After an extended reading slump, I’m back!  I couldn’t tell you what finally snapped me out of it, but I have to say I’m enjoying this renewed reading energy.  I’ll even be participating in a readathon this weekend.  I know Saturday I will have limited reading time, but Friday and Sunday look promising!  I’ll let you know how I did in next week’s mash-up!

The Week in Books

An Ordinary Man by Paul Rusesabagina — 5 out of 5 stars

I’ve watched the movie, Hotel Rwanda, a couple of times, but it wasn’t until recently that I had heard of Rusesabagina’s autobiography (I guess that shows how little I pay attention to movie credits!).  I cannot even begin to fathom the horror that the author, his family, and every other survivor witnessed during the genocide.   It’s difficult to read at times, but seeing the acts of kindness and even heroism in the face of such evil makes this an inspirational must-read.

The Things We Lost to the Water by Eric Nguyen — 4 out of 5 stars

In this amazing debut, we follow the journey of a Vietnamese mother and her two sons who find themselves living in New Orleans after escaping their homeland in 1979.  Told over the span of 25 years, it’s a story of finding one’s true self, family relationships, forgiveness, and redemption.   I truly enjoyed this new voice and I look forward to reading more of Eric Nguyen’s works in the future.

How to Walk With Steve by Robert Fromberg — 4 out of 5 stars

Robert Fromberg shares memories of his life: his dysfunctional family, his early escape to college, marriage, and his relationship with his autistic brother, Steve.  Each paragraph tells its own story, creating a mosaic of thoughts, emotions, and small moments that led to Fromberg’s personal growth.  I was expecting a little more about his relationship with Steve, but overall I enjoyed this memoir.

Novellas, Short Stories, and Anthologies

The Faster Redder Road:  The Best Unamerican Stories of Stephen Graham Jones — 4 out of 5 stars

One of my May selections.  I’m a huge fan of SGJ, but I had really only read his newer works (Mongrels, The Only Good Indians, etc.).  This collection is definitely a must for fans as it showcases his earlier short stories.  There is a wide range of topics, from his well-known take on horror to some experimental works.  And his notes at the end of each story lends some interesting insight into his creative process.  If you haven’t read any of Jones’ work, give this collection a try as it’s a great introduction for his later writing.

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Stay safe and Happy Reading!