My side table is overflowing with books. Here are the ones I read and loved this quarter. #somanybookssolittletime
The books I read and loved in April, May & June this year
Prophet Song – by Paul Lynch
Prophet Song is a dystopian novel by Irish author Paul Lynch about the struggles of the Stack family. Eilish Stack, the mother of four is trying to save her family as the Republic of Ireland slips into totalitarianism. Despite this book winning the coveted Booker Prize, I did not warm to the main character, Eilish, and often found myself irritated by her complacency. I realise the writing was trying to illustrate how totalitarianism, and indeed civil war, can sneak up on people. And it did make it more believable. But for me, it tended to drag at times. It was a good read, but not my best.
My rating is 4/5.
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The Husbands – by Holly Gramazio
This was a fun read. Lauren returns home to her flat one night, to be greeted by her husband. The only problem is – she isn’t married. However, according to her friends and the photos on her phone and in her flat, she is! Thinking she’s lost her mind, she watches her husband climb the attic stairs to change a lightbulb… and disappear. A new man then comes down the attic ladder and her life (and her photos and flat decorations) changes again. She soon realises that her attic is somehow magical and continues to create a new husband every time the old one enters the attic.
Lauren questions her life choices and wonders whether she should stop thinking the grass is always greener on the other side. This was an interesting concept and a light read.
My rating is 3/5.
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Funny Story – by Emily Henry
I finished this book the day after it came out – that’s how excited I was for Emily Henry’s latest book. And it didn’t disappoint. This is the story of Daphne, Peter, Miles and Petra. Daphne moved to Michigan with her fiancé, Peter, only to find herself stranded after Peter realises that he’s actually in love with his childhood friend, Petra. Without anywhere else to live, Daphne moves into an apartment with Petra’s ex, Miles who is the exact opposite of Daphne, a prim, rather guarded, children’s librarian. They hatch a summer plan to make their exes jealous, but soon realise there might be more to their friendship…
My rating is 4/5.
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The Women – by Kristin Hannah
Frankie McGrath lives in Coronado, San Diego with her brother and their conservative parents. She’s always done the right thing and has lived a sheltered life. But when the Vietnam War breaks out, she follows her brother to war and joins the Army Nurse Corps. Being extremely young and inexperienced in nursing, Frankie immediately finds herself overwhelmed and out of her depth.
But she grows up very quickly amidst the destruction and horror of the war and makes two deep friendships along the way. Returning stateside, she thinks she’s over the worst, but she soon discovers that the bad times are not nearly over. Angry protesters greet the war veterans and America ultimately wants to forget the Vietnam war. And as if that isn’t bad enough, few people acknowledge that there were women in that war and they’re given very little support on their return.
This book illuminates the frustration and heartache felt by the women who sacrificed so much to help during the Vietnam War. And it highlights PTSD and the consequences of the trauma they endured while over there, in service to their country.
My rating is 4/5.
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Related: All the books I read in the 1st quarter of 2024
You Are Here – by David Nicholls
Bestselling author, David Nicholls writes books that leave you feeling all the feels. (He wrote the book One Day which was recently remade for TV and had everyone talking.) His latest book is a romantic comedy that unfolds in northern England and features characters that endear themselves to you from the start.
Michael feels lost after his wife leaves and has started going on long walks to find himself. Marnie is divorced, stuck and prefers isolation to meeting people. And when a mutual friend plans a 10-day hike to get them to meet, they both go along reluctantly. I adored this sweet, funny story.
My rating is 5/5.
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Tall Tales and Wee Stories: The Best of Billy Connolly – by Billy Connolly
Billy Connolly is best watched to be truly appreciated but this book does give an interesting look at his upbringing and family. And it helps you to understand what makes this comedian so good. Billy Connolly is a very entertaining storyteller and this book includes many funny tales from his life.
My rating is 3/5.
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Related: My 4 Favourite Coffee Table Books Right Now
The Ministry of Time – by Kaliane Bradley
This book is historical fiction, romance, thriller, time-travel, and sci-fi – all in one. After the British government acquired the ability to time travel, they set up a new government ministry to ascertain how time travel affected the body and what consequences would result.
The government obtains a few time travellers from the past (an entertaining host of characters) and each gets set up with a civil servant who acts as their bridge. The main character in this story is the bridge for “1847”, Commander Graham Gore who died in a failed 1845 expedition to the Arctic. She has to help him acclimatise to his new time zone and deal with the extreme life differences he encounters (like the collapse of the British Empire, and Spotify). As time passes, the two become closer and soon realise they’re being hunted.
Kaliane Bradley offers a thoughtful, refreshing and sometimes humourous look at our modern world through the lens of the “expats” (time travellers). This story will intrigue you every step of the way through its twisty tale.
My rating is 5/5.
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Foster – by Claire Keegan
This is the second book by Claire Keegan that I’ve read now and I’m a total fan. She writes beautiful stories with few words and yet the emotion that she evokes is monumental. Her books are something to savour and I often reread some sentences to appreciate her writing. Many times it’s what she doesn’t say that’s important and can leave you feeling bereft. Her stories and what they portray and mean, stay with me long after I’ve read them.
This book is about a young girl who goes to live with a foster family in rural Ireland while her mother is pregnant. There she finds love and affection like she hasn’t experienced before.
My rating is 5/5.
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Sandwich – by Catherine Newman
I am a Catherine Newman fan too. She writes with a warmth and familiarity that I am deeply drawn to. Her writing is clever, deep, conversational and relatable. This story is about Rocky, a middle-aged woman, and her annual holiday in Cape Cod with her husband, two adult children and ageing parents. This year’s vacation, however, has the added benefit of Rocky’s menopausal bouts of rage and melancholy. Then something happens that threatens to unearth longtime secrets, throwing everything up in the air. This book shows the power of Rocky’s love for her husband, her children, her friends and her parents. I loved this one.
My rating is 5/5.
Order on Amazon US | Amazon UK
Have you read any of these? Are there any that you’d like to read?
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