Despite a full workload, I read more books than expected this month. Instead of highlighting one book, I decided to kick off summer with a review of my month’s reading, highlighting the best and worst. So, here are May’s best and worst books.
It’s easy to pick this month’s favorite book for May:
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
https://www.charlottemcconaghy.com/
What’s it about?
I dove into Migrations without a lot of background knowledge, just a visual of the cover art. I love surprises, like going to a new restaurant without previewing the menu, so I was shocked when I discovered this was a fiction book. Thinking I had purchased an actual non-fiction book about an ornithologist in Greenland. As the story slowly unraveled, I quickly realized that some things weren’t entirely true. I love laughing at myself!
What did I think?
The book continued to slowly unveil surprises throughout the story. Poetic, haunting and engaging, who wouldn’t love this:
“Then one day, just outside Galway where the changing light leaches the blue from the water and drapes it over the long grass, I met a boy, and he told me a story. There was a lady, long ago, who spent her life coughing up feathers, and one day when she was gnarled and gray she stretched from a woman into a black bird. From then on dusk held her in its thrall, and night’s great yawning mouth swallowed her whole.”
I can’t escape loving books with strong and fierce women as the protagonist. I believe the author’s love of nature also reflects my love of outdoor adventure books, even if this is fiction. This novel is the Australian author McConaghy’s American debut.
“Girl in the Woods: A Memoir“ and “Your Blue is Not My Blue: A Missing Person Memoir“ by Aspen Matis
I can’t say I have a “worst” book list. I viscerally react to negative criticism. Anyone with the guts to put their thoughts on paper and go through the publishing process should be applauded, not criticized. So, I won’t put the following two books on a negative list. But I will call it “a close miss.”
What’s it about?
Although outdoor adventure books rule my reading list, I unreasonably and negatively knee-jerk to naïve and weak women attempting to “find themselves” in the wilderness. In “Girl in the Woods,” Matis retells her unpromising and catastrophic trek of the Pacific Crest Trail while trying to reconcile her ill-fated past and mother issues.
I found myself deathly gripping the book so I wouldn’t throw it across the room, yelling, “You are so stupid,” multiple times throughout the story. Ahh, but she kept me reading to see if she would not once, but numerous times, find her true love and overcome past trauma on the trail.
Interestingly, I kept reading through the end, not only to see what stupid mistake she might avoid by simple wilderness preparation but also to read her beautiful descriptions of the Pacific Crest Trail. Matis depicts scenes beautifully and uniquely. Matis takes the one-dimensional text to the next level by painting beautiful illustrations with words.
“Your Blue is Not My Blue: A Missing Person Memoir“
What’s it about?
I couldn’t leave well enough alone and read her next book immediately. Why? I researched “Girl in the Woods” because it came out around the same time as “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed. This is another book I almost threw across the room due to the unwary, self-therapy guided Strayed straying off onto the PCT wilderness without a clue on outdoor preparedness. I wanted to see how at first glance, these two similar books could be successful in their ways, even though the stories are identical.
To avoid spoilers, do not research why Matis wrote: “Your Blue is Not My Blue.” If you do, prepare yourself to keep up with how her life unveils itself after her PCT hike. My unwavering hope for Matis’s maturity revealed itself in Chapter 17 Confessions, where she admits her guilt in her ill-advised actions, and her reliance on men to save her.
Overall, reading both of Matis’ books showed me beautiful words overcome storylines. If you loved “Wild,” you will be enriched by Matis’ books and intrigued by her story and descriptions.
You can find out more about Aspen Matis at http://aspen-matis.com/
Honorable Mention: The Year of the Pitcher: Bob Gibson, Denny McLain, and the End of Baseball’s Golden Age by Sridhar Pappu
What’s it about?
My career started in sports journalism, so reading non-fiction sports reminds me of my dream-filled youth. Pappu details the culture and history of baseball in the late 1960s, highlighting two dynamic pitchers: Bob Gibson and Denny Mclain. The story culminates with McLain leading the Tigers to win over the Cardinals with a stellar pitching performance by Gibson in game seven of the 1968 World Series.
Pappu recounts the culture’s turbulence and baseball’s cultural significance during this time. If you are interested in baseball, this is a great read that does not focus entirely on every pitch. The stories work from all angles to add variety and just enough color to keep the story interesting.
You can find out more about Sridhar Pappu at http://www.sridharpappu.com/
An Editor’s Guide to Working with Authors by Barbara Sjoholm
What’s it about?
Sjoholm walks freelance editors step-by-step through the process of working with authors on their fiction and creative non-fiction. She packs practical advice specifically for new editors. The book also serves as an excellent reminder to editors to focus on positive feedback and empathy when working with their author clients.
The templates Sjoholm provides in this book are priceless tools for any editor, or for someone learning the editing craft.
You can learn more about Barbara Sjoholm at: http://www.barbarasjoholm.com/
Content DNA: Using Consistency and Congruence to be the Same Shape Everywhere by John Espirian
What’s it about?
Espirian calls it as he sees it in this book, using his branding experience to instruct business owners to create a business, brand and image that will sustain itself in a fast-paced digital marketplace. The book focuses on creating and maintaining a lasting online impression.
Espirian’s experience with content writing translated to excellent advice for creating sustainable digital content. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone starting a business and trying to navigate an online presence.
You can learn more about John Espirian on his LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=john%20espirian&origin=RICH_QUERY_SUGGESTION&position=0&searchId=3ce5124a-69d6-4ae5-ba1f-fda47237fcef&sid=YF5.
Digital Marketing Made Easy: A-Z Growth Strategies and Key Concepts of Digital Marketing by Kevin Urrutia and Wilson Lin
What’s it about?
Once you’ve read and applied what you’ve learned in John Espirian’s book, you are ready to take your consistent and congruent content to work online with help from Digital marketing made Easy: A-Z Growth Strategies and Key Concepts of Digital Marketing. This book packs in so much practical information on learning digital marketing. The book is an exceptional value and could double as an online course. The book took longer to read since I navigated to the several links included in the book.
The book frequently recommends that businesses check how consumers view their marketing materials on a mobile device before publishing any content or advertising—great advice since most people read online information on phones and other mobile devices. However, I read the book on my phone, and most of the illustrations did not show up. I suggest the authors take their advice and proof the book for mobile viewing.
You can see more about this book here: https://voymedia.com/
If you are a first-time or independent author and need a book review, contact me at susan@rivetservice.com.
If you have a comment about this post or want to share your Summer reading list, please comment or email me.
