I read the two Pulitzer Prize winning books in June, so that was something! Also, I read three non-fiction books! And a book for my book group and then one more fiction. I'm pretty proud of myself!
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver was by far my favorite book that I read last month. It's loosely considered a modern take on David Copperhead. It would be kind of hard to believe that any readers do not know the premise of the book. Many have reported finding the book too depressing, I didn't. I was taken right away by both the characters and the writing.
Demon (real name Damian) was born into a quite dysfunctional, poverty-ridden single mother, and, luckily, had kind neighbors who watched over him as best they could. However, when his drug-addicted mother was found dead, Demon was placed into the foster care system and endured several years of one kind of abuse after another. Yet, he always (at least for the most part) rose above it.
It is really a wonderful book and, in my opinion, deserved the Pulitzer Prize.
Trust by Hernan Diaz is the other book that won the Pulitzer Prize. It is written in a very unique fashion. The novel is divided into four "novels" written by different authors. However, by the end of the novel, everything has tied together. The first "novel" is "Bonds" about Benjamin and Helen Rask, a wealthy couple living in New York City in the 1920s.
the other "novels" are "My Life" by Andrew Bevel, "A Memoir, Remembered" by Ida Partenza, and "Futures" by Mildred Bevel.
The whole book is truly fascinating, and one that I will read again!
Foster by Claire Keegan was read for my book group. It's a very quick read-1 to 2 hours. The story took place in Ireland where a young girl was dropped off by her father to live with her mother's relatives, not knowing if she would return home or not. As soon as they arrive at the Kinsella's, the girl began to experience things she had never known. The couple were affectionate with her and slowly, she began to warm up to them. They bought her new clothes and did not expect her to work on the farm. The young girl would sometimes feel torn between her feelings for the two different families. The ending is not clear and offered up a good discussion for the book group as we shared how we felt the ending was.
Beautiful Eucharist and No Regrets were both books from Dynamic Catholic that I found great meaning in.
Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly is the third book of a trilogy. The other two books were Lilac Girls and Lost Roses. Sunflower Sisters is about three women caught up in the Civil War. Georgeanna Woolsey was a nurse for the Union (when most nurses were male). she and her sister traveled to Gettysburg and worked with the doctors. There they met Jemma, an enslaved girl who had run from an abusive plantation. Anne-May was the mistress of that plantation who treated her slaves cruelly. All three lives end up intertwining at the end of the novel.
As the author's other books were, this novel is based on the Woolsey family history, and their story is incredibly told. I look forward to more of the author's writing.
Built to Move: The Ten Essential Habits to Help You Move Freely and Live Fully by Kelly Starrett is the last book that I read. I had just finished it when I was out the next morning in the parking lot at Schnucks after a nice morning walk when a tendon in my foot ruptured. Needless to say, I haven't been able to be out walking or anything really physical since then. However, I did like the premise of the book and the ten habits that were spelled out. And after my foot recovers, I will get back into it!
