Recent Reading Report

Recent reads have been quite satisfying, and I thought I might just let all you dear readers in on some of the titles I have enjoyed. All these books have been of the audio variety, as I've totally converted from physical books to audio books so that I can multitask in the sewing room.

An absolute delight of a book, Theo of Golden introduces us to the elderly Theo, quite the gentleman, who goes through his day-to-day life being kind to people! That is a very simplified take on him, but as one reads this book, his kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, and insight become an example for readers to want to emulate. I was thinking of him as almost Christ-like in his simple and genuine treatment of others. I loved all the various interactions he had with townspeople, even the ones who weren't very likeable. He never wavered in how he effortlessly gave of himself to make others feel valued. The ending, while sad, was also uplifting. Theo of Golden ranks among the top 5 in best books I've ever read.

 Years ago, I read an Ellen Marie Wiseman novel called What She Left Behind; I recall that I ravenously consumed it, handed it off to my mother who also ravenously consumed it. I should have been seeking more books by Wiseman, but alas, only just now read The Lies They Told. It began a bit stilted and slow, but after the initial few chapters, I was won over by a plot centered on a very disturbing and little-known history of eugenics in America. There was quite a system established to keep bloodlines pure and unsullied, and the mountain people of Appalachia and Blue Ridge were too often the victims. Imagine a do-gooder from the city coming up your mountain trail and taking your children and your land! This actually happened, according to Wiseman's research. Historical fiction at its finest. I was spellbound by the story and appreciated the thorough author's notes in which she shares her sources.

 In The Correspondent, Sybil writes letters, and this easy-to-read novel basically tells us all we need to know about our main character through letters that she both writes and receives. She has the benefit of looking back on a long, rich life, full of experiences both thrilling and mundane. She values letter-writing, and uses her skill to communicate not only with family and friends, but also with others she wishes to "connect" with - she just has a knack for knowing that they'd appreciate and respond to a hand-written letter. A plot does unfold in all these letters, and it forces Sybil to come to grips with some parts of her life she'd spent years avoiding. It was quite the satisfying little book.

Two others I recommend, but will dispense with a detailed synopsis, are Broken Country and We Begin At the End. I enjoyed them both, and would read other titles by both authors. 

These books were all pretty highly acclaimed and took weeks or months to come to me on my Libby app that I have through the library. In between these excellent reads, I read a lot of less-than-literary cop novels - bad language, gritty crime scenes, and formulaic plots. I don't mind them, and they sure make me appreciate getting to enjoy some superbly crafted works like the ones recommended above.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne