{"id":127068,"date":"2020-07-02T10:49:37","date_gmt":"2020-07-01T23:49:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/?p=127068"},"modified":"2020-07-20T11:20:48","modified_gmt":"2020-07-20T00:20:48","slug":"the-best-books-we-read-in-june-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/2020\/07\/02\/the-best-books-we-read-in-june-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"The best books we read in June 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Best<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

From seminal works of science fiction to the latest stunning historical novel from an Australian master, here are the best books read by Booktopia’s staff in June 2020!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mark Harding – Brand & Content Manager<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Last Astronaut<\/a><\/em> by David Wellington<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"June<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why I loved it:<\/strong> Rendezvous with Rama<\/em> written as a horror novel, this book tells the story of a mission to explore a mysterious alien object that has entered the solar system on a direct course for Earth. The only person who can lead the mission is a reclusive former NASA astronaut whose attempt to reach Mars decades earlier ended in disaster. It\u2019s a thrilling novel that is unapologetic about the big ideas at its heart, and completely immerses the reader in a huge mystery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Olivia Fricot – Senior Content Producer<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo<\/a><\/em> by Taylor Jenkins Reid<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"June<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why I loved it:<\/strong> I adored Daisy Jones & The Six<\/em> by Taylor Jenkins Reid when I read it early last year, and thought it was high time that I turned to her other smash hit, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo<\/em>. I\u2019m so glad that I did – this was a gorgeous and heart-wrenching tale of forbidden love in glamorous old Hollywood that kept me absolutely hooked. Reid has a keen eye for sumptuous detail and she uses it to devastating effect in this book – you won\u2019t see the final twist coming until it\u2019s already knocked you for six.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nick Wasiliev – Social Media Specialist<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?<\/a><\/em> by Philip K. Dick<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"June<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why I loved it:<\/strong> Many think of this classic purely in the context of inspiring Blade Runner<\/em>, and if you go in purely thinking that, it may put you off somewhat. In truth, it is a much more complex world, with the effects of World War Terminus front and centre and Deckard proving to be much of a divisive protagonist than his movie personality. Dick presents a fantastic world in his style and writing, and his portrayal of replicants and the violence they have to resort to in order to survive makes this a much more chilling story. Complex, and compelling!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jo Lewin – Head of Trade Books<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Last Migration<\/a><\/em> by Charlotte McConaghy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"June<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why I loved it:<\/strong> The Last Migration<\/em> is one of a set of imaginative post-apocalyptic environmental novels I’ve read in recent months (alongside The Animals in that Country<\/em> by Laura Jean McKay and Robbie Arnott’s The Rain Heron<\/em>). It seems, as Australians, we’re very concerned with the end of the natural world right now. McConaghy’s offering depicts a not-too-distant future where wild animals are fast becoming a thing of the past. It’s a fascinating premise, but the book doesn’t rely solely on concept. It’s also a character study that investigates grief, love and inter-generational trauma. A sensitive work of environmental fiction worthy of Barbara Kingsolver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ben Hunter – Fiction Category Manager<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A Room Made of Leaves<\/a><\/em> by Kate Grenville<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"June<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why I loved it:<\/strong> It\u2019s been years since Kate Grenville has published a new novel, and in that time her star has risen with the popularity of her Secret River trilogy. She returns now with a new novel that imagines a memoir from Elizabeth Macarthur, the wife of the detestable John Macarthur of early colonial Sydney. An ingenious tapestry of history and invention, A Room Made of Leaves<\/em> is a novel of womanhood, motherhood, secrets, lies, obsession, transformation and the loss of innocence. It\u2019s a true pleasure to read Grenville\u2019s writing, and this one\u2019s been well worth the wait!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shanulisa Prasad – Lifestyle Category Manager<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Mammoth<\/a><\/em> by Chris Flynn<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"June<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why I loved it:<\/strong> I’ve read a lot of books this past month and many of them were wonderful and moving, full of interesting characters and engaging plots, but this is the only one that made me laugh out loud – many times. And honestly I wasn\u2019t expecting this book (told from the point of view of a long extinct American Mastodon waiting to be auctioned off with a motley bunch of fossils) to be funny, but it was! And it was also all of the other things I mentioned, as well as having the added bonus of ending with a glimmer of hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Renae Adolfson – Books Team Coordinator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A Knock at the Door<\/a><\/em> by T.W. Ellis<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"June<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why I loved it:<\/strong> This is a thriller that will keep you on your toes from the first page to the last. As someone who is well acquainted with this genre, it is a challenge to surprise me – yet this novel did just that, over and over again. The story follows Jem, an unlikely protagonist for this tale, as she is an anxiety stricken yoga teacher who isolates herself from life outside her home and small community. However, an unexpected knock at her door throws her carefully constructed world into chaos, upheaving everything she thought she knew about her husband, their life, and herself within a twenty-four hour period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rob O’Hearn – Academic & Professional Category Manager<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar<\/a><\/em> by Oliver Craske<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"June<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why I loved it:<\/strong> It is impossible to quantify the impact that Ravi Shankar has had on popular music, yet alone Hindustani culture. As a bridge from Indian Classical to the Western world, there is no rival. Written for Shankar\u2019s centenary, Indian Sun<\/em> shows us the very earthly, passionate, and ambitious man behind the facade. With his desire to modernise yet protect his precious culture, Shankar was often contradictory, being both a purist and a fusionist. This is a masterly treatment of a complicated giant\u2019s life. It is not a hagiography. Brilliantly definitive and breathtakingly personal, it is a devoted psychological study of a unique creator (flaws included). I loved it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ashleigh Berry – Campaigns Coordinator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing<\/a><\/em> by Hank Green<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"June<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why I loved it:<\/strong> Hank Green has concocted a compelling, modern story mixing social media and science-fiction. Ten-foot-tall metal sculptures of unknown origin appear in dozens of cities across the world overnight. April is the first to document them in a viral video, plunging her into the centre of international media. This novel is completely relevant, delving into the power and perils of social media fame before asking the question, will humanity unite or fracture under global threat?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What was the best book you read in June 2020?<\/strong><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Books by Kate Grenville, Charlotte McConaghy and more!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":127093,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[6678],"tags":[11555,11547,11559,11553,1259,11550,11551,11560,11557,2990,11307,11558,4265,11556,9717,10219,11549,11552,11522],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/BestBooksJune2020-Social.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127068"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=127068"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127068\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":127716,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127068\/revisions\/127716"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/127093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=127068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=127068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=127068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}