The daffodils are blooming and it is time to share about the books I read last month! I'm linking up with An Open Book, so make sure to hop over there for more book recommendations :)
The Year of My Humiliation, by C. J. Sursum
This novel had been on my list for a while and I was excited to finally read it! Written as a journal of a pediatric plastic surgeon, Michael, this novel plunges into the intricacies of brokenness, pride, and how our sins affect marriage. This novel was searing, rich, psychological and spiritual examination of a man and his marriage. As a note of caution, there were a lot of reference to Michael's sexual dalliances and there was one short dream scene that I thought was unnecessarily graphic and disturbing, but otherwise, I really, really enjoyed it.
Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell
It seemed like "everyone online" has been talking about this novel for a while, first when the book was published and then when the movie came out. When those types of things happen, I never know if the book will actually live up to the hype. Let me assure you, this book absolutely lives up to the hype :) The novel is a fictional exploration of what the life and death of Hamnet Shakespeare (William Shakespeare's son) may have been like. Along the way, O'Farrell weaves in stories of Shakespeare and his wife and the plague that swept across England. The story was really interesting, but O'Farrell's prose is what really pulled me in. Her writing is GORGEOUS (though it's written in present tense, and I don't think that always works, but here it worked splendidly). I loved this one so much! Content caution: there were a couple of sex scenes, not sure how explicit they were since I skimmed/skipped over them.
A Menagerie of Dragons, by Christina Baehr
Set ten years after the events of The Secrets of Ormdale, this book follows Una, now a young woman who manages the famed Menagerie of Dragons. Una keeps everything running according to her strict ideals, and tries to manage the estate as best she can-especially since relationships between some of the family members are now quite strained. Then, a villainous imposter infiltrates the abbey and next thing she knows, Una's orderly life is completely turned upside-down. This book also had some exciting plotlines about radical nationalists and feminists and family reunification. There was a lot in here I enjoyed, although I don't think I liked it quite as much as the original books--perhaps because there wasn't that initial magic of entering the world of Ormdale that I experienced with the first book. Anyways, I still liked this and will definitely be reading the sequel when it comes out!
The Sign of Jonas, by Thomas Merton
This book is a journal that Thomas Merton wrote throughout his time at the monastery leading up to, and immediately following, his ordination to the priesthood. In this time, he grapples with his life as a writer and a monk and fights the urge to run off and join the Carthusians. He shares the challenges of communal life and the deep joy of becoming a priest and celebrating Mass. He offers a ton of beautiful reflections, and I filled my copy with many bookmarks so I can go back and mark up some of my favorite passages. Merton's words and insights spoke to me in so many ways and I really loved this book!
Thanks for joining me this month! At the moment, I am slowly trudging through a reread of Brothers Karamazov, so I probably won't be picking up much else for a while (unless I decide to procrastinate on Brothers K, which is a very real possibility haha). But if you have any recommendations, please drop them in the comments and I will save them for the future!
No comments:
Post a Comment