I was all over the board this month with my reads. We worked heavily in the backyard while the weather was still semi cool, and a lot of my energy was funneled towards that project. More on that later. Here’s the random assortment of April reads.
Nora Webster – Colm Toibin
My first and only exposure to Toibin’s writing was through the adaptation of “Brooklyn” starting Saoirse Ronan. What a magnificent film. I immediately connected with the characters and the story told. So I had high hopes for my first read, maybe too high. I was underwhelmed… and bored. Try as I might, I had a really hard time connecting and relating to Nora. I felt for her, but she seemed so removed, detached. I powered through, even though I wanted to abandon ship. Recommend I would not.
Boy Mom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity – Ruth Whippman
As the mom of two young boys, I knew I was going to have many take-aways from this book. Presented as part memoir, part analysis, Ruth wrestles with raising 3 boys in today’s society while also being a feminist. When we found out we were having a boy on the heels of the Me Too movement, Brandon and I immediately felt the pressure the make sure we raised our kid understand consent and not wind up a rapist (or serial killer). While this may seem like an extreme reaction upon learning the gender of your child, they were legitimate fears and I was so relieved to learn Ruth grappled with the same feelings. We now have some great insight moving forward to help us raise our littles to be compassionate, empathetic and understood individuals. A definite read for all parents, regardless of gender.
Onyx Storm – Rebecca Yarros
Alright, if you’ve read the first two books in this series, the third can take a bit to get into. There’s not a ton of action or satisfying realizations until the last third of the book. WORTH IT. Oh mylanta! The cliff hanger presented in the last chapter will have you reeling. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to wait another year or two for the fourth book to be published. I’ve been diving into fan theory just to satiate the need for some sort of inkling as to what could be coming down the pipeline. It’s driving me nuts!
One in a Millennial – Kate Kennedy
Wow do I feel seen. As I listened to Kate talk about her childhood, teen-hood, and young adult experiences, it was like hearing my life played back verbatim. Of course not ALL of our experiences were the same, but the striking parallels had me hooked. I appreciated the anecdotes paired with critical analysis of why millennials (specifically female millennials) are the way we are. It’s a feel good read, and I’m so glad I listened to the audiobook. Kate herself narrates, and the emotion that comes through at certain points is palpable.