Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA Champion by Mirin Fader: You do not need to be a basketball fan to enjoy this book! Giannis Antetokounmpo might be the most lovable pro athlete to ever exist. This is a pretty thorough biography, starting with Giannis’ childhood in Greece and taking us through his NBA Championship just last year. It’s heartwarming and funny, while also being deeply sad at times. Perfect for readers who love some good narrative nonfiction. Thank you Hachette for the finished paperback copy!
Big Rock (Big Rock #1) by Lauren Blakely: This was the right read at the right time – I needed something that would be quick and easy to read, while also being fairly lighthearted and fun. Big Rock is one of those books that probably isn’t what you think – it’s surprisingly sweet and Spencer, our male main character, isn’t as much of an asshole as he claims to be. This clocks in at less than 250 pages, so it’s in the read-in-one-afternoon category.
Gwendy’s Button Box (Button Box #1) by Stephen King & Richard Chizmar: This is the first book in a trilogy of novellas that follows Gwendy – in book one we meet her at the age of 12 and follow her through to her college graduation. One summer day, she meets a man in black (Constant Readers, you know him as RF, which varies depending on which book you’re reading…) who gives her a mysterious box that changes the course of her life. This was creepy without being too heavy-handed, and it was perfect as a novella – this would be a bit much as a full novel.
The Man Who Died Twice (Thursday Murder Club #2) by Richard Osman: I had a lovely time with my favorite octogenarian quartet, solving yet another murder. Much like the first book, this is packed with quiet, smart humor, interesting twists and turns, and thoughtful musings on friendship, old age and death. You don’t necessarily need to read the series in order, but i’d recommend it – the first book gets you acquainted with Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim in such a way that they feel like old friends. (And we’re getting a third book later this year!)
CURRENTLY READING: I’m in a mystery/thriller/horror mood at the moment, so I finally picked up When Things Get Dark edited by Ellen Datlow, a collection of short stories inspired by Shirley Jackson. Short stories aren’t usually my thing, so when i’m in the mood to read them I have to take advantage! Looking ahead, I might be picking up one (or two!) more short story collections this month.
Read with Aimee 