What I Read in August 2024
August was filled with books that took me across different eras, places, and personal journeys. From the exploration of identity in Rachel Khong’s "Real Americans" to the suspenseful "The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard" by Natasha Lester, each book offered something unique. Steve Hoffman’s "A Season for That: Lost and Found in the Other Southern France," took me back to the Languedoc region of France and I was reminded why I fell in love with it the first time I visited and I was inspired by a remarkable woman ahead of her time in Emily Franklin’s "The Lioness of Boston." These stories not only entertained but also explored the complexities of life, culture, and history. Let's dive into the highlights of my August reading list.
Also be sure to check out all my past reads in my new Bookshelf page.
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Real Americans By Rachel Khong
I wasn’t expecting to become so engrossed with this book, but I couldn’t put it down. Begging the question are we destined to become who we are or are we made to become that person? Spanning three generations, the book opens in the late 1990’s with Lily Chen. She’s an unpaid intern living in New York, struggling to make ends meet. She meets and falls in love with Matthew, a pharmaceutical heir and unlikely match. Somehow they just fit together and make sense. Fast forward 20 years and we meet Nick Chen, 15 years old, living in rural Washington with his single mother, Lily. Nick has lived a sheltered life and has so many questions about his father. He knows his mother is hiding something but doesn’t know what. The book follows Nick through college and adulthood. It’s here that we learn more about Nick’s grandma (Lily’s mom) and begin to understand all the difficult decisions each woman has made to give Nick the life he has.
The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard by Natasha Lester
LOVED. If you liked Daisy Jones and The Six, then you have to read this! The review I read that made me added this book into my cart said “ Vogue meets Daisy Jones and the Six”… I was sold from that single line. And it exceeded all my expectations. It’s historical fiction (a genre you know I love) but what I loved most about it is the commentary on how women are portrayed in the media. The book is about three generations of women, each who are ridiculously talented, trying to forge their way into the fashion industry, which is notoriously male dominated. Told from three points of view, we slowly untangle these women’s stories and the truth. Mizza Bricard, “muse” to Balenciaga and Dior, portrayed as a high class prostitute by the media. Her daughter Astrid Bricard, “muse” to Hawk Jones and portrayed as a party girl with zero talent of her own. And Blythe Bricard, Astrid’s daughter, who wants nothing to do with her family legacy. The book is a journey through time and I felt like I was in the 70’s with Astrid, at the French Chateau with Blythe, and trying to survive the wars in Paris with MIzza. Natasha’s writing brought this book to life for me and I really hope someone makes it into a mini series! I’d love to see it on tv :) It’s got fashion, drama, mystery, feminism, love, all the things that make it spectacular.
A Season For That: Lost and Found in the Other Southern France by Steve Hoffman
I could not wait for this book to be released! Having been a follower of Steve’s for YEARS (we’re both Minnesotans), he was the reason our first trip to rural France was the Languedoc region 7 years ago. I had witnessed his life there in real time on Instagram and immediately bookmarked the region as a place I wanted to visit. To now be able to read about his time there was magical. Steve has a way with words. He transports you to where he is, feeling and seeing everything with him. I felt the uneasiness of landing in an unknown village, wanting to fit in immediately, but also not wanting to make mistakes or offend. I felt the joy and exhaustion of working in the wine fields. The eye opening understanding that there is more to France than the big city, cafes, and pretentious wines. And finally, that life is meant to be shared with those around you, and that is how you become a part of the culture. I loved this book so much!!
The Lioness of Boston by Emily Franklin
I love historical fiction. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. LOVE IT. And what I love even more, is when it’s about a woman forging her way on her terms, not society’s. The Lioness of Boston is just that. It’s about Isabella Stewart Gardner. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know who she was, but knew there was a museum with her name on it in Boston. I still haven’t been to said museum (I’ve heard nothing but great things!) but I have walked by it a number of times and it’s beautiful. Turns out she was a woman ahead of her time. She was born in 1840 and is known today for being a philanthropist and art collector. But things were different for her at that time. She was shunned by Boston’s high society and gossiped about for not conforming to women’s roles at the time. She was curious, intelligent, loved to travel, and was a friend to many intellectuals and artists. The Lioness of Boston explores what it was like for Isabella to be a part of a society that expects one thing of her while she craved so much more. I truly enjoyed learning about this amazing woman who at times seems like she was larger than life with all her eccentricities.
