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#58. THE CIRCLE by Dave Eggers // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
My next read from a reading list created by the School of the Unconformed. The story is about a woman who starts working at the Circle, a tech company that is a conglomeration of sites like Facebook, Google, Twitter, etc. Throughout the book, the Circle tracks more and more user data, but masks the invasion of privacy by focusing on terms like community and transparency. And man! This book gave me anxiety just reading it! I found it fascinating to see that it was written in 2013 – how eerily prescient to social media sites today. There were some unnecessarily added sex scenes and the ending was unsatisfying, but otherwise this was a thought-provoking novel. 3.5 stars.
#59. THINGS AS THEY ARE by Paul Horgan // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop)
This one is about a boy named Richard and his stories from childhood where he learned lessons of right from wrong. Another thought-provoking book. (This was also my 1964 pick for the 20th Century in Literature Challenge.)
#60. WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING by Alyssa Cole // ★★☆☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
There was a lot going on in this book! It was sold as a a thriller, but there was also significant current events commentary on race and even an enemies to lovers romance! The writing was pretty crass, but the ideas surrounding gentrification were interesting. Ultimately, just an okay read for me.
#61. THE STORY OF A FAMILY: THE HOME OF ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX by Fr. Stephane-Joseph Piat, OFM // ★★★★☆
(amazon // bookshop)
I have a special love for St. Therese and now I really appreciate her mother. Lots to ponder and pray about with this one. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
#62. DEATH ON THE NILE by Agatha Christie // ★★★★☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
It’s been awhile since I’ve enjoyed an Agatha Christie mystery! I actually predicted “whodunit” this time but couldn’t figure out the how, so…half credit?
#63. THE DIVINE COMEDY by Dante // ★★★★★
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
Going into this epic poem, I had no idea how deeply spiritually edifying it would be for me. Highly recommend reading along with the 100 Days of Dante lectures. So, so good. I already know I’d like to read it again sometime in the future.
#64. THE THINGS THEY CARRIED by Tim O’Brien // ★★★★☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
This book is part memoir and part fiction and O’Brien kind-of blurs the lines of what is truth and what is not. The blurb on the back describes it as a “meditation on war, memory, imagination, and the redemptive power of storytelling.” I thought it was a really good primer on the complexity of feelings around war.
“War is hell, but that’s not the half of it, because war is also mystery and terror and adventure and courage and discovery and holiness and pity and despair and longing and love. War is nasty; war is fun. War is thrilling; war is drudgery. War makes you a man; war makes you dead.” (p.76)
MY 2024 UNREAD SHELF PROJECT
Unread Books as of January 1, 2024: 209
Books Finished in August: 7
Books Donated/Sold in August: -2
Books Added: +3
Unread Books Remaining: 206
Ooh… I just copied and pasted the reading list from the School of the Unconformed off of Substack so I can print it soon. Some familiar titles, and lots of new ones to explore.
Also, a title to share that I got from a friend: Absent in the Spring by Mary Westmacott. Did you know that Mary Westmacott is a pen name for Agatha Christie? I had no idea until just a few weeks ago. Anyhow, Absent in the Spring is about a woman who is stranded for some time in a desert and has lots of time to think about her life. So thought provoking.
God bless!
Melisa
I have heard of Absent in the Spring! I need to track down a copy now with your recommendation, thank you!
I always enjoy seeing what you have read! I have been working through Glow Kids by Nicholas Kardaras and Reset Your Child’s Brain by Victoria Dunckley. For fiction, I have been reading the 4th installment of Emma M. Lion and The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey. Tey is also an excellent mystery writer!
I just recently heard about the Emma M. Lion series…what are your thoughts so far? I’ll add that Josephine Tey book to my list – she sounds like a writer I would enjoy, thank you!
I agree with your thoughts about The Circle! It’s a book I think back on but don’t recommend often to others because of unnecessary scenes, some slower writing at times, etc. I liked the movie adaptation of it- I can’t recall what streaming service it’s on
It’s really too bad that some of those scenes were included because I think the main story is a great thought experiment and conversation starter. I’ll be recommending, but with some big disclaimers! 🙂