Books to Read

It's been a while since I have posted anything on here so I think I will start off with a brief review of some of the books I have been reading lately. A couple of them are on current bestseller list's or are recently published so keep your eye out for them!

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
I loved this book. It's a fantastic story about a graduate student that is asked to take care of the sale of her Grandmother's abandoned house. While going through and cleaning out the ancient house she finds a key that starts her on a quest to find out more about her own family history and the mysteries that abounded within. The story travels seamlessly between present day and the Salem Witch Trials. This book is full of history, suspense and deep and interesting characters. I almost felt the magic pouring out of the pages as I was reading and I couldn't put it down! (as of today it's number 15 on the IndieBound bestseller list!)

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
If you haven't heard of this book...Well, you may live under a rock. But that's ok! Cause I am here to tell you about it today! I have been meaning to read this for months and have finally gotten around to it- and not a moment too soon since the movie just came out! I loved every moment of this book. It takes a few chapters to get in the "groove" of it, since it's all based on time travel you are going back and forward constantly. Once you settle in though you hardly notice the traveling because you are so absorbed with the story. It's about a man (and obviously, his wife) who involuntarily time travels. It's nothing he can control, he just suddenly finds himself in the past or in the future. And it's the story of their meeting and their love and how life is to be left behind and to be the one leaving. It's a very emotional book. I loved how love grounded both of them in so many ways and how you could feel it throughout everything that happened.

Finding Nouf by Zoe Ferraris
This was an excellent book. The author has spent considerable time in Saudi Arabia and the story shows it. It gives excellent perspective throughout the story of both women in living in Saudi Arabia and men. The story is all about finding a girl who ran off into the desert right before her wedding and once her body is found, finding out what really happened. I thought it was a great window into strict Islamic life, and the ups and downs of it. I really appreciated the main character, he is a desert guide and lives a very similar life to the Bedouin. His thoughts and actions are very complex and telling. I think that even for a work of fiction this holds a lot of truth and is something to learn from.

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
If you love books and history then this book is perfect. It's all about a very old book and the life it has lead. A famous Haggadah has been found and Hanna Heath, an Australian rare book expert, has been called in to do the analysis and conservation of it. The book switches back and forth from Hanna's life and perspective to the lifeline and story of the Haggadah. It's very powerful to see how this religious book was created and kept and saved for many years and how it made it it's final destination: Sarajevo. Excellent read, you will feel smarter and wiser by the end. I always love that in a novel!

As always, these are just a taste of what I am reading. My coworkers and I have many varied likes and dislikes and lots of variety in our reading styles as well. So, please, come in and ask us for recommendations. Ask us for reviews. We'll talk your ear off if you let us, we love books! And feel free to comment on any of our book reviews, let us know if you like the book, didn't like it...etc!