June 2018 Wrap Up

Books Read:
Measure for Measure  by William Shakespeare  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Heat and Dust  by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala  3/5 stars
This novel simultaneously tells the story of Olivia, living in India during the 1920s, and an unnamed woman, who comes to India some forty years later, trying to piece together Olivia's life from her letters.  It goes back and forth between the third person narrative of Olivia's life, and the first person narrator who details both her current life in India and her search for Olivia's past.  Jhabvala is a fine writer, and her prose is excellent.  The stories didn't flow together as well as expected, however, and neither was engrossing.

Goodbye to All That by Robert Graves  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Audio Books Completed:
Decline and Fall  by Evelyn Waugh  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Spotlight  by Patricia Wentworth  3/5 stars
A blackmailer is murdered during a house party, and Miss Silver helps the police with the investigation.  This follows Wentworth's standard formula (young girl becomes involved in a police investigation, seeks Miss Silver's help, and finds love in the end), but is still a relatively good mystery.  The murder itself, though, wasn't fully credible, lowering the rating.

You Sent Me a Letter by Lucy Dawson  4/5 stars
Sophie is awakened in the middle of the night by an intruder with a letter that is to be opened at her birthday party the following night; if she doesn't, her family will be hurt.  This psychological thriller drags a little about three-quarters of the way through, but other than that it is a stressful, intense read that will keep the reader guessing.

Men at Arms by Evelyn Waugh  4/5 stars
The first of Waugh's "Sword of Honor" trilogy, Men at Arms follows Guy Crouchback as he attempts to join the Army at the beginning of WWII.  While a serious novel, Waugh's understated humor and masterful satire make this a good read.

Silent Child by Sarah A. Denzil  4/5 stars  (my review here)

I Am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Officers and Gentlemen by Evelyn Waugh  4/5 stars
In this second of the "Sword of Honor" trilogy, Guy Crouchback is assigned to a commando unit, then is involved with the messy retreat after the Battle of Crete.  (See Men at Arms above.)

Did Not Finish:
Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
Lawson's memoir did not resonate with me like her five star book about mental illness (Furiously Happy).  It was funny in parts, but some bits that were intended to be humorous just didn't work for me.