Since this summer, I have been keeping track of the Modern Mrs. Darcy Minimalist Summer Reading Guide. We’re just going to ignore that it’s not summer and hasn’t been for a while. We are also going to skate right by the fact that I also haven’t finished some of these books (although I have either obtained them all or at least have them on loan from the library. Sometimes intentions count?).
We’ll just focus on what I did finish. Here’s what I thought of some of the MMD team’s favorites.
- Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld – This was a (mostly) fun read with a few serious moments that affected me deeply. The love story was a lesson in learning to communicate clearly. It was also an interesting (and intentional? Perhaps not?) exposure of socioeconomic privilege, which almost overshadowed the love story for me. At the risk of spoilers, a lot of things could have gone a lot more badly if either character wasn’t gainfully (and, at least one of them, extravagantly) employed. Content warning for healthcare fears and access, particularly as it relates to COVID.
- The Late Mrs. Willoughby by Claudia Gray – I haven’t started this one, and I’m going to start with The Murder of Mr. Wickham because, while I recognize that MMD said the second in the series could stand alone, I am just not that kind of reader.
- Talking at Night by Claire Daverley – I own it but have not started.
- The Postcard by Anne Berest – Currently checked out from the library and judging me ominously (it’s pretty thick) from the shelf in my living room. I’m sure it’s a very nice book that I will enjoy once I get to it.
- The summer reading guide listed Congratulations, the Best is Over! by R. Eric Thomas, but I wanted to read his first collection of essays, Here For It, first. I’m so glad I did. I loved both of these books. I already have the one on the challenge, but I’m going to have to buy the first one, too, because there will come a time I am schnockered and will need something to read aloud from (or pressure others to read aloud from). Also, I want to buy a second copy for my church’s library. Thomas is charming and hilarious. And the title essay, wherein he talks about his challenges of faith and his wedding – I want to shout it from a mountaintop. I want to sing it to the rafters (but won’t – I’m no Whitney). But yes, Lord, and amen. Congratulations, the Best is Over! is also fantastic, as he wrestles with returning and finding his place in the city he never meant to come back to. Highly recommend both books.
- Yellowface by R. F. Kuang – I read this book so fast. It was a well-crafted train wreck and a great exposition of the downward spiral someone might go through as they keep rationalizing unethical actions. It’s a fantastic analysis of the process of whitewashing in the publishing industry. I recommend it and even read it twice so I could lead the discussion in November at one of my work book clubs.
- No Two Persons by Erin Bauermeister – I love the concept of this story. It traces a book through multiple readers and outlines how the book changed their lives. It was well-written, and the stories were very sweet. This is a good audio selection, as each chapter was read by a different person, so it was super easy to keep them distinct.
- The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty – Another I’m looking forward to reading soon (ideally before I run out of time to recheck it from the library).
- Banyan Moon by Thao Thai – I am a sucker for a story told from multiple perspectives. It keeps me from siding with just one person, thus helping me gain a fuller understanding of the story overall. Seeing this tale of family and the complicated relationships often involved in it through the eyes of three generations was very effective.
- If We’re Being Honest by Cat Shook – I started out listening to the audio of this but switched over to the library’s print copy, and I enjoyed that more. This was one of those books that I spent most of it yelling, “Just talk to each other!” in frustration. There weren’t a lot of surprises – most of the plot points that seemed like they were meant to surprise were pretty predictable. I liked most of the characters, though, and I enjoyed seeing how everything eventually worked itself out.
- The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry – The ending is a little predictable but there were still a few small surprises. Mostly, I enjoyed the theme of forgiveness and mended relationships that run throughout the book. I listened to the audiobook while driving around all over west Texas to see family, and it was a lovely companion for that trip.
- The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle – Confession: I do not love museums. I mean, they’re fine. They are interesting enough. But, like…an hour’s worth of interesting. I like to browse casually and at a regular pace, and then I want to leave and get a coffee or a snack. I do not want to make a whole day of lingering there. I did love the main character’s passion for this project, though, and I’m always a sucker for a story about finding your place in the world. The story was sweet and charming, and there was a twist at the end that I did not see coming at all.
So…not too shabby, actually. I have read most of them, and I definitely see why they made the cut for the MMD challenge.
M. Suzanne Terry 