What Jenny Read and Recommends
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Jenny Wells’s REads for the week of May 26-June 2, 2023
Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling
I think Todd will like Camp Zero more than I did. I found it interesting but lacking elements to draw me in. It’s light on science fiction, which I appreciated. I connected to the themes and characters an emotional experience of 3 out of 5 stars. I am always interested in women who are sex workers but who fall in love. I found the flushing out of this story to be minimal. Recommended for readers of science fiction who want to expand their reading life.
Of the three books I am reviewing this week, I found this one to be the one I emotionally responded to, though I enjoyed The Golden Couple as a page-turner. Lark is the only survivor of his family who migrated to Ireland because America is in the grip of climate change and religious nationalism (sound familiar?). But the book is endearing, especially because Lark is joined in his survival quest and search for a home with a faithful and comforting beagle, Seamus. “The most unfair thing in the world is that dogs do not live as long as we do.” I agree, Lark. I agree. Recommend for: dog lovers, LGBTQ, a gentle apocalyptic read.
The Gold Couple by Grace Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanan
I plan to read several “Beach Reads” this summer, and The Golden Couple didn’t disappoint. I polished it off quickly and found it easy to read for an hour or more, something I have rarely done since the distracting news of 2020. It’s a good mystery. Maybe you will guess the bad guy before I did, but there are many characters to choose from. Recommend for: summer readers, tame suspense readers.
What are your summer reading plans?