The Last Five Books I Read
This month brought a mix of emotional depth, thought-provoking narratives, and stories that left a lasting impact. Here's a look at the five books I've been immersed in, with a little reflection on what made each one stand out—or not.
Girls of Glass by Brianna Labuskes
Girls of Glass is a psychological thriller centered around the disappearance and murder of a young girl from an affluent family. The novel unravels secrets, lies, and a complex web of relationships as the investigation deepens, exposing dark truths behind the family’s perfect façade.
While the plot was intriguing and there were plenty of twists to keep me guessing, this book didn’t leave a deep mark on me. It followed the familiar thriller formula and offered some satisfying reveals, but it wasn’t a standout in the genre. It was entertaining for the moment but didn’t linger with me once I finished.
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
In this deeply personal memoir, Joan Didion reflects on the year following the sudden death of her husband, John Gregory Dunne, while also grappling with her daughter’s serious illness. Didion explores grief, memory, and the unpredictable nature of loss with poignant clarity.
This book completely floored me. Didion’s exploration of grief felt so raw and honest, and her writing resonated with me on a deeply emotional level. She captures the disorienting reality of loss in a way that feels both personal and universal. The combination of her intellectual insight and vulnerability made The Year of Magical Thinking one of my all-time favorite books. It’s the kind of book that you carry with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck
This novella follows the story of a man who, after death, finds himself in a version of Hell that’s not quite what he expected. He’s forced to wander an endless library in search of the one book that contains his life story, a task that could take an eternity to complete.
I found this novella to be a fascinating meditation on the nature of eternity, meaning, and existence. Its brevity packed a punch, offering philosophical musings disguised as speculative fiction. The idea of a library as Hell, filled with every possible permutation of human stories, was thought-provoking and haunting. It left me reflecting on the limits of knowledge, time, and the human experience—an unusual but deeply intriguing read.
Many People Die Like You by Lina Wolff
Many People Die Like You is a collection of short stories that explores the lives of ordinary people grappling with various facets of human experience—desire, loneliness, morality, and mortality. Wolff’s stories are sharp, insightful, and often darkly humorous.
I was drawn to Wolff’s ability to capture the strange, often surreal moments that punctuate everyday life. Her writing had a unique voice—bleak yet strangely funny, with a keen eye for the absurdities of human existence. The collection was unsettling at times, but it always felt fresh and original.
Sadie by Courtney Summers
Sadie tells the story of a young girl on a quest for revenge after her sister’s murder. The novel is told through dual narratives: Sadie’s perspective as she hunts down her sister’s killer and a true-crime podcast that follows her disappearance.
This book was fine, but it didn’t leave a huge impact on me. The podcast format was interesting and added a unique layer to the storytelling, but the characters didn’t fully resonate with me. While it had its moments of tension and intrigue, I found it a bit underwhelming overall.