As we all know, summer time is the best time for enjoying new books. If you follow me on Instagram, you probably already know I stay on the search for the most engaging, most informative, and most "out of my comfort zone" reads. And while I am always in the middle of a personal development/inspirational read and an entertaining one, I've been reading lots of light, fun reads lately. Fun reads are perfect for summer vacations and traveling or just lounging around during free time. So for my second installment of Recent Reads, I'm here to give you an update on the books I've taken along to the beach, indulged during long car rides, and devoured on quiet nights in. And no worries--I'll try not to spoil any of them for you!
Hyperbole and a Half | Allie Brosh- I highly recommend to anyone who could use a good laugh. In this humorous memoir of sorts, blogger Allie Brosh talks about every day life situations in such a raw and relatable way (as she does on her blog of the same name). We all have "those" days where we don't want to get off the couch, go to the bank, or put forth the effort to do anything. She helps us laugh at these days together and get over it--- with the help of some pretty trippy drawings.
Beloved | Toni Morrison- If you're like me, you saw the movie Beloved starring Oprah before picking up the book. Well, since it had been a while since I've seen the movie, my friend Ayesha and I decided to dive into the book head-first a couple of months ago. And boy, was it an interesting read! At times Toni Morrison's words were hard to digest, but she more than made up for it with vivid imagery and lyrically detailed accounts from each character. Morrison has a way of recounting the past in her historical fiction that makes you feel like she had to have been there, for real. And as with other Morrison classics, it's chock full of the supernatural. Check it out if you haven't already.
Eleanor and Park | Rainbow Rowell- I had this book on my TBR list for what seems like forever. I was yearning to know what all the hype was about surrounding this book last year, so I finally caved in and purchased it. And let me tell you guys, Eleanor and Park was THE cutest story of teenage love I've read in a minute. She doesn't fit in at all. He doesn't care to. They met somewhere between a bus ride, mixtapes, and comic books. So you already know that this is my kinda read.
Dear White People | Justin Simien- This book is one of those coffee table reads that will grab people's attention, for sure. It's also one that will have folks staring at you sideways when you read it in public. That works for me, because in this day and age, I feel like we Americans need to have these hard conversations when it comes to American race relations. But anyways, this read traveled with me as I waited during an appointment and was finished in an hour's time. It's also a nice accompaniment to the movie by the same title starring Tessa Thompson and Tyler James Williams (yep, that's EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS, y'all). Amid the humor, it's full of interesting facts and conversation starters.
Unbreak My Heart | Toni Braxton- If you are a fan of Toni Braxton, you would probably dig this read. It gave great insight on Toni's upbringing. She tells readers how being raised in a very strict home, being the oldest Braxton, and ultimately becoming the "celebrity" of the family has affected many of her decisions in life. It was a pretty cool and light read, though I was looking for more. Toni could have given us a few more juicy details!
God Help The Child | Toni Morrison- My friend and reading partner Ayesha and I journeyed through this read together also, as we are both Morrison fans. Though reading a novel from Morrison with a modern setting (instead of historical fiction) was different, it was still intriguing. In this read, Morrison discusses colorism, child abuse, and of course, the supernatural. I have so many thoughts and questions in my mind about this book, so if anyone else has read it, feel free to chat it up with me in the comments (or even my email). I would love to hear your thoughts.
Betsey Brown | Ntozake Shange- This is a beautifully written story about 7th grade Betsey Brown from St. Louis by year of 1959. It's a classic coming-of-age story that not only discusses adolescent changes in Betsey's young life, but discusses Civil Rights issues of the time--importantly the desegregation of schools. I'd say it's definitely worth checking out.
Crazy Rich Asians | Kevin Kwan- This book was a pretty good read. If you're into books full of designer labels, name-dropping, rich eats, opulence, and the rich behaving badly, Crazy Rich Asians is for you. While I was curious about the lives of the traditional wealthy Chinese families, I found myself wanting to know more about the main characters that have a love story floating in and out of the plot. Though it's lengthier than what I would have chosen for a light read, I'm still adding the sequel to my TBR list. I have to find out what happens with everyone.
The Bishop's Daughter | Tiffany L. Warren- I've been a fan of Tiffany L. Warren since reading Farther Than I Meant To Go, Longer Than I Meant to Stay four years ago. So I'm always excited when I come across one of her reads. The Bishop's Daughter did not disappoint. In this read, I learned that you definitely can't judge a book by it's cover. I didn't want to put this book down until I finished and I'm still sitting here wondering what becomes of the journalist and the bishop's daughter. Guys, definitely check this one out.
What have you guys been reading lately?
What's on your summer reading list?
And to remind you, Tracie of Tracie Momie Creative and I are hosting the "We Are Booked Instagram Photo Challenge + Giveaway" for all of our fellow book-lovers this month. Be sure to check out my last blog post for details!
