Below are the first lines of the books I finished reading in June. Flowers provided for solace.
Book 1
Prologue
The only impartial witness was the sun. For days, it watched as the strange object heaved up and down in the ocean, tossed mercilessly by the wind and the waves.
Book 2
“I never went to my class reunion,” said Jamie.
Book 3
It was a glorious autumn day in the highlands and the normally lazy Police Constable Macbeth was moved by conscience out of the deckchair in the front garden of the police state in Lochdubh to make some overdue calls on some of the outlying croft houses.
Book 4
Act One
The lights come up in the studio. IRVIN enters, carrying a microphone. He is a tall, fleshy man who prides himself on his knowledge of blacks and his ability to deal with them.
Book 5
When the train stopped I stumbled out, nudging and kicking the kitbag before me.
Book 6
The body floats downstream. But it is late November, and the Kennebec River is starting to freeze, large chunks of ice swirling and tumbling through the water, collecting in mounds while clear, cold fingers of ice stretch out from either bank, reaching into the current, grabbing hold of all that passes by.
Book 7
Ordinary
I know I’m not an ordinary ten-year-old kid.
Book 8 - Second read
Early on, I could see.
Book 1
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder
By David Grann
329 pages • first pub 2023
nonfiction history true crime
It started slowly, but once they went to sea, the story frothed up. Sailing on an English military vessel in 1740 was extremely dangerous stuff. Grann tells the tale well. Recommend if you want a terrifying sea tale with thorny ethical dilemmas.
Book 2
At the Reunion Buffet (Isabel Dalhousie #10.5)
Alexander McCall Smith
60 pages • first pub 2015
fiction mystery short stories
A short but fine story.
Book 3
Knock, Knock, You're Dead! (Hamish Macbeth #30.5)
By M.C. Beaton
25 pages • first pub 2016
This is a short short story. The slimmest of books. It was over before it even developed. Meh.
Book 4
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: A Play (The Century Cycle #3)
By August Wilson
112 pages • first pub 1984
fiction play
This first act just seemed like a lot of bickering, and it was really hard to get past the frequent use of the n-word. The main message I got from this first play by August Wilson was that the
White people took economic advantage of the Black people. I hope to watch the movie sometime soon – plays are meant to be seen and heard, although I think having read this first will help me to understand the play better. I read it for church anti-racism group discussion.
Book 5
A Month in the Country
By J.L. Carr
135 pages • first pub 1980
fiction classics historical literary
Poignant, at times funny, in depth but not overwrought. Excellent writing. This book was short-listed for the Booker Prize. Top rating from me.
Book 6
The Frozen River
By Ariel Lawhon
432 pages • first pub 2023
fiction historical thriller
A murder mystery/ thriller that takes place in late 1700s northern Massachusetts (what is now Maine), based on the very good history book “A Midwife’s Tale” which is an examination of the daybooks of Martha Ballard, a midwife. The history book is interesting but dry; this novel has a very exciting plot. Any book that includes a fox and a hawk is bound to be a notch above, and this one does and is.
Book 7
Wonder (Wonder #1)
By R.J. Palacio
320 pages • first pub 2012.
fiction contemporary middle grade
Not your ordinary coming of age novel. The characters were authentic and the plot developed in an interesting way. A good read, with plenty to think about. For book club.
Book 8 - Second read - for book club
Vision: a Memoir of Blindness and Justice
By David S. Tatel
352 pages • first pub 2024. Nonfiction. Memoir.
The book club discussion went well, I thought.
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