Books 1-6: A Book Review
This year, in addition to serving as your photographer, I’ve set myself the challenge of reading 36 NEW (well, at least new to me...) books. I have a habit of re-reading books I love multiple times- which is great- but, there are so many new books published every year, and so many on my to-be-read list, that I need to add new books! So, here are the first 6 I’ve finished:
1.) A Dublin Student Doctor by Patrick Taylor- This is book 6 in his Irish Country Doctor series, and it exposes readers to Dr. O’Reilly as a younger adult. It tells of his student days, his friendships, and his first love. Like the backstory of Ms. Kinky Kincaid, this story adds to the fullness of the series as a whole.
2.) The Lightning Queen by Laura Resau- This story was written for children, but like I’ve said before, I pick up and read anything that piques my interest, including children’s novels. This book was simply magical. There is no other way to describe it. It is a story that transcends time and space. When the story begins, Teo and Esma are two twelve-year-olds who have faced many personal tragedies, but, lending strength to one another, they find their destinies.
3.) A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle- My husband first recommended I read this classic children’s novel, but with it coming out in theaters this weekend, I thought I’d better read the book before seeing the movie. While it does pull you in, the story of Meg wasn’t quite as strong as I was expecting it to be. It was a beautiful story, but because of the awards it has won and the lasting hold it has, I was expecting more.
4.) Pieces of Why by K. L. Going- Another children’s story, but a good one. This one touches on the violence and poverty of the ghettos of one of our largest cities- New Orleans, Louisiana. Through the work of a children’s choir, a community that doesn’t have much hope is brought together, and one young lady learns the truth of her past. The overarching theme is that, just because something horrible happens, it doesn’t have to define your future. A book well worth reading, especially in light of recent events.
5.) A Pony Express Christmas by Rhonda Gibson- Yes, it’s a Harlequin Romance, but we all have our guilty pleasures, and reading these simple and predictable stories is one of mine. This was the sweet story of a young woman who was abandoned at an orphanage as a baby, given the task of escorting a young girl who recently suffered her parents’ deaths to her uncle and guardian- with whom she promptly falls in love with. I thoroughly enjoyed this simple story.
6.) Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline- I’ve written a much longer review of this book, that can be found here.