pickRead this book since it was Pride month & it‘s about a summer camp (I was at mine during early June for a few days). This is a great book for middle school/high school age, but the MCs have some heavy problems, including the death of one‘s mother & self-harm. Two girls go to a month-long music camp, meet new people, navigate friendships, crushes, & first romance, & try to improve their musical abilities. I enjoyed this.
so-soParts were entertaining - in a Weekend at Bernie's style ridiculousness - but I didn‘t care much for the main character, and the plot felt weak. It is described as suspenseful and mysterious, but the mystery didn‘t exist. I think in one word, I would describe it as uneven.
pickI know this book was on many best of lists but it was only a soft pick for me. I felt the underlying themes of memory of the events of WW2 and the Holocaust and personal complicity were important and well done. I also enjoyed the exploration of LGBTQ relationships in mid-20th century Europe. However, I felt some of the interactions were just… not real? Something just felt off. A soft pick.
pickI haven‘t been posting links to my booktube videos lately, mostly because the Litsy app no longer works properly on my iPad, making its use inconvenient. Anyway, Madeleine Thien‘s remarkable book is in the latest episode. (Please let me know if you want me to continue posting links.)
Hope & empathy are the hallmarks in this 07/04/25 episode — #LGBTQ #kidlit #CanLit #WomenInTranslation #audiobooks
https://youtu.be/tdG6Vf4k_NE
I don‘t want to wish the month of July away, but I‘m also excited to see which books make the list. I‘m sure there will be a few gems, like last year‘s tagged book. Excuse me while I go down the YouTube rabbit hole hearing what others think will make the Longlist….
For the German speakers among us. The public radio SWR has made an audiobook of Freya Marske's A Marvellous Light.
https://www.ardaudiothek.de/sendung/a-marvellous-light-von-freya-marske/urn:ard:...
pickListened to the audiobook narrated by the author. We meet Maria, a 20 something trans woman who is finding out she likes her freedom more than being with her gf. The 2nd part of this book is Maria meeting James in Nevada, a trans person who doesn‘t know theyre trans, yet. This book is quite a peek into the mind of a trans person. I hate the ending but love that the author uses such exact language to express every thought and feeling. A pick!
pickLitsy what would you do if you were gay, hooked up with a guy on the apps, had sex with him, and then went out with him drinking and dancing until all hours of the night because you are a failed writer but then, the next morning you wake up and he doesn‘t? That‘s this book. This was gay Weekend at Bernies for a minute and I laughed a little but then we kept taking detours into the “why me?!!!!” And I could barely stand the self victimization. 👇🏼
pickJune's reads
- #14books14weeks hot summer and red white and royal blue
- #riseupreads lavash at first sight
