Reading Wrap Up / June 2024

I read an interesting mixture of novels in June – some excellent, some were just okay and there were surprising connections between some of these books. Click ‘Show More’ for info.

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Books discussed & purchase links:

Dead Animals by Phoebe Stuckes

Evenings and Weekends by Oisin McKeena

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

Butcher by Joyce Carol Oates

Two Hours by Alba Arikha

This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud

Orbital by Samantha Harvey

Bad Habit by Alana S Portero (translated by Mara Faye Letham)

Giant by Mollie Ray

My full reviews of some of these books:

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud

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Get in touch

[brendaharris]

I no longer doubt when I find myself questioning whether to finish a book. As I enter my 60s I find there are way too many books that I'll never get to so I move on. I have also been know to put a book down cause it's just not working for me only to pick it up at a later time and have no problem to finish.

[philstrand]

Kevin Barry's The Heart in Winter is up there with Percival Everett's James and Carys Davies' Clear as the best 2024 releases I've read so far. Just finishing Liz Moore's The God of the Woods, a remarkably layered suspense/drama that's a perfect summer read for mystery fans.

[warrenhall]

Just received the book Evenings and Weekends. Looking forward to reading it. Thanks for you insights!

[Itismebruna]

Great video! Orbital was a recent highlight for me as well, and I'm currently reading Martyr! And loving it :)

[P.Ross]

Great video! Landlords charging a lot and not wanting to repair their dwellings is a big problem here in the US too. Hopefully we will get more tenants rights in the future

I recently finished reading all of Susan Barker's catalog (only 3 books total) to prepare for her upcoming 2025 release. I discovered her after you mentioned 'The Incarnations' in a video, so thank you! Hope you are having a great Summer 🌞🌞

[jamesduggan]

At one school we had a library like that: There was only one aisle for several rows of stacks. Pressing the proper button caused them to shift right or left, causing the aisle to reappear at the desired Dewey zone. Especially I appreciated its ergonomics since designing it required understanding that rarely was there more than one patron at a time needing access to a specific space, though I don't quite remember the safety system necessary as insurance no student was actually squashed between the moving rows.

[emmavd]

Thank you, Eric!🌷Just bought Orbital this afternoon. Very much looking forward to it!

[joniheisenberg]

Was waiting to hear your thought on “BUTCHER ” by the incomparable Joyce Carol Oates. Definitely not an easy read but illustrates Oates’ deft writing and masterful storytelling. I am currently reading “Caledonian Road” by Andrew O’Hagan & “ The Editor” by Sara B. Franklin. Books on my TBR include Jill Ciment’s memoir ‘Consent” & “ Loving Sylvia Plath-A Reclamation” by Emily Van Duyne.

[jennifersantosuosso]

Am currently reading Claire Messud's The Woman Upstairs which is about a teacher who really wants to be an artist and her relationship with one of her students and his family. It is beautifully written and demonstrates the anger that the main character embodies. Have also read The Emperor's Children which is also a wonderfully written book.

[janethansen]

I had a slow reading month in June, I have been struggling through Praiseworthy by Alexis Wright only managing a few pages at a time and I still have a third of the book to go. I counter acted that with a couple of short novels, and read Orbital which was surprisingly comforting. Currently I am close to finishing My Friends by Hasham Matar, which I am finding very engaging. Then I might give the new Rachel Cusk a go. I know how fond you are of her writing ha ha.

[jackwalter]

Going to begin Martyr! next week. Heard about Evenings and Weekends. Sounds interesting.

[niallgoulding]

Your videos have become such a warm blanket for me. Love hearing your thoughtful takes. I always leave with a few new potential reads added to my TBR! Although I need to stop listening to reviews of Martyr... I refuse to buy the European cover & am just torturing myself hearing all the good reviews!

[RubenDario-hriq]

I read Fellow Travelers and Up With the Sun by the underrated but excellent writer Thomas Mallon.

[NYLeafy.V]

I am almost done reading Butcher ; I’m taking my time with it and have 100 pages to go. It is so well written and the time period adds interest because I can reflect on how some modern doctors are almost as delusional as Dr. Weir but with regulations in place, less likely to get away with Weir-like behaviors.

[chrisallenmax]

Akbars prose seems, at times, over-written. Plus it kind of dated itself with the references - the not saying Trump by name, etc.
The ending was a bit ambiguous as well - but there were parts of ‘martyr!’ I enjoyed.
I’m about 3/4 through ‘Butcher’, and the violence took me by surprise. It’s great so far; though - I’m enjoying the mix of fiction and factual basis.