The Birthing Tree - Amanda Peters - fiction - four stars - Aliet, a half Mi’kmaw woman returns home when she learns that her grandmother, Kiju, who raised her has died. She had not been home in years, and she processes the loss, as well as her past, as she fixes up her childhood home and decides what to do with her future. The story jumps back and forth between past and present, and focuses on the two cultures that pull at Aliet. Solid read.
Big Little Truths (Big Little Lies, #2) - Liane Moriarty - fiction - four stars - I really loved Big Little Lies, and was excited to read this follow up. It was a little hard to get into because I read the first book so long ago, I needed a refresher on what exactly happened and the characters. Once I had Google recap the first book for me, the reading was a lot smoother. The women, and their children who are now in high school, are drawn into another crazy scenario when a severed finger is sent to the kids' high school. The story jumps between the action and the kids narrating what happened to a counselor after the fact. I enjoyed the characters a lot, and they definitely had me laughing at multiple points, but the plot itself and the scenario were pretty heavy. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't my favorite.
Resistance Women - Jennifer Chiaverini - historical fiction - four stars - This one has been on my to read list for years, and I finally decided it was time to take it off. Based on the true story of Mildred Harnack, and American married to a German. They moved back to Germany in the 1930s, and remained when war broke out. Mildred and Arvid are active resistance members, and they book discusses their compatriots and activities. I went back and forth on this one a little. It started out pretty slow, and at no point was it a fast read, but about halfway through I really was drawn in. Worth the time.
Man Overboard! - Kathleen Rooney - fiction - three stars - This one was a little disappointing for me. I really enjoyed Rooney's Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk in which a woman walks around NYC reminiscing about the past and reliving her life, so I was excited to read this one. This one honestly used the same formula, except the protagonist is a man who goes overboard on a cruise ship and then spends the ensuing hours thinking through and rehashing his life. And honestly, it was somewhat repetitive and annoying. I think it could have been much, much shorter, and I woudl have enjoyed it more. Essentially a man having an existential crisis in the water. Meh.
Favorite this month was The Birthing Tree, least favorite was Man Overboard!. I said this last month, but I'm really hoping to get back to a more regular schedule when it comes to reading and cross more books off my list this year. Would love to know what you guys have been reading!
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