After launching the Brand Strategy School at the beginning of March, I gave myself permission to take a break from business books and dove headfirst into reading as much fiction as I could handle! Between a few work-cations to Dallas and the fact that it’s patio weather around these parts, I devoured quite a few more books than I have in a long time. When I took a look at the number of books I read last month, I was blown away that I finished six books and made it halfway through a seventh! Instead of spending free time on social media or camping out in front of the TV every night, I spent more of my personal time reading this past month than I usually do, and I was blown away by how much more energized, creative, and inspired I felt. Even making a switch from watching Netflix one night a week to curling up in bed with a good book can be such a welcomed change to your routine!
In March, I read one (super quick) business book and a ton of great fiction that brought suspense, drama, and lots of fun into every day. If you’re looking for some new additions to your summer reading list, then look no further! I’m spilling the beans on what I read and what I thought of each book below.
This little book by Seth Godin is the only business-related book I read last month. After such a big launch for the Brand Strategy School and all the work that went into preparing for that endeavor, I wanted a break from reading about strategy or marketing for a while. But this book had been on my list for a while now and it is so short that I didn’t want to put it off any longer.
As I dove into this book, I was excited to hear Godin’s thoughts on how you can leverage this idea of “weirdness” in a culture of mass media to connect with your tribe. And it started off strong! Godin’s writing is so easy to follow and he does a great job of taking big ideas and breaking them down into smaller thoughts. But as I kept reading, I felt like the book got a little repetitive and could have been even shorter than it already is.
Perhaps because I’ve read quite a few of Godin’s works before, I walked into this book expecting a book that would deliver some lightbulb moment of clarity for my businesses. Instead, I found myself thinking, “Yeah, I get it!” as I read through some of the later chapters.
If you’re not familiar with Godin’s work or if the premise behind this book really captures your attention, I’d see if your local library has a copy available! It’s a quick read and I think still offers value to the reader.
Now begins the long line of fiction I read this month! Exit West shares the struggle of a young couple in a fictional Middle Eastern country caught in the middle of an escalating civil war. In the midst of so much uncertainty and strife, these two people find each other and cultivate a relationship that brings some normalcy to the heartache around them. Even though this story takes place in a fictional country, I found myself feeling like this story could have easily described the beginning of the conflict in Syria. And as this couple weathers more hardship and eventually finds a way to flee their homeland, you find yourself really hoping they can find some peace and a sense of identity outside of what they’ve known their entire lives.
I wanted to read this book to dive into narratives that aren’t necessarily a part of my everyday life, and this story provided so much insight into the experiences of refugees from war-torn countries across the world. It’s beautifully written and I read the whole thing from cover-to-cover in one day. Would absolutely recommend!
I picked up this book because the plot sounded right up my alley. A curator at a New York-based history museum finds a mysterious 19th-century map and spends the entire book hunting down its story and origin? Heck yes!
Right off the bat, I found the writing hard to handle. It’s needlessly verbose and the oddly high-level writing makes the entire story feel a bit unapproachable. I labored through the book out of stubbornness, but if you love overly complex writing and words that you probably will only see on your SAT then give this book a go!
Aside from the writing, there were parts of the story that I really could have done without. There were some interesting characters and storylines that kept my attention, but I could have done with less discussion of the main character’s sex life or her unrequited love for her co-worker. It was a solidly “meh” read.
For as much as I didn’t love Impossible Views of the World, I absolutely adored this book! It’s packed with suspense, a complex storyline that keeps you guessing all the time, and the most deliciously unexpected twists (yes, that’s plural because there are many!) that are so worth it. I devoured this book on a rainy day in Dallas one weekend and I kept stopping to tell Armon how much I loved this book! The ending is so unexpected but is so fulfilling. The writing was fantastic, the characters were so layered and vibrant, and the plot felt fresh and smart.
If you like suspenseful books, then this is hands-down the book for you. If you only grab one book from this list, make it this one!
I’d heard fantastic things about this book so I went into it with high hopes! After reading The Woman in the Window, I think any book that boasted a suspenseful storyline had its work cut out for it.
As a whole, I liked this book. But it took me about halfway through it to really get into it. I felt like the first half of the book painted a picture of one-dimensional characters and spent more time talking about clothing designers and society events than actually diving into their backstory. At about the halfway point, the story completely shifts and you find out so much information that makes the sluggish first half feel worthwhile.
By the end of the book, I was glad that I stuck it out. The ending brought everything full circle and I felt satisfied with the resolution! Personally, I think I went into this book hoping for the smart storyline and clever writing from The Woman in the Window which just isn’t realistic. So if you haven’t read The Woman in the Window yet, I’d start with this book and then work your way up to what’s probably my favorite suspense novel of the year!
I have no idea how I heard about this book, but it’s been living on my Amazon Wishlist for a while now so I decided to pull the trigger and give it a try. It’s essentially a love story that takes place in Paris and is written by an incredibly popular French author. That said, it was originally written in French and was translated into English. Because of that, there are some sections that read a bit awkwardly. But I think if you read it in its original French, it would feel more like prose!
This story is like the equivalent of your favorite rom-com that you go to when you need a happy ending. It was a fun read that gave me the warm and fuzzies, and it’s not horribly long so you don’t have to commit weeks of your life to reading it. I think it’d be great for vacation or a holiday weekend when you want to read something light, fun, and with an ending that won’t let you down.
Currently Reading: What Happened
While I was tearing through fiction last month, I was also working my way through Hillary Clinton’s latest memoir, What Happened. Normally, I focus on one book at a time but this is a hefty read and I found that I needed an emotional break between chapters. In all honesty, I cry during every single chapter. Every single one. Even the one on policy!
Regardless of how you voted in the 2016 election or your thoughts on Hillary Clinton, it’s a powerful account of what it’s like to be a woman in politics, a woman in public service for over 25 years, and what it feels like to have worked so hard for something only to lose in the end. I’m only halfway through but I’ve loved the personal accounts of the campaign trail, Election Day, and how Clinton recovered in the months after losing the election. She’s incredibly candid about what it was like to run in the Presidential election, how hard her team worked on the campaign, and the important role her family played along the way. And the way that she shared how she found solace in the immediate weeks and months after losing the election felt incredibly vulnerable and hugely inspiring at the same time.
I’ll keep you posted on how the rest of the book turns out!
What’s been on your reading list lately, friend? I’m always looking for new recommendations! Let me know in the comments below.
leave a comment