Tales & Tiger Lily: June 2020
My sister recently joined bookstagram as @talesandtigerlily. Her name is Caroline, and Tiger Lily is her adorable sidekick (pictured above). Since she's discovered a love of reading, I've had the best time talking about books with her. Be sure to check out her introduction post to get to know her better. Once a month, you get a new installment of Tales & Tiger Lily. In each post, she reviews three of her favorite reads from the previous month and ends with a list of everything she read with ratings (and links to reviews, if applicable). Her top three from June:
A BURNING BY MEGHA MAJUMDAR
“This country needs someone to punish. And I am that person.”
We see the story unfold through the eyes of Jiva, a Muslim girl from the slums. All she longs for is a better life, but she makes a choice that jeopardizes any chance of her attaining it. She posts a careless comment on Facebook, landing her in jail as a prime suspect for a terrorist attack that killed more than 100 people on a train near her.
The story is also told from two other perspectives: PT Sir and Lovely — two people who are in a position to possibly save her from this injustice. But will they stand up for what is right, or will their selfish desires to rise to the top cause them to look the other way? Will anyone help Jiva?
The events that unravel are truly saddening. My heart sank as person after person threw morals aside for the betterment of their own lives. I was angered by the political corruption and the selfishness of humanity. Although A Burning is fiction, the issues tackled in this novel are so real. They are catastrophic and quite devastating.
I highly recommend Megha Majumdar’s debut novel. At just 288 pages, this book can be finished in one sitting. You won’t be able to put it down, so I suggest carving enough time in your day for this book. Oh, and get a big fuzzy blanket, and bring some tissues while you’re at it. | 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶
We see the story unfold through the eyes of Jiva, a Muslim girl from the slums. All she longs for is a better life, but she makes a choice that jeopardizes any chance of her attaining it. She posts a careless comment on Facebook, landing her in jail as a prime suspect for a terrorist attack that killed more than 100 people on a train near her.
The story is also told from two other perspectives: PT Sir and Lovely — two people who are in a position to possibly save her from this injustice. But will they stand up for what is right, or will their selfish desires to rise to the top cause them to look the other way? Will anyone help Jiva?
The events that unravel are truly saddening. My heart sank as person after person threw morals aside for the betterment of their own lives. I was angered by the political corruption and the selfishness of humanity. Although A Burning is fiction, the issues tackled in this novel are so real. They are catastrophic and quite devastating.
I highly recommend Megha Majumdar’s debut novel. At just 288 pages, this book can be finished in one sitting. You won’t be able to put it down, so I suggest carving enough time in your day for this book. Oh, and get a big fuzzy blanket, and bring some tissues while you’re at it. | 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶
NORMAL PEOPLE BY SALLY ROONEY
“She has never believed herself fit to be loved by any person. But now she has a new life, of which this is the first moment, and even after many years have passed she will still think: Yes, that was it, the beginning of my life.”
So I did a silly thing. I binge-watched Normal People on Hulu, and I was obsessed with Marianne and Connell. Then, I just had to read the book. Their relationship was beautiful and messed up. I loved watching them grow up, but it was also devastating seeing how much of their past and personal struggles affected their view of the world. I adored the bond these two individuals shared, and it was an emotional rollercoaster watching the events unfold.
I know this book has mixed reviews, and maybe watching the show influenced my view of it. But I am in love with this story. I can’t believe Sally Rooney is only 29 years old — her writing is so perfect. Now I want to read Conversations with Friends and anything Rooney writes in the future. | 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶
KNOW MY NAME BY CHANEL MILLER So I did a silly thing. I binge-watched Normal People on Hulu, and I was obsessed with Marianne and Connell. Then, I just had to read the book. Their relationship was beautiful and messed up. I loved watching them grow up, but it was also devastating seeing how much of their past and personal struggles affected their view of the world. I adored the bond these two individuals shared, and it was an emotional rollercoaster watching the events unfold.
I know this book has mixed reviews, and maybe watching the show influenced my view of it. But I am in love with this story. I can’t believe Sally Rooney is only 29 years old — her writing is so perfect. Now I want to read Conversations with Friends and anything Rooney writes in the future. | 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶
“Most people say developing is linear, but for survivors it is cyclic. People grow up, victims grow around; we strengthen around the place that hurt, become older and fuller, but the vulnerable core is never gone.”
I really have no words to describe my adoration for this memoir. I knew from the first 10 pages that it would be a five-star read for me, and I’m quite speechless. This is the kind of book that makes you want to sit alone with your thoughts for hours and reflect. This is the kind of book that makes you want to hold every woman’s hand and unite together. This is the kind of book that stirs something deep in your soul — one you will never forget.
Chanel Miller’s story is saddening and frustrating, yet it offers hope for survivors of trauma. I highly recommend Know My Name. I want everyone in the world to read it. | 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶
I really have no words to describe my adoration for this memoir. I knew from the first 10 pages that it would be a five-star read for me, and I’m quite speechless. This is the kind of book that makes you want to sit alone with your thoughts for hours and reflect. This is the kind of book that makes you want to hold every woman’s hand and unite together. This is the kind of book that stirs something deep in your soul — one you will never forget.
Chanel Miller’s story is saddening and frustrating, yet it offers hope for survivors of trauma. I highly recommend Know My Name. I want everyone in the world to read it. | 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶
Recapping the Rest of Caroline's June Reads:
Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson | 🐶🐶🐶🐶 • Review
Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine | 🐶🐶🐶🐶 • Review
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson | 🐶🐶🐶🐶 • Review
The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah | 🐶🐶🐶🐶 • Review
After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid | 🐶🐶🐶🐶
Stray by Stephanie Danler | 🐶🐶 • Review
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh | 🐶🐶🐶
Latitudes of Longing by Shubhangi Swarup | 🐶🐶.5 • Review
Conjure Women by Afia Atakora | 🐶🐶🐶.5 • Review
Shiner by Amy Jo Burns | 🐶🐶🐶🐶 • Review
Little Family by Ishamel Beah | 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶 • Review
All Adults Here by Emma Straub | 🐶🐶🐶 • Review
How Much of These Hills is Gold by C Pam Zhang | 🐶🐶🐶🐶 • Review
The Mothers by Brit Bennett | 🐶🐶🐶🐶 • Review
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix | 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶 • Review
Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine | 🐶🐶🐶🐶 • Review
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson | 🐶🐶🐶🐶 • Review
The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah | 🐶🐶🐶🐶 • Review
After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid | 🐶🐶🐶🐶
Stray by Stephanie Danler | 🐶🐶 • Review
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh | 🐶🐶🐶
Latitudes of Longing by Shubhangi Swarup | 🐶🐶.5 • Review
Conjure Women by Afia Atakora | 🐶🐶🐶.5 • Review
Shiner by Amy Jo Burns | 🐶🐶🐶🐶 • Review
Little Family by Ishamel Beah | 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶 • Review
All Adults Here by Emma Straub | 🐶🐶🐶 • Review
How Much of These Hills is Gold by C Pam Zhang | 🐶🐶🐶🐶 • Review
The Mothers by Brit Bennett | 🐶🐶🐶🐶 • Review
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix | 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶 • Review
I'd really like to read Know My Name at some point! It sounds really good, and Caroline's brief thoughts definitely piqued my interest even more.
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