Mid-Month Reading Update: Pages Galore on Deck
Plus, links! AND a sneak peak of my new built-ins!
Hi, book friends.
Can you believe we’re more than halfway through June? The official start of summer is only a few days away!
The first half of this month has been busy for me, as I expected, while I’ve been focused on getting my house and work life officially ready for this baby’s arrival. That’s reflected in the number of books I’ve managed to finish so far, which might be my lowest mid-month count in years. But it’s all good, because I’m officially in waiting mode now, and Friday is my last day of work. If this baby comes 5+ days late, my mollification will be finishing my June TBR (but please cross your fingers she doesn’t!).
Speaking of which, we’re officially entering a period where I might disappear for a bit starting any day. My plan is to cut back on newsletters for a little while — I think I’ll try to keep up with my monthly recap/TBR posts and these mid-month check-ins and not send anything in between. But I don’t know what I don’t know, so we’ll see what happens!
Alright, let’s get into it.
What I’ve read so far this month
Full reviews coming soon!
Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy 📖🎧: This was a Women’s Prize shortlist title, and I’m glad I got to it! Everyone warned me it might be a tough read right before having a baby, but mostly I just hated the main character’s husband. This book was deeply affecting and well-written; I recommend.
Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad 📖🎧: Another Women’s Prize shortlister, and another one I’m glad I read. I can definitely see why it won the Aspen Words Literary Prize earlier this year!
Currently reading
Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo* 📖: I had hoped to have this one finished by today (its publication day!), but alas. I’m 100 pages in, and while it’s off to a bit of a slow start, I’m enjoying it and hopeful.
In Ascension by Martin MacInnes 📖: This is our Booker of the Month pick, and the Zoom chat is Monday (register here!).
*gifted to me by the publisher
What’s left on my TBR this month
As I mentioned above, I won’t get to all of these books unless this baby is late. But I definitely plan to read them all eventually either way.
The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma*
Starter Villain by John Scalzi
Bear by Julia Phillips* (out 6/25)
The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry* (out 7/9)
Navola by Paolo Bacigalupi* (out 7/9)
Mirrored Heavens (Between Earth and Sky, #3) by Rebecca Roanhorse
*gifted to me by the publisher
You may notice that I’ve dropped two Women’s Prize shortlist titles from the TBR: Restless Dolly Maunder and River East, River West. I had hoped to get to them before the winner announcement last week, but now that it’s past and neither of them won, I’m moving along!
Links for your lunch break
ICYMI, the National Book Foundation is running a really fun summer reading challenge. If you complete any of the prompts and submit their participation form by the end of the summer, you’ll be entered to win a trip to the National Book Awards ceremony in NYC in November!
They found the cutest kid to play Egg in the TV adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s Dunk & Egg series, and this video of him getting his head shaved for filming is the cutest.
I love all of the posts in
’s “Reading in Public” column in her Fiction Matters newsletter, but this one on when you should consider not DNFing a book was especially great.Awards!
The Women’s Prize for Fiction and Nonfiction were officially announced last week. I’m over the moon for Brotherless Night, which I read and loved back when it was published in the US in January 2023. It deserves all the accolades! That said, it also won the Carol Shields Prize a few months ago, which is another major prize that recognizes women (and nonbinary) authors. I would have loved to see the Women’s Prize take the opportunity to spread the love (and prize money) to another deserving woman author.
The SFF-focused Nebula Awards were also recently announced, and The Saint of Bright Doors won for best novel. This is also nominated for the Hugo, and I’m excited to read it this summer.
Our queen V.E. Schwab announced a new standalone novel, and every single book in the first US/Canada printing will be signed!!! (Also, she sold it for $2 million. Like I said, queen sh*t.)
Speaking of newly announced novels, there’s going to be another Hunger Games prequel, this one focusing on Haymitch’s time in the games (we assume). The craziest part of this whole thing was the fact that they announced the movie’s premiere date…two hours later. 🤯
One of the earliest newsletters that launched
’s Culture Study into internet fame was titled “Other countries have social safety nets. The U.S. has women.” Well, Jessica Calarco (the interviewee of that newsletter) has a new book coming out, and she’s back on Culture Study. Give “Women Are Drowning in Responsibility” a read — it’s worth it.The Outsiders (a stage adaptation of the classic novel) won the Tony for Best New Musical on Sunday, and it sounds like it’s much deserved. This NYT article (gift link) on how the show staged the climactic rumble is really fascinating.
A sneak peek at my long-awaited built-in bookshelves
And now, the moment you’ve probably been waiting for since you opened this email!
Construction of my dining room’s brand new floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall built-in bookshelves was finished last week, and I am over the freaking moon. The photos below are a sneak peek because, as you can tell, I haven’t actually organized the books at all, so I wouldn’t call the shelves done.
My plan is to reorganize by author’s last name, which is going to take me at least a few days — and could very well be interrupted by the arrival of a baby. Of course, they’ll also be spread throughout the entire room, so they’ll have lots of space to breathe (and grow!). Plus, there will obviously be a ladder in the future, although that’s a few months off. BUT! I just can’t wait to share them, so please enjoy:
Can you even?!?
As always, thanks for sharing your corner of the internet with me! It would mean a lot if you were to take a second to like this post. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments, too.
Finally, if you like this newsletter, please send a few friends my way.
See you on Instagram!
— Deedi (she/her)
Those shelves look wonderful!!
Good luck in the waiting! Your shelves are gorgeous.