Thank you for joining me here! (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.) I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.
Book #1:
The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo (Length: 332 pages). This book was called THE romance book of 2017, and I’m finally getting around to it! 😉 I will say that I understand the hype . . . this novel is really well done in terms of my fiction trifecta. There is strong character development, the plot is interesting and the setting (or theme) of romance really works here. The narrative format is interesting in that the protagonist is writing a letter of sorts, reminding her boyfriend how they first met (in college) and takes him all the way through to the (somewhat) surprising ending. The plot twists were sufficient to keep me fully-engaged, and the writing is very well done in this fast, very enjoyable read. I would recommend checking this one out if you’re in the mood for a romance novel.
Book #2:
Make Change by Shaun King (Length: 275 pages). I was given this book by one of my best friends who just told me to make sure I read it. It’s written by the de facto founder of the Black Lives Matter movement. The writing here is excellent, and I enjoy how the author gives very concrete steps on how to effect change on any social justice issue, on any level. He walks you through how to volunteer (it’s not just showing up somewhere) all the way through to how to build on a movement. He humanizes the BLM movement as well as sharing stories of his own (often horrifying) experiences growing up. This is a must read!
Book #3:
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (Length: 400 pages). This is the favorite novel of a good friend of mine (who happens to teach high school English to seniors) so I was excited to finally check it out. This is a post-apocalyptic novel, set in a worldwide pandemic, so it’s not for everyone. It is very well-written, as any Atwood novel always is, but the plot is VERY disturbing. The details of the extremely deadly plague (with accompanying gruesome deaths), with some child sexual abuse, are A LOT. But I will say that if you can stomach those details, the plot is excellent–very fast-moving with lots to try to understand. I enjoyed the various literary devices Atwood employs here to propel the narrative (and I get why English teachers enjoy this book), and I will always remember this book.
Book #4:
The Switch by Beth O’Leary (Length: 333 pages). Such a sweet, fun read, that is perfect for this time of year! This is a British novel with a fun plot . . . a grandmother and granddaughter switch flats (and lives) for two months. I love how elderly-friendly this novel is and it’s clear the author understands and adores elderly people, which makes this a joy to read. The plot is very fast-moving, there is excellent character development, the writing is very well-done. The vibe of this book is very A Man Called Ove to me, so if you enjoyed that book (if you haven’t read that one yet, you MUST!) you will very much enjoy this sweet novel.
Lora Terrill 