Category — Good Books

Looking for a good book, try Little Bee by Chris Cleave.  It was wonderful.

The story centers around Little Bee, a refugee from Nigeria, who has just been released from a detention center in England.  Each character in the story makes sacrifices in their lives in order to save others.  The tragic circumstances of Little Bee’s life in Nigeria are revealed as she reunites with the only people in England that she knows.  The book is written in the perspective of several different characters which is always intreging to me.  The things that happened to 16 year old, Little Bee, are so heavy yet the author has found ways to interject bits of humor throughout the story.  If you like books on tape, it’s an excellent listen…I’m sure it would be a good read too.  When I intiately selected the book a review compared it to Kite Runner….so if you are a Kite Runner fan, Little Bee might be the book for you.

Looking for a good book?  Try Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian.

If you haven’t read his books before, you are missing some REALLY good books.  Often times, with his books, the reader doesn’t know the ending until the very last paragraph.  Midwives and The Double Bind are two of my favorite top books so when this new selection came out, I quickly picked it up.

The story is focused around George and Alice Hayward who are found dead one day in their home.  Initially everyone believes that it is a murder suicide…but is it?  George is known for spousal abuse…but could he have actually killer Alice and then killed himself.  The story is told in first person by the pastor, district attorney, best selling author and  George and Alice’s daughter Katie….Who dunnit? or Was is actually a murder suicide.  You’ll only know by reading the book.

This book was a little more predictable then the others by Bohjalian, but still definately worth the read….or listen.

While I was at my conference in California, I finished the book Population:485 by Michael Perry. 

This book tells the story of a volunteer fireman/EMT in rural Wisconsin.  He tells humorous reflective stories of calls he has been on and characters from his little town.  He paints a beautiful, realistic picture of small town life.  As a wife of a volunteer fireman/EMT in rural Iowa, I can relate to so many of the stories he tells as it reminds me of people and things that have happened in our own little town.  Hubby read it and recommended it and he is not a reader so this is high praise.

The book will have you laughing and crying….if you listen to it on CD, they have added parts of another of Perry’s books to it.  Be patient with the intro, the book is worth it.

I’ve listened to a few great books lately and thought I would share one with you….
Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.

The book intertwines two stories, one present day and one from France in WWII. In the early part of WWII
French police come and round up Jews. Not understanding, a four year old Jewish boy is frightened and hides in a secret cupboard. His ten year old sister, in a split second decision, locks her brother in the cupboard and
takes the key with her as she is taken away with her parents. The lives of several families take a new course because of that split second decision.

I am completely draw to books about pioneer life, holocaust, or any books where people triumph over unimaginable circumstances.  I am a true “mouse in the corner cheerleader” cheering the main characters on while my heart is completely breaking for them.  If you like those type of books, this is one for you. 

Does the boy get out of the cupboard?  Does the boy die in the cupboard?  It’s definitely worth a read.

I am a HUGE fan of Sandra Dallas books…have you read any?  I just finished listening to Prayers for Sale.  It is excellent and I recommend you check it out. 

Henny, the main character in the book, was a young bride during the civil war.  Things happen that encourage her to move to a gold mining area near Denver, Colorado.  Henny LOVES to quilt and is often telling stories to local ladies.  At the writing of the book, Henny is now an old lady and is being forced to move from her beloved home. 

I can’t tell you a lot more about the book without giving the story away.  Get a tissue ready for the last chapter…

Sandra Dallas often weaves quilting into her novels so if you are  a historical fiction reader who quilts too, she is the PERFECT author for you.  All of her books are good…
Tallgrass
Alice’s Tulips and
The Diary of Mattie Spenser and of course, Prayer for Sale are my favorites.  I listened to this book from the listening library …I can’t say enough good things about the listening library or about this book. 

So kuddos to you Sandra Dallas on another great book!!

Here are my favorite summer listens (audiobooks).  The books are wonderful.  The Help takes place in Jackson, Mississippi during the fight for civil rights.  The book tells about experiences of female house maids and how they were treated.  The story is told in the perspective of several different maids and a twenty something white girl whose family has a maid.  I love books where I can learn a little history and get a great story.

I also read Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.  This book is also historical taking place on the Channel Islands during WW II.  This book is also told from several perspectives.  It is written in letter forms which is a format I really like.

I have heard several people say they tried to read both books but keeping the characters straight when you hear the story from so many perspectives is a challenge…it would be.  That’s why I recommend listening to them as audio books.  The voice changes by the readers help me keep the characters straight.  I, of course, listened to them free through NEIBORS my area online library.

If you know of any other good books or audiobooks, send them my way!