Just Read: books I’ve devoured lately #2

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

You guys. I cannot stop thinking about this book. Simply telling my husband about the plot had me choked up and had him riveted. This story of right and wrong will have you changing your mind about whose side you’re on over and over and over, which isn’t an easy feat to accomplish in story-telling. We think we know. Right is right, right? Well, read this book and tell me what you think!

Abide With Me by Elizabeth Strout

Here’s another story of right and wrong that will pull you through its pages with poetic prose and a longing for one man’s happiness. Can one keep faith through life’s hardest challenges? What does it mean to love and lose or never love at all? What does love really look like? A pastor fights for his happiness amidst much gossip and confusion. Peace to him. Peace to you. Peace to me. Isn’t that what we want? Freedom from lies.

Dry by Augusten Boroughs

As a person in recovery, I loved this book. Augusten is known for his powerful words, saying it like it is, and truth-telling no matter how ugly the truth. This book is highlighted like crazy because the way Boroughs describes his relationship with alcohol and his fight to let go and sacrifice his selfishness is so freaking spot-on. Anyone struggling with addiction needs to read this book.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

This book comes highly rated on Amazon and Goodreads for Good Reason. This story is captivating as it takes you through the history of foot binding (oh my word, OUCH) and a friendship that does its very best to last through life’s worst curve balls. It’s a beautiful story.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

I love Little Bee, the main character and title of this story. She’s full of grace and power and wisdom. The story itself reveals so much about the plight of being a refugee and grief, deception and the inability we sometimes have to forgive ourselves. It takes broken people in the midst of messes of their own making and has you rooting for them through Little Bee. Beautiful.

Faith by Jennifer Haigh

This is a story of a priest being accused of the molestation of a little boy in his care. It’s a book that has you wondering through its pages, did he do it? and you’ll keep turning, to find out the truth and begging the next chapter to reveal, oh please no, if he did it or not. You’ll love him and root for him and wonder your way through the prose. Haigh did an excellent job of taking the reader through one of the most controversial subjects of our time, showing how sometimes, the weakest have the most power.

This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

I realize people LOVE this book. I’m not sure how I feel about it. It powerfully sheds light on relationship messes and puts to words the inner workings of our desires. I’m probably a prude or something, but I didn’t need all the sexual detail or so so so many adultress mistakes detailed. I would have understood the message without THAT much dysfunction. And yet, I still like this book and would recommend it, mostly because of its ending’s surprise and message.

The Confessions of Max Tivoli by Andrew Sean Greer

To say that this story took something beyond imagination to write is just not enough. It’s a tale of a man/boy who ages backward and must come to terms with a demise that is the same no matter which way we travel. One of my favorite parts of this book is its picture of true friendship. In a word, this book is heart-breaking, and yet it reminds us of the power of love, to overcome and to lead us and to tear us apart.

my favorite of them all? The Light Between Oceans

and I’m currently reading – The Death of Bees by Lisa O-Donnell