Three early summer reads: Songs Only You Know, Goodnight June and Jane Austen’s Country Life

 

    Songs-Only-You-Know-2

Songs Only You Know by Sean Madigan Hoen

An astonishing well-written debut from Hoen. A memoir set in Detroit in the ’90s,  Hoen gives us a front row seat to the trials and tribulations of an American family trying to get by.

Dad is a drug addict, his sister is suicidal and his mom is trying to hold it all together while Hoen survives by immersing himself in punk rock culture. His band, Thoughts of Ionesco, is as hard core as it gets and his dreams of making it big help soften the reality all around him

It is a deeply emotional trip through Hoen’s formative years and an inspiration to the many of us who have shared similar challenges.

 

goodnight June

 

Goodnight June by Sarah Jio

Goodnight Moon is an American classic, holding a special place on the bookshelves of infants and toddlers all across the country. In Goodnight June Jio takes us on a heartfelt fictional  journey of  discovery as we find out just what was the  inspiration for Margaret Wise Brown’s “great green room.”

Set in Seattle, the novel focuses on the relationship of Margret Wise Brown and the aunt of the main character June Anderson, a woman named Ruby who owns Bluebird Books. When Ruby dies she leaves the bookstore to June and the tale begins to unravel. Fun read with good books about books and Seattle juice.

Buy From: Publisher | Powell’s | Amazon

 

 

Jane Austen's Country Life

 

Jane Austen’s Country Life by Deirdre Le Faye

A beautifully produced and illustrated book that delves into Austen’s surroundings which played a prominent part in her life, her letter and her novels. If you are a fan of Jane Austen this book’s focus on her environment will provide significant context for her work.