June 2020 Wrap Up

TL;DR

In this video, Olive discusses the books she read in June 2020, including "Summer" by Edith Wharton, "Summer World" by Bernd Heinrich, "Head Over Heels" by Hannah Orenstein, "The Emperor of All Maladies" by Siddhartha Mukherjee, "Dirt" by Bill Buford, "Enchanted Islands" by Allison Amend, "A Queen in Hiding" by Sarah Kozloff, "Rules of Civility" by Amor Towles, "I'll Be Gone in the Dark" by Michelle McNamara, and other books.

Transcript

hi guys olive here here today to talk to you about the books I read in June 2020 there were some disappointments this month but let's start off by talking about one that I absolutely loved that was summer by Edith Wharton the plot of this one is a little bit of a departure from Edith Wharton's typical New York high society fair because this book is... Read More

Key Insights

• 📛 Edith Wharton showcases her skill in character names and intentional language in "Summer."
• 💨 Bernd Heinrich presents information on animal and plant adaptations for summer in a digestible way in "Summer World."
• 🍂 "Head Over Heels" tries to tackle multiple serious topics and falls short in giving them proper attention.
• ♋ "The Emperor of All Maladies" provides an engaging history and examination of cancer.
• 🍟 "Dirt" offers enjoyable insights into French training but is unnecessarily long and breaks the fourth wall.
• 🇦🇽 "Enchanted Islands" has a disjointed storyline that overshadows its well-written prose.
• 😫 "A Queen in Hiding" sets up a world facing threats, leaving readers interested in the continuation of the series.
• 📏 "Rules of Civility" remains a favorite for Olive due to its subtle characterization and growth of the protagonist.

Questions & Answers

Q: What makes "Summer" by Edith Wharton stand out from her other novels?

"Summer" deviates from Wharton's typical New York high society setting and instead focuses on a young woman living in a small town, showcasing Wharton's skill in creating relatable characters and using intentional language.

Q: How does "Summer World" by Bernd Heinrich present information on animal and plant adaptations for summer?

Heinrich makes the subject digestible by using interesting examples, such as likening leaves on plants to solar panels. However, Olive notes that he includes too many personal anecdotes, which can be overwhelming.

Q: What were Olive's criticisms of "Head Over Heels" by Hannah Orenstein?

Olive felt that the book tried to tackle too many serious topics without giving them enough attention. Additionally, she found the author's portrayal of gymnastics lacking authenticity and criticized the violation of "show don't tell."

Q: What impressed Olive about "The Emperor of All Maladies" by Siddhartha Mukherjee?

Olive found the book's presentation of the history and treatments of cancer fascinating. However, she noted that the scientific content became more challenging to understand as it delved into modern medical treatments.

Q: Why did Olive find "Dirt" by Bill Buford enjoyable but too long?

Olive enjoyed Buford's writing style and humor, as well as the insights into French training. However, she felt the book dragged on for too many pages, and she disliked Buford's decision to break the fourth wall.

Q: What were Olive's criticisms of "Enchanted Islands" by Allison Amend?

Olive found the storyline of the book disjointed, as it read like two different books combined. While she appreciated the quality of the writing, the confusing narrative overshadowed it.

Q: What intrigued Olive about "A Queen in Hiding" by Sarah Kozloff?

Olive mentioned that she planned on doing a review after reading all four books in the series. She noted that the book set up the world and focused on the threat faced by the protagonist's kingdom, leaving her interested in continuing the series.

Q: Why does Olive consider "Rules of Civility" by Amor Towles her favorite book?

Olive loves the book for its personal significance and annual reread. She appreciates the book's subtle characterization, growth of the protagonist, and Towles' writing style.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Olive discusses her love for "Summer" by Edith Wharton, highlighting the unique plot and the author's skill in character names and language.

• She gives a positive review of "Summer World" by Bernd Heinrich, noting the book's digestible presentation of information on animal and plant adaptations for summer.

• Olive expresses disappointment with "Head Over Heels" by Hannah Orenstein, critiquing the book's attempt to tackle multiple serious topics without giving each enough attention.

• She praises "The Emperor of All Maladies" by Siddhartha Mukherjee for its fascinating presentation of the history and treatments of cancer.

• Olive finds "Dirt" by Bill Buford enjoyable but too long, and dislikes the author's breaking of the fourth wall.

• She criticizes "Enchanted Islands" by Allison Amend for its disjointed storyline and mixed focus.

• Olive shows interest in continuing the "Nine Realms" series after reading "A Queen in Hiding" by Sarah Kozloff.

• She raves about her yearly reread of "Rules of Civility" by Amor Towles, appreciating the subtle characterization and growth within the story.

• Olive briefly mentions her thoughts on "I'll Be Gone in the Dark" by Michelle McNamara, comparing the book to the HBO docu-series adaptation.

• She discusses other books she read, including "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson and sports-related nonfiction books.