Ok, so maybe I didn’t spend my ENTIRE month reading historic fiction. But it felt like it! It took me nine days go read All the Light We Cannot See, which is a third of the month, and then I ended up picking up As Bright As Heaven, which is another historical fiction novel, and My Name is Memory and The Broken Girls, which both have some historical elements to it. Maybe its spring that is causing me to think back and reflect, but I’ve been feeling the historical fiction more than ever this month.
I read some amazing books this month! Most of my reads were 4 stars or better, which is impressive, given how blah I’ve been and how little time I’ve spent reading each day. Other than that, I’ve been doing really well on my challenges, although I didn’t read an LGBTQ book this month (so if you have suggestions, please let me know! I’m on the lookout for good ones!). But I’m ahead on all of my other goals, and I’m feeling pretty confident about April, since it’s starting with Spring Break!
Books are listed in the order they were read. For more mini-reviews, check out my What I Read tag.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Premise: Little Marie-Laure, the blind girl, lives with her father, the locksmith. When war breaks out, they must run from Paris to her great-uncle’s house. On the other side of the war, orphan Werner finds that his skills are particularly helpful to the German army, and he must battle his conscience throughout it all. This story traces these children through their experiences from 1934 through the end of the war and beyond.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Thoughts: Around page 430, I wrote on Goodreads, “Why do I keep picking up WWII books?” and I stand by that. These books, more than any other historical fiction that I read, rip me to shreds. Maybe it’s because it’s so recent in our history. Maybe it’s because the atrocities committed there were unlike anything we are privileged to know about now. Either way, these books are so difficult, and Anthony Doerr does an excellent job of describing them in such detail that they will rip your heart out.
The good news is that the war ends and people survive. Not all people. Not even most people. But the strength and endurance that the survivors possess is heartwarming and reassuring. This story was done so gracefully. The deaths were not glossed over; they given their full glory that is due. But the survivors… you learn their full stories. You see them rise above the ashes. And that is something of beauty.
Who Should Read It: Anyone who loves historical fiction or WWII. Anyone wanting to read a thoughtful, heartfelt, storm of a book. Anyone wanting to truly feel something.
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson
Premise: Neil deGrasse Tyson, one of the world’s most well-known scientists, informs us on cosmology, the universe, and the elements that make up who we are. This short book sums up the universe succinctly, if not simply.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Thoughts: Ok, so this book is not an easy read. The first three chapters of this book had my eyes crossing and my brain fried. Half of the time, I felt like I should take notes for a test. Once I got to the fourth chapter, however, I let go of the need to retain all of this science stuff and just started reading for enjoyment. The text eased up a bit and I definitely found more “ah-ha” moments within the writing. Plus, there are some REALLY COOL stats and interesting historical information in this book. But what made it worth my while, and what pushed this book to 4 stars, is the last chapter. Tyson really brings it back around and his philosophy is so beautiful and well-written that I was literally tearing up.
Who Should Read It: Anyone who enjoys science and space. Anyone wanting to know more about the creation of the universe. Anyone wanting to feel connected to the world around them.
The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
Premise: Fiona Sheridan is a freelance journalist whose sister was brutality murdered in 1994. Cut to 2014, and Fiona is still struggling to accept the events of that day. Her sister’s body was found near a now-defunct boarding school, and when Fiona hears that it is being renovated, she starts investigating. What she finds takes this book from a simple murder mystery to historical fiction, ghost story, and thriller all in one.
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Thoughts: I was not expecting to like this one as much as I did! Maybe it’s because my previous two reads were denser, but whatever the reason, I really devoured this novel. I especially loved the Idlewood girls. Each character was nuanced and had their own demons, and the way that their demons played out on the page was just beautiful. These characters faced some true horrors, but, in true teenage fashion, they were able to lean on each other and let their friendships help them battle these demons. The mystery was compelling, there were so many twists and turns, nothing ended like I expected it to end, and the story is fast-paced. I really, really enjoyed this one. (Downside: There was WWII snuck in there. I really can’t avoid it.)
Who Should Read It: People who are looking for a good murder mystery. People who like ghost stories. People who want to read truly flawed characters.
Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo
Premise: Steeped in Nigerian culture, Akin and Yejide have been married for four years but are having trouble conceiving. After consulting doctors and running tests, Akin’s mother brings another woman into their home for Akin to also marry (and hopefully have a child with). Yejide knows the only way to keep her husband is to get pregnant, but the costs of getting pregnant end up tearing them apart.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Thoughts: I’ll be honest; I don’t read a lot of novels that are culturally diverse. Most of my reads this year have been American or British. So when I picked up this book, it took me a while to really get into it. It was difficult to follow names and customs, because the way that the author writes assumes that you know the culture already. Throughout the course of the book, and through Yejide’s first “pregnancy”, I was able to really get invested, and I’m glad I did. I felt really connected to these characters, and the ending of this book, the very last chapter, made the novel worth all the struggle in the beginning.
Who Should Read It: Anyone who is interested in learning more about African culture. Anyone who loves a good family drama. Anyone who enjoys myths, legends, and folklore.
As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner
Premise: After the infant son of their family dies, the Brights move to Philadelphia to take over Mr. Bright’s uncle’s undertaking business. Set in the years during and after WWI, this novel highlights the tragedies of war and the plague of the Spanish flu.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Thoughts: This novel is so unique. For one, I had literally never heard of the Spanish influenza, outside of maybe a brief mention during our WWI unit of American history in high school. So the see the devastating impact of this epidemic from the point of view of girls living in a funeral home… it was impactful. The story also changes points of view frequently, and I love the diary-style writing that the author employed. There were some interesting choices that the author made through different points of view (having Willa, the 7 year old, tell us the fates of the older girls’ friends, for example) that made me really appreciate seeing this story from so many different angles.
This is a sad story, but it’s also one of hope and resilience, and I really enjoyed reading this one.
Who Should Read It: Anyone who loves historical fiction. Anyone who enjoys multiple points of view. Anyone who likes a story with an uplifting ending.
My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares
Premise: Reincarnation is a real thing, and Daniel has the unusual ability to remember every life he has lived. Throughout his long lives, he continuously runs into souls he’s known before, but he is always on the hunt for Sophia, his true love.
My Rating: 2.5 Stars
Thoughts: There was a lot I liked about this book, and a lot I didn’t like. I often found the story slow and tedious, especially when Daniel was waxing poetic about his past lives. I didn’t really care about his long thoughts about life and whatnot. However, I really liked Lucy, and I loved the way the author handled reincarnation. Daniel remembers his past lives, and he discovers a few staples to this theory. People tend to gravitate to others that they have known in previous lives. If you lived a good life and died a clean death, your next life was usually better off than the one before it. We are attracted to souls we have known in the past, if we don’t actually realize why we are attracted to them.
Overall, this was a good love story, especially in the second half of the book (specifically, when Daniel’s lives became a bit more current and he met Constance). However, a word of warning: this was supposed to be a trilogy, but the followup books never got published… so it doesn’t have an end that is satisfying. I’m usually ok with it, but this one was particularly frustrating.
Who Should Read It: Anyone looking for a good love story. Anyone interested in reincarnation. Anyone looking for a very different type of story.
The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
Premise: Amber is determined to find fortune and riches, and, despite her shaky past, she finds friendship with the fabulously wealthy Daphne Parrish. But lying beneath the surface of a happy Parrish marriage, there’s trouble, and Amber is determined to capitalize on it.
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Thoughts: The first half of the book is told from Amber’s point of view, and I really, really hated her. I definitely felt nothing in common with her, and she is shady as hell. I honestly wasn’t sure if I was even going to finish this book. But then… there was a shift. And it drew me in completely. And I finished this book in less than 24 hours. (Thank goodness for Spring Break, amiright?)
In the end, I really enjoyed falling so completely into this story, and I’m pleasantly surprised with the ending. But it was hard for me to look past the awfulness that is the first half of the book. Amber’s point of view is terrible, and there was a lot of dialogue and information that seemed forced and not well-written. So… it ends up being a 3.5 star book, rounded down.
Who Should Read It: Anyone who loved Gone Girl. Anyone who enjoys a psychological thriller. Anyone looking for a gripping story.
What do you think? Did I miss the mark on any of these? Are there some that you are excited to read? Leave a comment below!
