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- Jun 12, 2015
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What novel are you reading? What books recently read have you enjoyed?
Here's some that I've read so far in 2015 that I would recommend:
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Grade: A+
One of the best books I've read in a long, long time. Interweaved stories of two young people - a blind girl in France and an orphan in Germany - during the 30's through WW 2. Very interesting, compelling character study. I actually re-read the whole book after finishing it the first time, and I've recommended it to many.
We Are Not Ourselves by Matthew Thomas. Grade: B
A popular book from 2014, the plot is a character study set within the context of Alzheimers. Rich, real. A bit too long and slow at times, but very well written.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Grade: B
Very, very popular book. Easy, quick read. I like hiking and this is a story of a girl who {attempts anyway] to "find" herself while on a trek on the Pacific Coast Trail. Was poorly made into a movie some months ago. I found the story compelling and interesting - but I never really bonded to the character, whom, to be honest, I never came to like. It's one of a few "hiking" stories suddenly to come out. Well written. Easy. I've recommended it.
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. Grade: A
While a number one best seller for awhile, it hasn't gotten the attention it deserves. A powerful story of two females from very different generations who share a compelling experience/bond. Very interesting and engaging, although at times both lovely and disturbing. My mom LOVED this book.
Unbroken by Laura Lillenbrand. Grade: B+
Very popular a couple of years ago and made into a film that I've not seen, it's another powerful, compelling and at timed disturbing story of a young man from Southern California.... his youth, his involvement in the "Hitler Olympics", his involvement in WW 2 and his years as a Japanese prisoner of war, and his emotional recovery. Well written, powerful because it's true, like Orphan Train, both encouraging and disturbing - a story of triumph.
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. Grade: B
One of the many dystopia novels so much the thing these days.... but this one focuses on humanity, the issue of what are we surviving FOR? A troupe of actors travels about a devastated world attempting to retain the arts and humanity in a world still in shock and dominated by survival. Interesting characters... well written.... the best of the dystopia stories I've read.
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. Grade: A
One of my favs for all time.... my brother LOVED this book. A riveting story of triumph.... A boy grows up in the depression, in terribly conditions.... and along with eight other similar guys.... comes to compete and win the Gold in the Hitler Olympics of 1936. A true story. Compelling, uplifting, interesting. You learn a bit of history without realizing it. Kind of a guys book, but I'd recommend it to anyone. I've currently loaned my copy to a high school freshman in our church.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. B-
A crime suspense novel.... very popular, so I read it for that reason. I actually liked it not so much for the reason others do - they claim it's a page turning suspense - but because I found the main character to be engaging. Told in journal style. Not a book I'd re-read (unlike the above but I'm glad I read it.
How about you? What novels have you read that you'd liked?
- Josiah
Here's some that I've read so far in 2015 that I would recommend:
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Grade: A+
One of the best books I've read in a long, long time. Interweaved stories of two young people - a blind girl in France and an orphan in Germany - during the 30's through WW 2. Very interesting, compelling character study. I actually re-read the whole book after finishing it the first time, and I've recommended it to many.
We Are Not Ourselves by Matthew Thomas. Grade: B
A popular book from 2014, the plot is a character study set within the context of Alzheimers. Rich, real. A bit too long and slow at times, but very well written.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Grade: B
Very, very popular book. Easy, quick read. I like hiking and this is a story of a girl who {attempts anyway] to "find" herself while on a trek on the Pacific Coast Trail. Was poorly made into a movie some months ago. I found the story compelling and interesting - but I never really bonded to the character, whom, to be honest, I never came to like. It's one of a few "hiking" stories suddenly to come out. Well written. Easy. I've recommended it.
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. Grade: A
While a number one best seller for awhile, it hasn't gotten the attention it deserves. A powerful story of two females from very different generations who share a compelling experience/bond. Very interesting and engaging, although at times both lovely and disturbing. My mom LOVED this book.
Unbroken by Laura Lillenbrand. Grade: B+
Very popular a couple of years ago and made into a film that I've not seen, it's another powerful, compelling and at timed disturbing story of a young man from Southern California.... his youth, his involvement in the "Hitler Olympics", his involvement in WW 2 and his years as a Japanese prisoner of war, and his emotional recovery. Well written, powerful because it's true, like Orphan Train, both encouraging and disturbing - a story of triumph.
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. Grade: B
One of the many dystopia novels so much the thing these days.... but this one focuses on humanity, the issue of what are we surviving FOR? A troupe of actors travels about a devastated world attempting to retain the arts and humanity in a world still in shock and dominated by survival. Interesting characters... well written.... the best of the dystopia stories I've read.
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. Grade: A
One of my favs for all time.... my brother LOVED this book. A riveting story of triumph.... A boy grows up in the depression, in terribly conditions.... and along with eight other similar guys.... comes to compete and win the Gold in the Hitler Olympics of 1936. A true story. Compelling, uplifting, interesting. You learn a bit of history without realizing it. Kind of a guys book, but I'd recommend it to anyone. I've currently loaned my copy to a high school freshman in our church.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. B-
A crime suspense novel.... very popular, so I read it for that reason. I actually liked it not so much for the reason others do - they claim it's a page turning suspense - but because I found the main character to be engaging. Told in journal style. Not a book I'd re-read (unlike the above but I'm glad I read it.
How about you? What novels have you read that you'd liked?
- Josiah
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