I have no official book review today. I’ve read a bunch of bestsellers recently and liked all of them, but I feel it’s kind of silly to write detailed reviews of books that already have scads of ratings and reviews. I will just tell you I would recommend all of these novels if you like the genre.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah — historical fiction set in France during World War II. This is the story of two sisters and the different lives they lived in their efforts to survive.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins — suspense. An unbalanced girl with a drinking problem sees something suspicious from the train she rides every day into the city and gets involved in the mystery of a missing woman.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr — historical fiction set in Germany in World War II. Pulitzer Prize winner. I liked this book a lot but would have preferred the events be told in chronological order.
The Bees by Laline Paull — I will never be able to look at a bee again without wondering if it has its own personality, if it knows its friends and enemies, and what really goes on within the hive. This novel just grabbed me and held on until the end. Highly recommended.
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King — horror/suspense. This is the sequel to The Shining. Young Danny Torrence is all grown up and trying to drag himself out of his alcoholic stupor and straighten up his life. A young girl with her own powerful shining is able to connect with him — but Alice the Hat and her evil band of True Knot killers needs children with a shining for survival. The battle commences. The only trouble here is that I am having trouble getting Alice the Hat out of my mind and out of my nightmares.
Next up: Slash and Burn, a Joe Hunter thriller by Matt Hilton, book #3 in a series.
Now it’s your turn. What good books have you read lately?
I recommend the following reads I rated 5 stars recently: The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown, Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood, Dreams of Joy by Lisa See (read the first book in the 2-book series first–Shanghai Girls), and The Secret of Everything by Barbara O’Neal.
Thanks, Beth! I’ve read other great books by Atwood and See but not these. Now I’m going to pop on over to Goodreads and put all of these on my “Want to Read” list.
We seem to have similar taste in books, Pat! I thoroughly enjoyed many of the ones you mentioned. I added The Bees to my TBR list! It sounds like a great read, and really unusual.
Hi Kate! It is unusual and not the kind of book I would have picked up to read if not highly recommended by one of my book-loving cousins. I almost always read what she recommends, though, and I’m very glad I did.
So glad you’ve enjoyed your reads this past month, Pat. Too often, ‘blockbuster’ or ‘bestseller’ has nothing to do with a book’s quality. Sometimes there is the happy marriage of a really well-written book with popularity, and I’m always happy for the hardworking author when a very well-written book gets attention.
With more and more books to choose from these days, many outstanding self-published novels, I have a rough time deciding what to read next. My goal lately has been to read one hardcover from my bookshelf, then one ebook from my Kindle or Nook. And now I’m also on the library ebook system…..so many choices, Margot!
The one thing I’ve finally learned, though is to give a book ten pages to hook me. If I’m not in by then, the book goes away.
I haven’t read any of those books yet though I’ve picked them all up a few times. On the other hand, I have run Slash and Burn.
I like the Matt Hilton series a lot, Susan. I think his newest was just released in the UK…might be #9 in the series. I guess I’ve fallen pretty far behind.
Loved both THE NIGHTINGALE and THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN. I recently read an ARC – TRUST NO ONE by Paul Cleave – that I totally recommend. It was chilling and heartbreaking.
Thanks for the recommendation, Madeline. I had it marked “Want to Read” over at Goodreads so maybe I’d better move it to the top of my list.
You’ve been busy reading! I’m finishing up a Brandon Sanderson book right now and it’s awesome.
He’s written quite a few books but I haven’t read anything by him yet. I do like sci fi, though, so will check him out. Thanks, Alex.