Happy Fourth of July to those who celebrate! I’m afraid my book re-cap this month is a bit repetitive–I read two more books by the same author. I thoroughly enjoyed them, however!

The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan

As I mentioned last month, I have recently discovered this author and really like her storytelling style and the subject matter she chooses (i.e., families). I think this book was a bestseller, and I can see why. The Middle Place focuses on the time in adults lives when they occupy both the roles of child and parent. I can attest that it’s interesting navigating the stage of life in which you desperately want your dad to be proud of you but also have children of your own to look after, and you know, raise to be nice humans. Much of the book discusses the author’s own struggle with cancer and also dealing with her father’s recurrent cancer diagnosis, so be prepared for some emotional chapters.

5/5 stars.

Glitter & Glue by Kelly Corrigan

When I checked out the above book from the library, I spotted this one on the shelf too…and just added it to the pile. This book emphasizes the role of mothers as compared to fathers; in the author’s case, Dad was the glitter, and Mom was the glue holding the family together. Most of the book is the re-telling of the author’s adventures as a nanny for a family in Australia, shortly after the mother has died from cancer. The five-month experience soon becomes a sort of “trial run” of motherhood, by the end of which, Kelly has a much greater understanding and fondness for her own mother. I certainly liked this book, but I guess it was harder for me to relate to because I happen to have a very good relationship with my mom; I understood the good intentions behind her household rules well before I became a mother myself. I also don’t have a daughter of my own, so maybe that would have added more dimension to the story for me.

4.5/5 stars.

What did you read in June?