Best Book of the Summer (so far)
I've read a few books this summer and since I'm about at the halfway point I thought it would be a good time to look back to see what I've liked and what I didn't and consider what books I will read in the next month and a half to round out my summer reading.
I've read thrillers that are fun, series that I love, and books that have surprised me in both the best and worst ways.
As I perused my list I thought about what would make a book "the best" to me at any given moment. Well, it should be something that resonated. For me, the best books are books I think about for a long time afterward. My reading experience matters too. Did I connect with the characters and themes? Did it feel like I was immersed in the world of my book or was it hard to break into? Could I set it down and forget about it or was I actually frustrated with my real life for getting in the way of my reading?
After considering these questions while looking at my book list I knew I had an obvious choice.
The River by Peter Heller
This book is everywhere and that is not a thing that matters to me. For a loooooong time I've craved a modern story told in the Hemingway fashion. I think this book achieves that on some levels (with less misogyny as an added bonus). Writing about nature can be difficult: I get bored easily and it can sound trite real quick. But this book took me out onto the water in a canoe and made me care deeply about the two protagonists, an unnamed woman, and the world of the river.
The flashbacks and inner thoughts of characters were just as compelling as the actual plot. Heller does not stick strictly to the rules of grammar and it made the flow of thoughts and dialogue seem more authentic and helped build the voice and characterization of Jack and Wynn who could have been too similar to separate.
But you could read all this on any review. What I want to tell you is I couldn't put it down. I knew I was reading it too fast and tried to slow myself down, but I couldn't. Books like that are often hard to find.
So, that is my best book so far...what is yours? Leave a note in comments and maybe I can add your must-read to my TBR before September rolls around and schedules begin again.
 |
| #mood |
I've read thrillers that are fun, series that I love, and books that have surprised me in both the best and worst ways.
As I perused my list I thought about what would make a book "the best" to me at any given moment. Well, it should be something that resonated. For me, the best books are books I think about for a long time afterward. My reading experience matters too. Did I connect with the characters and themes? Did it feel like I was immersed in the world of my book or was it hard to break into? Could I set it down and forget about it or was I actually frustrated with my real life for getting in the way of my reading?
After considering these questions while looking at my book list I knew I had an obvious choice.
The River by Peter Heller
This book is everywhere and that is not a thing that matters to me. For a loooooong time I've craved a modern story told in the Hemingway fashion. I think this book achieves that on some levels (with less misogyny as an added bonus). Writing about nature can be difficult: I get bored easily and it can sound trite real quick. But this book took me out onto the water in a canoe and made me care deeply about the two protagonists, an unnamed woman, and the world of the river.
The flashbacks and inner thoughts of characters were just as compelling as the actual plot. Heller does not stick strictly to the rules of grammar and it made the flow of thoughts and dialogue seem more authentic and helped build the voice and characterization of Jack and Wynn who could have been too similar to separate.
But you could read all this on any review. What I want to tell you is I couldn't put it down. I knew I was reading it too fast and tried to slow myself down, but I couldn't. Books like that are often hard to find.
 |
| #relatable |
So, that is my best book so far...what is yours? Leave a note in comments and maybe I can add your must-read to my TBR before September rolls around and schedules begin again.
 |
| who are we kidding? I jam on my planner all year long. |
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