Books are small universes—affordable and easily carried, yet filled with endless possibilities to expand and enrich the mind. Through their pages, I explore new experiences and worlds, meet unforgettable characters, and deepen my understanding of humanity.
These are the books I read in June 2025, listed chronologically, and graded by recommendation (highly recommend, recommend, and do not recommend).
Old-Timey Pulitzer Prize Winner Collection
I found this on Evergreen, and only for Deledda, a rare Sardininian (and rarer still, lady) writer.
The Intellectual Stalwarts tell me there are better examples of her work, but I had only this seemingly super Italian novella about the Bishop (or something) bound son of a devout peasant woman.
When he is beset by desires, she gathers all her courage to confront him (a mild scene to this Ugly American). Then she gathers all her fortitude to pray for him. And, when her humble prayers work; his renouncement and atonement complete, she (SPOILER ALERT), dies.
At his feet. In church. Cuz, like…what else is she gonna do? Do not recommend (but look her up and maybe read her other stuff).
Didion The ‘80’s and ‘90’s
I’ll forgive myself for a juvenile unfamiliarity with Didion, but if I’d started on her in high school I would have understood more, sooner.
My 20’s would have benefitted from a more thorough understanding of her takes on relationships and codependency, magical thinking and the necessity of paradigm shifts.
And I wish I *started* with her political writings (didn’t consider her serious enough, due to, you know. Internalized misogyny.), so I would have understood that the United States is first and foremost a military-industrial complex and cheap labor seeker/exploiter, as evidenced by 75% of the writings in this collection; highly recommend.
The Fast 800 Diet
A fascinating book about the benefits of fasting (as cited for centuries), specifically focusing on autophagy and rapid weight loss; recommend it if you’re into that kind of thing.
Millennium
The author, Ian Mortimer, proving himself my psychic twin, found himself snorting at an evening newscaster. It was the turn of the millennium, and she was insisting that the 20th century was the century that saw the most change in the last ten.
She cited technology; Mortimer found that short-sighted AND ego-centric.
This book is his answer to the common assertion. He sat to find out if the most impactful century of the last millennium was really the twentieth. And if it wasn’t, what was?
Finally published in the 2010’s, this book was a fascinating exploration about what is and is not schema altering (hint: the Black Death ranks pretty high on that scale); highly recommend.
The Ugly History of Beautiful Things
Listen, there’s a lot to unpack as a Girly Girl: do I genuinely love glitter or am I performing femininity? What about all the endocrine disruptors? Do I accept beautifying rituals as a hobby/”self care?” Or deride them as frivolous and vain?
All of it, as this collection of essays explains, providing assurance and information; highly recommend.
Gliff
Resilient, quirky sisters bonding in a capitalist, apocalyptic wasteland? Written by Ali Smith?? YOU DON’T HAVE TO TELL ME TWICE.
Others will appreciate that Gliff is an awesome horse.
Come for the National Velvet Hunger Games, stay for the gut punching knowledge that this is our trajectory; highly recommend.
Giant Love
It’s strange how forgotten Edna Ferber has become, as she was a literary giant (see what I did there?) in her day.
When she was hot, she was hot, scoring six-figure development deals, repeatedly topping the best seller list, and just being America’s Literary Darling.
Giant Love covers a bit of her background, but it’s mostly about the golden slice of Edna’s life concerning the novel Giant (especially the filming of the movie adaptation, starring Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean).
If you enjoy pondering the finicky-ness of the zeitgeist or classic Hollywood, you’ll enjoy this book; recommend.
The Red-Headed Pilgrim
You’re never gonna guess who the Ginger Pilgrim is: it’s the protagonist! Who is also the author!
He is a sad man, trying to find himself after Divorce.
This book made me gasp (and laugh!) with its truthfulness. But it also made me roll my eyes; recommend.
The Discovery of Being
I’m on an Existentialism/Logotherapy kick, so I skimmed this. And I mean skimmed, as it is DENSE, man; do not recommend.
The Existential Counseling Primer
This collection was much more helpful; recommend.
Start Making Sense
Have you read The Social Animal? Yeah. Me too. So did this dude. And he didn’t even do that good of a job regurgitating it; do not recommend.
Yes To Life In Spite of Everything
Man, it’s hard to argue with a guy who survived multiple concentration camps that choosing how one responds to suffering is the most important assignment of adult life. So don’t even try, just soak up his wisdom; highly recommend.
Warning To The West
Reading this collection of speeches (that cover just what the title states) after the “dissolution” of the USSR is the closest thing to prophecy that I’ve ever experienced; highly recommend.
The River Is Waiting
In “there but for the grace of God, go I” canon, this is a touching modern example.
Look, I love Wally Lamb and She’s Come Undone did something to Young Me, but this is common: over time, writers better understand their strengths and/or what readers want from them (not always the same thing), and leeeeaan into that.
That’s why I read Corby’s hard-luck tale with baited breath: just a pretty normal guy, sliding by degrees (like the boiled frog) into addiction, under the normal yoke of life. Until, you know. Tragedy strikes and nothing is ever normal again.
Wally does what Wally does best: describing the reality of prison life and illustrating how far radical empathy goes, just this side of schmaltz; highly recommend.
Counting My Chickens
A delightful collection of musings, articles, lists, and diary entries documenting the ENORMOUS effort it takes to maintain a “country estate,” with some familial remineces thrown in.
The Duchess of Devonshire (and youngest Mitford sister) knew every important person of the 20th century, everything in and of her former home is imbued with historical significance, and you’ll enjoy reading about it; highly recommend.
Conclusion
In the quiet company of these June reads, I found stories and echoes of the human experience: resilience in the face of despair, the enduring power of connection, and the timeless wisdom woven into words.
I hope my June 2025 bite size book reviews open up new literary adventures for you. What literary landscapes are you currently exploring? I’d love to hear!
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Happy Reading!
Love,
