Ever since this pandemic hit, I have had the ability to work from home. I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to say that as others are not as fortunate. I have been staying with only a few select people seen on the regular/semi-regular and have been using my bits of free time to read/listen to books. I must say though, now that my extra 2+ hours of driving a day have been almost cut out, I have been relying more on physical books over audiobooks.

So, let’s get back to my recent reads and currently reading lists:

March 2020:

Things in Jars by Jess Kid (audiobook):

This was quite an interesting spin on the detective genre since the protagonist was able to speak with the spirits of the dead and otherworldly beings. I am now curious about this authors other work.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab (paperback):

What a cool concept of book. Originally it was the cover art that drew my attention to this years ago, but it was hearing from a friend and a family member that got me to finally sit down and read it. Curious to see about the sequels to this book, but, as with all people who buy and take out more books than they can handle at one time, my growing pile is hindering that for the time being.

April 2020:

The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott (audiobook)

The Library Book by Susan Orlean (paperback): having a best friend who is a librarian, and having an interest in literature and its history myself, I purchased this book. I wasn’t really sure how much I would enjoy it, but once I got started, I was so intrigued by it. What a horrible fate to happen to so much history that was documented. It also really shines a light on the fact that libraries have more than just books.

The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor (audiobook):

What a creepy concept. Especially since I listened to this during quarantine and people were starting to use chalk, stickers, and spray paint to mark the sidewalks and lanes in stores to showcase distance between people, I started to pay more attention to them. It really makes you wonder if you know people completely and how much you pay attention to small details.

May 2020:

Naturally Tan by Tan France (hardcover):

I used to watch the old Queer Eye when it was on tv and fell in love with this new cast. So much so that I had to buy their respective books to learn more about them and be inspired even more so. Each of them has a story completely different from my own, but there are still things that are similar or just interesting to know more about. It takes a lot of courage to tell the world your story and I read Tan’s in his voice. His husband also has beautiful designs featured throughout the book!

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing (audiobook):

Well, this has some turns in it! Really makes you wonder how well you know those closest to you.

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles (paperback):

My book club became virtual for a couple to few months and for our second virtual meet-up, someone decided on the theme of “black and white,” allowing you to take it however you wanted. Whether literal and a book with one or both of the colors in it to books about race or whatever you wanted. As it was harder for us to all get the same book within a short time-span, we created this alternative. I decided to take it as the-haves vs. the have-nots or upstairs vs. downstairs in old Downton Abbey type format. We had previously read Towles book A Gentleman in Moscow, which I really enjoyed as I could picture it in my mind, so I chose his other book that was suggested to me by my cousin with a great sense of literary gems. I did read through this faster than I thought!

The Hazel Wood (#1) by Melissa Albert (paperback):

I am always a sucker for fairy tales and these dark ones were so intriguing. I would love to read the version described in the book! One day I may also find time to read the sequel.

The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter (paperback):

Continuing with that fairy tale-esque genre, I moved right on to The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories. They were slight twists on tales you may be familiar with, but in a different light/perspective. This was recommended to me many moons ago and I found it in NYC a few years ago. The cover art design really grabbed my attention.

June 2020:

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle (audiobook):

This story really makes you realize that what you want to happen and what does happen may be completely different things. Also, to try to avoid stressing about things that you cannot control.

And now we have made it to July! I suppose I have slowed down quite a bit as I am now just on track to finish 52 books this year. Here is what I’m currently into:

Audiobook:

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

Hardcover:

The Chiffon Trenches by André Leon Talley

Now to try to get back up to speed!