What I Read in June 2023
June was another productive reading month for me. I felt focused after a great May and armed with a functioning library app, managed to organise a physical TBR stack. Work was a little more demanding throughout the month, leading to more screen-free time which, in my eyes, means reading time! For whatever reason, I selected plenty of non-fiction titles. At first I thought: ‘that’s unlike me!’ but lately I’ve reached for more and more non-fiction. I like this era.
I also finally purchased my first-ever Kindle! I’ve been a staunch e-reader avoider all my life, but finally caved so that I can save a little money by only buying physical copies of books I adored. e-books tend to be a little more affordable, so I’m excited for this Kindle journey. So far, I’m finding that I’m flying through books even faster than before! I’ll of course share all of the deals, tips and tricks that I discover over on @daisybutterbookcafe.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Rating: ★★★.75/5
I’m almost ashamed that it took me this long to read The Poppy War. First published in 2018, this novel chronicles the journey of a young Rin, a darker-skinned Chinese orphan shopgirl who incredulously achieves acceptance into the most prestigious military training school. Right off the bat, Kuang shows us that she is an exemplary world-builder. The fantasy version of historical China feels believable and is brought to life with rich prose and evocative descriptions – just what I love most about reading fantasy books.
The first part of The Poppy War strangely reads a lot like YA. We follow Rin, a courageous, determined and ambitious heroine who is oh so easy to side with, fall in love with and root for. Her voice is powerful and relatable, and I adored her military school arc. It gave me some of those early Hogwarts vibes, and we all know I’ve always loved those. Part One also sets us up with some pretty incredible and imaginative world- and lore-building too: Kuang delves deep into Chinese folklore, shamanism and delicately weaves all of these traditional Chinese threads into a thoroughly new way. As a British-born Chinese, second-generation immigrant, I appreciated the cultural and folklore nods here and there.
Part Two darkened the mood of the book, and quickly. Our YA feels disappear and we step thickly into war tones and all that come with it. I hugely admire Kuang’s ability to bring intricate fighting to life through words: I didn’t hesitate for a second to conjure up every scene in my head. Not only is there action, there is a deft skill and beautifully woven shamanism throughout. Often I find that when there are several things going on in fantasy novels (war, character driving, friendship, magic), something slips. Yet here, we didn’t lose the fantasy or magic! Not a shred! This is easily one of the strongest ‘middle parts’ of a debut that I’ve read.
Where Part Two was packed with brilliance, sadly Part Three lost its mojo for me. Of course it was still a brilliant read. Kuang isn’t afraid to really use her characters and we as readers really go on a JOURNEY. In fact, Part Three is still brilliant and Kuang takes Rin (and us) deep into wartime and all of its horrific war crimes, the aftermath and even deepening our emotional connections between the characters at the same time. I just thought the final 100 pages or so could’ve been cut shorter, since it was somewhat repetitive and really hammering home the moral greyness of our cast post-war.
Overall, I am thoroughly impressed by The Poppy War and can’t wait to get my hands on the next in the trilogy. It comes as the author’s latest book, s latest book, Yellowface, is doing the rounds, and I am honestly blown away that this was her debut. I can’t wait to obsess over all things Kuang!
The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic by Linsey Hall
Thank you to Bonnie Doon Press and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Rating: ★★★/5
Firstly, it’s worth me noting that romcom fiction is not typically my bag. However, there was something about this that drew me to it. And, it ended up being a really fun start-of-summer read! Billed a magical romantic comedy, this is exactly the stuff I loved to read during my summer holidays as a teenager and I enjoyed it now, too.
Aria is our magical protagonist. Hopeless at all of her part-time jobs and deemed a bit of a magical disaster, she finds herself back in Charming Cove with her grandma. Of course, there’s a mysterious handsome man, Callan, involved – a powerful and rich mage – who Aria who she had already hated years ago when they took over a place that she held close to her heart. Of course. When a competition arises in Charming Cove, the pair team up.
What ensues is a silly, cosy, witchy little love story. There are animal familiars, magical creatures, a quirky cast of characters and a little witchy competition to boot. And, I loved it! I devoured it in about two and a half days! This isn’t a groundbreaking story and there could’ve been far more romance but, sometimes, all you need is a magical lil romcom to start summer with.
Wild Swans by Jung Chang
Rating: ★★★★★/5
Wild Swans by Jung Chang was the May/June non-fiction choice in Jess’ Patreon book club and so I finally got round to reading this tome. A global phenomenon, this memoir traces back three generations of Chang women in Maoist China. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and found it both valuable and entertaining – although that seems like a strange word in this context!
Jung Chang has a lovely lyrical way with words throughout this book. It makes for a smooth reading experience and, as a reader, you feel drawn into almost every scenario. Chang’s grandmother and mother went through some undoubtedly harrowing experiences and it is a credit to Jung that their stories could be so graciously shared and in such minute detail. It is these details that piece the story together in such a perfect way.
This is a big tome, so I was worried about whether my attention would be properly captivated throughout the duration of the book but I needn’t have worried. Like I said, Chang does have a lyrical way with words in telling her family’s stories. At times, it felt stunted and there were a few sentences set up in the same way that I always find sounds funny. I suppose this added to the feeling of mundanity, repetitiveness and oppression of the time. The scope and execution of Wild Swans is just incredible. It’s hard to put into words: I feel enriched for having read about Chang’s family, and learning about Communist China under Mao in this medium. It’s persistent and unflinching. One I’ll savour forever, and certainly dip back into again.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
Thank you to Bonnier Books and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: ★★★★/5
I’m back in my Japanese translated fiction bag again and it feels good. Books about books is a genre that I unfailingly go back to, even after disappointing experiences. What can I say? I bloody love books.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a short little wonder that stole my heart within even only a couple of pages. Takako is an ordinary woman who has enjoyed an easy and ordinary existence until her boyfriend casually tells her he is marrying another woman. Suddenly, everything Takako knows is gone: she quits her job, distances herself from friends and acquaintances and begins to feel depressed, when her uncle, Satoru, calls out of the blue.
Satoru runs a second-hand book store: the Morisaki Bookshop. And so Takako finds herself helping out her uncle at his bookshop in exchange for temporary board in the tiny room on its second floor. This is an understated little read: we follow as Takako lives her mundane days, developing a passion for the old Japanese literature that she sells, becoming a regular at a local café and meeting individuals each with layered stories to tell.
First published in 2010 and translated to the English this year, I absolutely loved Days at the Morisaki Bookshop and urge you all to pick up a copy. It’s a feelgood, comforting read all about how one can start afresh, anytime, and – of course – seek comfort and solace in books. It feels soft, sweet and cosy – the perfect Sunday afternoon read.
Expected publication: 4 July 2023 by Harper Perennial
The Strange Adventures of H by Sarah Burton
Thank you to Legend Press and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: ★★★★★/5
After abandoning this a few years back (probably because my tablet broke and I had an eBook ARC!), I started The Strange Adventures of H by Sarah Burton on a rainy day commute. I haven’t dipped into historical fiction in absolutely ages and it was once my favourite genre, so I was excited to delve into Burton’s debut.
TW: rape, suicide ideation and attempt.
Set in 17th century London, the novel captures our protagonist H as she navigates the plague, familial relationships and a journey of self-discovery amidst darker times. I genuinely loved this book and it made for a smooth, unputdownable read – I think it took me just five or six reading sessions? H is born one of six siblings, taunted for having ‘killed her mother’ – who died in childbirth – and sent to live with her aunt in London. Her life in London appears happy until a cousin takes her innocence and the bubonic plague takes hold of the city, and she is cast out into the semi-quarantined streets.
This reads like a diary or memoir and is totally gripping despite simply reeling off H’s everyday adventures. H is a wonderful main character, determined and wilfully strong beyond belief. I remember reaching the 40% mark (thanks Kindle and Goodreads!) and thinking: ‘My gosh, SO much has happened, what else can be in store for H?!’ It is heartrending to read about H’s years and her go-getter outlook in the face of, well, as many adversities as a woman could face in the 17th century.
It fast became a five-star read for me: the cast of characters is excellent and I adored them all so much. It covers a few historical events and, I think, in an accurate and meaningful way that added to the plot, rather than being shoehorned in. And! Burton’s way with words is incredible – while it took a few chapters to get to grips with, I quickly loved H’s voices and Burton’s choices of words that were nearly-archaic but, again, added to the narrative rather than taking away or detracting.
Loved, loved, loved! (And earmarked for a snug autumn reread…)
Space Crone by Ursula K. Le Guin
Rating: ★★★★/5
Continuing my Le Guin fascination, I read this collection of her essays this month. Space Crone was not edited by Ursula Le Guin, but brings together her writing about feminism and gender – themes that are prevalent throughout her fictional work. The essays cement Le Guin’s position as an activist for social and environmental justice and I found many of them really interesting: you can almost join the dots between Le Guin’s novels and consciousness. I did find the compilation of them wasn’t the smoothest but, of course, you’re at liberty to dip in and out of essays in whichever order you see fit.
July Hopefuls
I’m hoping to retain my great reading streak from June next month, selecting titles from my physical copy TBR shelf, getting ‘round to some of my old NetGalley ARCs and delving into a Kindle deal that my friend Emmie recommended me. While July looks fairly busy, I’m looking forward to all of these titles!
- Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman
- Other Names, Other Places by Ola Mustapha (NetGalley ARC)
- The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
- Collins Stargazing and Moongazing: Beginners’ Guide to Astronomy by Royal Observatory Greenwich
- The Lost Rainforests of Britain by Guy Shrubsole
And now it’s your turn! Tell me about one great book that you read recently.
