Only 6 books in June? I know that “only” just for me. We painted the interior of our house in June after living here for almost 12 years. So, it was a lot of work prepping, cleaning, sorting and moving all of our things. I would fall asleep so fast at night so it took my longer to get through some really good, but longer, books. Here’s what I read in June:
Ghosts of Honolulu by Mark Harmon
I used to be a big NCIS fan, so when I saw that Mark Harmon had written a book, I wanted to check it out. While the story is interesting – about the first Japanese American Naval Intelligence officer – I went into the book thinking it was a novel and it’s actually non-fiction. The book follows the story of Douglas Wada from childhood to post-WW2 during the tribunals in Japan. History buffs would really enjoy Ghosts of Honolulu.
Playground by Richard Powers
An ocean lover, an AI entrepreneur, a student who lives in world where he feels he doesn’t belong and a girl who loves the islands all find their lives merging in Playground. The island of Makatea is where they all end up either wanting to help or thwart a plan to bring floating islands and a booming economy to Makatea. While the story was a bit hard to follow in some places, the themes are love of nature and how to eventually ask for and find forgiveness. The descriptions of the ocean life were a highlight of the book.
Two Weeks by Karen Kingsbury
Wanting a fresh start, Elise moves to spend her senior year with her aunt and uncle. She quickly falls in love with Cole and he feels the same. However, their lives are both thrown into a roller-coaster of emotions and decisions when she finds out she’s pregnant from her former boyfriend. Two weeks refers to the waiting period for an adoption to be finalized after birth, giving the birth mother time to change her mind. Two Weeks is a profound pro-life story.
Miracle at St. Anna by James McBride
Based on a true story, Miracle at St. Anna is about some Buffalo soldiers during WW2 who get surrounded in a village after one of their men rescues a young boy found in a barn. It’s very well written and kept my attention the entire time. It tells of bravery, selflessness, cruelty, war and the miracles of relationships.
The Life of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque by Emile Bougaud
I slowly worked my way through The Life of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque during adoration during the past six months. It tells the story of the saint from her childhood in the 1600s until the first churches are dedicated to the Sacred Heart and she’s canonized as a saint in the early 1900s. It’s amazing how long it took for the devotion to be officially recognized, especially in France. It’s also amazing to have been to Sacre Coeur – France’s church dedicated to the Sacred Heart – it’s beautiful!
The Housekeepers by Alex Hay
The Housekeepers is a fun tale about a heist planned for during a ball. It’s a personal job for many of the crew, who some of them also served as housekeepers at the house. Secrets get uncovered as the team plans the heist, which changes their motives. And, then, in the middle of the ball, the royal princess appears with her security. Can they actually pull it off?
What have you read lately that you’d recommend? Share below!
