June Consumption.
Books, books, books...
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Welcome, welcome, welcome,
We’ve reached mid-winter here in Australia, and it is mild to say the least. There are constant reports of ‘the worst ski season in decades’, and my children are still walking around without jumpers (although they are teenage boys, so I’m not sure they’ve worn anything but short sleeves for several years). I find this both pleasant and a little worrying.
I am, very happily, currently on mid-year break from uni and trying very hard to complete my current work in progress before next semester. I am making good progress and having a good time creating some very unlikable characters (—one in particular gives me the ick every time I write any of his dialogue).
Anyway, it’s time for the monthly recap. This month was a month of fantasy, offbeat apocalypses, and a book on writing craft that I want to recommend to everyone!
If you’d like to follow my current reads, TBR, or see the books I’ve left off this list, you can find me on GoodReads here:
The Sundial, by Shirley Jackson.
I’ve been needing to finish my read of The Sundial for longer than I want to admit here, but for some reason, it kept getting relegated to the bottom of the pile on my bedside table. I finally finished it, and I must say that the end was interesting, but in a good way. If you’ve never come across this lesser-known Shirley Jackson (—author of The Haunting of Hill House and The Lottery), it follows the Halloran family. When Aunt Fanny believes the spirit of her long-dead father has come to warn her of a coming apocalypse, the family prepare to bunker down in the house. I think, if you love plot, this one is not for you, not a lot actually happens. But if you read for character, Shirley Jackson has created some of the wittiest, snarkiest, horrible people you’re ever going to come across in The Sundial!
The Residency, by C. J Major. (Publication: 4th August 2026)
Ginny is a single mum and an artist, although the art has taken a backseat in life lately. So, it is a surprise when she receives an offer for an artist’s residency on a small, remote Scottish island, a residency she didn't even apply for. At first, all seems perfect. The house is beautiful, her daughter is eagerly welcomed at the island's school, and the other residents are kind, if a little odd. Soon, Ginny begins noticing things aren't quite right. She signed an agreement before coming to the island and may not have looked closely enough, or taken seriously enough, the rules of her residency.
This story deals with themes of failure as an artist. It brought to mind an episode of Charmed (—yes, I'm going there) in season two, where a person gets magically locked in a painting. There are definitely Picture of Dorian Gray vibes, but crossed with the revenge of a failed artist.
Femlandia, by Christina Dalcher.
Femlandia was recommended to me by a friend when I was trying to explain the concept of my novel. Of course, I went out and found it, because there is nothing scarier than thinking someone has already written the thing you are writing. Needless to say, this is not nearly the same (—and I clearly need to work on my elevator pitch). I did enjoy Femlandia, though. It is set in a newly post-apocalyptic world, inside a women-only community. The newly arrived protagonist begins to question how babies are still being born, hint, it’s not immaculate conception. This novel brought to mind Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, but the voice is closer to a contemporary chick lit vibe.
The School For Good Mothers, by Jessamine Chan.
After thoroughly enjoying The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami in January, I’ve been searching for something similar that also explores themes of modern surveillance set in a near future, with ‘this might happen if things keep going the way we’re heading’ vibes. This hit the mark exactly! The School for Good Mothers follows Frida Lui, who has a ‘very bad day’ and loses custody of her small daughter. In order to have her rights returned, she must spend a year in a ‘school’, learning how to be a good parent. This book goes deep into the ridiculousness of modern parenting expectations, surveillance culture, and the government’s child protection laws.
Caroline: Little House Revisited, by Sarah Miller.
I wrote a little about this book in last week’s article; you can find that below.
Suffice it to say that I loved this. Little House on the Prairie is pure nostalgia for me, and reading the story from the mother’s point of view gave me a whole new respect for the resiliance of women. I highly, highly recommend it.
Theodora’s Tea Shop, by Christie Anne Jones (Publication: July 28th, 2026)
Theodora’s Tea Shop is the upcoming release for YouTuber Christine Anne Jones. If you haven’t seen her channel and you are a writer, enjoy bookish type content or just cozy vlog type videos, I recommend you have a look.
I was excited for this one, which has been marketed as a cozy fantasy with dark elements, and it is that. I just wanted more. I think the problem is that my expectations were so high, having followed the creation, querying and submission process for this book. Then waiting for a longer than usual time for the ARC (—which I understand drums up interest and desire)… The story felt a little disjointed, as if it were two stories connected in the middle, or as if it might have done better as a duology. The characters, although likeable, were not as fleshed out as I wanted. Yes, they had wants and needs and fears and whatever, but they felt lacking in substance.
I still recommend this book, if only for the beautiful descriptions and world-building.
Several Short Sentences About Writing, by Verlyn Klinkenborg.
I promised myself I would read more books on writing craft this year. It’s already July, and although this is only the second one I’ve picked up, I’m very happy with the choice. I’d seen this book—with its minimalist cover and slim profile, floating around everywhere, so I finally decided to buy it. It is packed with so many nuggets of wisdom and (—as one would expect) beautifully constructed sentences that I actually began writing them down.
Some of my favourites:
“There is no correlation between longer sentences and better sentences.”
“You can only become a better writer by becoming a better reader. You have far more experience as a reader than a writer.”
“A true metaphor is a swift and violent twisting of language. A renaming of the already named… Like any other rhetorical device, the less you use it, the more effective it is.”
“A cliche isn’t just a familiar, overused saying. It’s the debris of someone else’s thinking.”
I think this book would benefit everyone, those writing fiction, non-fiction, or even just a simple email.
Well, that’s all from me for this week. I hope you’ve found something that has piqued your interest.
Have a great weekend,
C M Reid at The Ink-Stained Desk.
