I give in, summer is over. But I did manage to read several books over the past few months that I’d like to tell you about.
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
I’ve wanted to read this book for a long time because my daughter is named Rosie. Even though she’s not much like her namesake character, The Rosie Project was a good pick. Don, a super intelligent college professor, likes organization, schedules, and lists, and he has developed a questionnaire to help him find a wife. A very detailed questionnaire. Enter Rosie, a spirited red-head who is about to disrupt Don’s structured life.
This novel works well because Simsion never slips out of Don’s distinct and hilarious voice. At times, because Don’s view of the world is so peculiar, he becomes a somewhat unreliable narrator, leaving the reader to make inferences about what is actually going on. Very fun, with a few thoughtful insights on human behavior. Fans of Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory should definitely read this book.
Me Before You by Jo Jo Moyes
The writing style and main character of Me Before You are so fun and easy, you start off the novel thinking it will be a whimsical read. You’d be wrong. In Me Before You, Moyes explores a difficult subject- assisted suicide- with a delicate balance of thoughtfulness and humor. Her characters feel real, imperfect, and compelling. Louisa, the main character, deals difficult family members, a self-absorbed boyfriend, and a job that ultimately challenges her moral beliefs.
Moyes adeptly describes the life of a quadriplegic spinal cord patient. I also admire how she covers the various arguments for and against assisted suicide without ever falling down on one side – she is simply making the reader more aware of a complicated issue. I cried a little, but it’s worth your time.
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
This novel blends historical fiction and mystery with a dash of fairy tale. When Cassandra’s grandmother dies, Cassandra inherits a mysterious sea-side cottage her grandmother never mentioned owning. Cassandra’s investigation into the history of the cottage sends her deep into her grandmother’s past, unveiling multiple family secrets and tragedies.
Morten’s writing is lovely, and she beautifully weaves a complicated story line using characters in multiple places and times. Many people say The Forgotten Garden is their favorite book. I enjoyed it, but it’s not my favorite of the year. It got long, and sometimes, I couldn’t connect with the actions and emotions of the main characters.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
I listened to the audiobook of The Girl on the Train, and I’m gonna boldly say that I’m the only person on the Internet who did not like it. The narrative alternates point of view between three women but spends the most time with Rachel, a fumbling alcoholic who is struggling to get over her ex-husband and remember exactly what she did on a hot night in August when she came home with a cut on her scalp.
The Girl on the Train has all the makings of a good thriller- a disappearance, missing information, suspicious men- but I didn’t like any of the characters, especially the pathetic Rachel, who dominates the story. The writing was okay,and at times the plot dragged (I got tired of hearing about Rachel screwing up, yet again). I’m not much for thrillers, but I liked Gone Girl better, even with its ridiculous last third of impossible twists. Actually, the thriller I recommend is the YA novel We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. The writing is superb and the twist completely unexpected, although it did leave me feeling a bit cheated.
What did you read over the summer? Can you add any recommendations to this list?
For more reading suggestions, visit my Book Reviews page.
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