Linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl
This week its exploring any kind of genre that takes our eye.
I have chosen what loosely might be termed general/women’s fiction and could be both contemporary or historical. These are all actual print books I have sitting on my TBR waiting to be read.
The Life You Left. Carmel Harrington. Her husband leaves for work and doesn’t return.
The Hope Chest. Viola Shipman. Mattie has ALS and Don her husband of fifty years can’t imagine life without her. The discovery of a hope chest unveils some precious memories.
Bad Behaviour. Liz Byrski. Zoö in Freemantle, Julia in London. These two women made choices back in 1968 that shaped their future pathways.
The Tea Chest. Josephine Moon. Three women come together to realise a vision of a tea shop in London. It may fail and they may need to look at what is important to each.
Grown Ups. Marion Keyes. About a family – the Caseys who are a large family until one gets concussion and spills some secrets – leaves them wondering if its time to grow up.
The Sweet Taste of Muscadines.. Pamela Terry. When their mother dies Lila and Henry return home and start to uncover some shocking secrets that overturns their family history as they know it.
Wish You Were Here. Jodi Picoult. A woman is stranded in the islands of Galapagos and as she faces dangers she finds she is evolving into someone different. She breaks down years of estrangement with her mother, takes the initiative in her profession and looks and her partner Finn.
The Reading List. Sara Nisha Adams. When Aleisha discovers a crumpled reading list in a tattered library book it sparks an extraordinary journey.
Someone Else’s Shoes. Jodi Moyes. Sam and Nisha mix up their bags at the gym, each has quite different shoes in them and both of them must use what’s there.
The Last Summer. Karen Swan. Set in the 1930’s and goes from a remote Scottish Island to a position on an Estate in the mainland. There is murder and mystery and relationship involved.
If you have read any of these let me know. If not do you know a book that could easily be added to this list?
I’ve been reading The Guncle by Stephen Rowley which is exploring some serious issues, mainly that of grief and loss but with some humour and great compassion. And the main character is so engaging.
The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick. Martha the main character works at the library, used to write stories with her Grandma and there is a bookshop owner and bookshop as well. I enjoyed this story, liked Martha as a character, her quirkiness and the way she changed. 
A Month of Sundays by Liz Byrski is set in Australia. It is about four women who belong to an online book club. They are invited by one member to join her for a few weeks in the Blue Mountains. They have never met in person before, each one is either retired or about to retire. They each have to bring a book that is going to reveal to the others something about themselves. They take a week to read and then discuss each one. The books mentioned are real books, and bring out information about each character. They have very thoughtful discussions. My first read of this author and I will certainly look for more by her.
Five women meet each month to discuss a book. Their friendship is important to them, even if some are tinged with tension. Each women faces a challenge as the story unfolds and each responds in a way unique to her. And through all the trials friendship carries the day. Each chapter begins with a quote from a book that is rather relevant to what happens in the chapter. I cheered them on, recognised and understood the crises and rather admired their steps forward in their lives.
I thought this might be another happy book about a bookshop, however I was warned in the forward by someone other than the author that this was a sad book, and so it is. It was an excellent listen on audio, I don’t think I’d enjoy just reading it. Set in a small village in England it is a tale of taking a risk, being a little naive about what might be a success and how to run a small business. Florence Green has a kind heart, but that cannot be said for another woman in the village who ruthlessly sets about being Florence’s and the bookshop’s downfall.
OMG I loved this book, I just was so annoyed when it ended, the best kind of annoyed though. I have read this every spare minute I had, I love this kind of book magic that draws me into a story. It often surprised a laugh out of me. It often had me worrying over the outcome for characters. There are some serious issues that are explored.
The Book Date 