THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak -- An amazingly well told story of a young German girl, living in a foster home on the outskirts of Munich during WWII. Great author!
A WEEK IN WINTER by Maeve Binchy -- The author’s last
book, published after her death. A lovely story of people
who go to Stone House on the west coast of Ireland for a week. As usual,
Ms Binchy is wonderful at back stories and bringing in characters from previous
books so we can catch up on the lives of favorite people. Read with
melancholy knowing there would be no more books by a favorite author.
VOICES IN SUMMER by Rosamunde
Pilcher -- Another pleasurable read in Pilcher style. The story
centers around a woman who
goes to Cornwall to recuperate. She is greeted with warmth and the opportunity to make
friends and learn about herself and her husband’s family.
EXODUS by Leon Uris -- The story of the exodus of Jews
from Europe after WWII and the refusal of the British to allow them to enter Palestine. The book
goes from wartime to the birth of the State of Israel. Well told, good
research, great characters that blend history and fiction.
THE ALCHEMIST by Paulo Coelho -- A young shepherd
wants to follow his dream, so he goes on an adventure that ultimately allows
his dream to become reality--a story of personal growth and learning to allow
the universe into your life. Wonderful use of cultural and religious
beliefs.
AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED by Khalid Husseini -- Another
amazing book written by an author that just gets better and better. The
story begins in Afghanistan
with a poor family. A daughter is taken to live with a more affluent
family in Kabul.
The twists and turns created by war, poverty, and deceit
separate families culturally and geographically. And amazingly, the story
finds its way back to reconnections. I know I'll read this book again.
BOTSWANA TIME by Will Randall -- A delightful book about the
author's time teaching in a town in Botswana. Written in the
humorous style of Bill Bryson. Good read!
UNTIL THE LAST ARROW by Percy Booth -- A wonderful
history of the settlement of the Rogue
Valley from the early
1800s when the white man began arriving.
COCKTAIL HOUR UNDER THE TREE OF FORGETFULNESS by
Alexandra Fuller -- Well written with humor and a candidness
that is admirable. The author, of English/Scottish parents, grew up in
various countries in Africa. The
experiences this family lives through--poverty, wars for independence, and the
everyday reality of wild animals and poisonous snakes--gives the story truisms
that only test the reader's value system. Great book!
SECRET DAUGHTER by Shilpi Somaya Gowda -- A beautifully written story about a mother in India who gives up her daughter to save the child's life. She is adopted by an Indian man and a white woman in CA. The story follows the lives of both families for the next 25 years. (A chance purchase from Costco--and I can't wait for the author's next book!)
DREAMS IN THE TIME OF WAR--A childhood Memoir by Ngugi wa Thiong'o -- Thiong'o tells the story of growing up in Limuru, Kenya, and his perspective relative to Kenya's fight for independence from the British. Well told!
SONGS OF WILLOW FROST by Jamie Ford -- Another great author! The story of Chinese-American ancestry--tells of Liu Song's struggle of survival in a time when overt prejudice against the Chinese community and her gender shape her young life, and her inability to keep her beloved child.
Let me know some of your good reads for the year!
What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading
it,
you wish the author...was a terrific friend of yours
and
you could call him up...whenever you felt like it.
That
doesn't happen much, though.
-- J.D. Salinger
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