Hello reading friends!
And as promised, I plan to share a monthly reading round up that will include books enjoyed as Ebooks, paperbacks, hardbacks and audio.
This month was a little lighter on the reading front, as I’ve been spending time watching movies, playing board games and generally hanging out with family during lockdown. However, the novels I have read are all ones I’m thrilled to recommend.
Until next time… I hope you enjoy!
REDHEAD BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD by ANNE TYLER
For anyone struggling to read during the current pandemic crisis, I would recommend Anne Tyler’s Redhead By The Side Of The Road. It’s a short, engaging work with characters so real they feel like acquaintances. Micah Mortimer thrives on order and certainty, is borderline pernickety, and hapless with women – despite the unsought advice dispensed by his laidback sisters. When a teenager arrives on Micah’s doorstep, claiming to be his son, Micah’s life is at risk of being thrown into chaos. Tyler is the queen of creating characters with seemingly humdrum lives then shines a laser beam on them, making them shine. This is a gentle hug of a novella that pulls the reader briefly into Micah’s world, offering a snapshot, sharing the kind of warmth and wisdom needed during such uncertain times.
THE GIVER OF STARS by JOJO MOYES
One of the things I’m thankful for during lockdown is that I’ve read a stack of excellent novels and yet still Jojo Moyes, The Giver Of Stars stands out as a potential favourite book of the year. Not a surprise since her worldwide bestseller, Me Before You, remains firmly within my top five all-time favourite reads. However, The Giver of Stars is very different in that it’s historical fiction based loosely on fact, set in the rugged mountains of Eastern Kentucky. It follows Alice Van Cleve’s journey from her genteel life in England as she joins a group of female librarians, including her whip-smart friend Margery, who battle small town prejudice and the elements to deliver books on horseback. And what a courageous band they were! Their fortitude and the friendships forged – both apt during lockdown – are what will stay with me. I longed to join them riding their weekly routes and that’s saying something, as I’m nervous of horses! A solid five stars for the Giver of Stars.
THE DAY THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING by CATHERINE MILLER
I thoroughly enjoyed Catherine Miller’s first novels about octogenarian Olive Turner and her Gin Shack on The Beach, which were fun, uplifting reads, so I was delighted to discover Catherine’s latest novels are in my favourite genre, contemporary women’s emotional fiction… Following personal heartbreak, Tabitha sets out to build a new life for herself, which includes becoming a foster mum to teenage twins and a baby girl. The story is told as a dual timeline, flicking between the period that changed everything and the present day. I was particularly interested in reading about someone who is fostering as there are foster parents within my family and Catherine’s book shone a spotlight on just how tricky, but also rewarding, that experience can be. The Day That Changed Everything was peppered with wise little nuggets, many that felt very relevant for where we are today…Find hope. Search for it. And once you have it, never let go… I already have Catherine’s, 99 Days With You, on my to-be-read pile, which I hope to review soon.
YEAR OF WONDERS by GERALDINE BROOKS
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks is a novel some will find comfort in during these strange times and others may choose to avoid. I fall into the first category and was delighted when it was selected as my book group read, as I gained so much from reading this amazing account. Set during the English plague of 1666, it is based on the true story of the Derbyshire village of Eyam, who, lead by their minister, chose to quarantine in a bid to stop the spread of the disease.
I longed to give Year of Wonders five stars, as the characterisation, descriptions of the village and village life are so beautifully rendered, but the last chapter of the novel was a tiny stretch too far for me. And so I would award Year of Wonders four and a half stars. Vividly imagined historical fiction based on fact.
BIG LIES IN A SMALL TOWN by DIANE CHAMBERLAIN
Technically I finished Big Lies In a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain at the end of April, but close friends know just how much I love her writing, so it’s a thrill to share that her latest novel has become my new favourite. A dual timeline set both in the present day and in North Carolina of the 1940s, when racial tensions remained high, it follows Morgan Christopher and Anna Dale, artists linked by an extraordinary mural. Unlike some dual timelines where one strand outshines the other, in Chamberlain’s expert hands they are equally weighted, both pointing towards a satisfying conclusion. My only disappointment was that Anna’s story felt so true that I was certain when I finished I would discover her character was based on a real artist! It’s a shiny five stars from me…
So agree about the Anne Tyler novel. I whizzed through it in two days.
I’ll look out for the others – the authors are new to me,
Hello Dorinda, thanks so much for reading and commenting. Anne Tyler makes characterisation look easy! Delighted you’ve discovered some new authors. : )
Thanks Rae for sharing your reads. I also read the Giver of Stars and found it a fantastic book. I do not know the others but there are a couple that I am attracted to, thanks to your reviews. I would not have survived lockdown without books!
Reading has been a lifeline for me too, Valérie – an escape during such strange times. I’m delighted you’ve discovered some new reads. Thanks so much for commenting. : )
I loved this Rae. Your reviews are a pleasure to read and as well as seeing some books we have in common, you highlight some I’d probably not take a second glance at, which I now definitely should. Looking forward to the next instalment.
Aw thanks so much for dropping by and your kind words, Jo. It’s a joy to share favourite reads with bookish friends. : )