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What I Read In May

What I Read In May

What I Read In May

SHOP THE OUTFIT: Striped Linen Dress (fits true to size, has pockets)

Here are the books I read in May. For some reason, May felt busier than usual. Which is probably why the month flew by. So I didn’t read as much as I wanted. If you are looking for books that take you places, two of the three books do an incredible job. While I was reading them, I felt like I was able to see, feel, and hear these places and it sparked my interest to visit these places one day.

What I Read In May

What I Read In May

The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal

The Unlikely Adventures of The Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur JaswalThree British born Punjabi Sisters (Rajni, Jezmeen, and Shirina) jet-set off to India. It was their mother’s last wish right before she passed away that all 3 of her daughters visit all the places she wanted to see in India. The 3 sisters rarely get along. They’re always bickering and through time they have also grown apart. However, they wanted to continue on with their mother’s wish. They go to India and nothing goes as planned. Of course, they continue to argue throughout the entire time. As they continue to explore India, they learn why their mother wanted to go back and unexpectedly made discoveries about one another, themselves, and their mother. Most importantly, they learned why their mother never made it back to India.

If you are looking for a book to take you on a travel adventure, this book will take you to India. This is the first book we selected for my book club with my sister and cousin. While I was reading, I could vividly see, smell, and hear India and I have never been there. So that was a pleasant surprise! I really enjoyed that this book was relatable. It takes you through the various stages of a sister’s relationship. I have a sister and totally understand the dynamic between the Shergill sisters and what it is like to have immigrant parents. Overall, I thought the book was beautifully written and in the end it was a heartwarming ending. This was just the book I needed to feel good!

Mrs. Everything By Jennifer Weiner

Mrs. Everything by Jennifer WeinerJo and Bethie Kaufman are sisters that grew up in  1950’s Detroit in a perfect Dick & Jane house. They were born into a world full of promise. Both sisters were completely different. Jo, the older sister, is a tomboy, book nerd, aspires to be a writer, and has a passion for the world to be fair. Bethie, the younger sister, is feminine, popular, a good girl, and dreams of a traditional lifestyle. Unfortunately, the world did not turn out how they hoped it to be. Both sisters experienced different traumas and tragedies. They lived through Woodstock, Vietnam War, and race and gender inequality. They both turned out to be completely different women. Throughout all these tragedies, they wonder if they can truly find happiness.

Wow, I had no idea that this book would take me through some of the major things that happened in history. Starting in the 1950s. I really liked that it talked about controversy that happened then and how it shaped the world and what it is now. I’ll admit that in the beginning certain parts felt a little lengthy. However, as I kept reading and especially towards the end, I could not put the book down. I really wanted to know how these sisters’ lives turned out. Because along the way, they both really got themselves into a lot of trouble and I just wanted the best for them.

Next Year In Havana By Chanel Cleeton

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton Book ReviewMeet Elisa Perez. This is in Havana 1958 and she is part of Cuba’s high society and is sheltered from Cuba’s political volatility. That all changed when she had an affair with a passionate revolutionary. Meet Marisol Ferrera. This is in Miami 2017. She grew up hearing romantic stories of Cuba from her grandmother Elisa. Her grandmother was exiled from Cuba when Castro took over. Elisa’s last wish was to have Marisol spread her ashes in Cuba. When Marisol arrived in Cuba, she felt at home – finally connected to her Cuban roots. However, the longer she stayed, she started to understand the suffering the Cubans faced daily with the regime and the turmoil they endure. As Marisol figures out where to spread her grandmother’s ashes, she unveils more about her family and their secrets. She also realizes that she might be in danger and no one in Cuba is safe.

This book belongs in the historical fiction category and I could not put this book down! First of all, this book took me to Cuba. I could vividly see the streets of Old Havana and the Malecon. I always knew that the relationship between Cuba and the United States was shaky but I never fully understood until this book. Honestly, after every chapter I kept researching about the Cuban regime. We hear things about Cuba, but I never fully understood. I love that the storyline combined history, travel, family, and a good love story. The love story helps paint a picture of the struggles and decisions Cubans face daily.

Books To Read In The Summer
SHOP THE OUTFIT: Striped Linen Dress (fits true to size, has pockets)

I mentioned earlier that May was the first month of our book club. Our next book is The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley.

Have you read any of these books?

xo RD

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Comments

  4. rebecca says

    oooohhh i love how these books really transplant you into time and history!! The Cuba one sounds fascinating. Definitely adding to my list.

    xx rebecca // thecrystalpress.com/blog

    Reply

  7. Stephanie says

    I actually tried to read Mrs. Everything a while back but didn’t have the taste for it. Just not a big fan of women’s contemporary because of the immense amounts of sexual content. However, the concept of the book was really intriguing, so I can see why people love it! The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters sounds like a fun story to me!

    Reply

    • That is totally understandable! But it was very interesting how it took me back in time to some of the most monumental part of history. The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters was fun to read!

      Reply

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