I took a month off from the blog to enjoy the end of summer to it's fullest, including an epic two-week road trip to Utah (three national parks!), Phoenix, AZ and Telluride, CO. I found time to read three good books.
Homecoming by Kate Morton - I love Morton's books for their rich character development, interwoven stories, and ability to engross you in the story. A fog machine, lush greenery and songbirds are her vibe. Homecoming starts with a shocking discovery then fast forwards 60 years later to begin unfolding the mystery. Jess rushes home to Australia when her beloved grandmother who essentially raised her falls ill. Like "Rosebud" in Citizen Kane, an utterance leads Jess to uncover her family's connection to an infamous unsolved crime. Deeply held secrets, a sense of duty and devotion, and mother-daughter dynamics make for a captivating, layered tale. I was so sure I had it all figured out but was completely surprised for a satisfying end. I was also sincerely disappointed to learn that the idyllic Tambilla is a fictional town.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore was another mystery with a surprising end. A thirteen-year-old camper goes missing one morning in 1975. Creepily her brother also went missing and has never found fourteen years prior. It meandered at times and there's a strong haves/have-not's perspective - camp owners and their wealthy guests on the hill vs. camp workers and investigators - that I found distracting, but it was all part of Moore's foil to keep you guessing. Once again, I thought I had it all figured out only to find I was completely wrong. My favorite character was investigator Judyta - smart, dedicated and intuitive - if only the men around her would stop discounting and patronizing her.
I don't want to give too much away about The Wedding People by Alison Espach - it's quirky, tender and delves into the heart of depression with honesty and humor. My favorite of the three.
TBR List:
- Banyan Moon by Thao Thai
- Beach Ready by Emily Henry
- The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren
- The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
- City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Blue Love: Blue Valley High by MJ Fields
- Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
- The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
- The Switch by Beth O'Leary
- Buy Yourself the F*cking Lillies by Tara Schuster
- Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
- Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola
- Life Worth Living by Miroslav Volf, Matthew. Croasmun, Ryan McAnnally-Lins
- Outlive by Peter Attia, Bill Gifford
No comments:
Post a Comment