Thursday, February 16, 2017

Good Reads {January 2017}

January was a banner month for reading -- I finished twelve books (six were on audio)!


Here are my favorites:

Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman
I listened to this on audio and just absolutely adored it. Britt-Marie is a neat freak who, at age 63, has walked out on her husband and finds herself in the local unemployment office. Times are tough and the only job she's qualified for is caretaker of the rec center is tiny town Borg. The story is hilarious and surprising. Highly recommended if you read A Man Called Ove.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
This middle-grade novel is the story of Ally, a sixth grader with a secret. She can't read, but has been hiding it for years and barely getting by, until a new teacher arrives, discovers her secret, and sets out to help Ally. I listened to this on audio and it is fantastic.

Girl in a Blue Coat by Monica Hesse
This is a YA novel set during World War II. Hanneke has been helping keep her family afloat by scrounging and selling items on the black market. One day, one of her customers asks for her help in finding a young Jewish girl who's gone missing. It's a powerful story of bravery and friendship during war.

Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson
This is the first book I've read by Joshilyn Jackson, and I am hooked. In this tale, Rose Mae Lolley tries to escape her abusive husband and find out who she really is. I listened to this novel, narrated by the author, and it was fantastic. Fans of southern fiction would enjoy this, and it's utterly delightful on audio (despite the heavy topics).

The Inquisitor's Tale; Or, the Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz
What a great title for an incredible tale. The Inquisitor's Tale is a 2017 Newberry Honor book. Told in the style of the Canterbury Tales, this middle-grade novel is set during the Middle Ages and follows the story of three magical children and their holy dog. Full of magic, farting dragons, corrupt officials, and banned books, this is a fantastically funny story. Even though I listened to this on audio, we also checked out a paper copy from the library because the text is illuminated. Will has been enjoying it too.

My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizbeth Strout
This is a short novel, and I just devoured it. Lucy Barton is recovering at a hospital and her mother, whom she hasn't seen in years, comes to stay by her bedside. Through their discussions, the reader learns about Lucy's dysfunctional family and desires to escape and build a better life. Beautifully written.

Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel
This sci-fi thriller starts with a little girl falling into a hole. When local authorities discover her, she's cupped in a giant metallic hand. Seventeen years later, the mystery of the artifact is still unsolved and a team of scientists sets out to find the rest of the pieces of the puzzle. The first of a series, the reader will be left wanting to know the rest of the story.

What have you been reading lately?

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