Two books stood out for me. First was Challenger by Alan Higginbottom about the Challenger disaster and all the events and bad decisions that led up to it. For fiction, The Overstory by Richard Powers. Boiled down, it’s a call to action to save our planet and, ultimately, ourselves.
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. I loved some of the exotic settings, the way the characters crossed paths across generations, and some of the twists along the way.
Loved this book so much. I listened to the audiobook, read by Verghese, and it seemed to enhance the story. I had a book hangover for weeks after that one.
Oooh I know what you mean about 'book hangover' - great term for it. I was kind of left hanging after the ending - I wanted to read more about the characters!
I spent quite a bit of time afterward following Verghese on podcasts talk about the book because I didn’t want it to end. Learned a lot about how he got to that story!
The Longest Journey by E.M. Forster. That was the fifth Forster novel I have read. He was a great writer who created excellent novels beyond the more well-known Howards End and A Passage to India.
I finished The Ilead, and I read the Odyssey by Homer. I had only read portions of these in high school. I thoroughly enjoyed the dialogue and the plot of these books.
I enjoyed reading “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stephenson, a nonfiction book about his work to empathize with (and find justice for, in many cases) people who are on death row in Alabama and elsewhere in the US.
I have enjoyed your picks so far. I just finished Bewilderment by Richard Powers. Sci-fi, child development, widower dad struggling to keep up with challenged 9 year old, political hell, Buddhism, ...what's not to like?
What wonderful month! I read some great ones, but I think my stand out was House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama. A gothic tale set in 1980's Philippines was just an amazing setting!
Two books stood out for me. First was Challenger by Alan Higginbottom about the Challenger disaster and all the events and bad decisions that led up to it. For fiction, The Overstory by Richard Powers. Boiled down, it’s a call to action to save our planet and, ultimately, ourselves.
Both great! Challenger was one of my favorite reads of last year.
The Overstory was amazing. Loved it!
The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. Family doesn’t have to be tied together by blood!
Great book. Barbara is an American treasure, pure and simple.
One of the great reading experiences of my life. Reading the Bean Trees changed me.
My best book in August was The Memory Collectors by Dete Meserve. In fact it's the latest addition to my Facebook books of all time
Interesting, I’ll check it out!
I read that, loved it and reviewed it on my 'stack. Dete is so wonderful and her books make you feel good about life and humanity!
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. I loved some of the exotic settings, the way the characters crossed paths across generations, and some of the twists along the way.
Such a great book. One of my favorites of the last few years.
Loved this book so much. I listened to the audiobook, read by Verghese, and it seemed to enhance the story. I had a book hangover for weeks after that one.
Oooh I know what you mean about 'book hangover' - great term for it. I was kind of left hanging after the ending - I wanted to read more about the characters!
I spent quite a bit of time afterward following Verghese on podcasts talk about the book because I didn’t want it to end. Learned a lot about how he got to that story!
The Longest Journey by E.M. Forster. That was the fifth Forster novel I have read. He was a great writer who created excellent novels beyond the more well-known Howards End and A Passage to India.
Haven't read any Forster yet, but I will someday.
Dead Wake by Erik Larson.
A perfectly contextualized and humanized look at the last crossing of the Lusitania.
One of the few Larson books I haven’t read! I’ll definitely get to it one of these days.
I listened to the book and really enjoyed the narration!
My Darkest Prayer by S.A. Cosby and Falling by T.J. Newman.
Everything Cosby writes is amazing. I haven’t read any of those Newman novels, but I’ve had my eye on ‘em.
Cosby can do no wrong in my eyes! And Newman’s books are a wild ride for sure!! Very thrilling!!
Audition by Katie Kitamura
Looks intriguing - glad to hear you enjoyed it!
I finished The Ilead, and I read the Odyssey by Homer. I had only read portions of these in high school. I thoroughly enjoyed the dialogue and the plot of these books.
I need to read The Odyssey — I haven't read that one since high school. I've read The Iliad more recently and it was fantastic.
I enjoyed reading “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stephenson, a nonfiction book about his work to empathize with (and find justice for, in many cases) people who are on death row in Alabama and elsewhere in the US.
Such a good book. Glad you enjoyed it!
I have enjoyed your picks so far. I just finished Bewilderment by Richard Powers. Sci-fi, child development, widower dad struggling to keep up with challenged 9 year old, political hell, Buddhism, ...what's not to like?
That's a good one!
Jane Eyre!!!
So good. An all-time favorite of mine.
What wonderful month! I read some great ones, but I think my stand out was House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama. A gothic tale set in 1980's Philippines was just an amazing setting!
Haven't heard of it, but I'll check it out.
The Badlands by Preston and Child
Been a long time since I’ve read a Preston and Child book. I’ll have to give it another go.
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
Glad you enjoyed Matterhorn. It is one of my favorite war novels. I have been reading the four books in the Lonesome Dove series by Larry McMurtry.
Oh those are just the best. I want to re-read them soon!