Book recommendations

I’ve never joined a book club, maybe because I’m a really slow reader. Even so, I still love reading. I love how it transports me to another place. I love that those visions are mine and mine alone and what’s being created in my thoughts is a personal interpretation.

Here are some of the books that have resonated with me. You’ll definitely be familiar with some of the titles. Either way, I thought I’d share with you.

“Rebecca” by Daphne Du Maurier was what I read when I was on maternity leave with my son Michael in March 1994. It was gifted to me by a co-worker. The book is an award-winning classic from 1938 that kept me entranced in its suspenseful web. This Gothic thriller has it all — the mysterious mansion and its owner, the dreams and nightmares experienced by the main character, the eerie setting — all described with absolute precision. It’s a page turner and I couldn’t put it down. I’m getting ready to read it again.

“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou made my heart sink, brought tears to my eyes but also showed me the triumph of the human spirit. Angelou’s honesty in storytelling, leaving nothing out about her upbringing, made me become even closer with the characters.

“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen a classic I read a very long time ago but that still resonates with me today. The dialogue fascinated me, the way they argued and how their romantic story unfolded. Elizabeth Bennett will forever be someone who was so ahead of her time.

“Room” by Emma Donoghue is one that I’ll admit I read after watching the 2015 film that won Brie Larson the Oscar for Best Actress. The movie is fantastic but the book allowed me to envision the setting, scenes and emotions of the characters. And yes, I was able to do that even after watching the movie because the storytelling was so fantastic. The story is heartbreaking, triumphant, brave and touching.

“The River Where America Began: A Journey Along the James” by Bob Deans is a book I purchased while on vacation in Virginia on a visit to Historic Jamestowne. I actually bought it at the Archaearium Museum that sits along the historic James River. The book gives a historic account of the first inhabitants and settlers of the area. It was fascinating to read about the settlers and many battles that took place there.

“The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II” by Denise Kiernan is one I just finished and I couldn’t put it down (so much for being a slow reader with this one!). It’s the story of the brave women who worked at the secret city in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, that was one of the many created as part of the Manhattan Project. The secrecy, the unity and division and the heartbreaking outcome that brought regret to so many was a fantastic read.

So there you have it. Right now I’m reading two books so I’ll be back soon with some reviews on those, and any others I might pick up along the way.

Happy reading!