The Vanishing Half by Brit BennettMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that sits in my heart like this one. Britt Bennett has a way with story telling that makes you feel like you are a fly on the wall in these character’s lives. The Vanishing Half is a beautifully woven story transcending generations of pain, love, and healing.
This book is told from POV of multiple characters. Sometimes this style of story telling can be confusing, but with The Vanishing Half, the perspective from different voices made the story rich with emotion. The perspective from each Vinges twin also coincides with the larger theme of how skin color yields benefits that shape ones trajectory of life and sets up generations to come with either privilege or oppression. Bennett so eloquently writes scenes that are so ripe in detail and context, so clear that I would have almost mistaken it for a memory of my own. I’m in love with this beautifully told story.
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Followers by Megan AngeloMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I think it would make an entertaining mini-series as there are so many layers and sub-stories going on at once. The first 40 pages or so I was a little confused, because the book flashes back and forth between a span of 30 years. I was having trouble keeping the characters and their separate storylines straight while trying to see how they would ultimately connect.
This took me longer to read than I would have thought. Starting out, I was very intrigued and could not put it down. The middle was a little drawn out to me and I feel it could have been cut down without impacting the overall story. I found it almost too ironic how similar some of the situations in this book are to current events. The overall theme involving sharing and the internet showed the dark side of influencer culture, social media, and digital marketing/branding. It was kind of scary to think about. Even though most of the situations taking place in the future during this novel seem outlandish, there is part of me that can see how these events may actually come to fruition if we are not mindful of our actions and the rippling effects.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia OwensMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
An instant classic
I love when a book stirs up emotions I didn't know I had buried. The beautifully heartbreaking story of Kya and her life had me rooting, crying, and feeling for her. Where the Crawdads Sing is a perfect example of how a person's environment shapes their life, and more importantly how we as "outsiders" looking in on the lives of others cannot be so quick to judge someone based on appearance or socioeconomic status (although easier said than done).
A mix of mystery, romance, and a coming of age story that has truly stuck with me - I will be recommending this to anyone who is looking for a gripping read.
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From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-SteinMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
From the Corner of the Oval was not what I expected, but I still really enjoyed it! Beck Dorey-Stein was a stenographer during the Obama Administration. This means she traveled with the White House Staff around the world, wherever The President went and was in close proximity to him in the White House. I expected the book to share more details about White House relations, politics, etc. but the book shared more about Beck's personal life and her growth during this time.
I really loved learning more about all the different jobs that go into keeping the White House running, and the community of staffers it takes to make travel possible for POTUS. I found myself rooting for Dorey-Stein throughout this book as she shared her journey of personal growth and finding her calling.
In my opinion, Dorey-Stein's memoir was similar to that of a Sex in The City type novella. Sometimes scandalous, equal parts hilarious, a lighthearted page turning read.
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America for Beginners by Leah FranquiMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This novel started slow for me but eventually kept my attention as I got to know the characters a little more. Overall this was an intricate story that highlighted prejudice, cultural differences, and the need we all feel to be loved and accepted...to find our place. Some parts made me laugh, others made me feel sad for the characters. Though I felt it was a little long, the ending made me want more of an explanation or just a little more closure.
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