I often post short reviews of books I’ve read in my personal social media pages, as I love to share my passion for books with others.  I’m listing the books I’ve read each month here on this blog, with my thoughts on each as well as whether I’d recommend them to others.  I do have an eclectic taste in books, and will choose books based on my mood, or what’s going on in my life that week.  (Most, if not all, of the books below include links to the Kindle store on Amazon, and the page numbers reflect the number of Kindle pages).  I hope you enjoy this series on my blog!

Book #1: 

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin (Length: 352 pages).  This book has been on so many recommended book lists, and I finally was able to get it off the Reserved list at the library.  Not sure it was worth the wait.  This book is VERY well-written, but it was too depressing for me (and I LIKE dark books!).  Essentially this is about four different siblings who have knowledge of the day they will die.  Each sibling is a dysfunctional human being, and each isn’t inherently likeable, which made it difficult for me to get emotionally involved with the novel.  The quality of the writing here is clearly why this book was an instant bestseller, but sadly, it’s not my cup of tea.  

From the publisher: If you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life?

It’s 1969 in New York City’s Lower East Side, and word has spread of the arrival of a mystical woman, a traveling psychic who claims to be able to tell anyone the day they will die. The Gold children—four adolescents on the cusp of self-awareness—sneak out to hear their fortunes.

The prophecies inform their next five decades. Golden-boy Simon escapes to the West Coast, searching for love in ’80s San Francisco; dreamy Klara becomes a Las Vegas magician, obsessed with blurring reality and fantasy; eldest son Daniel seeks security as an army doctor post-9/11; and bookish Varya throws herself into longevity research, where she tests the boundary between science and immortality.

A sweeping novel of remarkable ambition and depth, The Immortalists probes the line between destiny and choice, reality and illusion, this world and the next. It is a deeply moving testament to the power of story, the nature of belief, and the unrelenting pull of familial bonds.

Book #2:  

Force of Nature by Jane Harper (Length: 329 pages).  This novel is a bit of a sequel to “The Dry” which was a bit annoying to find out after  I received it from the library, as the repeated references to the protagonist (Federal Agent Aaron Falk) were oblique in nature.  The plot (five women are on a team-building hike for their company and one goes missing) is interesting enough that I wanted to keep reading further.  The writing in this mystery novel isn’t exactly “stunning” or “breathless” per the reviews, but it’s definitely worth a library check-out.  In my opinion, this novel is more about the relationships among the various characters than the mystery-driven plot, so if you read this with that proviso in mind, you’ll enjoy it as well.

From the publisher:

Five women go on a hike. Only four return. Jane Harper, the New York Times bestselling author of The Dry, asks: How well do you really know the people you work with?

When five colleagues are forced to go on a corporate retreat in the wilderness, they reluctantly pick up their backpacks and start walking down the muddy path. But one of the women doesn’t come out of the woods. And each of her companions tells a slightly different story about what happened.

Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk has a keen interest in the whereabouts of the missing hiker. In an investigation that takes him deep into isolated forest, Falk discovers secrets lurking in the mountains, and a tangled web of personal and professional friendship, suspicion, and betrayal among the hikers. But did that lead to murder?

Book #3:

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware (Length: 384 pages).  This is the fourth novel by this author (I’ve read all three of her previous books:  In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10, and The Lying Game).  I’m a fan of British authors and settings in general, but while I haven’t been overly-impressed with Ms. Ware’s first three novels, I really enjoyed this fun read!  As Meredith Gray would say, “It’s very dark and twisty.”  I loved the setting and scenery in this book (Gothic manor in England), and I’m now eager to read my copy of  Rebecca  by Daphne du Maurier as this book apparently was influenced by that classic novel.  The author’s character development really shines in this book in comparison to her first three, but I was also pleasantly surprised at how difficult it was (for me at least) to solve the mystery at the book’s center.  Definitely check this one out!  

From the publisher: On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes very quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person—but also that the cold-reading skills she’s honed as a tarot card reader might help her claim the money.

Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the deceased…where it dawns on her that there is something very, very wrong about this strange situation and the inheritance at the center of it.

Full of spellbinding menace and told in Ruth Ware’s signature suspenseful style, this is an unputdownable thriller from the Agatha Christie of our time.

I often post short reviews of books I’ve read in my personal social media pages, as I love to share my passion for books with others.  I’m listing the books I’ve read each month here on this blog, with my thoughts on each as well as whether I’d recommend them to others.  I do have an eclectic taste in books, and will choose books based on my mood, or what’s going on in my life that week.  (Most, if not all, of the books below include links to the Kindle store on Amazon, and the page numbers reflect the number of Kindle pages).  I hope you enjoy this series on my blog!

Book #1: 

North by Scott Jurek (Length: 305 pages).  I really enjoyed this read about the setting of a new speed record northbound on the Appalachian Trail (47 days!) in 2015.  I’ve read two of Scott Jurek’s previous books and I am a fan of his writing style, and of his ultra-running abilities.  Very impressive guy!  In this book I enjoyed his  anecdotes regarding his vegan diet and the race support his wife provided.  This was a bit stressful to read whilst lounging on the couch 🙂 but definitely worth the library check out.  

From the publisher: From the author of the bestseller Eat and Run, a thrilling new memoir about his grueling, exhilarating, and immensely inspiring 46-day run to break the speed record for the Appalachian Trail.

Scott Jurek is one of the world’s best known and most beloved ultrarunners. Renowned for his remarkable endurance and speed, accomplished on a vegan diet, he’s finished first in nearly all of ultrarunning’s elite events over the course of his career. But after two decades of racing, training, speaking, and touring, Jurek felt an urgent need to discover something new about himself. He embarked on a wholly unique challenge, one that would force him to grow as a person and as an athlete: breaking the speed record for the Appalachian Trail. North is the story of the 2,189-mile journey that nearly shattered him.

Book #2: 

The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood (Length: 338 pages).  This is a really charming book about a friendship between a 104-year old woman and an 11-year old boy.  I’m a fan of character-driven novels, with excellent writing and witty dialogue, and this book meets all 3 requirements in spades.  This book is reminiscent of A Man Called Ove, so if you’re a fan of that type of novel, definitely check this one out!

From the publisher: The story of your life never starts at the beginning. Don’t they teach you anything at school?

So says 104-year-old Ona to the 11-year-old boy who’s been sent to help her out every Saturday morning. As he refills the bird feeders and tidies the garden shed, Ona tells him about her long life, from first love to second chances. Soon she’s confessing secrets she has kept hidden for decades.

One Saturday, the boy doesn’t show up. Ona starts to think he’s not so special after all, but then his father arrives on her doorstep, determined to finish his son’s good deed. The boy’s mother is not so far behind. Ona is set to discover that the world can surprise us at any age, and that sometimes sharing a loss is the only way to find ourselves again.

 

Book #3: 

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (Length: 546 pages–a LONG one!).  SUCH a fun read!  I’ve had this one on my Kindle for the past 4 years, and just now got around to reading it (after a few false starts).  With the movie coming out, I thought it would be a nice summer read, and I was right!  The chapters are organized by characters, all centered around one plot line.  The plot is a bit flimsy, and the characters aren’t very well-developed, so don’t expect an award-winning read.  However, I enjoyed learning about the culture in Singapore/China, as well as the lives of the mega-rich young billionaire society.  Very interesting and fun read!  

From the publisher: The acclaimed international bestseller (“A dizzily shopaholic comedy.” —The New York Times) soon to be a MAJOR MOTION PICTURE starring Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh and Gemma Chan!

When New Yorker Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home and quality time with the man she hopes to marry. But Nick has failed to give his girlfriend a few key details. One, that his childhood home looks like a palace; two, that he grew up riding in more private planes than cars; and three, that he just happens to be the country’s most eligible bachelor.

On Nick’s arm, Rachel may as well have a target on her back the second she steps off the plane, and soon, her relaxed vacation turns into an obstacle course of old money, new money, nosy relatives, and scheming social climbers.

Book #4: 

Our Little Secret by Roz Nay (Length: 256 pages).  I couldn’t put down this thriller because it was well-written, with strong character development.  I kept reading to find out what happened with the characters I came to know.  However, be warned that the protagonist isn’t likeable, and the ending isn’t very surprising, but it is an interesting plot to follow throughout.  The plot construction itself (a flashback from inside a police station) reminded me of the movie The Usual Suspects.  

From the publisher:  

A cracking read…Our Little Secret builds to a deliciously dark conclusion.” —Ruth Ware, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in Cabin 10

Roz Nay’s Our Little Secret is a twisted tale of love, pain, and revenge that will stay with the reader long after they turn the last page.

They say you never forget your first love. What they don’t say though, is that sometimes your first love won’t forget you…

Angela Petitjean sits in a cold, dull room. The police have been interrogating her for hours, asking about Saskia Parker. She’s the wife of Angela’s high school sweetheart, HP, and the mother of his child. She has vanished. Homicide Detective J. Novak believes Angela knows what happened to Saskia. He wants the truth, and he wants it now.

 

Book #5: 

A Life Intercepted by Charles Martin (Length: 328 pages).  I stumbled across this author (and novel), discovered he has many, many fans, and now I know why.  This particular book is about a football quarterback, and clearly has been written by someone who loves the game of football.  While I do not, I did enjoy learning about the intricacies of the sport.  This novel features very well-developed characters, with a bit of a surprise ending.  The resolution of the plot is a bit too pat, but overall, it’s well-constructed and makes me want to read more from this author.  

From the publisher: Twelve years ago Matthew “the Rocket” Rising had it all. Married to his high school sweetheart and one of the winningest quarterbacks in the history of college football, he was the number one NFL draft pick. But on the night of the draft, he plummeted from the pinnacle of esteem. Falsely accused of a heinous crime with irrefutable evidence, it seemed in an instant all was lost–his reputation, his career, his freedom, and most devastatingly, the love of his life. Having served his sentence and never played a down of professional football, Matthew leaves prison with one goal–to find his wife, Audrey, whom no one has seen since the trial. He returns to an unwelcoming reception from his Gardi, Georgia, hometown to learn that Audrey has taken shelter from the media with the nuns at a Catholic school. There she has discovered a young man with the talent to achieve the football career Matthew should have had. All he needs is the right coach. Although helping the boy means Matthew violates the conditions of his release and–if discovered–reincarceration for life, he’ll take the chance with hope of winning back Audrey’s love.

 

Book #6: 

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (Length: 354 pages).  Wow!  This book is officially on my top 10 book list, and it’s a MUST-READ for every citizen of the United States, regardless of your political beliefs.  As a former prosecutor, I have my own stories about the justice system, and I’ve seen a lot that I’m not proud to have seen, but this biographical account from a fellow attorney just blew me away!  His account of the various injustices on death row are heart-breaking, and must be heard for things to changes.  While this book follows the case of one individual who was wrongfully-convicted, in alternate chapters the author reveals other individuals (even children) who should not be on death row, and even individuals who were executed who were later found to be innocent.  Even as a member of the legal profession, I wasn’t aware of those cases.  This isn’t a sad or depressing book, but it is an important read.  

From the publisher: Winner of the Carnegie Medal for Nonfiction | Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Nonfiction | Winner of a Books for a Better Life Award | Finalist for the Los Angeles Book Prize | Finalist for the Kirkus Reviews Prize | An American Library Association Notable Book

A powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix our broken system of justice—from one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time
 
Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he didn’t commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machination, and legal brinksmanship—and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever.

Just Mercy is at once an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer’s coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice.

I often post short reviews of books I’ve read in my personal social media pages, as I love to share my passion for books with others.  I’m listing the books I’ve read each month here on this blog, with my thoughts on each as well as whether I’d recommend them to others.  I do have an eclectic taste in books, and will choose books based on my mood, or what’s going on in my life that week.  (Most, if not all, of the books below include links to the Kindle store on Amazon, and the page numbers reflect the number of Kindle pages).  I hope you enjoy this series on my blog!

Book #1: 

The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin (Length: 348 pages).  I LOVED this book!  So much fun!  I had read that this was the book version of the TV show Gray’s Anatomy, and I’d have to agree . . . if we’re talking about the show’s early seasons with a splash of comedic timing and adding very high-quality writing.  I thought the character development in this novel is excellent, and I enjoyed the “surprise” ending.  The novel is a touch confusing with chapters alternating between the two main characters, as well as alternating between past and present, but after reflection, I think this was a somewhat necessary narrative device.  TWO enthusiastic thumbs up for a fun, well-written beach read!

From the publisher: Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2018 by Southern Living, Elite Daily, and Writer’s Digest

A debut novel set against a background of hospital rounds and life-or-death decisions that pulses with humor and empathy and explores the heart’s capacity for forgiveness…

Zadie Anson and Emma Colley have been best friends since their early twenties, when they first began navigating serious romantic relationships amid the intensity of medical school. Now they’re happily married wives and mothers with successful careers–Zadie as a pediatric cardiologist and Emma as a trauma surgeon. Their lives in Charlotte, North Carolina are chaotic but fulfilling, until the return of a former colleague unearths a secret one of them has been harboring for years.

As chief resident, Nick Xenokostas was the center of Zadie’s life–both professionally and personally–throughout a tragic chain of events in her third year of medical school that she has long since put behind her. Nick’s unexpected reappearance during a time of new professional crisis shocks both women into a deeper look at the difficult choices they made at the beginning of their careers. As it becomes evident that Emma must have known more than she revealed about circumstances that nearly derailed both their lives, Zadie starts to question everything she thought she knew about her closest friend.

Book #2: 

Mastering the Art of French Eating by Ann Mah (Length: 270 pages).  This book is an interesting memoir of a three-year period in Paris, written from the perspective of a lonely diplomat’s foodie wife.  I’m not a foodie (at all!) but I adore Paris, traveling and history, so this read was definitely worth it in those aspects.   The author is a very strong writer, and I enjoyed reading the many descriptive passages.  This one is a worth checking out from the library.    

From the publisher: 
When journalist Ann Mah’s diplomat husband is given a three-year assignment in Paris, Ann is overjoyed. A lifelong foodie and Francophile, she immediately begins plotting gastronomic adventures à deux. Then her husband is called away to Iraq on a year-long post—alone. Suddenly, Ann’s vision of a romantic sojourn in the City of Light is turned upside down.

So, not unlike another diplomatic wife, Julia Child, Ann must find a life for herself in a new city.  Journeying through Paris and the surrounding regions of France, Ann combats her loneliness by seeking out the perfect pain au chocolat and learning the way the andouillette sausage is really made. She explores the history and taste of everything from boeuf Bourguignon to soupe au pistou to the crispiest of buckwheat crepes. And somewhere between Paris and the south of France, she uncovers a few of life’s truths.

Like Sarah Turnbull’s Almost French and Julie Powell’s New York Times bestseller Julie and Julia, Mastering the Art of French Eating is interwoven with the lively characters Ann meets and the traditional recipes she samples. Both funny and intelligent, this is a story about love—of food, family, and France.

Book #3: 

Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman (Length: 320 pages).  This was a guilty pleasure read for me.  The subject matter (the history of The Bachelor TV show franchise) is very cheesy but the writing quality is really good.  The author includes dozens of little factoids about the show and behind the scenes action that I wasn’t aware of previously.  This book is a great look at reality TV overall, and it was worth a library check out.  

From the publisher:  For fifteen years and thirty-five seasons, the Bachelor franchise has been a mainstay in American TV viewers’ lives. Since it premiered in 2002, the show’s popularity and relevance has only grown–more than eight million viewers tuned in to see the conclusion of the most recent season of The Bachelor.

The iconic reality television show’s reach and influence into the cultural zeitgeist is undeniable. Bestselling writers and famous actors live tweet about it. Die-hard fans–dubbed “Bachelor Nation”–come together every week during each season to participate in fantasy leagues and viewing parties.

Bachelor Nation is the first behind-the-scenes, unauthorized look into the reality television phenomenon. Los Angeles Times journalist Amy Kaufman is a proud member of Bachelor Nation and has a long history with the franchise–ABC even banned her from attending show events after her coverage of the program got a little too real for its liking. She has interviewed dozens of producers, contestants, and celebrity fans to give readers never-before-told details of the show’s inner workings: what it’s like to be trapped in the mansion “bubble”; dark, juicy tales of producer manipulation; and revelations about the alcohol-fueled debauchery that occurs long before the fantasy suite.

Book #4: 

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (Length: 496 pages).  I picked up this 2017 National Book Award Finalist to see if I’d like to read it next.  An hour later, I looked up and realized, yep, I want to read this book!  😉  The storyline sucked me in, with its sweeping saga of a Korean family in Japan in the 20th century (from early 1900s to present day).  This book is very lengthy with dozens of characters, but the chapters reminded me of a daisy chain, with one character linking to the next.  This method reduces confusion for the reader, and makes the plot easy to follow.  The writing is excellent (I should hope so!) and this novel is more plot/narrative driven than character driven, but the characters are still fleshed out sufficiently to make the reader care about what happens to them.  I LOVED this book!

From the publisher:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * #1 BOSTON GLOBE BESTSELLER * USA TODAY BESTSELLER

In this gorgeous, page-turning saga, four generations of a poor Korean immigrant family fight to control their destiny in 20th-century Japan, exiled from a home they never knew.

“There could only be a few winners, and a lot of losers. And yet we played on, because we had hope that we might be the lucky ones.”

In the early 1900s, teenaged Sunja, the adored daughter of a crippled fisherman, falls for a wealthy stranger at the seashore near her home in Korea. He promises her the world, but when she discovers she is pregnant–and that her lover is married–she refuses to be bought. Instead, she accepts an offer of marriage from a gentle, sickly minister passing through on his way to Japan. But her decision to abandon her home, and to reject her son’s powerful father, sets off a dramatic saga that will echo down through the generations.

Richly told and profoundly moving, Pachinko is a story of love, sacrifice, ambition, and loyalty. From bustling street markets to the halls of Japan’s finest universities to the pachinko parlors of the criminal underworld, Lee’s complex and passionate characters–strong, stubborn women, devoted sisters and sons, fathers shaken by moral crisis–survive and thrive against the indifferent arc of history.

 

 

I often post short reviews of books I’ve read in my personal social media pages, as I love to share my passion for books with others.  I’m listing the books I’ve read each month here on this blog, with my thoughts on each as well as whether I’d recommend them to others.  I do have an eclectic taste in books, and will choose books based on my mood, or what’s going on in my life that week.  (Most, if not all, of the books below include links to the Kindle store on Amazon, and the page numbers reflect the number of Kindle pages).  I hope you enjoy this series on my blog!

Book #1: 

The Agatha Christie Book Club by C.A. Larmer (Length: 283 pages).  This mystery series is based on such an interesting premise–each book is focused on one particular Agatha Christie novel–and I’m a HUGE AC fan, so I was very excited about this series.  However, I was pretty disappointed with this first book.  The mystery in this particular novel is not well-plotted, nor are the characters well-developed.  Furthermore, the quality of writing is sub-par, with entirely too may grammatical and spelling errors.  Perhaps this book’s editor suffered from narcolepsy?!  

From the publisher:  
When Alicia Finlay walks out on her boring old book club and decides to start a new one—one devoted to her favorite mystery writer Agatha Christie—little does she know her new club is about to stumble into a mystery of their own. It’s a mystery so baffling it would leave even the Queen of Crime scratching her head…

After gathering seven crime buffs together—including young librarian Missy (as ditzy as Miss Marple and as sharp), fashionista Claire, paleontologist Perry (both stylish and fastidious like Poirot), dashing Dr Anders, a poisons expert, and socialite Barbara Parlour—Alicia grows suspicious when one of them fails to show for the next book club.
Barbara has disappeared from the face of the earth and her arrogant husband, Arthur, seems coldly unconcerned. The group suspects him of foul play until he suddenly shows up dead. With two baffling mysteries and time fast running out, the book club decides to do as the meddling Miss Marple would do and investigate!
C.A. Larmer, author of the popular Ghostwriter Mystery novels, shines again in this exciting new series that is fun and easy to read with eclectic characters and a plot you simply can’t put down.

 

Book #2: 

I am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll (Length: 302 pages).  In this psychological thriller, the protagonist (Ella) sees 2 teen girls on a train in England being chatted up by 2 suspicious young men.  The encounter bothers her but she ultimately chooses to do nothing, and 1 girl ends up dead.  One year later after an appeal on the anniversary of the girl’s death, things start happening.  This book is very well-written, with strong characters.  I couldn’t guess who the killer was, which is always nice.  There are a few plot holes (ie, WHY was the killer the way he was) but overall, I’d highly recommend this.  Great beach or vacation read!

From the publisher:  

An Amazon Charts bestseller.

What would it take to make you intervene?

When Ella Longfield overhears two attractive young men flirting with teenage girls on a train, she thinks nothing of it—until she realises they are fresh out of prison and her maternal instinct is put on high alert. But just as she’s decided to call for help, something stops her. The next day, she wakes up to the news that one of the girls—beautiful, green-eyed Anna Ballard—has disappeared.

A year later, Anna is still missing. Ella is wracked with guilt over what she failed to do, and she’s not the only one who can’t forget. Someone is sending her threatening letters—letters that make her fear for her life.

Then an anniversary appeal reveals that Anna’s friends and family might have something to hide. Anna’s best friend, Sarah, hasn’t been telling the whole truth about what really happened that night—and her parents have been keeping secrets of their own.

Someone knows where Anna is—and they’re not telling. But they are watching Ella.

Book #3: 

I Liked my Life by Teresa Driscoll (Length: 273 pages).  This novel centers around a mother’s suicide, and is written from 4 perspectives: the teen daughter, the widowed husband, the deceased (in purgatory?) and the woman the deceased decides would be a good replacement for her.  This is VERY well-written, with an excellent and satisfying plot resolution.  The topics raised here are thought-provoking and covered in a realistic, yet empathetic, manner.  Two thumbs up!

From the publisher: 

“An absolutely stunning book…remarkable.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 stars, Top Pick   A story from debut author Abby Fabiaschi that is “as absorbing as it is illuminating, and as witty as it is heartbreaking.”

Maddy is a devoted stay-at-home wife and mother, host of excellent parties, giver of thoughtful gifts, and bestower of a searingly perceptive piece of advice or two. She is the cornerstone of her family, a true matriarch…until she commits suicide, leaving her husband Brady and teenage daughter Eve heartbroken and reeling, wondering what happened. How could the exuberant, exacting woman they loved disappear so abruptly, seemingly without reason, from their lives? How they can possibly continue without her? As they sift through details of her last days, trying to understand the woman they thought they knew, Brady and Eve are forced to come to terms with unsettling truths.

Maddy, however, isn’t ready to leave her family forever. Watching from beyond, she tries to find the perfect replacement for herself. Along comes Rory: pretty, caring, and spontaneous, with just the right bit of edge…but who also harbors a tragedy of her own. Will the mystery of Maddy ever come to rest? And can her family make peace with their history and begin to heal?

Book #4: 

When We Were the Kennedys by Monica Wood(Length: 258 pages).  This is a memoir written by a woman who grew up in a large family in Mexico, Maine.  The time frame is mostly focused on a year after the father died, just before JFK was assassinated, and is written from the author’s 9 year old’s perspective.   This memoir is VERY well-written, and is more literary than a fluffy beach read.  I enjoyed the author’s examination of religion/Catholicism and labor disputes in this paper mill town.  Highly recommend this book, and I am going to check out others this author has written.  

From the publisher:  

 

Winner of the 2012 Sarton Memoir Award

“Every few years, a memoir comes along that revitalizes the form…With generous, precise, and unsentimental prose, Monica Wood brilliantly achieves this . . . When We Were the Kennedys is a deeply moving gem!”—Andre Dubus III, author of House of Sand and Fog and Townie

Mexico, Maine, 1963: The Wood family is much like its close, Catholic, immigrant neighbors, all dependent on the fathers’ wages from the Oxford Paper Company. But when Dad suddenly dies on his way to work, Mum and the four deeply connected Wood girls are set adrift. When We Were the Kennedys is the story of how a family, a town, and then a nation mourns and finds the strength to move on.

“On her own terms, wry and empathetic, Wood locates the melodies in the aftershock of sudden loss.”—Boston Globe

 

I often post short reviews of books I’ve read in my personal social media pages, as I love to share my passion for books with others.  I’m listing the books I’ve read each month here on this blog, with my thoughts on each as well as whether I’d recommend them to others.  I do have an eclectic taste in books, and will choose books based on my mood, or what’s going on in my life that week.  (Most, if not all, of the books below include links to the Kindle store on Amazon, and the page numbers reflect the number of Kindle pages).  I hope you enjoy this series on my blog!

Book #1: 

The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison (Length: 300 pages).  This is a dystopian, almost sci-fi novel with VERY disturbing plot elements (ie, rape/violence against women).  However, I will say the addition of these elements are NOT gratuitous, and do advance the novel’s plot.  Thanks to this book’s vivid imagery and strong character development, along with its imaginative plot, I could not put this book down (causing me to live on 4 hours total sleep the next day).  It’s that good!  I will definitely remember this book for years to come.  

From the publisher:  

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2016 and Philip K. Dick Award Winner

When she fell asleep, the world was doomed. When she awoke, it was dead. In the wake of a fever that decimated the earth’s population—killing women and children and making childbirth deadly for the mother and infant—the midwife must pick her way through the bones of the world she once knew to find her place in this dangerous new one. Gone are the pillars of civilization. All that remains is power—and the strong who possess it.

A few women like her survived, though they are scarce. Even fewer are safe from the clans of men, who, driven by fear, seek to control those remaining. To preserve her freedom, she dons men’s clothing, goes by false names, and avoids as many people as possible. But as the world continues to grapple with its terrible circumstances, she’ll discover a role greater than chasing a pale imitation of independence.  After all, if humanity is to be reborn, someone must be its guide.

Book #2: 

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen (Length: 342 pages).  I’m not sure why this one popped up on my TBR (to be read) list but it did.  This book is yet another psychological suspense novel a la the Gone Girl/Girl on a Train genre.  When I first began this novel I recognized a few plot twists that are suspiciously similar to The Last Mrs. Parrish (previously reviewed here).  This book is heavy on plot development (which I typically enjoy as I get bored easily) but not enough on character development (which is the sign of a skilled writer, in my humble opinion).  For example, why is the protagonist really scared/too weak to act in some situations, but not others?  I’d classify this book as a fun mind-candy, beach read, but it’s not satisfying in the long run.  Unlike the book I reviewed above, I won’t remember this one in (even) a month.  

From the publisher:  

“Jaw dropping. Unforgettable. Shocking.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
When you read this book, you will make many assumptions.
You will assume you are reading about a jealous ex-wife.
You will assume she is obsessed with her replacement – a beautiful, younger woman who is about to marry the man they both love.
You will assume you know the anatomy of this tangled love triangle.
Assume nothing.  Read between the lies.

Book #3: 

Caroline: Little House, Revisited by Sarah Miller (Length: 385 pages).  I was SO excited to read this book, as the Little House series is the reason I became an ardent book lover as a child.  (My mom was inspired by that series’ author in naming me, so there’s also that).   I found this novel to be interesting in that it was written from the perspective of Laura Ingalls’ mother regarding the year they lived in the little house on the prairie in Kansas.  I found the novel a bit melodramatic in terms of the protagonist’s internal thoughts (ie, self-flagellation if she felt envy, for example), but I can chalk that up to being period-specific.  I did thoroughly enjoy reading about frontier life from the perspective of a mother, however.  If you, too, grew up with the Little House series, I’d recommend this to you, for an enjoyable walk down memory lane.  

From the publisher:  

In this novel authorized by Little House Heritage Trust, Sarah Miller vividly recreates the beauty, hardship, and joys of the frontier in a dazzling work of historical fiction, a captivating story that illuminates one courageous, resilient, and loving pioneer woman as never before–Caroline Ingalls, “Ma” in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved Little House books.
In the frigid days of February, 1870, Caroline Ingalls and her family leave the familiar comforts of the Big Woods of Wisconsin and the warm bosom of her family, for a new life in Kansas Indian Territory. Packing what they can carry in their wagon, Caroline, her husband Charles, and their little girls, Mary and Laura, head west to settle in a beautiful, unpredictable land full of promise and peril.
The pioneer life is a hard one, especially for a pregnant woman with no friends or kin to turn to for comfort or help. The burden of work must be shouldered alone, sickness tended without the aid of doctors, and babies birthed without the accustomed hands of mothers or sisters. But Caroline’s new world is also full of tender joys. In adapting to this strange new place and transforming a rough log house built by Charles’ hands into a home, Caroline must draw on untapped wells of strength she does not know she possesses.

Book #4: 

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce (Length: 338 pages).  I really enjoyed this sweet book, which was reminiscent of A Man Called Ove.   I must admit I was overly distracted by the urge of wanting the protagonist to buy a pair of proper walking shoes, etc but then realized it’s really about the journey, itself, and not outside distractions.  I did find the ending to be a bit anti-climactic (again, perhaps the universe’s way of telling me to be present and enjoy the journey?) but overall, it was satisfying.  I recommend this one!  

From the publisher:  

Meet Harold Fry, recently retired. He lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does, even down to how he butters his toast. Little differentiates one day from the next. Then one morning the mail arrives, and within the stack of quotidian minutiae is a letter addressed to Harold in a shaky scrawl from a woman he hasn’t seen or heard from in twenty years. Queenie Hennessy is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye.

And thus begins the unlikely pilgrimage at the heart of Rachel Joyce’s remarkable debut. Harold Fry is determined to walk six hundred miles from Kingsbridge to the hospice in Berwick-upon-Tweed because, he believes, as long as he walks, Queenie Hennessey will live.

Book #5:

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (Length: 593 pages).  This is one of those books I could have sworn I had read already, namely because I’ve read other Kristin Hannah novels, but I must have confused this with other World War II era novels (such as All the Light We Cannot See).  I enjoyed this read, and thought it was pretty good, especially in terms of the plot arc.  Hannah absolutely excels at drawing detailed characters whom the reader will care about.  I found this to be a bit stressful to read (as any book that’s related to or even tangentially related to the Holocaust can be ) but the ending is satisfactory and wraps up a lot of the moving parts.  I’m glad I took the time to finally read this novel, and would absolutely recommend!  

From the publisher:  

A #1 New York Times bestseller, Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year, and soon to be a major motion picture, this unforgettable novel of love and strength in the face of war has enthralled a generation.

With courage, grace, and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of World War II and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women’s war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France—a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime.

Goodreads Best Historical Novel of the Year • People’s Choice Favorite Fiction Winner • #1 Indie Next Selection • A Buzzfeed and The Week Best Book of the Year