Like the movies, I’m not sure how this one will go. I have to walk through my house to find my favourites. The thing with books is that I have more than ten favourites for sure. I love a lot of books. I tried to pick books I knew I would read more than once (or have read more than once.) I like books that make me feel. I also like humour, but my list isn’t full of humour.
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
I listened to this one on my trip home from Ontario. (I listened to three.) I loved it so much that I plan to buy it as soon as I can.
It’s fiction, but about a very real and quite scary place called Tennessee Children’s Home Society Orphanage. The story goes back and forth between a granddaughter learning more about her grandmother, and her grandmother’s story. It had me invested from the start, and I loved the family. I actually haven’t read this one again, but I will. It made me smile and it made me cry. Those are the two things I need from a book.
White Oleander by Janet Fitch
This is a story about Astrid. Her beautiful and brilliant mother was sent to prison, and the story is about the different foster homes teenage, Astrid, was sent to. The stories are both horrifying and beautiful. I guess it’s a story of Astrid finding herself without her mother overshadowing her. Her mother is still part of the story, and without giving away too many details, she was a very selfish woman, but the love between mother and daughter is a huge part of this novel.
I’ve also watched the movie. It’s shorter, and has less foster homes than the book, but I really liked it as well.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
First of all, there are so many reasons I love this book and series, and a lot are nostalgic reasons. My mom read me the entire series when I was younger. My grandma had the movie, and I made everybody watch it every time we stayed at her house. I loved everything about Green Gables. I loved the people, and the place, and the words Anne spoke.
I love the idea of having a bosom friend. I love the fact that Anne never stopped writing and believing in her dreams. I love how much Marilla loved her Anne Girl, and the faith Matthew had in her from the start. And of course, I love Gilbert Blythe, and at times hate how much time the stubborn Anne spent being angry at him.
I love L.M. Montgomery’s beautiful words, and I’m so glad that I was lucky enough to have Anne of Green Gables in my life.
A House Without Windows by Nadia Hashimi
I loved this book. It’s the second book I’ve read by Nadia Hashimi. I loved the first one as well.
It’s a heartbreaking story, but one that kept me invested the entire time. The story is about Zeba, a wife and mother, in a small Afghan village. She was found next to her murdered husband with his blood on her hands. She was arrested and sent to prison.
The women in the prison were so much of this novel. They eventually became friends, and listened to one another’s stories. One woman was pregnant and unmarried (that’s why she was in jail), and a runaway who finds jail the safest place. There were so many unfair situations.
Zeba’s story was the main one, and she was one of the lucky ones to have a lawyer that was willing to fight for her. I can’t go into anything else because I hate spoilers, but it was a good book.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This book is narrated by death. And death does a wonderful job at doing it. It’s a unique way to write a book, and it’s not a science fiction or supernatural type death writing, but it’s death either way.
Death writes about the book thief. A girl named Liesel who finds a book, and eventually is taught to read by her foster father. She falls in love in reading at a time where even reading books is dangerous, as she steals books during Nazi book-burnings, and any other place she can find them. This book is about her life, and it’s beautiful, horrifying, sad, and lovely.
I remember closing the book and crying. I’m probably due to read it again now that I think about it.
On Writing by Stephen King
This isn’t at all like the rest of the books I’ve spoken about. Although as I write that, I do know I could do an entirely different post about non fiction books. I’m loving them lately. Memoirs, biographies, self-help books. I really enjoy them all.
Now, about the book. It was one of my favourite about writing. I think because it wasn’t all technical. It was mixed in with his own story.
If you want to be a published author and are struggling, I’d say give it a read. If you want to write, I’d say give it a read. If you’re intrigued by Stephen King, I’d say give it a read.
Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
I know I’m not very good with my adjectives to describe a book because I will once again say this was a beautifully written book. I love books that are written in a beautiful way.
The story interweaves between a birth mother in India, an adoptive mother in America, and the daughter of both these women. We follow the three women, and get to learn about each of their lives. I loved all the different women, but it actually took a second read for me to appreciate the adoptive mother more.
Honestly, the more I write about my favourite books, the more I want to read them again. I’ll have to leave these books out so I can read them again soon.
The Face on The Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney
First of all, this was actually one of my favourite books from when I was a teenager. I recently read it again, and while it didn’t leave me feeling exactly the same, I still loved most of it.
It’s about Janie. One day she’s looking at a milk carton in school and recognizes the face on the milk carton as her own. Her life spirals from there as she tries to find out answers. She loves her parents, and can’t imagine they had anything to do with a kidnapping.
There are actually four other books in the series. I only remember three of them though.
The book is basically based on a lot of drama, and drama from a teenager’s eyes is even more drama. As a teenager, I didn’t see that, but as an adult, it seems like just asking some questions would have solved a lot. However the book would have ended a lot sooner.
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
I read this while travelling in Thailand. It’s another book that I finished while crying because it had such an impact on me.
I hated the movie.
I need to say one thing before I go on. I don’t like her other books. I thought I would. I thought I’d love them all, but for some reason, I’ve never found one I loved like this one. I have tried.
This book is about Anna, and her fight to live her own life. She was basically born to help her sister fight leukemia. She goes to a lawyer and asks for his help. The book is about the drama in court, as well as memories from all the members in the family. The sisters love one another even though Anna is fighting to choose on her own whether to help her sister. The family loved one another, but their mother has one focus, and that was helping her sick daughter. As I read it, I didn’t love the mother. However, I wouldn’t mind reading it one more time now that I am a mother to see if maybe my opinion has changed.
The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld
This is a book about the scary realities of life. It’s haunting and at times hard to read. However, the writing is beautiful, and there are moments when it’s written like a Fairy Tale. The writer doesn’t hide the horrors in life, but she makes it easier to read even when your heart is aching.
The novel is about Naomi. She is a child finder, and gets called when parents need a last resort after their child has gone missing. There’s nothing pretty about missing children. It’s scary as hell, and she doesn’t always guarantee a good outcome.
The story is about Naomi in the present as well as her past, as she searches for a little girl who disappeared three years ago.
I can’t say anything else except I loved this book. It’s the kind of book that I read, and can only wish that one day my writing can make somebody feel like this book made me feel. It also left me hoping she would continue Naomi’s story because it wasn’t done. She has one other book that I haven’t read yet, but it’s on my list.
What are you reading?
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