July Library Reads

If there’s one thing about me, I’m going to join a book club. When Roxane Gay announced her Audacious Book Club in early 2021, I joined before I even finished reading the email. Same with Lauren Leavell Fitness. When I joined her monthly membership I found a book club reading Wow, No Thank You and immediately asked if I could join.

Real library heads know the thrill of all your holds coming in at once and then frantically reading 3 books simultaneously. I read The Five Wounds for the Audacious Book Club and Mexican Gothic for Barre Book Club™️. And then I read The Ugly Cry because Danielle Henderson is one of my favorite writers and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her memoir.

Reviews below. As a reminder, I’m a big proponent of independent bookstores, so if you’re able, please buy your books from Bookshop.org or Libro.fm (discount code: LADYLAND).

The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade. Everyone is talking about this book. All your favorite writers are reading it. And for good reason. It’s a remarkable book. I don’t seek out redemptive father-daughter narratives, but this one is honest and tender. Read it. Read it slow.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. If you like to be scared, this is a fun read. It kept me on the edge of my seat. There’s so much richness to the characters and the setting. Really well done. Highly recommend reading it around Halloween season.

The Ugly Cry by Danielle Henderson. I’m being hyperbolic because I’m crying, but this is probably the best memoir I’ve ever read, and I’ve read a lot of them. Grandmas forever.