What I Read — July 2023

Life's been one wild adventure lately, and I'm loving every moment of it! Summer in Europe has been an absolute blast, with our last full one going out with a bang. From hiking through the picturesque Dolomites in Northern Italy with the puppies, to toasting Mark's birthday and our anniversary in the heart and soul of the champagne region, our days and hearts have been filled. While my reading time took a hit, the books I did manage to finish were phenomenal. I can't wait to share our travels, but that’s for a different blog on a different day.

As always, I clarify in my reviews whether I listened to or physically read the book. I also link all of the book covers to Goodreads so you can read more reviews if you’re so inclined.

Here’s everything I enjoyed this July:

The WAger: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
David Grann

Stats: History, 8 hours and 28 minutes

Quick summary
Great Britain, 1740. A fleet of ships under the command of Commodore Anson set sail through the perilous Cape Horn to attack a Spanish galleon thought to be filled with treasure. Through the rough waters, captain Cheap and his men on board The Wager get separated from the squadron and are shipwrecked on remote island. As the subtitle suggests, the following months are filled with mutiny, murder and mayhem among the castaways.

What I thought:
I often tell people that history isn’t really my thing, and I think I need to amend that statement. What I really mean is history is often presented in such a bland fashion that it doesn’t hold my interest… and then I read The Wager. Grann's storytelling truly breathed life into this historical account (yes, this is a nonfiction book!), and I found myself taking the dogs on longer and longer walks so I could continue the story.

Who should read it:
Can everyone read this? I want to talk to someone about how good it is.

Sea of Tranquility
Emily St. John Mandel

Stats: Science Fiction, 226 pages

Quick summary
Spanning multiple centuries uniting the past and the far future with an interconnected event in time, Sea of Tranquility examines the ethics of time travel and questions what is truly real.

What I thought:
I love Mandel’s poetic way of writing. This book was peculiar in the best possible way, and all I could think while reading it was how perfect it would be for people who enjoyed movies like The Matrix or Inception. Please don’t misinterpret the lack of summary for disinterest; it’s a hard book to explain without giving away the spoilers.

Who should read it:
Everyone who would have taken the red pill in The Matrix.

Gallant
V.E. Schwab

Stats: Fantasy, 330 pages

Quick summary
Born mute and placed into an orphanage as an infant, all Olivia Prior knows about her family comes from her mother’s mystical, frantic journal entries and illustrations. One day, she receives a letter from her uncle inviting her to return to Gallant where she is deeply loved and missed. Despite her mother’s journal warning her to stay away, Olivia journeys to the haunted halls of Gallant and learns of a ghastly duty that has ensnared her family for generations.

What I thought:
Schwab does it again! I loved The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and I loved this as well. It reminded me of a gothic noir version of Stranger Things as there was an Upside Down type of world in this book as well. The story was well-told and quick-paced, and unlike The Invisible Life, it never felt tedious.

Who should read it:
Fans of Stranger Things.

HAVE YOU READ ANYTHING LATELY THAT YOU’VE ABSOLUTELY LOVED? LEAVE A COMMENT WITH YOUR SUGGESTION! I’M ALWAYS ON THE HUNT FOR THE NEXT GREAT BOOK, WHETHER IT’S FICTION OR NONFICTION!

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