Dinosaurs - Lydia Millet

I managed to get even more behind in my reading - this was actually part of the July Book Box - oops! I finally managed to read this book, which is more of a character study. I liked the main character although yet again I am being asked to feel sorry for someone with money, to empathize with the struggles someone with money goes through because it's just so hard to fill one's day ... U G H Sorry, but if I no longer had to work, my day would be full from sun up to sun down at the very least, right off the top of my head sitting here. Volunteer work that I would love to do, classes I would love to take, hobbies I would love more time to pursue, not to mention my enormous TBR pile, and that's just off the top of my head, as I said. I don't mean to sound harsh, I liked the book, but .... I don't know why this is a trend. 

Pineapple Street - Jenny Jackson

An interesting Book Club choice that I am not sure what to think of. All of the characters were sort of unlikeable but in a way that is realistic, I guess, as we all have our foibles. I'm pretty sure I have complained about this before, but asking me to feel sorry for wealthy people really rubs me the wrong way. To be honest, I have always deeply resented having to work for a living and I would love to be able to pursue my own interests all day. I don't even want a lot of money, I would never want to be a billionaire or something ridiculous like that, but just to make the salary I currently earn at work but not have to work to get it (if that makes sense). So.... An interesting discussion will be had, I am sure. 

Stone Cold Fox - Rachel Koller Croft

This was an ... interesting choice for the July Book Club book! When I first started reading, I thought it wasn't really a book for me - and it's not really something I would have picked up on my own. However, I got strangely into it! I ended up being somewhat invested in the story and wanting to know what would happen and etc. It's definitely got a "trashy beach read" vibe, if that's what you're looking for. 

This Other Eden - Paul Harding

 Well this book was .... something. The writing is rife with run on sentences that are supposed to be "literary" I'm sure. I am not sure we really found out much about many of the characters. Apparently the story is based on a true story, which isn't terribly surprising but is rather alarming for many reasons. If nothing else, this should be an interesting book club discussion.

The Glass Hotel - Emily St. John Mandel (Spoilers?)

Not sure what to make of this book. On the one hand, I liked parts of it. On the other hand, I am not sure what the point of it all was. At first, I thought the characters' lives would be more intertwined but that didn't really happen. It makes no sense to me that Vincent would just be able to integrate into some billionaire's life seamlessly, having just the right look, personality, emotional intelligence, etiquette, etc. Who knows. 

The Plot - Jean Hanff Korelitz

This is a real page turner, and I think it would make a good beach read. It was a fast read and I enjoyed the titular plot and seeing it come together, although I think I figured it out before I was supposed to. 

The Strange Case of the Dutch Painter - Timothy Miller

I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. I didn't dislike it, but there was something about it that I just couldn't connect to for some reason. The story was interesting, the setting was interesting, I have no idea what the issue was. Sometimes I think that maybe I just wasn't in the mood and if I had been I would have loved it? Who knows. So if you're on the fence, definitely check it out. 

Hungry Ghosts - Kevin Jared Hosein

This book was well written and affecting but extremely bleak. Set in 1940s Trinidad, the book is full of characters that seem fully real, even as they are trapped in a system that seems to be set up to thwart them at every turn. It will definitely live in my mind for a long time. 

Sankofa - Chibundu Onuzo

This book club choice for April was a good one. I can absolutely sympathize with Anna, who wants to know more about the paternal side of her family as part of her own history has been kept from her. I can also understand the lengths a person can go to when the possibility of learning more is presented - and of feeling lost in the world, having no particular purpose. The book is well written and I enjoyed it. 

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers - Jesse Q. Sutanto

March's Book Club choice is utterly charming. As annoying as I can imagine the titular Vera Wong can be,    she is also super lovable and I want her to visit my house and cook for me for like three days maximum LOL I will say that there were times the book took just a little too long to get to the point and to tell us the stories of all the suspects, but I was having so much fun following the story that I didn't mind. I would totally read this author's other books. Recommended.