It’s high time for catching up on some book reviews here! We’re in the height of summer, reading for fun but about to buckle down and get our summer reading assignments read and book reports written. I’ve picked up a lot of books lately, but as I sit here now reviewing my recent reads, I find myself a little soul sick with new releases, longing for strong, faithful characters from days long ago. However, I’ve found some gems along the way. If you haven’t hit on that perfect summer read, maybe you’ll find something here. [Not mentioned below are the vintage books I love by D.E. Stevenson that I keep turning to and can’t recommend enough]
The Hits
My Own Lightning – This sequel to Lauren Wolk’s Wolf Hollow is so wonderful. It takes readers back to the beautiful farm and family of Annabelle, introduces some new characters, and says a lot about forgiveness and healing without being preachy or sappy. The writing is absolutely beautiful, as usual. Wolk is one of my very favorite current authors. When I am done with one of her books, I want to cry that it’s over. Everything Wolk writes is worth reading. Five Stars.
The Last Thing He Told Me – I am a little leery of books that get a lot of attention from celebrity book clubs just based on past reading experiences, so I avoided this one for a long time, but I shouldn’t have. It was a page turner without the explicit content so often in thrillers, and very well written. Four Stars.
Station Eleven, The Glass Hotel, and The Sea of Tranquility – I dove deep into acclaimed writer Emily St. John Mandel’s work this spring and summer. When I read them, I hear the soundtrack from the movie Inception in my mind, because her writing sucks you in like that dreamworld in the movie where everything seems absolutely real. Though her genre is Sci-Fi, I think anyone who appreciates engrossing characters and plot can get into Mandel’s books. The settings are earth or earth-like so you don’t have to worry about all kinds of alien worlds or names (!) to get acquainted with and deep themes of humanity are explored throughout each of the novels I’ve read. Highly recommend. But boy am I glad I didn’t read Station Eleven (published in 2011) until now, with its global pandemic! The eerie similarities between the book and all of 2020 would have been a little much. As a side note, if you’re interested in reading these books, I’d say just go ahead and give them a shot without reading the confusing publisher’s blurbs. If you need permission to quit halfway through because you don’t like it, here you go. Permission granted. ; ) Four to five stars.
The Midnight Library – Though I don’t agree with the some of the worldviews presented in this novel, it is one that I loved because it was both enjoyable and made me think hard. It is one of those that asks a question, this time “What do you regret?,” and explores the issue in a mind blowing sort of way. Imagine if you were on the brink of death and got into a limbo that was a library, with each book a story of your life if you had made a different choice at some point along the way. Yes, the Loki timeline plot will come to mind. The main character in this book gets to experience countless versions of her own life, and comes away with a perfect conclusion. It took a few chapters for me to stop disliking the main character, so if you pick it up and don’t immediately love it, maybe push through a bit and then decide if you hate it or not. =) Four stars.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret – I read this gorgeous, 517-page book in a day, and enjoyed the reading experience so much, I think because the book slides between the genres of picture book, chapter book, and wordless book effortlessly, without sacrificing any part of good writing or illustrating. The story and the history behind the story is fascinating in and of itself, but the design of the book takes it to a whole new level. Published fifteen years ago, it is a true gem. Five stars.
I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet – Niequist is a lovely voice in this world of doubting faith writers, a person who can ask questions without throwing the baby out with the bathwater. However, this book is absolutely not all butterflies and roses. It is a series of essays on what Niequist has learned about, well, still having a lot to learn in life, and her pursuit to handle that with grace and hope. The book made me remember that it is more important to be humble than to look like you know what you’re doing all the time. Four stars.
The Misses
These are books I finished but wish I had passed on. I’ll just give a few words next to each title to sum up why I think they miss the mark.
Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance – Oh so depressing and a hard read if you have sisters
Very Sincerely Yours – Like a Netflix chick flick – they have their place and aren’t all bad, but you just can’t recommend them =) (this one also had too much PG-13 content for me)
French Braid – Yes, the writing is high, high quality, but the soul of this book, the tangled threads of misunderstanding in a family, is so ensnared with selfishness. Sometimes novels reveal things about our current state of humanity that are hard to face, and in this exceptional piece of writing it is clear that our culture is so very selfish. Walked away feeling a little crushed.
Mary Jane – Someone told me this book, about a 14-year old Presbyterian girl nannying for an unconventional family in 1975, was great for understanding how un-churched people see churched people and why they don’t get along. I say, there has got to be a better book to read for this that is not rated R. Hard pass.
The Inbetweens – Three Star reads
The Fitting Room – Good thoughts, but not very memorable.
A Duet For Home – Kind of rushed and emotionally charged, but a good book to read about homelessness for kids. By the author of the excellent Vanderbeeker series.
The Enchanted Castle – Fun for the first half as a read aloud, but lost its charm for us about halfway through. Very outdated language. The Railway Children is much better!
The Well-Watered Woman
The Cross of Lead
And that sums up the books I’ve read from that last few months! Now I’m ready for some old books, some classic nonfiction, stuff rooted in truth and wisdom. Recommendations always welcome!
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