Since I have been spending most of my free time reading while at the pool or while spending quiet time with Eva, I figured it would be good to give you some recent book recommendations. The following books were 4 or 5 star reads for me and hopefully you might enjoy them too.
The River by Peter Heller was such an unexpected 5 star read for me. The subject of the book is two college buddies who are canoeing down a river in the remotest region of Canada. I never would have guessed how irresistible and thrilling this book would be. I literally found myself holding my breath during certain passages. The young men are paddling along through the wilderness when they smell fire. A very big fire. They decide to hurry along in order to reach their destination before the fire reaches them. They keep paddling when they pass a green canoe on the side of the river and hear a man and a woman loudly arguing. This surprises them, as the area is so desolate and remote they have encountered no one in weeks. They decide to mind their own business and keep paddling. That night when they are camping by the side of the river along comes the green canoe. With just a man in it…. Seriously, read this book. I read it one day as I could not put it down. Best book of the year so far for me, and that is saying a lot, as I have read 65 books so far. 5 stars.
Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane is an excellent family saga. If you enjoy Ann Patchett or Barbara Kingsolver, this will be right up your alley. Two New York City police rookies end up purchasing homes next to each other in a quiet town in the suburbs. What happens behind closed doors between the parents is a secret, but the children of both families end up being close childhood playmates. There is an event which changes the course of the future for each family, and we follow the characters through forty years. The characters are so well drawn you will feel as if you know them. Even if you don't like their actions, you will feel such empathy. This book is about friendship, loyalty, resilience, overcoming obstacles. But most importantly, it is about how one thing often leads to another and how real people deal with personal catastrophe. Excellent book. 5 stars.
Oooh boy, was this book ever a wild ride. White knuckles all the way I listened to the audio version of Into the Jungle by Erica Ferencik, which had a terrific narrator. The main character is Lily, a tough and street smart nineteen year old girl who is the product of the American foster care system. She finds herself in Bolivia working as a maid in a youth hostel when we meet her. She falls desperately and passionately in love with Omar, a charismatic local car mechanic who has abandoned his former life as a hunter and member of a remote Amazonian jungle village. Omar's brother shows up in the city to beg Omar to return to the village because a jaguar has attacked and killed his young nephew. Given Omar's hunting prowess, the village thinks he will be able to track and kill the jaguar. Omar is persuaded to return to his primitive jungle village and Lily goes with him. This author's writing is positively poetic when she describes the animals, insects and plants in the jungle. I found myself Googling jungle things constantly throughout this book. What is a howler monkey? How big do anaconda's get? Can tarantulas really live in the walls of your hut and fall out of the ceiling on you? Do bromeliads really live off of other trees? What's a tapir? Gorgeous descriptions of jungle flora and fauna and a really suspenseful and fascinating plot line. Lawless poachers, crazy missionaries, wild aboriginal tribes who use poison blow darts all cause Lily to live by her wits and resilience. I will say you will have to suspend rational belief in some parts, but it was a great story. 4 1/2 stars.
I am so annoyed I bought this book by Elizabeth Brooks twice. When I was in Ireland I got the UK version which is titled The Call of the Curlew. Then I bought it again a few months later when I was home. The US version is called The Orphan of Salt Winds. Both titles are available on Amazon.
I hate it when they do that. Guess the US publishers thought we were too dumb to know what a Curlew is. (It's a marsh bird). The book is set in 1939 in England, in a secluded area on the edge of a marsh. The dangerous and threatening marsh is almost another character in this book. Our main character, eleven year old Virginia is adopted by an odd couple with a lot of secrets. Virginia senses the tensions between the couple, but doesn't comprehend it. There is a wealthy neighbor who seems entirely too interested in the wife (and Virginia). Things really take off when a German airman crashes his plane in the marsh and Virginia's adoptive dad goes out to save him. The tone of this book is quite gothic, and there is a murder mystery. I really enjoyed it, as it reminded me of Atonement by Iain McEwan. Virginia thinks she sees something, but gets it all wrong due to her naiveté and there are serious consequences. Give this one a try. Both the UK and US versions are in paperback. 4 1/2 stars.
The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo was a Book of the Month selection for me. The story is set in 1930's Malaysia. Ji Lin is an apprentice dressmaker who is moonlighting as a dance hall girl to help pay off her mother's mahjong debt (seriously). Ren is an 11 year old houseboy who feels compelled to fulfill his master's dying wish. Ji Lin and Ren's paths cross in an unexpected way and both find themselves immeshed in secrets, intrigue and mystery. This book was so atmospheric and was a very interesting introduction to the culture of Malaysia at that time. The story is told from multiple points of view and had me guessing until the end. 4 1/2 stars.
The Current by Tim Johnston is a crime drama with compelling characters and atmospheric descriptions. Two college girls are driving through Minnesota en route to one of the girl's homes when they are forced off an icy road into a frozen river. And this was no accident. One girl ends up drowned and the other barely alive. It turns out this crime is uncannily similar to one that took place nearly ten years earlier. Three different families have been affected by the current crime and the one that took place years earlier. There is way too much coincidence we are going to get to the bottom of it. There are plenty of suspects and the plot twists and turns multiple times before we do. The ending will leave you scratching your head and saying "Wait, what?". I had fun looking up Goodreads reviews by people who very articulately explained what had happened and helped tie up some loose ends. This one has mixed reviews, but I liked it. 4 stars.
What are you reading this summer? Please share if you have some recommendations!
27 responses to “Recent 4 and 5 Star Reads”
I’ve read both The River and The Current. I especially liked The River–two very decent young men doing the right thing in a challenging situation, (And I cried. So did my husband.)
Just out this week: The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo. A terrific novel about a contemporary family with four daughters. (I reviewed it for United for Libraries/Book Club Central.). Also: Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane. (For fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.)
I return home today after the American Library Assn. annual conference. I went to five author panels and shipped five boxes of advance reader copies home. (And I spent yesterday with quilting friends, one of who is destashing. So a box of fabric and quilt books is also being shipped.)
I’ve read both The River and The Current. I especially liked The River–two very decent young men doing the right thing in a challenging situation, (And I cried. So did my husband.)
Just out this week: The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo. A terrific novel about a contemporary family with four daughters. (I reviewed it for United for Libraries/Book Club Central.). Also: Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane. (For fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.)
I return home today after the American Library Assn. annual conference. I went to five author panels and shipped five boxes of advance reader copies home. (And I spent yesterday with quilting friends, one of who is destashing. So a box of fabric and quilt books is also being shipped.)
I’ve read both The River and The Current. I especially liked The River–two very decent young men doing the right thing in a challenging situation, (And I cried. So did my husband.)
Just out this week: The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo. A terrific novel about a contemporary family with four daughters. (I reviewed it for United for Libraries/Book Club Central.). Also: Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane. (For fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.)
I return home today after the American Library Assn. annual conference. I went to five author panels and shipped five boxes of advance reader copies home. (And I spent yesterday with quilting friends, one of who is destashing. So a box of fabric and quilt books is also being shipped.)
I was glad to see your book reviews this morning, as I always enjoy reading about your selections.
I’ve just finished reading The Huntress by Kate Quinn and I have to say that I enjoyed it as much as The Alice Network.
I’ll definitely look for The River since I love a good thriller. Thanks for the reviews!
I was glad to see your book reviews this morning, as I always enjoy reading about your selections.
I’ve just finished reading The Huntress by Kate Quinn and I have to say that I enjoyed it as much as The Alice Network.
I’ll definitely look for The River since I love a good thriller. Thanks for the reviews!
I was glad to see your book reviews this morning, as I always enjoy reading about your selections.
I’ve just finished reading The Huntress by Kate Quinn and I have to say that I enjoyed it as much as The Alice Network.
I’ll definitely look for The River since I love a good thriller. Thanks for the reviews!
I always love your reviews and always try to find the books in my library.
I always love your reviews and always try to find the books in my library.
I always love your reviews and always try to find the books in my library.
Great reviews! The Memphis zoo had howler monkeys and two tapirs when our boys were little, so I wouldn’t have needed to look those up. 🙂
I’ve neen reading a new author, Sarah Ward, and she’s written 3 books so far. Also Ann Cleeves’s Shetland series, not new but good. I do prefer my books less tense than you do, thought, so you may think these plod along.
Hugs!
Great reviews! The Memphis zoo had howler monkeys and two tapirs when our boys were little, so I wouldn’t have needed to look those up. 🙂
I’ve neen reading a new author, Sarah Ward, and she’s written 3 books so far. Also Ann Cleeves’s Shetland series, not new but good. I do prefer my books less tense than you do, thought, so you may think these plod along.
Hugs!
Great reviews! The Memphis zoo had howler monkeys and two tapirs when our boys were little, so I wouldn’t have needed to look those up. 🙂
I’ve neen reading a new author, Sarah Ward, and she’s written 3 books so far. Also Ann Cleeves’s Shetland series, not new but good. I do prefer my books less tense than you do, thought, so you may think these plod along.
Hugs!
Can’t remember if you read/recommended Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan. If you haven’t, give it a try! Thanks for recommending Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl! I had it on my shelf and just forgot to read it until I read your review 😜. What a great read! I look forward to hearing what you are reading as I find something new almost every time. Thanks, Nicole!
Can’t remember if you read/recommended Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan. If you haven’t, give it a try! Thanks for recommending Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl! I had it on my shelf and just forgot to read it until I read your review 😜. What a great read! I look forward to hearing what you are reading as I find something new almost every time. Thanks, Nicole!
Can’t remember if you read/recommended Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan. If you haven’t, give it a try! Thanks for recommending Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl! I had it on my shelf and just forgot to read it until I read your review 😜. What a great read! I look forward to hearing what you are reading as I find something new almost every time. Thanks, Nicole!
Thanks for sharing!,
Thanks for sharing!,
Thanks for sharing!,
Even though I follow you on Goodreads, I love your book reviews and the conversations that follow. I agree with your comments about The River and second Nancy’s recommendation regarding Beneath a Crimson Sky. I chuckled all the way through What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. After 49 years of marriage it was a great reminder of what started it all. I do love all of her books but that one was terrific.
Even though I follow you on Goodreads, I love your book reviews and the conversations that follow. I agree with your comments about The River and second Nancy’s recommendation regarding Beneath a Crimson Sky. I chuckled all the way through What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. After 49 years of marriage it was a great reminder of what started it all. I do love all of her books but that one was terrific.
Even though I follow you on Goodreads, I love your book reviews and the conversations that follow. I agree with your comments about The River and second Nancy’s recommendation regarding Beneath a Crimson Sky. I chuckled all the way through What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. After 49 years of marriage it was a great reminder of what started it all. I do love all of her books but that one was terrific.
If last year’s movie ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ was true to life, mahjong debts are real! I thought it was interesting that everyone in the parlor was very focused & serious…yes, I know it was a movie! I’m currently waiting for Laurie Gelman’s second book, ‘You’ve Been Volunteered’, to come out in late July. Her first book, ‘Class Mom’, was a fun read!
If last year’s movie ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ was true to life, mahjong debts are real! I thought it was interesting that everyone in the parlor was very focused & serious…yes, I know it was a movie! I’m currently waiting for Laurie Gelman’s second book, ‘You’ve Been Volunteered’, to come out in late July. Her first book, ‘Class Mom’, was a fun read!
If last year’s movie ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ was true to life, mahjong debts are real! I thought it was interesting that everyone in the parlor was very focused & serious…yes, I know it was a movie! I’m currently waiting for Laurie Gelman’s second book, ‘You’ve Been Volunteered’, to come out in late July. Her first book, ‘Class Mom’, was a fun read!
Thanks for the book reviews! I haven’t had time to read more than a couple books! I need to focus!!! You have read 65+ books?! I need to find a pool to sit by!
Thanks for the book reviews! I haven’t had time to read more than a couple books! I need to focus!!! You have read 65+ books?! I need to find a pool to sit by!
Thanks for the book reviews! I haven’t had time to read more than a couple books! I need to focus!!! You have read 65+ books?! I need to find a pool to sit by!