Book Haul for June 2024

I got some exciting new books in June, and (of course) I want to tell you all about them. Expand for more information. 👇
Further Viewing 🎥
Last Month’s Book Haul: • A Huge Book Haul for M...
June’s Book Haul Revisit: • Book Haul Revisit for ...
My Most Anticipated Books for the Middle of 2024: • Exciting Upcoming Book...
The Atlantic’s Great American Novels: • Reacting to The Atlant...
Titles Mentioned 📚
Hombrecito, Santiago Jose Sanchez: bookshop.org/a/99775/97805935...
Small Rain, Garth Greenwell: bookshop.org/a/99775/97803742...
Parade, Rachel Cusk: bookshop.org/a/99775/97803746...
Dear Dickhead, Virginie Despentes (translated by Frank Wynne): bookshop.org/a/99775/97803746...
Nothing Ever Just Disappears: Seven Hidden Queer Histories, Diarmud Hester: bookshop.org/a/99775/97816393...
Chain-Gang All-Stars, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah: bookshop.org/a/99775/97805934...
The Barracks, John McGahern
Winter in the Blood, James Welch: bookshop.org/a/99775/97801431...
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: bookshop.org/a/99775/97803853...
The Mountain Lion, Jean Stafford: bookshop.org/a/99775/97815901...
The Sportswriter, Richard Ford: bookshop.org/a/99775/97806797...
Olive, Again, Elizabeth Strout: bookshop.org/a/99775/97808129...
A Spool of Blue Thread, Anne Tyler: bookshop.org/a/99775/97805533...
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But wait, there's more!
Email: supposedlyfungreg-at-gmail.com
Storygraph: app.thestorygraph.com/profile...
Instagram: / supposedlyfun
Website: supposedlyfun.com/

[@nanimaonovi2528]

I visited a thrift store on vacation last week and ended up going home with one of the employees to look at some old sci fi she didn't want. Great free treasure, but I guess if I ever get murdered you will know what happened. Books got me.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That feels very relatable. 😂

[@MJ-in-Canada]

This definitely sounds like the start of a murder mystery.😄

[@nanimaonovi2528]

@@MJ-in-Canada there's a bookstore in Coombs BC where the stacks of books in the aisles could literally murder you. If there's an earthquake I'd be in the pile somewhere for future archeologists to find.

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@nanimaonovi2528 😂 😂

[@MJ-in-Canada]

@@nanimaonovi2528 😆

[@gamewrit0058]

Aww, Teddy! 🥰🐾 Always love to see him, and I totally understand a pet having a special chair, blanket, pillow. 😆👍 ❤️💛🧡💚💙💜🖤🌈

[@BandysBooks]

Good haul! I just received an audio copy of Rachel Cusk’s Parade. It’s my first time reading her as well. Ahh Chain-Gang All-Stars was my favorite read of 2024 out of like 280 books. It is so good. It is violence, but not gratuitously so.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That's good to know--thanks!

[@karenmoore4430]

Hi Greg A Spool of Blue Thread was great. Chain Gang All Stars was interesting. Just ordered Olive Kitteridge from the library. Love a book haulxx

[@SupposedlyFun]

Me too! 🥂

[@Fangrrrll]

A Spool of Blue Thread is probably my favorite Anne Tyler so far. A multigenerational family story is my literary sweet spot. And Olive Kitteridge and Olive Again combined (because I think the second enhances the first so much) are in my all time top 5 books.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I wasn't too big on Olive Kitteridge when I first read it, but I'm looking forward to a reread.

[@onourpath]

Great haul! I'm a big fan of Greenwell, but have only read his first book (which I call "the Greenwell" because I can *never* remember the title!) Oh, Guernsey!!! This is one of those books that I'd love to read for the first time again. It's on my list of favorite books ever. Ehhhh... Chain-Gang, I liked it, but there's a lot -- a *lot* -- of horrific violence. I did love the love story between the two female leads. The book, for me, was mainly worth reading for one character alone. I can't say anything else about them, or I'll spoil it. A Spool of Blue Thread is lovely -- a very typical Tyler novel that's full of family angst and weirdness. She's got something to say about families, and does it beautifully in Spool. (Just don't expect Homesick Restaurant.) Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Homesick would be difficult to top for me, but I look forward to trying! I love complicated family novels, and she seems to do them well.

[@onourpath]

@SupposedlyFun agreed about Homesick -- it is definitely my favorite of hers. Complicated family stories are so great!

[@nathanfoung2347]

Hi Greg, I recently finished Tin Man. It was an amazing reading experience. Thank you for recommendation. Go well.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I'm so glad you liked it! Be well.

[@cassietower9694]

Thank you for your recommendations! I have purchased and read several of your suggestions since i found you. You'll love Potato Peel Pie Society

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you! I hope you've liked the books you've picked up.

[@Elizabeth-Reads]

Such an interesting haul! I read Hombrecito this month, and thought it was incredible. Recommend you push it up your TBR, because I think you’ll love it.

[@emmavd]

Thanks, Greg!🌷I’m going to read (actually listen to) Olive Kitteridge, but I’m glad you mentioned Olive Again, of which I wasn’t aware. I’ve listened to and loved the Lucy Barton books (Kimberly Farr is a wonderful narrator), and I want to be ready for Tell Me Everything, Elizabeth Strout’s new novel, in which she has Olive and Lucy meet. Very much looking forward to it!

[@KurtAnderson812]

I'm a little over halfway through Hombrecito and I am enjoying it so much. Always wonderful to see Teddy ❤

[@SupposedlyFun]

Teddy continues to be a star. I'm so glad you're liking Hombrecito!

[@jackwalter5970]

I love Garth Greenwell! Can't wait for September 3rd!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I look forward to trying his work for myself!

[@Schwendan]

Nice haul. Happy Reading (when you get around to them). I have one of the first holds on Hombrecito at my library and look forward to reading it when it's available. My thoughts on your Pulitzer-related books: (1) Jean Stafford was already one of my favorite short-story writers when I tackled her collection. I listened to it on a down-and-back east coast drive and regretted not reading it because I had a hard time keeping track of which stories I liked best. I can't say the same for the Katherine Anne Porter collection. I maxed out my library renewals and still couldn't get through it. (2) I enjoyed the Sportswriter and Independence Day and found Frank Bascombe to at least be a sympathetic character, unlike Rabbit Angstrom, the most detestable character I've ever read. (3) Being a New England native I have a strong bias for stories with New England settings, so I think that's why I liked Olive Kitteredge so much. I remember that as I read it I kept seeing Kathy Bates playing Olive, but of course HBO went with another Oscar winner. I didn't care much for Oh William!, so I think it will be a while before I add another Strout to my TBR list. (4) Breathing Lessons was fine but it wasn't one of those books that makes me want to read anything else by the author.

[@Nina_DP]

Oh wow, that Hombrecito opening hooked me hard. Definitely going on the TBR. I love Tyler, and 🧵is a good one. IMO, she hasn't produced too many stinkers. Redhead By the Side of the Road, Saint Maybe, Searching for Caleb, Accidental Tourist . . . so many. Get reading, Greg! And Strout. So good. I love Olive but my favorite series of books by Strout are the (4 now?) Lucy Barton books. Amazing.

[@Money-Easy-Pay]

Your content is outstanding! __ "Challenges are the stepping stones to personal growth.."

[@Bessie-On-Wheels]

I loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

[@jennrecord2784]

I love Montana stories! I just finished The Big Sky and am getting ready to read The Way West by A.B. Guthrie, JR as part of the start of my Pulitzer journey

[@ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

Definitely adding Dear Dickhead and Nothing Ever Just Disappears to my TBR. I love The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society so I hope you do too.

[@MJ-in-Canada]

I’m halfway through “Hombrecito” and the only reason I set it down for now is to watch your video.😀As for “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society,” it’s worth your time when you’re in the mood for it. Okay, see you later. I’m going back to “Hombrecito.”

[@SupposedlyFun]

Ooh, that's good to hear!

[@neetupd8510]

The opening lines of Hombrecito sound promising.... added to my tbr... thank you Greg!😊 A spool of blue thread has been on my tbr since very long... hope I get to it someday soon.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I'm so excited for Hombrecito!

[@gamewrit0058]

I, too, am a mood reader. 2:10 🤝

[@user-yg6ft1iu1i]

I’ll be interested to see if you think Richard Ford has held up, Between Them about his parents was real good as well as Canada. I feel like you about Rachel Cusk (Georg Baselitz is a famous artist who painted upside down ( There’s a great story there) Anne Tyler is kind of hit and miss for me. Thanks for reminding me to read Olive again

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

Rather than Small Rain ,we are having big rain here. 13 degrees with wind and driving rain. Summer in Ireland.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I'm glad I missed most of that when I was there!

[@mradcaqbdb]

The description of Chain Gang All Stars reminded me of a recent brain fart from Trump. He’s talking about having immigrant fights like WWF or indeed like Chain Gang All Stars. Makes it even less likely I will read this book. Interesting book haul. Lots of things I’m not familiar with.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I didn't know he had said anything like that. But then I've been trying to avoid hearing anything he says, so that's not really surprising. 😂 😭

[@mradcaqbdb]

@@SupposedlyFun either this week or last week. Such a moron.

[@jordana99]

I requested Hombrecito from Libby so am waiting for the library to get it! Saw the Potato Peel movie, cute! And have read Welch when I was reading Montana authors. If you have current recommendations for MT authors I am interested!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I actually haven't read many Montana authors yet! And I've lived here for 11 years, so that's not great. I want to try Welch and Doig, and at some point I will need to read A River Runs Through It.

[@jordana99]

@@SupposedlyFun Years ago, before I lived in Montana, I read that collection, The Last Best Place, by Bill Kittridge and Annick Smith. Inspired me to move there!

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@jordana99 I'll have to look for that one! Big Dipper's huckleberry ice cream may have helped inspire me to move here. 😃

[@jordana99]

@@SupposedlyFun Yes!

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@jordana99 I forgot Thomas McGuane! Another Montana author I want to catch up to.

[@audreym859]

I disliked John Updike's Rabbit, Run, and I remember also disliking The Sportwriter, though I can't fully remember why. When it comes to "these white men" issues - as you call them - I do feel the work of Richard Yates is unsurpassed. But then, he's my all-time favorite writer. Unfortunately, he's never won a Pulitzer. Thank you for your video.

[@user-ld7po9tg4x]

Oh gee! Olive Again bothered me so much I tossed it in the trash. Just my opinion but being a senior woman myself Olive is a waste of a (fictional) life.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Oops!

[@onourpath]

Agreed! She's rude, crabby, and unpleasant, although I did like the first book a lot. I usually like unlikable characters, so the book worked for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@Shelf_Improvement]

I would try The Accidental Tourist. I love Anne Tyler, but I didn't enjoy 🧵 but hopefully you will.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I have a copy of Accidental Tourist and may do it next--before I do my reread of Breathing Lessons.