In May, my reading list featured a selection of books with strong but flawed female leads. From the heartwarming and witty Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine to self discovery and being true to who you are in Anite de Monte Laughs Last, each novel had me captivated. Moving through time in the sci-fi book The Other Valley, experiencing the art and food of Paris in The Paris Novel, and peering into old Hollywood in Have You Heard About Kitty Karr? I experienced a range of emotions , and realized how even seemingly small decisions can change everything in the future. Each of the books this month explore women on their self discovery journey - whether they recognize it or not.

Also be sure to check out all my past reads in my new Bookshelf page.

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Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

When I first started reading this, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. But as I got to know and understand Eleanor, I fell in love with her and her character. She’s a loner. Not great with social situations or cues. Speaks her mind freely and follows a very regimented and lonely schedule. Everything changes when she and her co-worker Raymond help an elderly man who has fallen on the street. Soon she’s being invited to visit the man, meets Raymond’s mother, and is experiencing life like she’s never known. We start to see glimpses of why Eleanor has such a predictable and stable routine. Her “mummy” is not a nice person and has a very controlling and negative hold over Eleanor through her weekly calls. As Eleanor starts to explore more of her life outside of her normal routines, she starts to recollect pieces of her past that she has buried for years.

The humor and emotion hooked me and I think you will enjoy it as well.

Anita de Monte Laughs Last

You know I love a good dual time line book and this one did not disappoint. The fun part of about this book is that the timelines aren’t that far apart - early 80’s and late 90’s. Anita is an artist. She’s talented, passionate, emotional, and all but forgotten by 1998. Why? Raquel is at an Ivy League school where she doesn’t feel like she fits in. She’s latina and is constantly finding her footing within class as well as socially. That is, until the schools most talented artist falls for her and she feels like she’s finally found her place. But things are not as they seem and soon Raquel is finding she’s not being herself, she’s becoming more “white” to please her rich, upper west side boyfriend and his family. As Raquel starts to work on her art history thesis, she discovers Anita de Monte and starts to dig into her life and death. The book is written in both Raquel and Anita’s point of view and we see how they are both similar in discovering who they really are. I flew through this book and enjoyed it.

The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard

If you like sci-fi this is an interesting read and unlike an other book I’ve read lately. There are three valleys - one current day, one 20 years ahead, and one 20 years behind. They are all guarded so people cannot freely go between timelines. Odile lives in the current valley and is shy, quiet, and smart. Her mother has aspirations of Odile being on the Conseil - the group that governs the valleys and grants visits between them when necessary - and she’s been tapped to participate in their selection process. One day, Odile sees two people she’s not supposed to see and recognizes who they are. She knows they are visitors from the valley 20 years ahead and determines that something must happen to her friend soon. She’s now caught between trying to alter the future and disobeying the rules of the Conseil or follow the rules and lose a close friend. The story follows Odile’s life and we see how the consequences play out. At times the story is a bit slow and unnecessary, but I still enjoyed it. It makes you think about how actions, no matter how big or small, can change outcomes in ways you never anticipated.

The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl

LOVED this book. It was like being transported to the Paris and discovering all the food and art in the 80’s. What I loved even more is most of the book is based on real people and events. Stella was never like her mother and often felt like she didn’t fit in with her lifestyle. Her mother, Cecelia St. Vincent, liked to be the alpha, only settled for the best, dated only the richest, and never had time to be a mother. Because Stella was uncomfortable with all of these things, she focused on solid plans, routines, and stability. When her mother dies, she’s left with a one way ticket to Paris and a note from her mother saying she must go. And so begins Stella’s journey of self discovery. She has serendipitous meetings, discovers food like no other, and becomes obsessed with Victorine - a model who posed for Manet and others in the Impressionist era but was also a painter (unheard of in those times for a woman to show at the Salon!). She was all but erased from history by Manet and others because of her talent and because she was a woman. Stella uncovers who she really is by taking risks and stepping out of her comfort zone that has kept her safe for 30+ years. I could not put this book down and fell in love with all of the characters.

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr by Crystal Smith Paul

Wow. Just Wow. This was a fantastic book. I couldn’t put it down and flew through it in a few days. Kitty Karr was a Hollywood icon and star. When she dies, she leaves her estate to three very wealthy black sisters and the questions began. Elise St John is the oldest sister and the one tasked with Kitty’s legacy. She soon discovers the many secrets that have been kept for decades and their impact. The book switches from present day to the 1950’s and we learn Kitty’s story. Set against the backdrop of the segregated south and the civil rights movement we see just how far some women will go to be free. The secrets Elise uncovers impact not just her family, but hundreds of others as well. The topics of celebrity, racism, misogyny, and identity are central to the story and kept me up reading late into the night. I loved everything about this book and the history is shares.