May 2016 Wrap Up and June TBR

TL;DR

Olive talks about her reading list for May, which included books on handwriting analysis, a disappointing mystery novel, and a surprising and emotional story about foster care. She also discusses her current reads and plans for June.

Transcript

Hi guys, Olive here. Coming to you today from a brand new filming location. I moved. May ended up being a much crazier month than I thought it was going to be. Although I should probably stop tempting fate by saying that. It seems like every month I say is crazy, the universe says, "Oh really? You thought that was crazy? Just wait until next month.... Read More

Key Insights

• 🫠 Olive had a busy month in May with finals, moving, and job interviews, but still managed to read four books.
• 🫠 She found Sex, Lies, and Handwriting to be an exciting and illuminating nonfiction read.
• ❓ The Almond Picker was a disappointment as it focused more on the dynamics of a Sicilian town rather than the mysterious character it was marketed as being about.
• 😮 The Language of Flowers took Olive by surprise with its emotional impact and she would recommend it.
• 🫠 Olive plans to continue reading The Romanovs: The Final Chapter and The Ecliptic, as well as listening to The Soul of an Octopus and participating in a buddy read of A Great and Terrible Beauty.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was the first book Olive read in May and what was it about?

The first book Olive read was Sex, Lies, and Handwriting by Michelle Dresbold. It is a nonfiction book about handwriting analysis and includes handwriting samples from notable figures and discussions of well-known crimes.

Q: Did Olive enjoy The Almond Picker by Simonetta Agnello Hornby?

No, Olive did not enjoy The Almond Picker. She found it frustrating as it focused more on the dynamics between people in a small Sicilian town rather than the mysterious life of the main character.

Q: What is The Language of Flowers about?

The Language of Flowers is about a girl who aged out of the foster care system and has a love for flowers and their traditional meanings. The story alternates between her current life working in a flower shop and her past living with a foster mother.

Q: What are some of the books Olive plans to read in June?

Olive plans to read The Half-Blood Prince, the sixth Harry Potter book, as well as The Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll, June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore, We, The Drowned by Carsten Jensen, and possibly a reread of The Rules of Civility by Amor Towles.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Olive read four books in May, including a nonfiction book on handwriting analysis and a translated mystery novel that didn't meet her expectations.

• She also finished reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and The Language of Flowers, which she enjoyed and had a surprising emotional reaction to.

• Olive talks about her current reads, including The Soul of an Octopus and her plans for June, which include reading the next Harry Potter book and several other titles.