What I'm reading Wednesday
The sun’s out (and so is all the humidity, which is what will really get you), my book is launched, and it’s time to jump back into reading for fun again! Looking for a few good beach reads? Well, you’re in the right place. Here’s what I’m reading (and what I just finished reading) this July.
Good ReadsThat Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis
This final book of the Ransom trilogy has a high and difficult entry point- academic jargon and the political minutiae of academia, medieval cosmological symbolism, and allusions/references to Arthurian legends all jammed into the first few pages/chapters could easily offput most readers. (I'd personally like to think I'm not an idiot, but the near impenetrable density of much of the book sure made me feel that way.)
However, Lewis's characters, as usual, carry the themes and plot masterfully, and give the reader plenty of personality to identify with and are intriguing enough to keep the reader going.
This is a book the reader needs to digest. When I first finished, I'd have given it a 3, but as I've had time to think about it and delve into each layer, my opinion keeps climbing. Climactic points of the novel were bizarre and fantastic; each character had depth and purpose; themes and concepts that seemed at first too distinct came together with a final and fascinating cohesion. This is not my favorite book by Lewis, but I understand why others may claim it as their favorite.
Would recommend for: Lewis enthusiasts, sci fi & fantasy readers who don't mind extra thought/research as needed, big-brained trad bros
Would not recommend for: casual sci fi & fantasy readers, Ayn Rand
You know, you’d think after being exposed to endless adaptations of Frankenstein in media, I’d have been able to identify Shelley’s Frankenstein with the Frankenstein (and Frankenstein’s monster) of popular culture. The two are very, very different, and this book wasn’t at all what I expected. That’s not a bad thing! But if you managed to never read this in high school and you decide to pick it up now, just keep in mind how horror as a genre has evolved since this foundational writing.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
A dystopian story that centers on Jonas, who, after growing up in the carefully curated and choiceless existence of his community, is selected to be the next Receiver of Memory when he comes of age at 12. The writing is concise but not simplistic, gripping and page-turning without the typical intense action you see in today’s dystopian fiction. So far, I’d definitely recommend!
Audio AdventuresDune By Frank Herbert
This is a masterful tragedy that tells the story of Paul Atreides, a betrayed Duke’s son who becomes Muad’Dib- a legendary messianic figure on the desert planet of Arrakis. A seminal sci-fi work with many layers of political intrigue, religious commentary, and ideological insight, the book is often incisive and cynical. However, it’s also beautifully written, and Herbert paints virtue and nobility in his morally complicated protagonists in a way that makes you admire them (and he depicts his villains as really, truly despicable). There’s also some real weird stuff that happens. However, I think I’d recommend this to most avid readers of sci-fi if they haven’t picked it up already. And if you have read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
A story I can return to a hundred times and enjoy just as much as the first. This audio version, read by Andy Serkis, is delightfully well-done. Not only does he voice his iconic Gollum, but somehow he also mirrors the on-screen counterparts of characters Bilbo, Thorin, Gandalf, Balin, and more. And the songs! *chef’s kiss*
My children both love story as well. It is 11-year-old girl and 7-year-old boy approved!
The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman
This prescient book takes a hard, scholarly look at modern identity, specifically sexual identity, and offers a cogent historical study of how we got here. Trueman starts with Romantic-era thinking and works through the perception of self, sexual morality, and identity especially as developed via the influences of Freud and Marx.
I’m finding the book both rigorous and fascinating, but it is not for the casual reader. If you do better comprehending visually versus auditorily, I suggest grabbing a physical copy- but the book is on Spotify in its entirety and free for Premium users!
Your recommendations?What book are you bringing to the beach/lake house/cabin this summer? Give me your favorites so far.
If you’re still looking for your beach read, why not try Tower of Cortico? Like The Princess Bride (80’s cult classic film, not the book, which I haven’t read), this high seas adventure is full of all the things you need in a good story: magic and action, great friendships and sweet romances, high-stakes battles and personal sacrifice.
And, if you’ve read it already, consider leaving a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub, or wherever you like to review books. Just a few words can help readers like you find what they’re looking for!
