Show Us Your Shelf-May

It's the first Thursday of a new month which means it's time to Show Us Your Shelf. I read quite a bit last month, and listened to two books on audible as we spent what felt like a lot of time in the car. A good book definitely makes the road trip miles pass more quickly. 

Here's what I read in May-

Foster by Claire Keegan, who manages to say so very much in so very few words. 

At only 128 pages this tale still manages to pack a punch. The story of a young child taken to live with foster parents on a farm in rural Ireland. Simple on the surface, but the depth of emotion portrayed (and felt) is immense. Five stars for me. I previously read her novel Small Things Like These, and again would say wow. Keegan has such a gift for the written word. 

Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen

Harry Crane, who is a lifelong lover of trees and is employed in a desk job with the U.S. Forest service makes his way to the woods following the death of his wife. Part fairy tale, part sad realities of life, we follow Harry on his journey through grief into healing with the help of a young girl and her mother who are walking a similar path. It was a little on the long side, but still a very enjoyable read. 

Homecoming by Kate Morton-

One of my favorite authors...if you've never read The House at Riverton or The Forgotten Garden I recommend. I absolutely love her voice and the way she brings a story and it's setting to life. Homecoming is a multi-generation tale set in Australia with a timeline both past and present. 

The story revolves around a tragedy in a small village where a mother and her four children are found dead after a Christmas Eve picnic, with no obvious cause of death. Lies are told and secrets kept and the resulting consequences of those actions and their impact on a family and community make this one worth reading.

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi-

One man's journey from Islam to Christianity. The transformation in his belief system doesn't happen overnight, but takes place slowly, methodically, and carefully, and comes at great cost. Qureshi does a wonderful job of explaining Muslim beliefs and practices as well as showing the evidence for Christianity. He was a man who valued and pursued truth, and grew to love Jesus wholeheartedly. 

Yellowface by R. F. Kuang-

A little known author, June Hayward, a white woman, steals an incomplete manuscript from a fellow author and sometime friend who happens to be Aisan and also dead. The stolen manuscript's plot is the story of Chinese migrant workers in labor camps during WW1, so themes of cultural appropriation and race feature heavily in Yellowface. Cyber bullying also comes in to play as there is much online drama when the stolen manuscript turned book hits the market. 

I liked the book, but maybe not as much as all the hype led me to believe I would. I found the main character (June) very unlikable and when I dislike the main character it taints my review. A couple of years ago I read a book called The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz and liked it better than Yellowface. They're very different but share the common plot line of a stolen story. 

What have you read that you loved lately? 

Hop over to any of the host blogs -Slices of Life, Overflowing With Thankfulness, Memphis Bridges, and The Other Side Of The Road- to add your link and see what others are reading.