July & August Reading 2022
Want some more book suggestions? Here are my recommendations from my May & June Reads 2022, Spring Reads 2022 and my Winter Reads 2021-2022
The recent sunny spell was made for afternoons reading in the garden. Or cooling off in front of a fan. All with something refreshing in hand. From pungent graveyards to domestic noir, here’s what I’ve been reading in July and August.
Pure – Andrew Miller
Set in pre-revolution France, a young engineer is hired for the grisly task of exhuming Les Innocents, an overcrowded and unsanitary Parisian cemetery. Miller’s Costa Award-winning novel takes us through a year in Jean-Baptiste Baratte’s life, from mistaken identity to love to tragedy. Baratte comes to understand how important the graveyard and church are to the local residents, despite the foul and unimaginable stench. The book is based on historical fact, although Baratte is fictional. Miller’s writing is lyrical and descriptive, transporting the reader to this hideous place, coated with death. There are a lot of characters, and at times I had to re-read sections which kind of interrupted the flow.
Reminders of Him – Colleen Hoover
I’m still persevering with books by Tik-Tok sensation Colleen Hoover, and Reminders of Him continues in a similar vein to Regretting You (reviewed here) – recriminations, redemption, relationships and romance. Kenna is determined to build a relationship with her daughter Diem, born whilst she was imprisoned for a tragic mistake which killed her boyfriend Scott. But everyone is equally determined to keep Kenna from her daughter. Her sole ally is Ledger, Scott’s best friend and enthusiastic “uncle” to Diem. Hoover delivers a rollercoaster of emotions with a cast of flawed characters, creating another readable but ultimately forgettable story.
Young Mungo – Douglas Stuart
Could Douglas Stuart follow up his debt novel “Shuggie Bain” with another gem? Yes he could. The novel switches between two timelines – before and after a violent, tragic event. In the before timeline, we follow Mungo, a hopeful dreamer, a Protestant boy with a secret. The after timeline sees Mungo on a fishing trip with two strangers, a trip which takes an alarming turn. Stuart builds the suspense beautifully, and combines an innocent love story with the brutal sectarian divide of 1990s Glasgow. There are similar themes to Shuggie Bain, including addiction, abuse and poverty. Yet it;s a story that tugs on the heartstrings, and a thread of hope runs throughout Mungo’s tale.
How to Save a Life – Eva Carter
I didn’t expect much of a book with the tagline “A Heart Stops, Their Story Starts”. But I was pleasantly surprised by this debut novel. On New Years Eve 1999, aspiring doctor Kerry saves the life of her teenage crush Joel, whilst her best friend Tim freezes. Their lives become interconnected, despite the different paths they take. The story is told from all three perspectives, and follows both the relationships and the rifts that form. It’s a book about friendship and forgiveness, about flaws and “Sliding Doors” type near-misses. The book cleverly weaves the steps taken to recognise cardiac distress and perform CPR throughout the story, and these lifesaving steps are reiterated at the end.
The Thief of Time – John Boyne
Would I enjoy another John Boyne book as much as I enjoyed “The Heart’s Invisible Furies”, reviewed in my last reading round-up? The answer is a resounding yes. This historical adventure – Boyne’s debut – takes us through the ages, following the life of 256 year old Matthieu Zela, who miraculously stopped aging at around 50. He is accompanied by a series of nephews, all variations of Tommy/Thomas, and all fated to meet an unfortunate end. Can 1999 Matthieu & Tommy change the course of history? Boyne hurtles through some periods of Matthieu’s life at breakneck speed, and lingers a little too long on others. But I thoroughly enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more from Boyne’s back catalogue.
Magpie – Elizabeth Day
I’ve long been a fan of Elizabeth Day’s “How To Fail” Podcast, but this is the first novel of hers that I’ve read. The story starts with Marisa, embarking on an exciting new parenthood adventure with her boyfriend Jake. Except she can’t quite work out why she is feeling increasingly uncomfortable about Jake’s relationship with their lodger Kate. Paranoia threatens to consume her, and destroy her perfect family. So far, so “Single White Female”. Halfway through the novel, a shift of viewpoint lets the reader see Kate’s story. And this is where the psychological thriller becomes a little less predictable, and the narrative takes a fascinating turn. Sadly I felt the ending fell a little flat after all the tension built in the early second half.
(This book contains themes of infertility and psychosis)
The Starless Sea – Erin Morgenstern
I really wanted to love The Starless Sea. After all, The Night Circus is high up on my favourites list. It’s a love letter to reading, and books, and storytelling, but Morgenstern’s second novel just didn’t hit the mark for me. Zachary Ezra Rawlins, a bookish university student, is drawn into a secret world after reading tales of his own childhood in a library book. This underground world is full of quests and relationships, traversing time and space. It meanders around all over the place, a bit like the labyrinthine corridors and tunnels where much of the story is set.
The Crooked Branch – Jeanine Cummins
In present day New York, Majella is struggling with new motherhood and its impact on her mental health. When she finds a diary written by an ancestor, she fears that madness runs through her genes. In a separate narrative, we follow Ginny Doyle, living in Ireland during the 1840’s potato famine. When her husband leaves to find work in America, Ginny is forced to take matters into her own hands to keep her four children alive. I’ve recommended Cummins’ “American Dirt” (briefly reviewed here) to lots of people, and although The Crooked Branch doesn’t quite hit those heights it’s a captivating read.
Watermelon – Marian Keyes (Re-Read)
Watermelon is our first introduction to the Walsh family, last seen in Again, Rachel (reviewed here). Eldest Walsh sibling Claire is the central character of this one, unceremoniously dumped by her husband on the day she gives birth to her daughter. Which means returning to the bosom of her family in Dublin. Watermelon was the first Marian Keyes book I ever read – the first of many – and on a re-read it is easy to see how Marian honed and refined her writing style. The writing is a little manic, veering wildly off topic at times. She rambles more than some of my early blog posts. Yet there are glimpses of the wonderfully observant, wickedly funny author that she will become. I’m glad I stuck with Marian back then.
Currently Reading
Four Winds – Kristen Hannah
Lessons in Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus
Sorrow & Bliss – Meg Mason
No DNFs in July & August 2022, although I did start to struggle a bit with The Starless Sea. Pick of the bunch was definitely Young Mungo, closely followed by The Thief of Time. What books have been on your July & August Reading pile? And what are you looking forward to reading in Autumn?
You can keep up with my reading lists by connecting with me on Goodreads!
