#books – The Simple Voice

What I’ve been reading

Baby it’s cold outside. What a great time to grab a book and rack up those “books read” for your Goodreads challenge.

Here are three books that I’ve recently read that are notable.

less Less by Andrew Greer. My book club members brought this book to my attention.

The story involves a writer with a degree of success who is finding it hard to accept that his boyfriend of nine years is marrying someone else. So to deal, he gets out of town in order to miss the nuptials date.

Way out of town. Paris, Berlin, Morocco, Southern India, a desert island, and the Sahara.

The humor is low-key and smart. This was a real pleasure to read — what truly lovely love story isn’t a pleasure to read.

Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill by Sonia Purnell

I enjoyed this biography of a public figure that I may not have been interested in before reading. This was a book I had to read for book club.

I learned about what was going on in the background during WWII England, British government, life as an aristocrat (yea, I want to write Aristocat) Winston Churchill and Clemmie.

I recommend.

greatalone The Great Alone by Hannah Kristin

I really enjoyed this book. It might be the topic of Alaska homesteading, because I’ve always thought that would be a great way to live.

The young family moves to Alaska in the 1970s to escape demons. The dad, a former Vietnam POW, suffering from PTSD is the driver. His wife and daughter are the helpless riders in Volkswagon bus — literally and figuratively.

Let’s face it, Kristin Hannah knows how to tell a good story.

Enjoy these if you try them; if not, enjoy whatever helps you through.

— Namaste

What I’ve been reading

There are plenty of books I read to the final page that I am not going to mention in this blog. They are fine but nothing exceptional. Not worth the mention.

Boy, do I have a good book for you this month. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles is everything a book should be. I enjoyed the characters, it taught me a little about Russian history, so funny and clever, it held my interest — so much so I can’t wait to read Towles other book, Rules of Civility.

gentleman

In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. The story of Rostov’s 30+ years in this hotel has heart, such wit and the subtle back handed humor of a true gentleman. A must read.

Here are other great books I’ve read recently.

12384157 The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott. This was a hand-me-down from my mom. I was pleasantly surprised by this. It’s an easy read. Great for when you want a good story.

Tess, an aspiring seamstress, thinks she’s had an incredibly lucky break when she is hired by famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon to be her personal maid on the Titanic. Once on board, Tess catches the eye of two men—a kind sailor and an enigmatic Chicago businessman—who offer differing views of what lies ahead for her in America. But on the fourth night, disaster strikes, and amidst the chaos, Tess is one of the last people allowed on a lifeboat.

The story then takes us on the aftermath of the survivors and starting a life on a new continent. Check it out.

27209486 Modern Lovers by Emma Straub. I had some issues with this book but it had many positives and I’m glad I read it. It certainly is a book that sticks with you and those are the best kind.

(Straub is also the author of The Vacationers, if you have read that. I haven’t.)

The story involves a tight-knit group of friends and bandmates from college who go on to remain each other’s lives in middle age, but how relationships change and evolve is explored. A splash of the next generation and it’s a nice, thoughtful read.

So curl up on the couch this weekend and read whatever you like. Hope it’s a good one!

— Namaste

Best books I’ve read lately

Books are personal. Go to any book club where a group of people read the same book and listen to all the differing opinions.

I used to not like to get suggestions from people about good books because my list of books to read is never ending. But, I’ve found that reading suggestions, brings a variety to the types of books I read that is refreshing.

So whether you want any book suggestions or not, I’m going to put these right here. Up to you. 😉

Beartown by Fredrik Backman. This author also wrote, ‘A Man Called Ove,’ which I disliked enough to not finish it but this book was the opposite. Insightful. Fast moving. It’s about a town in love with hockey.

beforeWewereYours Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. I really enjoyed this book and not for the sappy story that it certainly is, but for the description of the young families life on the river. Enchanting.

RobertPease The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace by Jeff Hobbs. This was a great story that I’m glad I read it. I think of it often.

While reading, I thought the story could have been edited by half and it would have been stronger — it repeated itself too much. I hate that.

But if you have a mind, meet Robert Peace and see his life.

AnnaK Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. In my attempt to read good books I haven’t read in my lifetime, I occasionally throw in a classic. I was so surprised by the timelessness of his writing and his insights into emotions. Enjoyed this very much.

—Namaste

What I’ve Been Reading

I’ve been reading a lot of books this summer. Many so-so books but I thought I’d share some of the best.

A Yellow Raft in Blue Water Yellow raft cover by Michael Dorris. This was a nice surprise. Different than any other book I’ve read, this story is fresh and fast moving. The characters are three generations of native American women and the land they travel during the experiences.

quietgirl The Quiet Girl by Peter Høeg. This was an excellent book that I should read again because I missed a lot of what was going on. It’s set in Denmark and is an adventurous story of nuns, gambling debt, a mysterious girl, intrigue and mysticism. It’s a book that sticks with you. The touch of humor was wonderful and the story rolled out in such an interesting way. Stick with it — it’s worth it.

uglyWonderful All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood. I read this for my book club and the reaction was strong on all sides. I loved it and thought the writing was superb. The topic may be upsetting to some because the main character in the book is a girl who has drug addicted dealers in middle America and not all her experiences are pretty.

riverDarkness A River in Darkness: One Man’s Escape from North Korea by Masaji Ishikawa. This is a free Kindle book and that is why I had this on my list to read. It’s a fast read and an incredible story. I had no idea the history of this area of the world. Well worth your time.
Let me know if you’ve read anything great lately. Happy reading.

— Namaste