Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
This book, winner of the National Book Award, has been sitting on the shelf in my classroom for a while. One of my favorite students, Mackenna, just read it and enjoyed it, so I figured I’d check it out. Written in the form of a letter to his son, Coates takes to describing the struggles of growing up as a black male incorporating memories from childhood to Howard University to fatherhood and everything in between. I found his perspective to be articulately rendered and eye-opening, but, as a single letter, it felt long to me. I think a series of letters would have made it easier to fully absorb. Regardless, this is an important book, and I’d recommend it to anybody who enjoys multicultural memoirs.
The Next Person You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
The long awaited sequel to The Five People You Meet in Heaven, this installment follows Annie, the young girl Eddie saved, on her journey through heaven. It was everything you’d expect from a Mitch Albom novel, powerful life lessons woven into fable like experiences amidst a dreamy setting. I didn’t love this one as much as the original, but it was still really satisfying. I’d recommend it to anybody who enjoys fiction, and, obviously, Albom fans.
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
Wow! Talk about a moral dilemma. In The Light Between Oceans, Tom Sherburn feels as though he has cheated death after returning home to Australia after WW1. He takes a job as an offshore lighthouse keeper. While on leave, he meets, falls in love with, and marries Isabel. After suffering two miscarriages and a stillbirth while offshore, a boat washes up. On board is a deceased man and a living baby. Tom, methodical in his record keeping, wants to report the boat immediately, but Isabel, amidst her grief, begs him to let her keep the baby. As if this wasn’t enough, once they return to the mainland, a whole new set of complications and consequences await them. I was engrossed the entire way through this book. I found that I learned a lot about the geography of western Australia and lighthouses and World War 1, but I also learned a lot about grief, repercussions, and forgiveness. I’d recommend this book to anybody who enjoys literary fiction. Special interests would include geography, historical fiction, romance, and women’s literature.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
First, I just have to say that I love Kristin Hannah’s writing. Second, this book was awesome. Set during World War 2, the plot centers around two French sisters whose father has taken to the bottle after mom’s untimely death and his own experiences in the Great War. Vianne, the elder sister, a school teacher married to her childhood love, must survive his deployment in a town that has been completely overrun by Nazis. Isabelle, the feisty younger sister, is eager to contribute to the cause by helping downed airmen escape into Spain. Both stories are mesmerizing, heartbreaking, and educational. And, how they come together, well, that’s just… wow. I loved the focus on the “women’s war.” I’d highly recommend this book to all my fiction loving friends, especially those with an interest in history/historical fiction.
The Lying Game by Ruth Ware
Written by the same author as The Woman in Cabin 10, The Lying Game has the same mysterious vibe. In the story, four friends are reunited by a desperate text. A body has turned up in the marshland near their former school, and they fear they may be called into question. Even though my friends who read this book prior to me had mixed reviews, I really enjoyed it. I thought the way Ware captured the edgy innocence and rebellious energy of the high school years was spot on, and the characters were all well developed. The last chapter was a bit of a dud, in my opinion, but I thought the book itself was pretty engaging. I’d recommend it to anybody looking for a vacation read or a solid page turner.
Always and Forever Lara Jean by Jenny Han
Cheesy as it may be, I really enjoy this series. Always and Forever Lara Jean is the third and final installment in the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series. At the risk of giving away too much, in this book Lara Jean and Peter have settled into their relationship. Meanwhile, Lara Jean’s father has settled into a relationship as well. All is smooth senior year except for the fact that LJ and Peter will be attending different colleges come fall. Although they plan to stay together, some of their closest family members have cautioned about the dangers of starting college in a relationship. Honestly, there are times during this book when I almost cringed at how hokey it was. Yet, I couldn’t stop reading. There is something about these characters and this series that is very likeable. I would recommend to all my rom-com loving friends who just want to read something “nice” once in a while.
