I’m certainly not one to declare the book review dead (says the person who wrote a stellar Agatha Christie review that I’m pretty sure no one read), but I do think it’s the type of post that’s less engaging, less likely to be clicked on, less likely to be read… You get the idea. And, dear readers, I’m secure enough in my insecurity to admit I do want people to read what I write, if only to continue to share my love of whatever wonderful/quirky/clever/delightful/daunting/terrible book I just read. I’ve had a stellar reading year, with more than a few great books. These are a few that made my honor roll, and here are the ones I don’t think you should miss*.
The Library at Mount Char // Scott Hawkins. This absolutely deserves a post of its own, but I am pretty sure it would start out with “I have no idea what I just read, but it was very, very good.” A group of librarians search for their missing, all powerful father. That’s the simplest way I can put it, but it doesn’t even touch the heart of the novel. The Library at Mount Char is a hilarious, heartbreaking novel about what it means to be human, even when you’re not.
The Rules of Magic // Alice Hoffman. I listened to this one on audio and the narrator was wonderful. Possibly too wonderful, as I ended up sobbing at my desk. This prequel to Practical Magic revisits the Owens family curse, and it’s just as fun and touching and tragic as the first time I did.
Everybody’s Fool // Richard Russo. I’m convinced Richard Russo cannot write a bad novel. Everybody’s Fool is the follow up to Nobody’s Fool, checking in with Sully and the town of Bath a decade later. Hijinks ensue.
The Summer Wives // Beatriz Williams. Beatriz Williams is my favorite writer of “summer” fiction. Her books are light, but not without substance, and easily read, without watered down prose. Miranda Schuyler’s mother marries a wealthy aristocrat, exposing Miranda to the upper crust inhabitants of Winthrop Island. The summer after she finishes high school will change her life in ways she can’t imagine.
All These Beautiful Strangers // Elizabeth Klehfoth. The cover of this novel encompasses what I believe is the perfect summer day, which is why I picked it up. Boarding school, secret societies, and buried secrets made this a nice addition to the small number of YA books I read each year.
Often the more I read, the less I review, and the more I love a book, the harder time I have talking about it. Anyone else suffer from this? Or have you read any good books this summer?
*Although it’s quite possible I am the only one who missed them in the first place, as I wouldn’t exactly label these as under the radar.
Image found here.
flannel and folklore 