I won't lie, my reading life has taken a bit hit over the past couple of months. It's been hard to concentrate for one thing, and for another, I never seem to have a minute to sit down. I literally go from one task to another the entire time I am awake. It won't be like this forever, but for now, I have managed to finish three books I really liked and want to share them with you.
This Boy's Life by Tobias Wolff is a memoir about his unconventional adolescence in 1950's Washington State. He was raised by his divorced mother and moved from place to place frequently as she made one poor choice after another. Ultimately, she remarried a cruel and demanding man who turned out to be abusive to both her and her son. What makes this book so fascinating is how our main character struggles to maintain his own identity apart from the boy his parents and teenage friends want him to be. He makes a lot of seriously bad choices himself and suffers the consequences. His look back at his actions and the reasons behind them from his now adult perspective make this a really interesting book. 5 stars
How To Read a Book by Monica Wood hit all the right notes for me. If you enjoy books about books, second chances, and unlikely friendships, you will love this one too. Harriet Larson is a retired English teacher who runs a book club in a women's prison. One of the prisoners, guilt-ridden Violet Powell, a young woman in her early 20s, is being released from prison after serving a short sentence for a DUI that resulted in the death of a kindergarten teacher. Frank Deagle is the unhappy widower of the woman who was killed in this accident. These three individuals meet up at a local bookstore through a series of coincidences and experience an onslaught of emotions. This book is a heartwarming story of found family, forgiveness, letting go of guilt, and the power of books to change our lives. This was a great read for me and I hope you will give it a try. 5 stars
Are you looking for a holiday book? A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews is a sweet, entertaining and Christmassy book that I really enjoyed reading during this holiday season. Best of all, this Victorian Christmas romance is short at under 200 pages. Sophie Appersett is the daughter of an impoverished baronet who must marry a rich man outside her own class in order to save her family's estate. She is being courted by handsome but taciturn Mr. Edward Sharpe, a self-made man who has created extreme wealth through his business as a London merchant. He has courted Sophie for two months, but Edward, while he behaves impeccably, has barely uttered two words to her. She decides to break things off with him, but her parents throw a fit. She gives Mr. Sharpe one more chance to prove himself worthy of becoming her husband (besides all that money). She invites him to her family estate in the country for Christmas, in the hope they will get to know each other better, and all sorts of interesting developments occur. This book was a perfect holiday book: sweet, descriptive, and historically accurate. I loved it. Plus, if you enjoy it, this author has written a ton of other similar books. 5 stars
Let me know if you read any of these and how you liked them!
7 Responses
Hoping to find these at my libraries! I always appreciate a good Christmas read.
I can’t remember if I have mentioned, I belong to three library (in person) book groups that meet once a month each. And my youngest daughter belongs to one library (also in person) group in her area. I read my three assigned books, and I try to read hers too. (My other daughter belongs to a friends book group, they meet via phone conference call, not a fan of their book genres usually.)
My groups meet on a Wednesday or Thursday. I start each assigned book on Monday, so it is fresh in my mind to discuss. If it is an unusually long book, I start earlier. Currently listening to Demon Copperhead for a group, I gave myself ten days.
Then I usually get a second book read at the end of the week/weekend before the next Monday rolls around. Plus I have one extra week each month to fit in more books of my own.
I only do audio. I listen as I drive, garden, sew, cook, walk the dogs, clean, take a bath, wake early, etc. I have very good wireless earbuds that are connected to each other so I do not lose them.
Having half my titles be assignments means I read more a much more diverse set of books than I would on my own.
My books are picked by the librarians who run the groups. My daughter’s group nominates/votes on their books annual, and each month is lead by the person who nominated the chosen book (not the librarian). Her group is so popular that it is limited to members only, not open to the public. They have seats for 20 in the meeting room at the library, that is the limit. My local groups average 6-12 people.
I appreciate your book reviews very much. I enjoy the podcast too. I keep a list of the ones that interest me. Peter Swanson is a good example. I read his series (you mentioned book three of the series). And then went on to read the rest of his books. If I really like an author, I read all the works in publication order (or by series).
I also keep a list of your long arm quilt stitch patterns. I appreciate that you mention the name and post a picture.
Vickie
Nicole I always enjoy your book reviews. Your recommendations have all been excellent. Hope you find more time to read.
You’ve read three more books than I have recently! And, I really have no excuse whatsoever! I’m taking one to start today while I wait for my husband to have two medical appointments in ‘The Big City’. There are no promises that I’ll open it, but maybe… Thanks for taking the time to review some interesting ones!
I haven’t read these books, but I do remember the excellent 1993 movie based on the book ‘This Boy’s Life’.
It starred a teenaged Leonardo Di Caprio as the boy and Robert Di Niro as his abusive stepfather.
Definitely worth watching. The acting is excellent.
Tobias Wolfe wrote another novel, “Old School” about a mid century boy’s prep school. It is excellent, and his writing is beautiful.
Monica Wood’s book sounds good, and what reader doesn’t enjoy a book about books!
Always enjoy your book reviews, and podcast, and appreciate both. I’m sure it takes a fair amount of time to do so.
how? when? yet, I’m glad you had a moment to read.