May 2019 Reading List
Books on my May 2019 reading list, including The Snakes, The Silent Patient, The Nine-Chambered Heart, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, How Not to Die Alone, and Ask Again Yes.
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I’m kind of shocked that I’m already posting my May 2019 reading list–where is this year going?
This time of year is always especially busy. The school year is wrapping up, and with that comes a million activities, field trips, and to-dos to finish out the year and get ready for summer.
No matter how busy things get, I still try to squeeze in reading because it’s still the best way to find a few moments of relaxation.
Considering everything going on in May, I’m a little worried that I haven’t picked enough light reads that won’t tax my spinning brain too much.
I am looking forward to these books, though, so hopefully they’ll hit the right note.
I’ll be keeping my eye out this month for books to add to my summer reads.
A few of my favorite bloggers have summer reading guides that I’m looking forward to, but also let me know if you have books you’ve been eyeing!
For now, here’s what I’m reading in May:
May 2019 Reading List
A son writes a letter to his mother, who cannot read. In the letter, the son, Little Dog, delves into a family history that includes the trauma of the Vietnam war, and his own history in America studded with reflections on race, class, and masculinity.
This is Ocean Vuong’s debut novel, though he is a respected poet–which makes this a bit of a risk for me, since I don’t generally read poetry. It’s been blurbed by some heavy hitters (Celeste Ng, Tommy Orange, Emma Straub) and has been getting some buzz. I have always been interested in books about Vietnam and poets have been known to write some excellent novels–I hope this will be one.
How Not to Die Alone
How Not to Die Alone promises to offer some dark humor and an uplifting story, in the vein of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and other recent “up-lit” novels. Andrew works in public health, finding the next of kin of the people who die alone. He cultivates a lie about a full family life–when he is actually alone. A new coworker comes along and sparks something that may finally prompt him from the safe solitude where he’s kept himself all his life.
Ask Again, Yes: A Novel
This story about two neighboring families divided by a violent event in the 70s, and brought back together when their adult children rekindle the relationship their were forbidden in their teens, is exactly the kind of complex story of family and friendship that I love. Ask Again, Yes is told over decades and examines the changing perspective that years and adulthood can bring. I’ve been anticipating this one for months, and it’s already getting some buzz from other readers who are loving it.
The Nine-Chambered Heart
This book is my risky pick for the month, as I’m not quite sure what to expect. The synopsis only says that this is the portrait of a woman as told from the perspective of nine different people. It’s blurbed by Chris Cleave, who writes clever prose that I love reading. Blurbs don’t always mean much, but I’m hoping this signals some winning writing.
The Snakes: A Novel
The risk with this book is that I despise snakes. Hate them. And this one has a nest of them living in the attic of a creepy, deserted hotel. ~shudder~
But, it also has a wealthy family with secrets, coming together in this old hotel in France where Bea’s brother, Alex, has been living. When their parents show up, those old resentments and secrets promise to resurface. This seems to be a bit of a creepy page-turner, driven by the slow reveal of the secrets. If I can just stomach the snakes…
The Silent Patient
Alicia is a successful painter, living with her photographer husband in London–until he returns home one night and she shoots him in the face. She never says another word.
The mystery of it captures the imagination of morbid art buyers, and the determination of Theo Faber to figure it all out in his role as a criminal psychotherapist.
The Silent Patient has been getting some strong reviews, and I look forward to a good psychological mystery/thriller.
What are you reading in May?
