Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi about two half sisters, one married a slave trader and the other is sold into slavery. Each chapter is a different descendant of the sisters. Loves this book, it was definitely heavy but my favorite of the month
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. Loosely based on Georgia Tann and how she was stealing children for adoption into wealthy families.
Right now I'm reading The Archer's Tale by Bernard Cornwell. Main character is an English archer whose village is attacked and a holy relic stolen from their church (his dad was the priest). He vows to get the relic back and he ends up an archer in King Edward's army looking for the man who took it while they are attacking France. It's pretty good although sometimes the battle descriptions are just too long and detailed and I end up skimming. The characters are also a little shallow. That was my biggest issue with his Saxon Stories seried but I think the tv show is actually better than the books in that case because they correct that issue.
isabel I finished The Great Alone a few weeks ago, agree it was great! I really like Kristin Hannah's books even though I feel most of them start out slowly and then really pick up the 2nd half. Have you read her book Winter Garden? It's my favorite of hers that I've read so far.
This is the first book I’ve read by her. I agree it started out slowly, but in a way I actually enjoyed and found compelling. But I finished the book today and sped through the last 50%, so it definitely picked up, like you said. I definitely enjoyed it. I’ll check out Winter Garden. Thanks for the rec!
isabel I finished The Great Alone a few weeks ago, agree it was great! I really like Kristin Hannah's books even though I feel most of them start out slowly and then really pick up the 2nd half. Have you read her book Winter Garden? It's my favorite of hers that I've read so far.
This is the first book I’ve read by her. I agree it started out slowly, but in a way I actually enjoyed and found compelling. But I finished the book today and sped through the last 50%, so it definitely picked up, like you said. I definitely enjoyed it. I’ll check out Winter Garden. Thanks for the rec!
isabel I finished The Great Alone a few weeks ago, agree it was great! I really like Kristin Hannah's books even though I feel most of them start out slowly and then really pick up the 2nd half. Have you read her book Winter Garden? It's my favorite of hers that I've read so far.
This is the first book I’ve read by her. I agree it started out slowly, but in a way I actually enjoyed and found compelling. But I finished the book today and sped through the last 50%, so it definitely picked up, like you said. I definitely enjoyed it. I’ll check out Winter Garden. Thanks for the rec!
Say Nothing was my favorite book from last year. I recommended it to everyone and bought a few copies as gifts. In February I read a few ok books, but Night Boat to Tangier was the standout, with really great writing. I read The Yellow House last month, and that is definitely going to be one of my favorites this year. I’ve already started recommending it and giving it as a gift.
I'm still in a major book funk where I pretty much hate everything I read.
I did love Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe, a nonfiction book about the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Turns out I knew absolutely nothing about it! The book, while detailed, is very engaging and exciting. The audiobook was narrated by a guy with an Irish accent and was really well done.
I also enjoyed Cactus League by Emily Nemens. I'm a sucker for a book about baseball that's not really about baseball. And each chapter is from the point of view of a different character - I'm a sucker for this because I love seeing how it all comes together at the end.
I was disappointed by Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey. I wanted more from a book that has the tagline "Are you a coward or are you a librarian?" (I'm a librarian)
I really didn't like Indelicacy by Amina Cain, Oligarchy by Scarlett Thomas, and the Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. Not sure if it was the books or my funk.
I also loved Say Nothing. I didn't know anything about the troubles either. Also there was juicy archives drama, which is one of my favorite kinds of drama.
Otherwise I'm also in kind of a book funk. I think I've started following too many "book people" on social media and it turns out some of them have terrible recommendations.
RupertPenny - There is archives based book coming in April:
Take Me Apart by Sara Sligar: It’s rare to find a gripping archival mystery, which is unfortunate because archival mysteries are some of the best ones. In this novel of the gorgeous California coast, Sligar invents a troubled, tragic artist whose fate is pieced together through the clues in her archive, which a young journalist at loose ends is hired to put in order. A literary thriller that is also an exploration of art, women’s ambition, violence, and mental health.
Say Nothing was my favorite book from last year. I recommended it to everyone and bought a few copies as gifts. In February I read a few ok books, but Night Boat to Tangier was the standout, with really great writing. I read The Yellow House last month, and that is definitely going to be one of my favorites this year. I’ve already started recommending it and giving it as a gift.
ny96, Can you tell me the authors of these two? I'm always looking for more recommendations, and when I searched these titles on Goodreads, there are multiple books with these names. Thanks!
Thanks everyone for all the ideas! I've been reading smutty romance for the past month or so, and it's definitely time to move on from that, so I appreciate all these recommendations.
Say Nothing was my favorite book from last year. I recommended it to everyone and bought a few copies as gifts. In February I read a few ok books, but Night Boat to Tangier was the standout, with really great writing. I read The Yellow House last month, and that is definitely going to be one of my favorites this year. I’ve already started recommending it and giving it as a gift.
ny96 , Can you tell me the authors of these two? I'm always looking for more recommendations, and when I searched these titles on Goodreads, there are multiple books with these names. Thanks!
Thanks everyone for all the ideas! I've been reading smutty romance for the past month or so, and it's definitely time to move on from that, so I appreciate all these recommendations.
Not ny96 but Say Nothing is by Patrick Radden Keefe and The Yellow House is by Sarah M. Broome.
Queenie I really liked this one. I read somewhere it was like a modern day Bridget Jones, which had me laughing cause it's not like Bridget Jones was that long ago.
Lost Girls of Paris Another audiobook that was so good. I loved the story. If you liked Lilac Girls you'll like this one and the next.