A few months ago I found myself working at Starbucks on a sunny Saturday, late afternoon/early evening. I had the evening to myself, no shoots, no weddings, and yet there I was, choosing to work away the lovely weekend sunshine. I instagrammed this and lucky for me, a friend did what friends should do; scolded me. Get outside. I mean, we do live in a place where rainy days out weigh the sunny days, and a Saturday in summer without a wedding??
It was just what I needed. I gave my head a shake, promptly shut my laptop, walked out of Starbucks and drove home to pick up a blanket and a book. Drove to the park, picked out a quiet spot under a tree and relished my book in the sunshine.
Since then, I haven’t had too many weekends off but I have somehow managed to read and finish several books…here is a handful of them…
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith – I fell in love with this book and quickly became smitten with Francie, the story’s lead character. It takes place in the early 1900’s and follows her life as she grows up facing the challenges of poverty. It follows her sweet relationship with her father whom she adores (though he’s a drunk) and their adventures, and you feel the pain and struggle she endures as she falls short of her mother’s affection. So many points in this story did I want to take this girl’s hand. The book is enthralling and heartbreaking, and about overcoming obstacles and the bond of a family.
The Silver Star by Jeanette Walls – This quick read was okay, in my opinion. I read The Glass Castle years back and completely loved it so my expectations may have been too high. The story follows two girls who are abandoned by their eccentric mother and so set off across the country to visit their uncle. Through the challenges they face, they learn more about their past and more about who they are, and the love of family.
Wonder by RJ Palacio – A recommendation from a friend, I downloaded this book onto my Kindle when I was in need of something to read on a flight home. Written for young adults, it was a quick read but such an enjoyable one as well. It centres around a young boy who was born with severe facial deformities, and the struggle of entering middle school for the first time. It’s one of those heart-wrenching (tissue alert!) and heart warming, overcoming adversity type of books and one I would highly recommend!
The Fault In Our Stars by John Green – I didn’t want to put this book down, nor did I want to reach the end of it. Though it deals with the devastations of terminal illness, there is so much wit, humour, and life woven throughout. It’s a boy-meets-girl kind of story with unexpected twists and plenty of sarcasm…and a few tears, too. I loved it.
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion- A hilarious, quirky read about a genetics professor who is socially awkward but on a mission to find a wife, to see if he is even capable of love. Of course, he goes about it in all the wrong ways. At first I wasn’t sure I’d like it, as his character is somewhat hard to relate to, but it didn’t take long to become absorbed by the story and his quest. He is as charming as he is awkward and you’ll be rooting for him as he falls for the least likely of matches. Pretty much our entire book club enjoyed it!
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes – Thoroughly enjoyable, at times amusing and funny, but altogether heartbreaking, this book is about a love story you probably haven’t encountered before. Lead character and ordinary girl Louisa takes a job out of desperation, working as a caretaker for a quadriplegic, Will. His former life of big living and adventures hangs over him and blinds him from the possibility of a happy, though limited, life. The book involves some hard topics, keeps you hanging on from beginning to end, and stays with you past the last page.
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