May was full of fabulous reads. I think this was my best month yet! Read on to see what intrigued me in the book world this month.
“Dear Zari” by Zarghuna Kargar
This book completely captured my heart. It’s a collection of true stories of Afghan women that were featured on BBC’s Afghani’s Women’s Hour. The stories are shocking, horrific, and terribly sad. It amazed me to know that some of the traditional barbaric acts are still happening in the world today. It will make realize how good you have it as well as how far we still have to go as a world.
“Dreaming of the Dead” by Marilou Trask-Curtain
In my lifetime, I’ve had at least two spirit encounters that I was aware of. In this book, Marilou discusses the way she interacts with spirits, in forms, dreams, and mind-talk. While I’m still unsure of my feelings on spirits as a whole, I think it’s a great way to better understand death and the interaction with the unknown.
“Instruction Manual for Swallowing” by Adam Marek
This book was a collection of very odd, but amusing stories. Each story was fictional and felt like a very imaginative, quirky teenager that had written these quips in his journal. It was very honest, so much so that I wanted to believe that these stories were real. The best part for me is how it highlighted the darker side of life, which was a nice foil to the real world.
“The Understory” by Elizabeth Leiknes
I absolutely loved this book. It was a fast, easy read and one that I didn’t want put down. It’s about a woman who is a constant disappointment in life, at least according to her mother. She has become so bored with her mundane life and job she hates, she begins to break into people’s house to night to see a little bit of how others live. Much to her surprise, she realizes that some people need more help than she does. I won’t tell you too much more to ruin anything, but it’s such a heartwarming story that you must read!
“I have Iraq in my shoe” by Gretchen Berg
This has been one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Not only could I completely relate to Berg (She’s a cancer, has a shoe obsession, and is a big daydreamer), but I can totally see myself in her scenario. This is a true story. Berg was recruited by one of her friends to teach English in Iraq. After all, she used to teach English in Korea. How bad could it be? With a $75,000 salary, free housing, and only a couple hours of teaching a day, it was looking good, especially when she was $40,000 in debt. She gave her humorous outlook on the culture in Iraq, what she missed most about home, and all of her chronicles of strange and crazy cultural adventures. It gives both a personal and overall look at the status of women in the Muslim culture and how Westernized the Middle East really is. I give it an A+!
“The Little Dictionary of Fashion” by Christian Dior
I was expecting something totally different when I received this, but that’s ok. I learned that Christian Dior was very specific and I have a sneaking suspicion that he and Karl Lagerfeld would have been the best of friends. I learned that he adored the color black and bows of all sizes. He hated hair coloring and details. I’m almost unsure why he hated details if he loved bows, but who I am to argue with Christian Dior. While this would be a great mini coffee table book, I don’t deem it as a serious fashion source, unless you are still living in the 1950′s. Is is supremely old-fashioned and strict and completely humorous.
“Marilyn & Me” by Lawrence Schiller
I picked this book up from pre-order and I read it in a day. I’m a huge Marilyn fan, but I had never really read about the intimate details of her life or day-to-day. This book had some unpublished photos as well as some direct commentary from when she was in a battle with Fox, which she truly despised. I don’t blame her, I hate Fox too. I would strongly suggest this book for anyone who is curious as to what Marilyn was truly like and how she behaved. Trust me. You’ll be surprised.
What books are you reading this month?
