i finally had time to read again this month! i didn’t read quite as much as i would have liked, but it’s nice to make it a part of my routine again.

the underground railroad by colson whitehead. this national book award winner has been on my wish list for over a year, so for my first post-conference read i decided it was finally time to dive into it. the underground railroad is the story of cora, enslaved on a georgia plantation and dreaming of a better life. whitehead doesn’t pull punches, and it is difficult to read at times, but i think it is also a very important read. there are many statements made by plantation owners that are not completely outdated even in 2017, which is both sad and very eye-opening. it reads quickly, if not easily, and is one of the best books i’ve read in recent years // 4.5 stars

the old man and the sea by ernest hemingway. i can’t believe it took me this long to get around to reading the old man and the sea. long regarded as one of hemingway’s best works, the story of santiago, an old cuban fisherman, has captivated readers for decades. it’s a quick, 126-page read, but it’s an eloquent telling of santiago’s battles and triumphs on the seas. i read it at the beginning of our recent holiday, and my father read it on the way back, and it gets thumbs up from both of us // 3.5 stars

currently reading: gather together in my name by maya angelou. i reread i know why the caged bird sings during my last india stint and am excited about moving forward with her autobiographical series.

on my wish list: nothing at the moment! between my book of the month arrivals and some new ones my brother got for me, i have more than i need for the time being. i bought a few books as soon as conference ended, but i’m pumping the brakes on any more purchases for a bit.

did you read anything good over the summer?

xx