I had a really good library visit last week. You know those magic days when you walk in and stroll along the shelves and pluck down titles you’ve known about for a long time but haven’t gotten around to reserving or finding some other way. Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett is one of those titles. I’m about to start it, and have heard very positive things, but first wanted to get Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell under my belt. My hold on it finally came in and I knew I had to finish before we went overseas because no doubt there’s still a long line behind me.
I’d heard rapturous opinions about Eleanor and Park for a long time (I only reserve books I really want), and this is always tricky territory because I then pick it up with an overt expectation that I otherwise wouldn’t have formed. But then I must’ve blocked out a lot about it as well; I didn’t realise it was YA. That’s not a criticism – I love YA when it’s done well, like any other genre or book – but it did call for a slight mental readjustment. Did I love it? No. I found it solid and endearing – I liked it. I think, for some teenagers, it will probably be the perfect book to come along at the perfect time. For me, I felt I was reading a familiar narrative (misfit teenagers bond over music and the boyfriend helps the girlfriend out of a endangering family situation), but that’s totally fine, too.
Do Cool Sh*t by Miki Agrawal is the book you (don’t) see in the Readings bag at the beginning of my Melbourne Museum video and is my latest business/lifestyle purchase and I’ve only gotten a little way through so far. I’m not sure I’ll finish… I really admire her moxie and drive, and her successes certainly speak for themselves, but I honestly don’t think I’m her ideal market. Her writing style is relaxed and youthful, bordering on breezy, and that rubbed me wrong. Maybe I just need to push on to decide properly.
Next week I’m going to do a special ‘holidays read’ post, but I will do a sneak peek here. Although I bought Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed specifically to have on my Kindle when I go away, I couldn’t help starting early for two reasons: the ecstatic endorsement I got from friends about not only this book, but her in general, and also because I was already curious to learn more about Strayed’s story and her writing from the book (now movie) Wild. Boy, she can write, she can write. I was crying in the car (sounds familiar!?) reading one afternoon as I was waiting to pick up the kids from school. But I put it down in favour for Past the Shallows and to ‘save’ it for the trip. Not long now! 9 days!
What are you reading this month?
