We’ve read some great books in the past, and my ‘all time favorites’ list has continued to grow, but I have to say that year 3’s collection has been our best yet! (Though we’ll try to make that true about year 4, as well…and we’re off to a great start! That post is coming soon!) {Check out our previous selections: Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3}
A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza. What a way to start the year! I know that everyone has their own style when it comes to what they like to read, but from my perspective, this book was PERFECT. I picked this book as our first of the season thinking it was a love story – the title comes from West Side Story – and I definitely wasn’t expecting such a deeply moving story about a family – together and as individuals – over the course of about 30 years. Starting with a young couple’s arrival in the US from India, we see them grow along with their children, and are witness to the complex relationships and difficult situations, which bring them together and but also force them apart. This book was so unbelievably emotional, in the last section I needed to take a few breaks (for more tissues, mainly!) but then once I finished, I went back and read the last few chapters over again. This book is truly a work of art, and it’s totally unreal that it’s the author’s debut novel.
The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar. This was our October pick, and we celebrated Halloween in meeting in costume as mermaids and ladies of the night (you’ve gotta read the book!). This was a longer, fantastical, and more interesting read that I struggled to get through at first (and I now own it in every form…hardback, Kindle book, and audiobook), but once I got about a third of the way through, I was really into it. Set in late 18th century London – the age of sea travel, trading vessels, and months-long voyages, this story is historic, a little magical, and ultimately shares some very real-life observations and lessons regarding what it is we value.
Family Trust by Kathy Wang. This story about a complex family dynamic was a great start to the new year. With edgy characters, and an intriguing plot line, this novel provides a peek into the Chinese-American and Chinese immigrant culture, big business, and the seemingly never-ending quest for money, status, and image in California’s Bay Area and Silicon Valley. This was a really entertaining and worthwhile read, with lots to ponder and discuss.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Of COURSE we had to get in on all the hype! And we didn’t regret it!! There’s nothing I could say about this book that hasn’t already been said, but to highlight what our group loved most – the setting, science element, beautiful descriptions, heart-wrenching familial elements, and the overarching mystery kept the pages turning.
The Italian Party by Christina Lynch. This was a fun departure to the previous more serious books. Set in 1950s Italy with a newlywed couple doing their part in the fight against Communism post-WWII, this story has elements of adventure, history, a beautiful setting in Siena, and the sometimes delicate relationship between husband and wife. A great read, for sure!
Verity by Colleen Hoover. Oh. My. Goodness. Other than Crawdads, I don’t think we’ve read a book with more five star reviews. I’ve seen this recommended EVERYWHERE, and people are dying over it. I will tell you, it is pretty racy (which in my opinion, was pretty gratuitous after a certain point), but the story totally sucks you in. I read the whole book in one day on the Kindle app on my phone – I couldn’t put it down. Part (shocking) thriller, part relationship drama, we loved it, and it was a really fun lead-in to the summer.
Where’d You Go Bernadette? by Maria Semple. With the movie coming out in August, this book was on our radar, and it didn’t disappoint! The characters were interesting, and the moody setting of Seattle – and of course Microsoft! – and then Antarctica (of all places!), the story was quick, high-energy, and probably like nothing else you’ve read. I took this book on vacation with me, and it had me laughing-out-loud from start to finish…slightly awkward on a plane, but if you’ve read it, you know I couldn’t help it! A fun, feel-good, unique (written totally in letters and emails!) story that’s a must read, and now a must-see!!
Images from Krista Brackin Photography