I’ve been fairly lucky with book recommendations this year (thus far, anyway). And Audible, G-d bless it, has been my one true reading companion, allowing me to ingest much more literature than ever before-12 titles in six months! Here are some brief reviews to help you make some reading choices this summer.
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
5-stars. What a fabulous literary fiction novel. Highly recommend this one for some uncomfortable self-reflection.
3-stars. A fun easy read. It won’t stay with you but it will entertain you along the way.
4-stars. I’m a Nick Hornby fan but this wasn’t a favorite. I didn’t connect with the characters, and I didn’t feel much by way of development either. But what the book did was bring a ton of issues to the surface that I simply never had reason to consider in the past (issues like racism in Europe, Brexit etc). I mostly recommend it for that reason.
The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Mansood
5-stars. Enlightening, entertaining, a ton of character development. Highly recommend, particularly if you like immigrant lit.
How to Walk Away by Kathrine Center
4- stars. Predictable by way of plot but some great character development. Well researched, too!
5-stars. So painful yet so beautifully written. Highly recommend, particularly if you have any relation to the plight of the Jewish people during WWII. The author used real life letters from her grandmother as inspiration, and included excerpts throughout. Just wow.
Return to Life by Jim B. Tucker
4-stars. I saw Jim B. Tucker on Netflix’ Surviving Death and was intrigued by his credentials and area of study. This is a fascinating book, backed up by data and science. If you have any interest in past lives, this would be the book to check out.
4-stars. Tough subject matter. Will keep you guessing. Great character development.
Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan
5-stars. This is one of my top-3 favorite reads this year to date. Talk about holding up a mirror to “you” (and society as a whole!) and forcing you to look! Cannot recommend this one highly enough! Both the plot and character development are out of this world!
5-stars. This book was my book club’s most recent selection. I truly enjoyed it. It never ceases to amaze me just how similar all immigrant experiences and stories truly are. Recommend!
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
4-stars. A little too predictable plot-wise but very entertaining. A good beach read.
4.5-stars. A highly entertaining whodunit, ala Agatha Christie. Though it is set in freezing temperatures, I’d say this is a great beach read as well.
What have you read this year so far?