and turns, and an all around great book.
And nonfiction:
Title: The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear
Author: Kate Moore
Rating: 5
Format: eBook
ATY Prompt: N/A
Brief reason why it was the best: It is as engrossing as a good novel, and I enjoyed learning more about the lack of rights women once had.
Title: The Night Circus- Author: Erin Morgenstern
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): A book with one of the Monopoly tokens on the cover
- Brief reason why it was the best: It had magic, romance, a great cast of characters. It's a future classic.
Title The GuncleAuthor Steven Rowley
Rating 5 stars
Format (Print, eBook, Audio)eBook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 17. from NPR's Book Concierge
Brief reason why it was the best: It was funny, frank, and charming, and had me laughing out loud at one point and then getting teary-eyed at the next. I loved everything about it.
May was a great month! I had four 5-star reads (quite rare for me), one non-fiction and three fiction:- Title: The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princet on, 1775-1777
- Author: Rick Atkinson
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for: I did not but it fits 29. A book set on or near a body of water (the action is near the Atlantic Ocean and the navies play an important role)
- Brief reason why it was the best: This is top rate narrative non-fiction. Atkinson excels at establishing an atmosphere, relating what happened and why, and portraying the human impact. Though it is long, I found it well worth my time.
My Review
- Title: A Ladder to the Sky
- Author: John Boyne
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for: I did not, but it fits 34. A book with an academic setting or with a teacher that plays an important role
- Brief reason why it was the best: I am quite surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, since the protagonist is a narcissist. In addition to an entertaining story, it is also a clever send-up of the world of book prizes. It is well-written, well-crafted, the characters are deeply drawn, and the execution is brilliant!
My Review
- Title: The Italian Teacher
- Author: Tom Rachman
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): I did not but it fits 42. language or nationality in the title
- Brief reason why it was the best: The protagonist's life includes all the expected phases in an ordinary life, while exploring themes of truth, beauty, and the intricacies of a father-son relationship. The characters in this novel are very well drawn, including the secondary characters. This book is a combination of many of my favorite elements – a deep character study, a book about the art world, and a protagonist that eventually triumphs.
My Review
- Title: The Dovekeepers
- Author: Alice Hoffman
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for: I did not, but it could be used for 1. A book with a main character whose name starts with A, T, or Y (one starts with A and one with Y). It also fits 11. historical fiction and 22. has Jewish characters.
- Brief reason why it was the best: It gives voice to women in the lead-up to the Siege of Masada. Four dovekeepers' lives eventually converge. The scenes are vividly described, and the language is beautiful. The author writes in a way that feels “old,” as it should since its setting is 70 C.E. in the Judean desert.
My Review
- Title - Caging Grace (Grace Series, #1).- Author - Carsen Lane
- Rating - 5 stars
- Format - ebook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - 4. A book that fits your favorite prompt that did not make the list - fits many prompts but went with 'A book without the words "a", "an" or "the" in the title'
- Brief reason why it was the best - it was a powerful and emotional story about dedication, determination and overcoming barriers
Best of May- Title: Still Life
- Author: Sarah Winman
- Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Format: Audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for: 50. Involves aging, or a character in their golden years. Can also fit the prompt for taking place between 1900-1951 (the first part, anyway), and the prompt for a book without a person on the cover.
- Brief reason why it was the best: Just so beautifully written, and the narration by the author is beyond charming.
Between my senior's graduation, end of the year concerts and plays, a job change, and getting sick - I ended up only reading one book in May - BUT - it was a really good book! :) - Title: Privilege, Power, and Difference
- Author: Allan G. Johnson
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): I did not use this for a prompt
- Brief reason why it was the best: It is a very clear, very concise, very thorough overview of privilege, and what I love about it is that he has suggestions for action and improvement. It is written by a straight, cisgender, white dude, and I am usually cautious of books about privilege written by someone from the most privileged group, but he nails it. I think it is a really good book to recommend to someone in your life who is very early in their anti-racism, feminist, etc. journey.
Thanks to all who have posted so far, several new books have been added to my TBR!- Iron Widow
- Xiran Jay Zhao
- 5 stars
- eBook
- 18. A book by an Asian or Pacific Islander author Iron Widow
- The writing, the world building, the character development, the plot, all are top notch. I am imagining that author Xiran Jay Zhao has been an avid reader of YA books because this book takes so many tropes and expectations from YA fantasy and completely subverts them, in ways both loud and subtle. Every time another YA-cliché bubble was popped I was cheering internally. This was not only my best book for May, it is one of my top 3 so far for the year.
- Title: Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End- Author: Atul Gawande
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 50. A book that involves aging, or a character in their golden years
- Brief reason why it was the best: This book really makes you aware of aging and what you might want to choose when your life is ending.
- Title - Inés of My Soul- Author - Isabel Allende
- Rating - 5/5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - print.
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - 38 - A book by a Latin American Author
- Brief reason why it was the best - It's set in 1500, but took me most of the book to realise that the author was not writing about her own mother, as it feels like it is happening right now, rather than a long time ago. Fabulous imagery.
- Title - The Postman Always Rings Twice- Author - James M. Cain
- Rating - 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - none but suits 3: 22 or more letters, 20: set in 1900-1951, 22: less than 220 pages, 31: published over ten years ago, 43: set in a small town or rural area.
- Brief reason why it was the best - I like books that don’t waste words and in little over a hundred pages this covers passion, crime, human nature and sets the standard for noir literature. Breathless and occasionally preposterous, it is an utter page-turner.
Title: In Other LandsAuthor: Sarah Rees Brennan
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Audio
ATY Prompt: A book connected to "here be dragons" - they mention it written on a map they are using
Brief reason why it was the best: the perfect world to fall into. The characters are the best, and I love and adore them.
- Title: Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies about Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be- Author: Rachel Hollis
- Rating: 4.5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): None
- Brief reason why it was the best: I simply resonate with this author and her first nonfiction work was totally on my taste! I love her sincerity and vulnerability.
Johanna wrote: "Title: Jackie and Maria: A Novel of Jackie Kennedy & Maria CallasAuthor: Gill Paul
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Audio
ATY Prompt you used it for (if a..."
I read this earlier this year and really liked it as well
Title: 56 DaysAuthor: Catherine Ryan Howard
Rating: 5 stars
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Print
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): A book with a number in the title (for another challenge)
Brief reason why it was the best: This book won't be for everyone because it deals with COVID lockdowns, but I thought it had a very unique and interesting premise for a thriller and found it so engaging.
The Orphanage by Serhiy ZhadanI bought this book because I wanted to read something by a Ukrainian author, but since the main character turned out to be a teacher, I used the book for that prompt. I gave it 5 stars.
This is a pretty grim and disturbing story of a hapless teacher who crosses his war-torn region of Ukraine to collect his nephew, but it also has some very dark humor in it.
- Title Dungeon Crawler Carl- Author Matt Dinniman
- Rating 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) 5 - A book by an author with two sets of double letters in their name
- Brief reason why it was the best DCC is a fantasy sci-fi RPG book. The main characters are a rough around the edges, sarcastic man and his talking cat who are sucked into a reality show/game show where they have to compete, sometimes brutally to "win". Very unique and a fun read.
- Title : The Book of Form and Emptiness- Author: Ruth Ozeki
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Kindle
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 18. A book by an Asian or Pacific Islander author
- Brief reason why it was the best: A sympathetic look at mental illness and homelessness. Fleshed these characters out as whole people, and not just their conditions. Also did a very good job describing what a person going through various mental conditions might be experiencing, e.g., what they are visualizing, or (for a person with hoarding tendencies) why they think that it's important to keep everything.
Title: Baking Cakes in Kigali
Author: Gaile Parkin
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Format: ebook
ATY prompt: food and drink themed/ set on 3 continents (Africa)
Reason: This was an adorable book set in post war Rwanda featuring the delightful Angel and her cake baking business. A book of hope. Here is my review
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Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Baking Cakes in Kigali (other topics)The Book of Form and Emptiness (other topics)
Dungeon Crawler Carl (other topics)
The Orphanage (other topics)
56 Days (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Gaile Parkin (other topics)Ruth Ozeki (other topics)
Matt Dinniman (other topics)
Serhiy Zhadan (other topics)
Catherine Ryan Howard (other topics)
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