June 2022 Reads
I am currently in a reading slump, but I sure wasn’t last month. Here is what I read in June! You can shop the whole list here.
Trust by Hernan Diaz
I read this for Roxane Gay’s Audacious Book Club. Let’s see, how do I put this? I don’t think I have the brain for this book. I read it, and somewhat enjoyed it, but I feel like there’s a big point to this book that I didn’t get. I did enjoy watching his conversation with Roxane though and may read his first book, In The Distance, which people love. I’m also curious about his next book, that he talked about very briefly.
Tacky: Love Letters to the Worst Culture We Have to Offer by Rax King
This book blew me away. I loved it. I want to learn how to write like this. This book is a collection of personal essays, many of which are quite sad, set against whatever tv show, music, etc. was popular, and tacky, at the time. It’s genius. If you like people who have a sense of humor about their trauma, and especially if you grew up in the Jersey Shore GTL-era, you’ll love this book.
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
If this is the first time you’re hearing someone rave about this book, congratulations on not having Instagram. The internet loves this book, and so do I. It’s a great fucking book. If you’re anywhere near the vicinity of 40 years old and you feel nostalgic for the nineties, this book is here for you. Bonus points for the NYC setting. I listened to this as an audiobook and highly recommend you do the same. It’s like listening to a movie.
Just by Looking at Him by Ryan O’Connell
This book reminds me of why I quit posting reviews on Goodreads and started keeping a book journal instead. The first thing I wrote in my journal after reading this was, “Learned a lot about rim jobs.” L-O-L. This book is great. Very funny and fun to read. Chock full of current pop culture and humor. LOTS OF SEX. If Keep It and Las Culturistas are your favorite podcasts, this is your book. I also listened to this on audio and it’s read by the author. 10/10 would recommend.
Election by Tom Perrotta
Warning: I hated it lol. Listen, I’ve deleted stuff from the internet that I wrote in 2014, so I can’t imagine the anxiety of having a book that I wrote in 1998 still be in circulation. With my 2022 glasses on, this book is 100% about how men’s problems are caused by women, and by women, I mean minors. *eyebrow raised emoji
Hello, Molly!: A Memoir by Molly Shannon
You’ve got to listen to this as an audiobook. Molly Shannon reads it and I can’t imagine reading it and not hearing it in her voice. Also, I will pass along the warning that was passed on to me, this book opens with a tragedy that is shocking to hear/read. My only minor complaint is the repetitiveness of ‘everything happens for a reason’. That’s just not my ministry, but overall, it’s a very sweet book. I loved the SNL parts.
Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley
One of my favorite authors is Kiese Laymon and when he said we all need to read this book, I ran out and bought it. I finished it a week or so ago and I haven’t stopped thinking about it. I’m hesitant to say this because I think my reading ability is affected by current events, but it was a slow start for me. It picks up in the middle and then takes off. So if it doesn’t grab you immediately, stick with it. It’s a great, sad story. I can’t believe a 19-year old wrote this. She’s on a ton of podcasts right now. Go listen to all of them.
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Shop my June Reads list on Bookshop.org here and on Libro.fm here.
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