Reading slump buster, favorite film cameras, and shopping small
June was packed with summer goodness
Welcome to Monthly Wrap, where I share three books I loved last month, three books Iām looking forward to, and three good things.
A quick note before we get into it: it's Prime Day, which means it's a great time to be reminded that where you shop matters. If you're book-browsing, check out Bookshop.org and LibroFMāthey both support indie bookstores, and I love what they stand for.
I'm happy to report that summer is off to a great start after a lovely June. I'm a Pisces, and so I love water. I found myself on a boat a few times already this past month and have been swimming several times, which is a real feat in chilly New England waters.
It's the height of wedding season and I'm grateful that even though work has been busy it's such a damn joy to call what I do my job. It's lovely to spend wedding days with people who are celebrating love, connection, and joy. Especially in the current state of the world. And I'm grateful that my sessions often bring me to the coast to enjoy the natural beauty of this state, which has grown to be my home. I've also seen some really beautiful sunsets this month and it's brought me great joy.
When I haven't been behind the camera, we managed to enjoy a long weekend in Bar Harbor (for a wedding), day tripped to Monhegan Island, and spent a week at the lake with my family. If June is any indication of what the rest of the summer holds, I'm ready.
As for my reading, June was slower than usual for me. I realized two things were slowing down my reading. First, I kept reading on my Kindle, but I just wasn't in the mood for that, so I stowed it away for now and have opted for physical books. And second, I read too many books in the first person. This is a strangely specific problem, but once I started seeking out books in the third person, I started enjoying them so much more. Isn't it funny how the longer we are avid readers, the more nuance we can parse out in our reading lives?
As for July, I'm hoping to read voraciously, opt for being outside more often than in, and continue actively enjoying every day of this fleeting season. Now, onto the books...
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Audition by Katie Kitamura is an ambiguous novel that left me with many questions, but I loved that it prompted me to think about it so much. It explores, in two sections, two different versions of an actress's life and was, for me, a page-turner.
Florida by Lauren Groff is a collection of stories that showcases both Groff's ability to write and the beauty and strangeness that can be found in the wilds of Florida.
Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje1 is a quiet novel that sucked me in immediately. It's a study of a character in grief, of new beginnings, of first love, and of a place. Hilje compared it to The Paper Palace, Thirst for Salt, and Writers & Lovers, and that feels spot on.
Want more recs? See more of my thoughts on these books and everything else I read in June here:
So Good to See You by Francesca Hornak (out now) because I thoroughly enjoyed her holiday novel a few years ago and was excited to see that she has a new book out. This latest novel is set at a lavish wedding in the French countryside where three friends reunite after 15 years of not speaking. That checks a lot of my boxes!
A Witchās Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (out 7/15) because I have been eagerly awaiting the follow-up to her cozy debut that was a big hit a few years ago. I canāt wait to return to her cozy world of light magic. It sounds like a perfect one to save for a rainy summer day.
Maggie; or, A Man and a Woman Walk Into A Bar by Katie Yee (out 7/22) because Iāve been seeing lots of buzz about it recently and ā comparison to Nora Ephron meets Jenny Offill officially sold me earlier this week.
Film photos. As part of my mission to slow down this summer and un-tech myself, I have dubbed this my summer of film photography. Itās trendy right now and I love it! Itās such a great way to slow down your practice and notice things. I love anything that brings more intention and slowness to my life. I dusted off my film cameras and recently got my first scans back from the lab. They came out better than I hoped and have inspired me to continue on the journey. I shot these on my Canon EOS Rebel Ti (a hand-me-down from my mother-in-law many years ago) with my Sigma 35mm lens (my absolute favorite lens) and my Canon AF35M, which is such a fun camera for snapshots.
first few film scans! Below Deck Sailing Yacht. I know Iām a broken record about this, but Iām back on a Below Deck kick! After a particularly busy week and wedding weekend, I was looking for something to veg out with on a Sunday and dove into the backlog of Sailing Yacht seasons, and now I canāt stop. My favorite franchises are Below Deck Down Under because of Captain Jason and Below Deck Sailing Yacht because of the sailing! I love it. Sometimes you need something a little mindless and escapist, and if thatās watching people live their best and worst lives on a sailing yacht, then great.
long bike rides: my favorite New bike. I love riding my bike, and for a long time, Iāve had a pink cruiser bike that was perfect for city living that I used to ride to and from the office every day. Itās a bit of a boat since itās designed for commuting and weighs a ton. Since we moved to Maine, Iāve continued to use this bike for our bike rides, and Dean has been trying to convince me to upgrade to a hybrid bike for a few years. I resisted because I love my pink bike with its basket so much, but a few weeks ago, Dean found a really great bike on Facebook Marketplace that was barely used. We went to look at it and took it home! No surprise here: I love it! Itās much lighter and easier to navigate the bike paths. Since then, I did a 14-mile ride with my Dad to Old Orchard Beach and a 9-mile ride to Pine Point with Dean for a beach day. And was able to keep my removable basket for use when I want ā”Ģ
Until next time,
From Julys past:
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Thank you to Simon & Schuster for my free copy. All opinions are my own.
Love this Michelle! Do you think those cameras are beginner friendly? I want something thatās not my phone, but also not super complicated (like I can find my DSLR or mirrorless cam!)
I just brought home my dadās Canon AE-1 from the 70s and Iām excited to use it! I have to a little refresher because I havenāt used it since my high school photography classes that were many, many years ago.