All in Fiction
I was really looking forward to reading Richard Powers’ Bewilderment, his newest book since The Overstory, which is one of the best books I’ve ever read – and which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. But, I postponed reading it for a while after learning what the story was about because I was afraid it would be too depressing. Despite the book’s subject matter, though, I found it a beautifully written story about a father and a son and I encourage everyone to read it.
The Widow is definitely what celebrity chef and influencer Serena Wolf would call a “medium trashy novel.” She often reviews and recommends books of this type on her instagram. I think Wolf would define “medium trashy” as not requiring much effort to read, with a plot that may be somewhat silly, but the writing is good and you thoroughly enjoy yourself. That definition fits The Widow perfectly.
Reading a story this brilliant and beautiful is so rare that I want to start my review by saying I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone and everyone looking for an amazing summer book. Not only is the story complex and epic, but Gyasi creates characters with whom the reader feels intimately connected.
For a first Kristin Hannah experience, I cannot recommend The Great Alone highly enough. Hannah’s ability to juxtapose enormously sweeping imagery of the Alaskan wilderness with an intimate portrait of a teenage girl is breathtaking.
I was definitely late to the party in reading Amor Towles first novel since the brilliant A Gentleman in Moscow. I had heard lots of praise for The Lincoln Highway, so when I finally started to read it, I had great expectations. And for the most part, I agree that it’s an incredible work of fiction.
Peter Heller has quickly become one of my “go-to” authors. When I see that he’s written a new book, I can’t wait to get my hands on it and read it. And again with The Guide, Heller has written a beautiful, well-crafted thriller.
I really wish the Goodreads app (where I track the books I want to read and have read) allowed you to make personal notes so I could keep track of who recommends a book to me. World War Z has been on my list for many years and I never really felt excited to pick it up because, well…zombies? But honestly, whoever recommended this to me did not steer me wrong.
Despite it being a potentially difficult moment to read it, The Women in the Castle is an absolutely phenomenal book. From start to finish I was gripped by the plot and the characters. Shattuck tells a moving story with many twists and surprises. Although I would not describe her writing as poetic or elevated, it never got in the way of my enjoyment either.
I was fascinated by the idea that Hillary Clinton had paired up with Louise Penny, a famous detective story writer, to co-write State of Terror, her first fictional book. Turns out the two women had formed a real friendship years ago, so when a friend suggested they team up and that friend had worked with Bill Clinton and James Patterson on two thrillers they co-wrote, Hillary agreed. State of Terror is the gripping political thriller resulting from that partnership.
With full disclosure, I admit that because Elizabeth Strout and I shared the same college, major and year of graduation, I will forever be favorably disposed towards her books. Having shared that, I believe she has created another masterpiece in Oh William!
How could an author with a name like this be anything but wonderful? All kidding aside, King has written some fabulous novels: Writers & Lovers, Euphoria and The English Teacher are among her best. Five Tuesdays in Winter is her debut collection of short stories. As I’ve shared before, short story collections are not usually my first choice of what to read. But I am so glad that I pushed myself to read this collection.
When I saw that Ruth Ozeki had a new book out, I immediately requested it from the library and put it straight on the top of my ‘to read’ pile. Her earlier novel A Tale For The Time Being (Reviewed here) remains one of my favorite contemporary novels ever. Ozeki is a master storyteller and has outdone herself in The Book of Form and Emptiness.
In many ways, The Year of the Runaways is difficult to read. But despite its length, it is one of those books that sucks you in so completely that it is hard to re-emerge. Sahota has created such an intriguing plot with such vivid, true-to-life characters, that it feels more like watching a movie than reading.
I first heard about Jodi Picoult’s new book Wish You Were Here when I heard Picoult in an interview on NPR. She said she’d written the novel as a way to deal with the strangeness and solitude she felt during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. She didn’t expect it to be published, but viewed it as more of a personal coping exercise. When friends read the manuscript, however, they encouraged her to go public. And I, for one, am glad she did.
Had I been familiar with Honoree Fannone Jeffers and known that she is a celebrated poet, I might have anticipated what a gorgeous book I was about to read when I opened The Love Songs of W. E. B. du Bois. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect—because of its title. Was it a collection of love songs by W. E. B. du Bois? It is not. Love Songs is an epic, multi-generational novel in which du Bois’ influence looms large.
To borrow a phrase from my favorite chef/influencer Serena Wolf, this is the perfect “medium-trashy” read for those looking to get sucked into some small-town drama.
A perfect historical fiction escape following a young dancer destined to be a movie star and her small-town chaperone who is searching for details of her past in 1920’s New York City.
Anthony Doerr writes beautiful prose, and in Cloud Cuckoo Land he has perfected his craft. In the novel’s intricate structure Doerr develops three stories simultaneously, those of: Anna in 1439 Constantinople; Seymour and Zeno in 2020 Lakeport, Idaho; and Konstance on a spaceship sometime in the future.
Aptly titled, The Knockout Queen is indeed a knockout and an absolute must-read. In her two main characters, Bunny and Michael, Thorpe has created a relationship as unlikely and unusual as it is beautiful and compelling. Thorpe writes brilliantly, and I was so immersed in these two characters’ lives, I absolutely could not stop reading until I had finished the book.
I read Anxious People before the holidays and named it my favorite book of 2021 that I hadn’t yet reviewed. The only reason for that was timing, and I am thrilled to be reviewing and recommending it to you now.
