June 2022 Books

Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee

Lovely cover. I liked the premise of this novel. It’s historical young adult fiction with a person of colour protagonist who is not featured often in anglophone literature of this time period. It’s set in the American south in 1890 and is the tale of of a young Chinese woman and her guardian. I liked that it had lots of decent characters and since it is YA, it was not that violent or salacious. I did find one of the twists a bit too soap operatic. I wish I could say I loved it so much that I would read another book by this author, but it didn’t make me “besotted” (which is the protagonist’s favourite word).

Read June 3-6, 2022.

Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes by Dana Thomas

I enjoyed Deluxe by the same author and I think that needed a new overhaul. This was written pre pandemic but I think the fashion industry still needs the changes outlined in this book. More than ever. I felt a bit more hopeful as Thomas outlines what some companies are doing to be more sustainable. Sometimes the book felt more like a series of articles, but I like the research that goes into it.

Read May 30-June 12, 2022.

Happy go lucky by David Sedaris

I do not think I’ve read a Sedaris book or article during the pandemic. He has published at least twice but I like to avoid his older things and his New Yorker articles as there is overlap. I basically only read Sedaris every 5 years now. I also listened to this on audiobook and most of the chapters were read in front of live audiences. A real novelty in the pandemic era. Some of the moments were still funny. Sedaris has a very wry, edgy sense of humour that does not work for everyone. I think he sees the world both different and at the same time, the same as some people. There is something impolite about it but then again, a lot of society is irrational and impolite. I will listen to the next book in audiobook form if available.

Listened June 12-14, 2022.

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