3 Books I've Enjoyed So Far This Year

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While I have still been reading regularly this year, it has been much more start-and-stop than last year. (You can see all of the books I read last year here.) However, there have been 3 stand-outs so far this year that I wanted to share with you.

The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart

I don’t recall where I came across The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland, but it kept showing up in my recommendations on ebay. One day when I was trying to think of a book to read, I decided to order it. It has been my favorite book of 2021! I will be surprised if something surpasses it. It is quite sad at points, but it is also brilliantly written and a beautiful story of a young woman seeking to find herself. It is set in Australia, which was a really different location than I am familiar with, so that was a fun little surprise. I will leave you with this brief synopsis from Amazon to whet your appetite—”Spanning two decades, set between sugar cane fields by the sea, a native Australian flower farm, and a celestial crater in the central desert, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart follows Alice’s unforgettable journey, as she learns that the most powerful story she will ever possess is her own.”

To buy: In Paperback; on Kindle

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The Glittering Hour

I finished The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey a few weeks ago. I found it on a display at the library and ended up really enjoying it. It was one of those books I stayed up late to finish. I am always up for a historical fiction, but this one was set in a time period I don’t have much experience with—1930s & 1940s England. The main character, Selina Lennox, is a Bright Young Thing, but that doesn’t mean she has a perfect or even an easy life. “Spanning two decades and a seismic shift in British history as World War II approaches, Iona Grey's The Glittering Hour is an epic novel of passion, heartache and loss.” I thought it was well written, and I liked how the story unfolded. It was sad at the end but also hopeful and endearing. It would make a great end-of-summer read!

To buy: In Hardcover; on Kindle

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After Alice Fell

After Alice Fell by Kim Taylor Blakemore was such a strange but fascinating book. I read it earlier this year and have periodically thought about it since then. At first, I would have said I didn’t like it, but after finishing it and thinking through some of the discussion questions that were included at the end of the book, I decided that I did like it. At its heart, it is a mystery, but it has elements of a historical fiction based on its setting in New Hampshire after the Civil War. The writing style of it was very different than anything I have read—it was very truncated and although each character is motivated by emotions, they all feel very removed from emotion. It was almost like the main character, Marion, had blinders on. That’s how it felt a bit. Overall, it was an interesting storyline, and it made me think a lot about how we have become disconnected from our dead (and how that’s probably not a good thing, especially in light of the fear mongering surrounding the coronavirus). If you are in the mood for something different as well as a good mystery, you should look into it.

To buy: In Paperback; on Kindle

If you have any favorites that you’ve read so far this year, I’d love to hear!

The Books I Read in 2020

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I go through phases where I read and then I don’t. 2020 kicked off with a major reading boom! And it just didn’t quit. I read over 35 books this year. I’m fairly confident that is a personal record. Here’s what I read in 2020.

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

  • City of Bones

  • City of Ashes

  • City of Glass

  • City of Fallen Angels

  • City of Lost Souls

  • City of Heavenly Fire

A few years ago, I found a book at the library called City of Bones. It had a really cool cover and was on the free book cart as I was heading out the door. It caught my attention so I grabbed it, but when I got home I stuck it on the shelf and forgot about it. Right around New Years Eve, I was looking for a book to read and browsed through my shelves to see what I hadn’t read yet. This book grabbed my attention once again, and I decided to go for it. And I’m so glad I did! I loved this series so much! (Here’s the wikipedia page with a synopsis.) It was action packed, and the world that Cassandra Clare creates is rich and interesting and super intriguing. The main cast of characters are fun and funny and endearing, all things I like in characters. When I finished the last book in the series, City of Heavenly Fire, I wasn’t quite ready to be done with the Shadowhunter world, so I decided to read a trilogy that is set a few years in the future.

To buy: The Mortal Instruments, The Complete Collection (paperback); Individual books on Kindle—Book 1. Book 2. Book 3. Book 4. Book 5. Book 6.

The Dark Artifices series by Cassandra Clare

  • Lady Midnight

  • Lord of Shadows

  • Queen of Air and Darkness

This series is set a few years after The Mortal Instruments series. It focuses on a new set of characters but also brings in some of the main characters from The Mortal Instruments series. I liked this series even more than the original one, and I felt like it truly “ended” the full series of books. You could probably read just these books, but I think you would enjoy them much more if you read the other series first.

To buy: The Dark Artifices, The Complete Paperback Collection. Individual books on Kindle—Lady Midnight. Lord of Shadows. Queen of Air and Darkness.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

From there, I totally changed genres and read Little Women. I’m sure I read this a long time ago, but I didn't really remember it. It took a few pages to get into it, but then I devoured it! I know some people think it’s a little corny, but I think the story is so endearing. You have to watch the PBS mini series after you read the book because it’s my favorite and totally the best tv adaptation!

To buy: Little Women paperback via Barnes and Noble. Masterpiece—Little Women DVD.

The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson

And then because I was in the mood for another historical fiction novel, I went for The Summer Before the War. It’s been on my list for a long time, and it just seemed interesting. I really enjoyed it. If you like period pieces, this is a really cute story. It’s a bit sad, but overall, it’s a quick read and very endearing.

To buy: Paperback; Kindle

Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse by Faith Sullivan

Sticking with the historical fiction genre, I read Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse. This book is set in a small town in Minnesota and spans a long time period. Overall, I don’t tend to like historical fictions that cover such a long span of time, but this one was decent. I liked the main character, and I was genuinely interested to know what would happen to her. It’s definitely a slow burn, though and probably isn’t for everyone. I’d give it 3.5 stars (out of 5).

To Buy: Paperback; Kindle

Sookie Stackhouse Novels by Charlaine Harris

  • Dead Until Dark

  • Living Dead in Dallas

  • Club Dead

  • Dead to the World

  • Dead as a Doornail

  • Definitely Dead

  • All Together Dead

  • From Dead to Worse

  • Dead and Gone

  • Dead in the Family

  • Dead Reckoning

  • Deadlocked

  • Dead Ever After

After that I devoured the Sookie Stackhouse novels. Set in a small town in Louisiana, Sookie Stackhouse discovers that vampires and werewolves are real, and she has some unexplained powers of her own. There’s vampires, there’s a good love story, there’s suspense and mystery. Also, Sookie is a lovable, smart, funny main character. I read every spare minute I could find because I loved these books so much. Dylan and I watched the HBO series True Blood a few years ago, and we both agreed that Eric Northman, played by Alexander Scarsgaard, is one of our favorite tv characters of all time. He’s charming and witty and just perfect. We knew the series was based on books, and one day Dylan surprised me with the set. The books are different from the show, but I really liked them. One disclaimer: the genre is Southern Gothic Romance, and it does have some intense sex scenes. So take that into consideration.

To Buy: Sookie Stackhouse Complete Series (Books 1–13 paperback set)

After I finished the Sookie Stackhouse novels, I was still in the mood for something spooky/mysterious, so I tried to read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, but I hated it and stopped about 30% in.

From there, I jumped to …

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

My sister and I decided to read Anne of Green Gables together, and I thought it was really cute! I do have to admit that I was a bit annoyed by her in the beginning perpetually talking about her imagination, but at the same time, she grew on me. She’s very endearing! I can definitely see reading this book with Penelope when she’s a little older and talking through some of the lessons that Anne learns. Maybe someday I will read the other books in the series. If you are going to buy the book, I highly recommend the Barnes and Noble collectible edition (linked just below). It has a beautiful cover and is a very good quality book.

(One side note: I started to watch the Netflix series Anne, after I finished the book, and I turned if off partway through the second episode. It is terrible! They twist a lot of the story around, change integral parts, and they make her out to have mental struggles. I would love to find an old adaptation at some point, but I haven’t taken the time to look. But just know, the Netflix one is not worth your time.)

To buy: Anne of Green Gables (Collectible Edition) from Barnes and Noble

The Vacationers by Emma Straub

I found a copy of The Vacationers by Emma Straub at Goodwill for $0.99. It was an easy read, but I decided I didn’t care for it. I was actually a bit disappointed. I was expecting a funny book, and it was definitely not. I personally would not recommend it.

The Last of the Moon Girls by Barbara Davis

After that I came across The Last of the Moon Girls, and I breezed through it. I really enjoyed it. It was a nice mix of suspense/mystery, as well as a ‘finding yourself’ story. I liked the main character, I liked the setting on their family farm, I liked the mystery that needed to be solved. I would recommend this one highly.

To Buy: Paperback; Kindle

Her Final Words by Brianna Labuskes

From there I turned to Her Final Words, which I had gotten through the Amazon First Reads program. The premise of it was very intriguing. I think I liked it overall, but I will say that it felt a bit forced, maybe. I’m not sure the best way to describe it. The mystery of the story was well conceived and super interesting. I really didn’t know who did it until the end. However, the main character was a flat, very stereotypical FBI agent. I wished her character would have been developed more, or at least didn’t feel so stereotypical. Overall, I would say I enjoyed it. If you are in the mood for a suspense, it is worth a try.

To Buy: Paperback; Kindle

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

I was in a ‘magic’ mood because I was still thinking about The Last of the Moon Girls, so I decided to read Practical Magic. It had been on my list for a while, and I was always intrigued by the premise, but it never grabbed me. I was generally interested, though, and decided to go for it. I would give it 3 out of 5 stars. It was fine and interesting, but it was also very weird and totally not what I thought. I am also not a huge fan of stories that span a lifetime/long time period, so that probably played into it. The end 1/3 was super interesting and probably made the whole book worth it. So, do with that what you will. Ha!

To Buy: Paperback; Kindle

All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness

  • A Discovery of Witches

  • Shadow of Night

  • The Book of Life

I came across the All Souls Trilogy when I was browsing through Amazon. I noticed they were making it into a show with Matthew Goode, and I was intrigued. I thought about this book series a good deal after I finished it. I think I decided I would give it 3 out of 5 stars. More specifically, I would give the first book 3 stars, the second book 3.5 stars, and the third book 4 stars. I don’t regret reading it, but it’s hard to recommend it, and I honestly cannot believe it has so many high reviews on Amazon. It must be a niche genre that I just don’t appreciate as much as other people. I personally felt that the world she created was super intriguing, but her overall writing style was way too wordy. I think she could have cut her content down dramatically to make the books faster paced; it would have been better off and much more interesting. I also felt that the main character, Diana, was a bit flat. Part of the storyline is supposed to be a bit of a ‘finding herself’ story, but it just fell flat in my opinion. You’re supposed to get the impression, through the eyes of the other characters, that Diana is super interesting, but she just doesn’t come off that way. The cast of supporting characters really carries the book in my opinion. That said, I do still want to check out the tv series because I think the world might better translate to video, and they could show things without the long descriptions in the book.

To Buy: Paperback; Kindle

Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

This was a re-read for me, but I remembered liking it so much that I pulled Where’d You Go, Bernadette up on my Kindle and read it again just for fun. I am hoping to watch the movie soon. This book is quirky and fast paced and just fun.

To Buy: Paperback; Kindle

Molly's Game: The True Story of the 26-Year-Old Woman Behind the Most Exclusive, High-Stakes Underground Poker Game in the World by Molly Bloom

I stayed up way too late a couple of nights in a row reading Molly’s Game because it was so fun and mind boggling. The tone of the book is very fast paced, almost frantic. The tension is palpable, and I just couldn’t put it down. It’s a quick, fun read, and super interesting!

To Buy: Paperback; Kindle

The Spellman Files: Document #1 by Lisa Lutz

At the beginning of November I was really hoping for a new book to read, and my sister and I looked into fun, light-hearted books. I came across one called The Spellman Files: Document 1 by Lisa Lutz. It was totally kooky, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it part-way through, but it picked up quite a bit about 30% in. I really liked it—it was totally different than most books I read; it was funny; it was sweet in its own weird way. Definitely worth a read if you want something off the beaten path.

To Buy: Paperback; Kindle

North and South (Audiobook) by Elizabeth Gaskell

I contemplated reading the next The Spellman Files book when I finished the first one, but I decided to go a different route and listen to an audiobook while I was doing some house projects/doing the dishes. I chose North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. As you may remember from my post, My Favorite Historical Fiction Shows & Movies, I absolutely love the tv series of North & South. It is one of my favorite love stories of all time. Overall, I liked the book, although it was slightly different than the tv series. My one critique is that I didn’t really care for how the narrator portrayed Mr. Thornton in the ending. It just seemed kinda off from his overall character. That being said, I enjoyed listening to it, and I enjoyed doing dishes because I could have an ‘excuse’ to listen. :) Someday, I would be interested to read it for myself and interpret Mr. Thornton for myself, but in the meantime, my desire for historical fiction was sated.

To Buy: Audiobook

Emma by Jane Austen

To close out the year, my sister and I decided to read Emma by Jane Austen. I love the tv mini series with Romola Garai, but I am somewhat ashamed to say that I had never read the book. I found it hard to get into the story, but once I did, I enjoyed it. Her writing style is very different from Pride & Prejudice, but it felt fitting with the more flighty characters portrayed throughout. Overall, I liked it, and I would recommend it to anyone who liked Pride & Prejudice or generally likes an English love story. Mr. Knightley has my heart. :)

To Buy: Kindle; Jane Austen: Seven Novels (Collectible Edition) from Barnes and Noble

Now I’m on the hunt for a good read to cozy up with after the kids go to bed. If you have any recommendations or books you’ve been intrigued by recently, I’d love to hear!

Book Review: The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin

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Earlier this spring, I downloaded a copy of the book, The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin by Stephanie Knipper, to my kindle. I really didn't know much about it beyond the description that Amazon includes from the publisher—

"Sisters Rose and Lily Martin were inseparable when growing up on their family’s Kentucky flower farm yet became distant as adults when Lily found herself unable to deal with the demands of Rose’s unusual daughter. But when Rose becomes ill, Lily is forced to return to the farm and to confront the fears that had driven her away."

I was blown away by this book. I loved it so much, and I think about it often, even months later. The first part of the book was so beautifully sad; I sobbed through a lot of it. That being said, I just couldn't put the book down. I loved the way she wrote about the sister's lives and their relationship (past and present). Having a sister of my own, I thought that the way the author wrote about the sisters was spot on. She obviously wrote from a depth of experience that made it true and apt. It also made me love and appreciate my sister that much more.

I thought that the way she wrote about the relationships between Lily, Rose, Will, Seth, and Antoinette was very realistic and well captured. I don't have a lot of experience with autistic children, but the way she brought the reader into the world of Antoinette was well done. I appreciated Antoinette for all her complicated and sweet and loving and challenging characteristics; she seemed so real that I couldn't help but love her.

I also really enjoyed the way the author wove the meanings of flowers into the story. It was a unique aspect that made the story interesting and special.

So, if you have a chance, I would highly recommend The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin to you. It is a story with a depth of emotion I haven't come across in a long time. In addition to that, it is beautifully written and reflective of this complicated life that we live with its beauty, sorrow, challenges, and joys.

Book Review: Longbourn by Jo Baker

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I had been in a book rut for most of the summer. I tried a few different books and just could not find one that was interesting. As I was browsing through Instagram looking for recommendations, I came across "Longbourn" by Jo Baker a couple of times. I had heard of it, but I honestly didn't know anything about it. So, I turned to my trusty library's website and looked it up. I was intrigued, and it was available, so Finn and I packed up and went and got it that day.

"Longbourn" is set in the same place and time as Jane Austen's "Pride & Prejudice" (a book I love, love, love). However, it is told from the perspective of the servants who run the house at Longbourn, which the Bennett family inhabits. It primarily follows the maid, Sarah, but the housekeeper, Mrs. Hill, is also prominent.

I think that Jo Baker, the author, does a great job of telling a unique story while completely transporting the reader back to Jane Austen's beloved world of Longbourn. I greatly appreciated that she did not focus too much on the Bennett family or the interactions that took place in "Pride & Prejudice". Jo is able to accurately portray the original Austen characters and perfectly intertwine details from the original story into the new story she creates for her characters. The overlap of the stories is perfection, and she exercises skillful restraint in leaving out details that the servants would not have been privy to and likely would not have cared about.

I also appreciated that Jo was able to offer some critique of the original Austen characters without coming off as complaining. She did not in any way tarnish the Bennetts by taking up the servants' story, nor did she pit the servants against the Bennett family. She does include frustrations that the servants likely would have felt, such as Sarah's frustration on wash day that Elizabeth had gotten so much mud on her petticoats. It's a fair criticism and also speaks to Jo's intimate knowledge of the Austen characters, which adds further depth to her book.

I greatly enjoyed seeing the story unfold and at points, was not sure what would happen next. I felt genuine care and concern for Sarah and Mrs. Hill. I was intrigued by the character, James. I felt the ending was fair and interesting. The story was engrossing from beginning to end, and to be honest, I was a little sad when I finished the book. I would have liked to have continued on with Sarah's story for much longer if it had been possible.

On the whole, "Longbourn" was a quick read, and I would recommend it if someone is looking for a period piece with a little romance and endearing characters.

I should note that if you have not read "Pride & Prejudice", I highly recommend it to you. Also, I think you could read "Longbourn" and follow along without having read "Pride & Prejudice" first. I think you would more deeply appreciate "Longbourn" if you have read "Pride & Prejudice", but I don't think it is a requirement. The two stories can stand alone in many ways.

Finally, if you liked "Pride & Prejudice" and are looking for something set in the same world, I think you would enjoy this book as well. Jo, the author, does a great job of telling a new story, while interweaving details from Jane Austen's book. As the reader, you very much feel that you are at the Longbourn estate.

If you have read "Longbourn", I would love to hear your thoughts. From what I could tell of the reviews online, people seem to really like it or really dislike it.

Book Review: Where'd You Go, Bernadette

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A few days ago I finished reading Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple. I couldn't put it down for the last 100 pages or so. If you are looking for a lighthearted but engrossing book, I would highly recommend it. It is funny and touching, engaging and witty. You will quickly get sucked up into the world of Bernadette and not want it to end.

I won't give too much away, but in case you haven't read the book, here's a brief summary.

Bernadette Fox is an opinionated, former architect who has a bit of a problem. While her husband spends his days and nights working tirelessly at Microsoft, she utilizes a personal assistant in India to handle her day-to-day life so she rarely has to interact with other human beings. The only person she enjoys is her daughter, Bee, a brilliant 15-year-old who attends a private school near their home. When Bee aces her report card, she claims her promised reward—a trip to Antartica with her parents. Bernadette seems to be taking it well, and boxes and boxes of supplies begin arriving at their home in preparation, until she disappears. The book unfolds as Bee compiles various emails, messages, and other files to figure out where her mother has gone.

The book is written in a very interesting style, with parts told from the perspective of Bernadette, her daughter, Bee, the husband's admin, Soo-Lin, and Bernadette's neighbor/arch enemy, Audrey. It took a little bit to get into it because of this unique style, but after a short while, it started to make a lot of sense and made for an interesting read. The style lends itself well to showcase how different people can have very different perspectives on a situation or person, primarily Bernadette in this case. It also allows for a ton of wit to shine through. Maria has laced the book with personality and humor at every turn. I couldn't help but laugh out loud at a few parts.

In general, the world that Maria Semple has created for the book is rich and vibrant. Bernadette is quite eccentric and yet charismatic. I couldn't help but love her, despite her reclusive and highly neurotic tendencies. I appreciated the well-roundedness of the characters. Though Bee is a brilliant child, she is still down-to-earth. She loves to help out the younger students at her school to keep from getting bored. Audrey, Bernadette's neighbor and mother to Bee's classmate, Kyle, is delusional and high-strung. I love Audrey's character arc at the end of the book. It totally took me by surprise. Elgie, Bernadette's husband, is what one would call the quintessential tech-nerd work-a-holic. The book provides some funny commentary on Seattle in general and Microsoft more specifically.

Happy reading!

Buy on Amazon: Kindle or Paperback (affiliate links used)

P.S. I'd love to know if you have read any good books lately. Let me know in the comments.