Are you on Goodreads?

Prior to 2012 I kept notes about the books I read in two different log books. Once joining Goodreads, I no longer write my thoughts about the books I read in a log book but instead did so at Goodreads. There are a few of my friends who also use that platform to record the books they read and I enjoy being able to read their thoughts and opinions even though we don’t see one another in person anymore.

I’m not particularly a fan of awarding stars to rate a book I’ve read so I wrote this in my profile over there, “I very seldom give 5 stars … I only give 5 stars to books that I feel are EXTREMELY good and memorable. A 4 star book for me is what most people would award as a 5 star.” To help others who may read my ‘reviews’ on Goodreads determine where I feel the book hits its notes, I do award stars. The other thing to note is that I do not consider my ‘reviews’ as a true review by any means. Because the publisher provides a synopsis, I never add any of that. And because most people do provide a true review, I stick to providing my opinion or thoughts instead. If you’re not on Goodreads, here are a couple of the most recent books I read together with my thoughts.

Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin (I gave it 4-stars):
Although I wasn't so sure when I first began reading this book whether it was going to be something I could stick to, I'm sure glad I stuck with it. I ended up really enjoying the story and how it unfolded. 

Although I didn't realize it when I purchased the book, there is actually mystery involved. But the best parts, aside from the story itself, is how beautifully it portrays the circle of life and the many ways it is celebrated. Each chapter also begins with an epitaph which foretells a little something that is coming up -- a clever technique considering the story is primarily set in an old world cemetery.

For me, this book was chock full of notable lines and quotes, many of which I jotted down while reading.

I'm so glad I read this book.

While the Sun is Above Us by Melanie Schnell:
What an engrossing novel. 4 1/2 stars.

Not only was it well written, invoking such 'theatre-for-the-mind' but it is also an eye-opening and memorable story. We live such privileged lives and have no idea of the travesties of everyday life for those in other countries or circumstances. This book was an eye-opener.

For me personally, besides the story itself, I really appreciated the author's adept hand with her simple descriptions:
"Fingers of light from the sun reach down and nestle in his hair."

It's a shame my book club has already selected all the books to be read for next year. This is so book club worthy, I will likely hang on to this one as my choice for the year after.

Definitely recommended. (I currently have this loaned to a friend)

The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris (I gave it 5 stars):
Sweetness of Water is a page-turner, full of surprises, about social friction so intense that an entire town is ignited. It’s also a tender story of resilience and compassion in a divided time. In eloquent prose Harris writes convincingly of ordinary people struggling through exceptional times.

Harris brings to life George Walker, his wife Isabelle, recently emancipated brothers Prentiss & Landry, and the troubled Caleb in this epic story.

In writing this novel, Nathan Harris is essentially asking: how does a community make peace in the wake of civil war? It’s a question that Americans haven’t yet figured out to this day.
I thought the reviewer Carole Bell’s statement hit the nail on the head when she wrote, "The Sweetness of Water joins the national conversation on race and reckoning with history already in progress. In struggles over flags, monuments, textbooks, and university tenure, we're still fighting over how to frame this event in public memory, so those old wounds feel particularly fresh. Nathan Harris makes those extraordinary, still contested times comprehensible through an immersive, incredibly humane storytelling about the lives of ordinary people."

I recently re-read this novel because it was my 2022 selection for our book club. Highly recommended.

“Maybe stories are just data with a soul.”

Brene Brown

Wishing you all a week ahead filled with stories, fulfillment, and glad tidings.

“Be a good steward of your gifts. Protect your time. Feed your inner life. Avoid too much noise. Read good books, have good sentences in your ears. Be by yourself as often as you can. Walk. Take the phone off the hook. Work regular hours.” 

Jane Kenyon

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If you enjoyed this why not share it with a friend or post about it on social media. Thank you for reading and sharing your time with me. — Diane