Recently Read: September

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy to share what I've been reading lately. I've been so satisfied with my reading choices the past few weeks and have been having great luck with audiobooks, so all around I'm very happy with my current reading life.

1. My Antonia by Willa Cather
This was actually a reread for me. I read it over 6 years ago(!) and didn't like it that much. But since I'm actively trying to reread one book a month I decided to give this a shot for September and was surprised how good it was. It tells the story of Antonia, a Bohemian girl who comes to Nebraska when she's a teenager. The story is told through her childhood playmate and it was so good. I listened to it on audiobook and I think that helped me like it more. That and the fact that I'm more mature now, I'm sure.

2. Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan
I loved this memoir so much. Kelly Corrigan talks about how much she needs her mother and her realization of just how much she needs her grows all the time. The book is centered upon Kelly's time as a nanny in Australia where she worked for a family whose mother had passed away. That experience forced her to reexamine her own upbringing and her mother's impact on her. This book is funny and so sweet, and really made me think about ways I can affect my child (and future children).

3. My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
I wrote a bit about this book here, but it's worth mentioning again. This book is about mothers and daughters, and there was so much truth in this book about loneliness, poverty, family ties, and growing up. I know I am going to reread this in the future.

4. Boy by Roald Dahl
Like many others, I loved Roald Dahl and his sometimes twisted sense of humor (has anyone else ever read Skin? It's so weird!). And since I love memoirs, I knew this one would not disappoint. Dahl tells colorful stories from childhood and describes idyllic Norwegian summers and less than idyllic boarding school experiences. I listened to this on audiobook and it was quick and so interesting. Also, fun fact, if anyone else has wondered what book Kathleen Kelly is reading during storytime in You've Got Mail, it's this book!

5. The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer
To be honest, I'm conflicted about this memoir (related question: Do I read too many memoirs?). There were so many good parts but I just wasn't sure I liked J.R. all that much. And that makes it hard for me to like the book overall. But I did appreciate his personal journey and also how tied he was to his birthplace. There is something special to me when people are really connected to where they are born and raised, and I loved how drawn J.R. was to Long Island and the bar.