I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
It's been awhile since I've read any true crime books, and I'd been looking forward to this book since hearing about it.
McNamara died before finishing the book, and her research assistant and an investigative journalist used her notes and research to complete it. I admire the completed work, but mourn what might have been - McNamara's sections are the strongest in the book. She has a knack for seemingly effortlessly weaving together an intimate but respectful portrayal of the victim's experience with her own memoir of her quest. It's an impressive work, and hopefully we'll hear news of the capture of the Golden State Killer sooner than later.
I know I'm late to this party, but I recently began listening to the My Favorite Murder podcast. I started one night when I couldn't sleep (this was a poor decision), but I recommend it for daylight hours.
Bare-Faced Messiah: The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard by Russell Miller
This book has been on my "to read" list for some time, as every other book about Scientology references this work as the authoritative biography of L. Ron Hubbard (LRH). Lawrence Wright covers much of the same ground in Going Clear, but I enjoyed reading it from Miller's perspective. He conducted exhaustive interviews and archival research. I'm curious how much about LRH's life has been uncovered since Bare-Faced Messiah's publication in 1987. I finished feeling like Miller uncovered every stone.
I've been interested in Scientology and assorted cults for several years, partly because I'm so curious about how people end up joining groups that require such extreme sacrifice (of time, money, and often your friends and family). I presume that I'm a bad cult candidate, though don't we all??
Speaking of cults, I recently tore through Wild Wild Country, a 6-part documentary on Netflix about the Rajneesh movement's attempted to take over of Wasco County, Oregon. My husband grew up in Oregon (though he was born a few years after these events), and had not heard of this group. It's an addictive series, so be ready to watch a few episodes when you start.
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
I had very good intentions to finish Chernow's Hamilton biography before seeing Hamilton: An American Musical (the book was the inspiration and source for the show). That's why I started a year ahead of time. I did not succeed (the week after is close, yes?).
The book is excellent (and LONG) and gives you enough information to notice the "historical liberties" Lin-Manuel Miranda takes in the musical. They do not detract too significantly from the larger story (and if it gets people more excited about/ interested in history, I'm almost always for it).
Little Fire Everywhere by Celeste Ng
I listened to this book and found myself a) starting an extra load of laundry or prolonging a task so I could keep listening and b) thinking about the book even when I wasn't listening (a sign of a good book). I delayed the end for a bit because even though I was aching to know what happened, I didn't want it to be over.
This was a book club selection and sparked a long discussion about the book - there was a lot to talk about! Ng's 2014 book, Everything I Never Told You, is on my to read list.
Penguin Drop Cap Challenge:
My sister decided to join me in reading the Penguin Drop Caps, and just like an older sibling was ahead before I even began. Because I was rereading ones I'd previously read and was getting stuck on going in order (the opposite of my sister's approach), I decided to skip Lord of the Flies (I can't imagine it being more pleasant a second time around and as an adult) and jump around the list. This month, I read:
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
I struggled with poetry all through school, and I continue to not especially enjoy reading poetry.
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
This story was so familiar to me, I feel like I might have read it (or part of it) in college, but I don't remember it well enough to know for sure.
