Joey has never been a big reader. I think he was halfway into an autobiography by Larry Bird when I first met him and I think he finished it like last year. I think.
Anyways, after hearing him say his problem was that nothing ever holds his attention, I suggested he pick up a thriller. Something along the lines of a Stephen King or a James Patterson novel. A month and 3 (very long) books, later, I find myself dating someone who’s always reading. Meanwhile, I’m playing around on my phone, letting my brain rot and wondering what is going on?!
But I guess I did finish a few books recently too, so maybe I’m just being dramatic.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
My favorite book. Favorite. I still remember reading it for the first time and being so so sad when I finished it. There’s nothing grandiose or life-changing about it. It’s just a cute little story about a writer from London who starts a correspondence with a literary club on Guernsey, an English island that was occupied by the Germans during World War II (the book takes place right after the war ends). The whole book is written in letters, which I love. The book is endearing, enchanting, heartbreaking at times and so so happy at others. Also, I find it incredible that the book was co-authored (mostly written by Mary Ann Shaffer and finished by her niece Annie Barrows after Mary Ann’s death) and yet, it is seamless. I just adore this one.
The Kite Runner
Everyone read this already years ago, right? Okay, we’ll I’m behind on the times. I read this one while we were in Jamaica and turns out, it’s popular for a reason. It’s really good. I judge a book on its ability to make the reader feel. That, and a good plot, interesting characters and an author who actually knows how to write. The Kite Runner has all of these. It’s basically the story of two boys who are not only man and servant, but also best friends. I will say that the book definitely tugs at your heartstrings. At times, I was so mad at the main character and at others, I was so proud of him. I think this one is worthy of the hype.
Bel Canto
Another vacation read and sorry Mom, but I was not a fan of this one. My mom and I usually align on the kinds of books we enjoy but this recommendation was a miss for me. It started out promising, when a group of politicians are taken hostage by a terrorist group. The remainder of the book details the relationships and bonds that are formed between the two groups. It’s very heavy on character development, while the plot slows to a crawl. I think this is what my mom loved about it and why I didn’t like it. One of the hostages happens to be a highly-acclaimed opera singer and I’ve heard that the book itself it supposed to read like an opera. You can’t like em all, I guess.
Happy Friday!
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Are you a big reader?
What are you reading/or read recently?
Do you have a favorite book/author/genre?
Life as Lauren 
I love to read, but normally don’t do it as much as I’d like. I’ve just recently started taking some time out of my days to read more. Thanks for the recommendations! I’ve seen other people read The Kite Runner, but I’ve yet to start it.
I go through stages of reading every night or not reading at all. Sometimes other distractions get in the way 🙂
That first one looks really good! I was a huge reader as a kid but too much school has made me extremely averse to reading. I’m trying to change that, and just bought a Kindle to help me along! I read the Kite Runner right before college, amazing book.
Guernsey is a really fast read and the “chapters,” or letters I guess, are short so it’s easy to pick it up for a few minutes if that’s all you have time for.
I loved The Kite Runner, and if you liked that one then you might want to pick up Hosseini’s other book: A Thousand Setting Suns. I think I may have liked that one even more. I’m a HUGE reader, and constantly have 2 or 3 books going. Right now I’m reading The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and Two Graves by Preston & Child. Love.them.both.
I’ve definitely heard of a Thousand Setting Suns but for some reason I completely forgot about it after reading the Kite Runner. I’ll have to pick it up for sure.
[…] one half of the team that wrote The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, aka one of my favorite books EVER. I was delighted to see she had written another and had my fingers crossed that it would be just […]