My New Year’s resolution is to read more books. This has always been my resolution, which is why I’m vague about what “more” means. I’ve read one book and listened two and a half audiobooks this month. I recently transitioned from taking public transportation to work, so had to transition to listening to books instead of reading them. I keep this long list of books in my notes on my phone and hardly remember what made me decide to put them on there, so usually I’m starting these books with no information about them. Which can be good or bad.
Mrs. Fletcher
By Tom Perrotta
As an audiobook, this has to be different than reading it. I love books like this because they tell stories of people’s lives. This isn’t the kind of book that changes you, but it is the kind of book we should all read from time to time. Told from multiple perspectives the characters encounter complex and relevant social issues, but in a way that feels so normal. Good beach read, or audiobook for your commute to work.
Broken River
By J. Robert Lennon
As soon as I started Broken River I couldn’t stop listening to it. Told from the perspective of an unidentified entity and then several human characters, this suspenseful story brings you into the minds of a two unhappy married people and their precious daughter while another story stirs around them.
Refuge
By Dina Nayeri
Apparently, I only read one book in January (technically I started this back in October and only finished it in January). This is a lovely story about an Iranian family, also told from the perspectives of two different characters, a father and daughter. The contrasting perspectives from show both their immense love for each other, and the pain they endure from their own traumas. I don’t know why it took me so long to get through it. Maybe it’s being a mom to a young kid and having a full time job. This book also struck me as one that tells the stories of people’s lives. Refugee stories are all different, many are tragic and many remain tragic for years and years. The daughter in this story frustrated me as much as she intrigued me and made me want to hear more refugee stories.
She Regrets Nothing
By Andrea Dunlop
I started this not knowing it was in the same genre as Gossip Girls, so I had to take a break from it. But I’ll finish it next month…