Books to Check Out: May 2021

May proved to be a super engaging month of books for me. I had a bunch of great things to read, especially the three books I want to talk about below. These are some pretty stellar reads in my opinion, and I hope they make their way into your hands as well.

Later by Stephen King

A fun fact about me, Stephen King is my favorite author. I’ve read all his writing, from novels to short stories, and everything in between. When he comes out with something new, you bet I’ll be reading it. Later was published in March 2021, so this is his most recent outing. It tells the tale of a child who can see dead peoples, and it talks about some of the scenarios and trouble he finds himself in because of this ability.

I don’t want to say anything more. This book is pretty new, and it’s a Stephen King book you need to experience for yourself. As we all know, King is known for horror. While there are some horror moments in Later, it reads as a crime novel. This is what I enjoy so much about this book as well as King’s work in general. He can do so much more than horror. His specialty is amazing characters and storytelling. The characters in Later have motivations, struggles, and wonderful dialogue that makes them all compelling and interesting. He can do so many different genres from sci-fi to western to children’s to everything in between. Later is a must read to see just how talented he is at storytelling that isn’t reliant on horror elements.

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison’s writing is an absolute inspiration to the world. I’ve read books of hers like The Bluest Eye, and figured it was time to read Morrison’s most popular book. Beloved is a story about the effects of slavery in a post-Civil War era. There’s a ghostly element as well, and overall the book has a heavy emotional impact on the reader.

Beloved is required reading in some places for a good reason. The trauma described by the characters from their time as slaves is heavy, but it’s important reading. We all like to think slavery is some kind of super distant memory, but it’s closer than we thought. The repercussions echo to this day, and we have to look back and realize just how horrendous things are. We can’t erase those atrocities or those crimes, and this book gives a voice to those who have been silenced in the past.

Beloved is a book that will bring you to tears. It will make you sad and uncomfortable in many places, but it demands attention, and it’s an American classic for a reason.

Keanu Forever by Billie Oliver

Chill, easy to read books have been a bit of a thing with me as of late. It’s not heavy reading, and it’s something fun and delightful to have on your bookshelf. This month’s insanely chill book is Keanu Forever. It’s really a book to flip through occasionally. The pages contain all sorts of interesting and wholesome tidbits about Keanu Reeves on top of a bunch of fun clip art and collages. The page about him liking puppies for example? It gives you the cutest little collage of puppies and flowers. Visually each page is stunning.

It’ll give you a warm fuzzy feeling to read all about the internet’s favorite boyfriend, Keanu Reeves. He’s truly a gem indeed.

Definitely check out the above books. They’re all super different from each other, and more than worth the read. And be sure to read April’s recommendations here. Happy reading!