Nadine J Walters – My Life

Question for myself: Summertime reads? What books have you been reading and what do you have to say about them?

Answer:
My reading pace has slowed a bit, but I’ve shifted away from breezy one-day British chick lit and decided to dive into something a little deeper. Lately, I’ve been absorbed in two books: Basquiat: A Quick Killing in Art by Phoebe Hoban (nonfiction) and Let the Dark Flowers Blossom by Norah Labiner (fiction).

Both books lean toward the darker side and seem to echo each other in unexpected ways. Their writing styles are distinct yet atmospheric—if I had to choose one word to describe them, it would be misty. Characters and events drift in and out, often just out of reach, giving the sense that not everything is meant to be fully grasped.

Basquiat delves into the art world and the brief, brilliant life of Jean-Michel Basquiat—a compelling figure who shook up the art scene only to be devoured by it. Let the Dark Flowers Blossom centers on writers and the literary world, following a layered and often murky search for the perfect story, passed back and forth between characters, with the truth lying somewhere in between.

Both books explore creativity in different forms—visual art and writing—and the struggle to find authenticity and meaning through those mediums. And both end in tragedy, as many memorable stories do.

I won’t go into too much detail—this isn’t a formal book review. I simply wanted to share how much I’ve enjoyed slowing down and immersing myself in more complex narratives. Following winding plotlines and layered characters, real or imagined, has been a pleasure. These books made me pause and think a little more deeply—not just about the creativity of the authors, but about the inner lives of the characters they created.

All in all, it’s been a very good summer of reading so far.