july: 20, 21, 22, 23 & 24

unsurprisingly, given the lighter workload at work, i read a lot in july, too!

hang the moon, by jeannette walls (i didn't love this book, and i was disappointed because i really liked some of her previous books - the glass castle and half-broke horses were excellent.  i didn't find the main character in hang the moon true to the personality of any young women i know, and in just about every chapter some life-changing tragedy happens suddenly and without a ton of emotion, and that didn't do it for me.  i hate to say it, but skip this one.)

now is not the time to panic, by kevin wilson (when i don't like a book, i often finish it and immediately try to find a review that validates my opinion.  because if i didn't like it and everyone else did, then something might be wrong with my taste.  this is from the new york times review: "The anxiety that adult Frankie feels when a writer from The New Yorker plans to expose her as the originator of 'one of the weirdest mysteries in American pop culture' becomes as implausible as the fact that her narrative voice has not changed a lick in 21 years."  thank you, new york times, for hitting the nail on the head of what annoyed the shit out of me about this book.  you can go ahead and skip this one, too.  i listened to it as an audiobook and perhaps the narrator's voice added to my annoyance?  who knows.  dislike.)

the trackers, by charles frazier (i enjoyed this book, set during the new deal with a main character who is a muralist for the WPA.  the title is a play on both the title of the painting he's working on in a post office and the fact that much of the plot of the book is him tracking a missing rich woman around the US.  i liked this book and was drawn in by the story, but this won't be one of my favorite books this year.  if you like charles frazier - and i do, having read everything he's published - you should read this one.  if you've never read anything by him, don't start with this - cold mountain and varina really moved me and you'd be better off reading those two first.)

poverty, by america, by matthew desmond (i listened to the audiobook of this one, which isn't terribly long and offers critiques and recommendations based on the research he did to write evicted, a book i was quite moved by.  this book was informative, and i think he hits the nail on the head with his belief that we CAN eliminate poverty, but as a country we have chosen not to.  but this book gets preachy/pessimistic in a way that turned me off a bit to his very important message.  i far prefer evicted, which you should read if you haven't already.)

is it hot in here? or am i suffering for all eternity for the sins i committed on earth?, by zach zimmerman (i had never heard of this book, but my friend veronica recommended it and i loved it - short, hilarious, and at points quite touching.  it's a series of comedic essays, and it's a great read.)