Commuting to Seattle by bus five days a week gives me a lot of reading time.
Here’s what I read on the bus in June:
Where the Crawdads Sing
by Delia Owens
This felt like a book that will stick with me for quite a while. This book has so many layers and brought me into the story, never revealing itself fully until the very end. Kya Clark has lived in the marsh for years on her own. Shy and intelligent, the townsfolk only know her as the “Marsh Girl,” some even labeling her harshly as trash, letting rumors and gossip form the basis of their opinions. Abandoned by her mother, her siblings, and eventually her mean spirited father, Kya survives on her own learning the ways of the marsh and only interacting with a select few. She goes to Jumpin’ when gas for her boat is needed, the Piggly Wiggly when she can’t get supplies on her own, and also to Tate, a boy who teaches her to read and opens up her world to the future she will have. As her relationship with Tate turns into something more, she will find that same pattern of abandonment over and over again in her life, with the last instance being Chase Andrews, the golden boy of Barkeley Cove. When Chase is found dead and the law turns their eyes to Kya, the townspeople will have to decide if they will let their prejudice result in sacrifice of the “Marsh Girl”.
The Lido
by Libby Page
Just a super sweet read and all around great story – and surprisingly it was exactly what I needed. The lido, an unheated open air pool, will be torn down to make way for the Paradise Living project. Kate, a journalist, is assigned to the story. She first starts by interviewing Rosemary, the longest user of the lido at 86, and from there is introduced to more and more people being affected by the change in the neighborhood. This read is about connection and how people help one another. Growing up in a city that has been upended by change, it was nice to read something so hopeful and beautiful.
What are you reading on your commute? Tag your reads on social media #splbusreads
~posted by Kara P
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