Mini Book Haul + Book Reviews
Growing up, I was a voracious reader. We’re talking blasting through 3+ books on a vacation and reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in one day. (I still regret spending that last warm September day inside…or do I?) Last year it was hard for me get into the right headspace to read. I always felt like I should be doing something or my mind was simply reeling with the constant onslaught of horribles. Going into 2021, I set a goal to read 12 books, one per month. To kick things off, I purchased: The Authenticity Project, Black Buck, World of Wonders, Firefly Lane, and The Nightingale.
As we approach the second half of February, I’m excited to say that so far I’m on track to hit my goal! In January, I finished Daisy Jones & The Six (I’m counting that as .5 of a book 😊for 2021) and read Luster; so far this month, I have read The Authenticity Project. Next on my list is Firefly Lane as it’s now a series on Netflix and I want to watch it but I like reading the book before the movie/show. I’m a little worried as Firefly Lane is a long one (500+ pages) but I’m confident that I will still hit my goal, and hopefully surpass it!
Now, for some thoughts on Daisy Jones, Luster, and The Authenticity Project…
Daisy Jones & The Six
I wanted to love this book. I had heard so many good things and the cover really intrigued me (yes, I do judge books by their cover, though it’s not a make or break for me). I finally got into it, or really more into it, around page 200 which isn’t exactly a rave review. The characters were unsympathetic, the male characters often blended together, and the interview style combined with the fact that it was just documenting a period of time and therefore didn’t have any dramatic or compelling events driving the plot made it easy to put down and for days (and sometimes weeks) at a time. I’ve heard that some of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s older books might be more my speed so perhaps I’ll put one on my 2021 list.
Luster
I wasn’t sure what to expect of this book and I wish I could come away saying that I was wowed. Ultimately, I felt like it was trying to do too much. For a novel that doesn’t break the 300 page mark, there were too many plot lines. It also weaves in a bit of stream of conscious/magical realism which, given it’s inconsistent use, felt jarring each time it appeared. Despite this, I found author Raven Leilani’s diction beautiful. I recently came to realize that when I read, I often picture the characters but not always the background/setting. However reading Luster, I always pictured the setting which I think has a lot to do with the careful attention given to language. If this is on your list, read it but I wouldn’t necessarily go out of your way to pick it up or prioritize it. (Side note: Does anyone else read the way I do, picturing the characters but not always the setting? Does anyone NOT picture anything? How do you read? Leave it in the comments!)
The Authenticity Project
I LOVED this book and finished it in one weekend. It reminds me of the Netflix series Dash & Lily combined with The Strangers Project. It’s not the heaviest book but it isn’t total fluff either. I described it to a fried of mine as a romcom but one with Julia Roberts not Kate Hudson. At a time when many of us are craving connection and want to believe in goodness, love, compassion, and above all each other, The Authenticity Project delivers. Try it, I really think you’ll like it!
What have you read recently? Any recs?