The urge to find the best book ever and liven up your downtime is very understandable. Books will never make you chic. And yes, some prefer the traditional pastime of watching TV. There is nothing wrong with that, but reading is infinitely more rewarding. Not so much because being engrossed in a novel makes times fly, which it does, but because the options are endless and a book has the power to dramatically change your perspective on things. And realistically, you can read anywhere. Looking for something for that long car ride, try an audiobook. Or maybe you need something that travels well; think Kindle or ebook. For the budget-conscious, there is the library, and when someone is challenging to buy for, books are the foolproof gift.
Below, you’ll uncover some fabulous books – keep scrolling.
“I look at books as being a form of activism. Sometimes they’ll show us a side of the world that we might not have known about.”—Angie Thomas
My Thoughts: This story gives the Greek Gods a voice, personality, and life. Reading it, it’s easy to visualize a time when these Gods ruled the earth. Circe is on a fascinating journey of self-discovery and transformation. I couldn’t stop reading this book and fell in love with Circe.
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My Thoughts: This twisty, intriguing book takes many totally unexpected turns. Each time you think you’ve figured out the mystery, something happens, and you start all over. The story is about a man and woman. Each takes a turn telling their side of the story, a good format that slowly reveals secrets, heightens the suspense, and keeps you guessing. Loved it!
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An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
My Thoughts: This story is about love, marriage, and forgiveness. It shows the sad failures of our justice system and the consequences wrongful convictions have on a marriage. The characters are complex and flawed. They struggle with important real-life decisions. Perfect for book clubs.
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The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
My Thoughts: Nella is an Apothecary living in the 1780s who makes poisonous potions for women seeking revenge on their husbands. Who can resist such a story? It’s a very fascinating read. I loved it. There’s also a present-day thread, and although I preferred the historical fiction portion, this thread was also excellent. I loved the characters, and it was well written. Great book club selection.
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The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
My Thoughts: I love the general plot, light-skinned Black identical twins who take vastly different paths in life. One marries a White man and lives in secret as a White woman, while The other twin lives as a black woman. Throughout the story, many themes pop up, such as identity, wealth, and poverty.
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My Thoughts: This book has an engaging plot that’s based on actual history. It’s an emotional fast-paced tale of three childhood friends and how they fared during WWII. The themes in this book are pretty similar to political and social events in the news today. Excellent book.
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The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
My Thoughts: This story will keep you engaged from cover to cover and immerse you in the early 1900s. It tells how one young black woman hides her identity and becomes a respected authority on fine art and rare books. She makes some huge sacrifices and lives in constant fear of being discovered- a compelling read.
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Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon
My Thoughts: This is a story about Nancy Wake, a socialite who follows her convictions. She joins a Special Operations and parachutes into a French province leading a team that collects and allocates supplies for the troops. She also smuggles documents and people across the border to safety. A very inspiring story.
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A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
My Thoughts: If you loved “Circe” and “The Song of Achilles,” don’t miss this one. It’s about the trojan war, but from the perspective of the women left behind, rather than the usual perspective of the men fighting it. It explores the darker side of war heroes and delves into the captured women’s desire for revenge. Short-listed for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2020 – and a great book club choice.
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“Reading is an exercise in empathy; an exercise in walking in someone else’s shoes for a while.”—Malorie Blackman
Happy Reading,
Linda