These are the best kind of Saturday mornings. Peaceful and regenerative. The summer ahead, but it's not hot yet. Even though it is raining, of course it is, there is the promise of sun for an entire week! I'm dreaming of going on a couple of family vacations -- the Beach and Beaver's Bend, and I'm trying to get a good list of books together to read for the summer. If you are, too, here are a few books I've read lately for you to consider. What are yours? Share with me, here or via any social media, with the #parisreads hashtag so I can find you.
Euphoria by Lily King
Heady and Magical
Evoking a sense of time and place that I remember without having ever inhabited. At once Out of Africa and Casablanca, and just as worth it. Easy and satisfying beach read. This time, instead of it being a woman who owns a farm in Africa, or the world of Nazi occupation, it is anthropologists caught in the lure that only Africa can cast.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Well written historical fiction to get lost in. A story of the resistance, a story of love, courage, women, sisters and family. This is the first book of 2015 to go on my 2015 favorites list. I couldn't put it down!
The Nightengale is a top resister in the Resistance. But just who is the Nightengale? And why is this person risking everything to help strangers? If you liked All the Light We Cannot See, you'll speed through this.
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
The book is called: "The Buried Giant" and has a chalice on it. So you know you are getting an old English quest book. And sure enough, there is a knight, an ogre, even a dragon, a warrior, and a young man. The monks may be good and they may be evil. There is even someone who knew King Author.
But there is also a boatman, and an old couple. And a river. And ye goode olde Brittany is covered in fog. Actually, the people have foggy minds. They can't remember, so they are living in harmony.
Is that a good thing? What is it that the old couple can't remember? And, why is an old couple in the quest story to begin with? Is the boatman going to harm them or do them good? What, exactly, is the buried giant? And what is the longed for chalice?
A very different offering, that raises more questions than it answers, enfolded in an entertaining quest. How is Ishiguro so brilliant at writing about the Brittish? How is he able to portray the aging in such a light?
Land of Careful Shadows by Suzanne Chazin
This is detective fiction, told from the POV of the Hispanic detective and several other Hispanics that are a part of the story. It will entertain you and tug at your heart. Never preachy but way more to the story. Very glad I read it particularly at this time with the current immigration political wars. The author reached out to me after my review of The Book of Unknown Americans and I'm glad she did. Read it for surface level enjoyment or read it for much much more.
I'm not through with this book, but it deserves mention. I've loved Larson since I read The Devil in the White City with book club. No one does suspenseful non-fiction historical narrative like Larson. I think this one is going to be right up there at the top, so far it's wonderful and fits my need for more information on the WWI era. Here is a video about why he chose to bring this story to the world:
Finally, did you pick up your Paris Life copy? Will you join in? #onecityonebook #parisreadslittlewomen -- you've got all summer, and then in August there will be a number of fun events. What will happen if we all read the same book and experience it? I'm game to find out and hope you are, too.
I'm still searching for that knockout summer book. Let me know what you think! #parisreads
Euphoria by Lily KingHeady and Magical
Evoking a sense of time and place that I remember without having ever inhabited. At once Out of Africa and Casablanca, and just as worth it. Easy and satisfying beach read. This time, instead of it being a woman who owns a farm in Africa, or the world of Nazi occupation, it is anthropologists caught in the lure that only Africa can cast.
The Nightingale by Kristin HannahWell written historical fiction to get lost in. A story of the resistance, a story of love, courage, women, sisters and family. This is the first book of 2015 to go on my 2015 favorites list. I couldn't put it down!
The Nightengale is a top resister in the Resistance. But just who is the Nightengale? And why is this person risking everything to help strangers? If you liked All the Light We Cannot See, you'll speed through this.
The Buried Giant by Kazuo IshiguroThe book is called: "The Buried Giant" and has a chalice on it. So you know you are getting an old English quest book. And sure enough, there is a knight, an ogre, even a dragon, a warrior, and a young man. The monks may be good and they may be evil. There is even someone who knew King Author.
But there is also a boatman, and an old couple. And a river. And ye goode olde Brittany is covered in fog. Actually, the people have foggy minds. They can't remember, so they are living in harmony.
Is that a good thing? What is it that the old couple can't remember? And, why is an old couple in the quest story to begin with? Is the boatman going to harm them or do them good? What, exactly, is the buried giant? And what is the longed for chalice?
A very different offering, that raises more questions than it answers, enfolded in an entertaining quest. How is Ishiguro so brilliant at writing about the Brittish? How is he able to portray the aging in such a light?
Land of Careful Shadows by Suzanne ChazinThis is detective fiction, told from the POV of the Hispanic detective and several other Hispanics that are a part of the story. It will entertain you and tug at your heart. Never preachy but way more to the story. Very glad I read it particularly at this time with the current immigration political wars. The author reached out to me after my review of The Book of Unknown Americans and I'm glad she did. Read it for surface level enjoyment or read it for much much more.
I'm not through with this book, but it deserves mention. I've loved Larson since I read The Devil in the White City with book club. No one does suspenseful non-fiction historical narrative like Larson. I think this one is going to be right up there at the top, so far it's wonderful and fits my need for more information on the WWI era. Here is a video about why he chose to bring this story to the world:
Finally, did you pick up your Paris Life copy? Will you join in? #onecityonebook #parisreadslittlewomen -- you've got all summer, and then in August there will be a number of fun events. What will happen if we all read the same book and experience it? I'm game to find out and hope you are, too.
I'm still searching for that knockout summer book. Let me know what you think! #parisreads
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