The Books I Read in May 2020.
"Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them."
- Lemony Snicket
I feel like May has been the quickest month of the year, who would have thought being in lockdown meant the days just went by rapidly? This month the weather for the large majority has been glorious meaning it's the perfect antidote to be in the garden, tucking into a good book. It's what I've done for the majority of this week alone and why I am slacking on all of the other things I need to get done.
In May I enjoyed the company of 6 books, 2 which have been on my bookshelf for a long time and 2 on my Kindle. I'm really trying to be more active in picking up books from the different resources I have at home, it's definitely paid off in May. So with that in mind, let's get stuck into some quick reviews on the books I read this month.
The Killer Inside by Cass Green
*Title provided by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I had a bit of a love/hate relationship with this book, especially for the first 50% of it. The Killer Inside is split into the stories of 3 different people. It was tough to keep up with this book and not give up. It definitely began to pick up and provided to become quite interesting in the second 50% of the story. The way in which the characters are brought together is quite predictable within this genre but it is still done well. The shift between the different characters in the story are well-formed and it kept well with the entire pace of the plot. I would advise that people gave this title a firm chance to deliver its goods!
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
This was one of my favourites titles I read this month and with everything that is going on in the world right now, it was the ideal time to engross into a book that discusses race in a great way. Queenie Jenkins is a 25-yer-old Jamaican British woman living in London, straddling two cultures and slotting neatly into either. She works at a national newspaper, where she's constantly forced to compare herself to her white middle-class peers. We follow Queenie as she navigates through her world after a break up from her long-time boyfriend.
Queenie is a book that has everything you want; wit, laugh out funny moments and relatable characters to engage you through every page. I was hooked from the very beginning of this book; it was a real joy to read. I think the issues raised in this book certainly speak volumes and I felt I received so much as a reader from Queenie's character and the other people in this book. This book was hyped around me for months, it's a proper gamechanger, why didn't I read it sooner?!
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
This is not a book I would usually go for but I absolutely loved this book and would say it's essential reading for everyone. The Secret Life of Bees is set in South Caroline in 1964 where we meet Lily Owens, a young girl whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. An event one day in the company of her fierce-hearted "stand-in-mother" Rosaleen drives them to escape to Tiburon, South Carolina. Taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters, Lily is introduced to their mesmerizing world of bees and boney, and the Black Madonna.
There are so many words to describe this book; it was touching, well-written, beautiful, full of expression, shocking, insightful, and more! It took the issue of racial issues and religious experiences to the very heart of the story with a touch of comfort from love, family, and of course, bees. Lily Owens and the Daughters of Mary are characters you want to hold onto very tightly and Sue Monk Kidd is a really gorgeous writer. The Secret Life of Bees definitely had moments that will surprise you as a reader!
READ MORE: What I Read in April 2020..
One Split Second by Caroline Bond
*Title provided by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
What a fantastic book and portrayal of the devastating repercussions of a car crash. When a car carrying five teenagers home from a party crashed into a brick wall, the consequences are devastating - not just for the young people directly involved. This book touches on the grief, forgiveness, friendship, wider community, and family it creates and affects along the way. The characters in the story are well intertwined amongst the pages and believable to the story, There are definitely some really emotional moments in this book too. I also admired the nod to organ donation within this story that was equally powerful to the readers. A really fantastic read from start to finish with this one.
Letters From An Astrophysicist by Neil deGrasse Tyson
This book is a collection of letters and replies from Neil deGrasse Tyson to his fans and other inquirers, collected over a span of more than two decades. The range of topics is vast, touching on science, religion, philosophy, politics, ethics, education, and more. It's quite interesting to hear his knowledge and thoughts on these different topics and in letter form makes it easy to follow. The strongest element of this book was when it focused on September 11, 2001, and that was an incredibly powerful moment in this book that Tyson witnessed for himself. It was an interesting book but it's very specific to the people that would enjoy this book.
You Don't Know Me by Sara Foster
*Sent to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
A firm 4 star review for this book! It's a fantastic, twisting tale that really got to grips quickly for the reader. You really need to give this book your attention to ensure you don't miss the twists and turns embedded in the pages. Lizzie Burdett was eighteen when she vanished, and Noah Carruso has never forgotten her. She was his first crush, his unrequited love. Lizzie was also his brother's girlfriend. Noah's brother, Tom has been gone from home for a decade after he was accused of what happened to Lizzie on that fateful day she disappeared. As the inquest into her disappearance looms, Noah has escaped to Thailand where he meets Alice Pryce. Alice also carries a terrible secret of her own and they go on a really interesting journey with one another in You Don't Know Me that puts their secrets at risk of being told. Noah and Alice are the centre of the story and their secrets craft the conclusion well. I was definitely shocked by its conclusion and it definitely picked up in pace for me nearer the end!