What I’m reading in June 2021: about race, normal people, and the amazing MaddAddam trilogy

My reading in May and June was expected to slow down because of changes happening in my life – we are moving house, meaning a lot of packing, unpacking, unpacking even more, organizing, and decorating. While I enjoy a lot the whole process, it is quite energy draining, taking most of my mental space during spare time.

However, I am happy to share that even in this context I managed to read 3 books – hooray! Atwood is mostly “guilty” for my progress, as her MaddAddam series fascinated me!

---

Currently reading

I am now reading MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood – the last book of the MaddAddam trilogy. The series is a speculative fiction story about genetically engineered humans and animals, and a pandemic that wipes out most of the population. I am very excited about this book, as I loved so much reading the first two books of the series – Oryx and Crake (my review) and The Year of the Flood (my review).

It’s worth mentioning that I’m not really a series lover, but this series .. oh my, it’s definitely worth it!

---

Finished reading

First I finished reading The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (my review). It is the story of Desiree and Stella, identical Black twins with skin colour so light that they could pass as white. The Vanishing Half about family and identity, roots and new beginnings. It offers a lot of food for thoughts and it’s an immersive journey – beware, starting this book will definitely lead to a reading spree! 🙂

---

The second book I read this month was Normal People by Sally Rooney. I received this book from a dear friend and I enjoyed it a lot! It tells follows Connell and Marianne, two teenagers who start a relationship during high school and continue their complicated (or simple?!) relation over the years.

The story was adapted to a TV series by BBC and Hulu – I started watching it, seems to follow very closely the atmosphere of the book.

---

Then I read The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood (my review), the second book of the MaddAddam trilogy. What a captivating and imaginative story, Atwood at her best! The focus of the book is on the Waterless Flood – the pandemic that wipes out most of the humanity.

I enjoyed reading The Year of the Flood more than Oryx and Crake. On one hand I was more familiar with universe (having the knowledge of the first book), and on the other hand the writing style was different – I think Oryx and Crake was more reflective, while The Year of the Flood was more action-packed.

---

Reading next

For the next month I have low expectations for reading, as I will continue my saga with organizing and decorating my home, plus some busy weekends.

So I hope to finish Atwood’s book and maybe read one other book that I have at home. Agatha Christie might come to the rescue (The Murder of Roger Ackroyd) – let’s see!

---

What are you reading in June? Any amazing book you’d like to recommend?

‘Till next time … happy reading!

Georgiana

---

Cover photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash