We may be well into September, but I’m still grasping for those last few days of summer warmth. With so much extra time on my hands this summer, a huge theme of the past couple months has been reading. Now granted, I can only aspire to be the type of person who can read 50 books in a year, can get through dense stories, and can focus on one thing for more than 30 minutes at a time. In reality, my GoodReads goal is merely 20 books this year (which I’m way behind on), and my attention span is sometimes laughable. But I was able to get through a few really good books this summer that I wanted to share.
Jonah and I were able to take a short mid-week trip up north a few weeks back, so I thought what better opportunity than to spend a little time reading. We went to the most beautiful, peaceful beach on the most perfect late-August day — it was truly idilic. There really is no better combo, a quiet beach and a good book. Now without further ado, my summer reading roundup:
Out of Thin Air: The Peculiar Story of Iceland’s Most Infamous Criminal Cases by Anthony Adeane. I’m a massive proponent of a good true crime doc, but this was my first foray into the textual variety. The story revolves around the cases of two missing men in 1970s Iceland, the investigation, and the fallout it triggered. The cases also brought to the forefront the theory of false confessions, which at this point were deemed implausible. It was also an interesting social and historical commentary on Iceland, a country which so fascinates me. Definitely not a lighthearted read like a lot of books featured on any given summer reading list, but a great one nonetheless.
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn. This book I picked up because it was part of Reese Witherspoon’s Summer Book Club, so I figured it would at least be easy to get through. It was that and more. The story is based on a woman recruited to a spy network in France during WWI, a young American socialite 30 years later, and how their stories intersect. There’s also an element of truth to the novel in that the spy network involved actually existed. Suspenseful, historically interesting, beautifully written.
The Huntress by Kate Quinn. After tearing through The Alice Network, I had to give Quinn’s other book a go. Longer in length and slower to get started, the last 100 pages were quite the ride. The story has three interconnected timelines, but the gist is that the characters are dealing with their own traumas from WWII while hunting a notorious Nazi murderer a decade after the war. I’m by no means a history buff or particularly interested in historical fiction, but these two books were phenomenal.
Normal People by Sally Rooney. Truth be told, I didn’t actually read this one this summer but I tore through it in 3 days last December and relished in the limited series released in the spring. One of my all-time favourites, the book follows Connell and Maryann from high school through college and covers their intense and complicated relationship. Rooney’s writing is empathetic, descriptive, and poignant. It’s a perfect summer read.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. I don’t think I can possibly describe this book in a way that does it justice. In the format of a letter to his son, Coates shares how he came to understand the issue of race in America (and beyond). Truly a beautiful and profound book that I think everyone should read.
