Just finished “The Secret of the Blue Trunk” by Lise Dion. It is about her mother, who spent most of the Second World War in German concentration camp. The book is translated from French - author is Canadian - and is an easy read, prose-wise. Horrific, otherwise.
recently started “And the Mountains Echoed” by Khaled Hosseini…really pulled me in immediately. I was mesmerized by the audio version of “A Thousand Splendid Suns” something about the imagery created through the spoken word…
My picks for best AND worst books read in the last six months happen to be similarly-themed stories of people “displaced” in time…
Best: “Life After Life” by Kate Atkinson
Just amazing. So fun and thought-provoking.
Worst: “The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells”
Schmaltzy, self-important drivel. Madonna just bought movie rights. How apropos.
I just finished A Thousand Splendid Suns and loved it! Khaled Hosseini is truly a brilliant writer–I was completely drawn in and could hardly put the book down. I thought it was just as good as The Kite Runner and now I’m looking forward to reading And the Mountains Echoed.
I’m currently reading Wolf Hall which I’m having a harder time getting into. I’m not that fond of the writing style so far and all the different characters make it somewhat difficult to follow. However, since the reviews have been so good I’m sticking with it!
Oops.
Looks like “Life After Life” has had a lengthy shelf life on this post that I overlooked…
Still a great pick.
Any thoughts on “The Woman Upstairs” by Claire Messud? Left me conflicted and troubled.
Just started “Visitation Street” by Ivy Pochoda. First time writer published by Dennis Lehane’s imprint. Terrific so far.
^gondaline - I just finished “Visitation Street” last night. Thought it was good, but not great, however I liked how she ended the book. (I’ll say no more, I don’t want to give anything away :)).
Agree that “A Thousand Splendid Suns” is a wonderful book. Have not yet started “And the Mountains Echoed”, but both of my kids read and loved it.
I mostly read non- fiction, with books like Bayou Farewell by Mike Tidwell, published ten years ago about vanishing land along with a way of life, its hard to find a fiction story that is as compelling as whats outside our door.
[Bayou</a> Farewell | Mother Jones](<a href=“http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2005/10/bayou-farewell]Bayou”>Bayou Farewell – Mother Jones)
Twenty five square miles of land is lost every year.
Just a quick thanks to NMinn. I recently finished The Language of Flowers and The Kitchen House on audio and am currently reading the hardcover of Rules of Civility.
Completely different type of book - my boss asked me to read “Switch: How to change things when change is hard” by Chip and Dan Heath. It’s an EXCELLENT book about making changes within organizations, but also can be applied to making changes in your own or your family’s lives. Very readable, succinct, lots of great stories and anecdotes. Told with a sense of humor and a lot of common sense. I’m actually ENJOYING reading it.
Another book I’m reading is “Mindset” by Carole Dweck. Great theory, easily applied, will change your life and your kids’ lives (why didn’t someone tell me this when my kids were little?) But it’s very repetitive, very self-congratulatory, and long on anecdotes while being short on practical advice. I feel like she could cut it by half and I’d still get the point. If you already know Dweck’s theory of growth mindset vs fixed mindset you probably don’t need the book. But if you aren’t familiar with them, it’s worth reading. (Or just read Switch, the Heaths explain growth mindset thinking in their book).
I just read Big Stone Gap and enjoyed it very much. Now I have Trail of the Lonesome Pine because it figures so prominently in BSG. 
Just finished “No Regrets, Coyote” by John Dufresne, one of my favorite authors! Great writing and human insight, as always!
Thank you Deborah.
I am just getting ready to read Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala ,
Just read The Last Policeman and Countdown City by Ben Winters. Can’t wait for the 3rd one in the trilogy!
(Yes, I had other things to do, but I couldn’t stop reading once I had them both in my hands!)
“I am just getting ready to read Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala” – an unforgettable book.
I started “The Interestings” but it didn’t grab me so I put it aside and started another Kate Morton book, “The Distant Hours.” I really enjoy Morton’s books and am enjoying this one. Will probably try “The Interestings” again at some point.
Has anyone read any Agatha Christie? Which of her books would you recommend as a starter?
I’m going through the awards books this summer. Just read Brief and Wondrous life of Oscar Wao and LOVED it. Reading the Goon Squad and not really feeling it.
Tried The Interesting like cartera and also could not get into it.
In August, I read The Burgess Boys, The Cuckoo’s Calling and The Light Between Oceans. I enjoyed the first, loved the second (about which I’ve already commented in its separate thread) and liked the third, a lot. It was so interesting to read about the life of a lighthouse keeper in ‘The Light’, and also a good story which was beautifully written.
Additionally, I read a couple of books that aren’t really great literature but which I enjoyed tremendously. One was The Time Between by Karen White. I discovered her books on the local authors table at B&N when we first bought our place in Hilton Head. I’ve now read every one of her books and always look forward to the next. They’re easy reads and take place in the south, with nice stories and interesting characters. The second was Stolen Prey by John Sandford, a typical ‘prey’ book but a very good story and the wonderfully drawn character of Lucas Davenport. I read it in a day and a half.
I’m currently about 80 pages into TransAtlantic by Colum McCann. I’m not sure I’m going to enjoy it as much as I did his Let the Great World Spin, but time will tell!
Some first author books getting press -
[10</a> Dazzling Debut Novels To Pick Up Right Now](<a href=“HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost”>10 Dazzling Debut Novels To Pick Up Right Now | HuffPost OWN)
I read A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Marra. It was very good. I also just finished Brewster which was an easier read and also pretty good.
I forgot the title but also just finished a book that took place in Red Hook Brooklyn. It also was worth reading. The author was Ivy Pochoda I will see if I can recall the title.
Visitation Street.
Now reading In the garden of beasts by Erik Larson