Reading Wrap Up: May - August

© Skyler Sinclair

The last several months have been slow reading time, but we're getting there! This time, I read an

interesting mix of books. Enjoy the wrap-up:

On The Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle, translated by Barbara J Haveland / 4 stars

I was very excited to read this book, and despite not being a 5-star read for me, it might end up being one of my favorite books of the year based on craft. The writing is very poetic (thank you, Barbara Haveland, for translating this for us!) Being stuck in a loop of one particular day for seemingly no reason is something I couldn't possibly imagine, but Balle does so with ease. This small novel explores topics that are anything but: relationships, what it means to be human, language, the nature of time and so on. The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is that, eventually, the plot became a bit too repetitive for me, which I know is to be expected. Despite that, I have a feeling the second novel in this series will stray from what we've seen so far.

First, We Make the Beast Beautiful by Sarah Wilson / 4 stars

As I travel on my own mental health journey, I find it essential to read books from other people's points of view. It's comforting to read stories I can relate to and find new ways of improving. Sometimes these types of books can be dry and not very personable, but Sarah Wilson made sure her book wasn't like that. She's intelligent, funny and very down to Earth. I enjoyed how her novel felt interactive; it felt like more than just reading pages word for word. I wouldn't say this novel was impactful for me long-term, but it was definitely worth the read.

Softcore by Brittany Newell / 4 stars

I am not much of a romance reader, but something about the vibrance of this book drew me in. I enjoyed this book as someone who doesn't come from a world where I would be experiencing these things. This atmosphere is usually romanticised, but Newell shows us all sides to this lifestyle. It's hard to depict exactly what this novel is, but it flows extremely well and accomplishes what Newell was trying to achieve. Softcore is desire in a multitude of forms, with a shadowy undertone of unease.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune / 4 stars

TJ Klune's writing is like a warm blanket on a cold day. His stories are magical, wholesome and heartwarming. He has created some of my favorite characters, and his stories make me emotional (usually for the better). This novel isn't perfect; nobody's is. There were some moments where I felt like lines of reality blurred a bit too much for me, but you have to consider that his work isn't meant to be. Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a beautiful depiction of family and what you would do to protect the ones you love, no matter the cost.

One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad / 5 stars

I don't typically read political books, as I don't like to be angry while I read, but this book should be required reading. Reading what Omar El Akkad had to say makes me want to pick up more like this and continue to educate myself on issues that matter to me. Akkad's work is timely and of utmost importance. This book impacted me more than I expected it to and I hope that if you read it, you find the same result.

Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy / 3 stars

All I can say after reading this is...well...I've read Hardy. I didn't love this book, nor did I hate it either. I think it's hard to put yourself in the mindset of how things were when novels like this were written. There were many instances where I wanted to throw this across the room because there was a simple solution, or the drama didn't make any sense. I believe this novel is a good representation of the time it comes from, but I found it sad and boring.

A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre and translated by Mark Hutchinson / 5 stars

A Leopard-Skin Hat was fantastic, and I hope to read it regularly. The writing is simple yet profound, and I felt emotionally attached to both Fanny and the Narrator. I could sense his deep connection to this woman, whom, at the end of the day, he had trouble truly understanding due to her mental illness. I enjoyed the experimental form; it was as if you couldn't quite pinpoint where it was going and what shape the novel should take.