bonnie's bookshelf 12.2
Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks give me a welcomed respite from work. One of my top priorities during this time of freedom - read. All those novels that I've heard about since the summer, this is my time to really make a dent in my list.
Maybe you have spare time to fill, maybe you just need some relaxation from the stress and the family. Whatever it is, what better way to slow down and pause for a beat than to sink into a good book? So I thought I'd share my current reads and most recent recommendations. My list today is a bit longer than the usual, so I'm breaking it up into three parts for you: have read, currently reading, and next up. (*All pictures are of books classified under currently reading, because, well, I have them....currently. Funny how that works.)
// Have Read //
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
I'm not usually one for thriller, suspenseful novels. But I had heard so many good reviews about this one that I thought I'd give it a try. It was definitely a compelling read, keeping me on the edge of the seat and by the end of it I was glad to have read it, if for the ending alone. And now I'm sure you're thinking "what was the ending?!" You'll just have to go see it yourself. I did not however go see the movie. They really seemed to portray it as having much more suspense and thrill than I took from the book. And I've heard from a couple of sources that the movie didn't live up to the book. So that's just my two cents.
Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty
I literally could not give it any higher recommendation. I earnestly think this might be my all time favorite book right now, if not at least in the top 5. It really is fantastic, guys. Clever, witty, page-turner, excellent voice, detailed characters, incredible and hysterical plot line. Let me say again, cannot recommend it enough. It's about three sisters navigating their lives as they turn 30 and all the intricacies and hilarities it brings. So. Stinking. Good. I checked mine out from the library, but earnestly wished I owned it so I could read it again and loan it out to all my friends.
// Currently Reading //
Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty
Recognize her name? If you haven't figured it out, I've gotten hooked on her books. (Read: Three Wishes, The Husband's Secret, Big Little Lies) She has a compelling writing style that keeps you craving more and fully immerses you in the character's lives. This book in particular is about three couples in Australia (the setting of all her books) and how their lives drastically changed after a casual weekend barbecue. At this point, I still haven't found out what that life altering event was, so I"m reading as fast as I can! Moriarty is laying the suspense on thick, so it's either going to live up to the hype, or fall short of expectations. I'll let you know which.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
A quirky and offbeat foreign book that is charming and idiosyncratic, but not a page turner. Makes a good lazy beach read, but isn't something you're going to fly through. Hint, I've been reading it since late August....and I'm still not done. Don't get me wrong, it's still a good book, it just takes a vested interest! But I have every intention of finishing it. Who knows, maybe there's a twist ending!
Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
This one is a little outside of my wheelhouse but The synopsis really pulled me in. It's focus is immigrant domestic helpers working for high level executives during the 2008 housing and stock market crash. I've only barely started, so fingers crossed it lives up to the hype - I'll keep you posted!
// Next Up //
The Residence by Kate Anderson Brower
With its inside look at the help inside the White House, this book has been on my list for months. I finally got my turn to check it out from the public library, but didn't get very far into it before I had to return it for the next person on the waitlist. So I'm technically in the middle of reading it, I just can't read it currently. But I still have high hopes for it, once I can get my hands back on it.
What's on your bookshelf? I'm always looking for new additions to my list!
