Summer time means more reading time! I’m enjoying evenings on my back deck once the heat dies down a bit. I read several good fiction books in June, one that was a bit crazy and two memoirs. Here’s what I read last month:
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
Lucrezia has always been the odd one in her family – drawn to art and animals – things not proper for a royal family. But, politics pull her into a marriage after her older sister dies. She quickly sees the dark side to her husband and learns to tip toe around his emotions. After two years and no heir in sight, she can sense that he wants to get rid of her and she has to somehow find a way to live. The Marriage Portrait was quite a fascinating story.
True Colors by Kristin Hannah
True Colors is a family saga that spans decades of the life of the Grey family. Three sisters find their paths after their mother dies and while their roles are fairly determined, once they are all three adults, the allure of different paths causes rifts. Relationships drift apart and come back together as a family finds ways to show their true colors.
Taliesin by Stephen R. Lawhead
Taliesin is the first book in the Pendragon Trilogy. I saw there was series based on these novels, so decided to give them a try. It about the Arthurian legend and Taliesin tells the story of the fall of Atlantis and how Merlin’s parents meet. I really enjoyed the book and plan to read the rest of the series. Somehow, there are monks and Christianity in this version of the story.
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
The Calamity Club is fraught with lies and deception. It had an interesting storyline, but I don’t really recommend the book. Birdie goes to check on her recently married sister only to uncover her husband is hiding a really big secret. She also finds out the local orphanage is being run by a shady character and really wants to help rescue the oldest girl there. Birdie’s big heart gets her into situations she’d rather not be in, including falling in love with a married man. It’s definitely calamity everywhere in this book.
As You Wish by Cary Elwes
I really, really enjoyed reading As You Wish. It’s the story of the making of the movie The Princess Bride from the main actor’s perspective. He tells so many stories of all the actors and what happened behind the scenes. If you love the movie, you’ll love this book. (I’m told he narrates the audio version.)
Communion by J.D. Vance
Communion is J.D. Vance’s faith story. He grew up going to church, became and atheist and then found his way to the Catholic Church. He tells his story without trying to convince anyone to do anything with their faith – just to consider his personal story. I came away realizing just how smart the man is and how deeply his faith is now a part of who he is. I got to meet him several years ago before his first book was made into a movie when he came to speak in our town. I’m glad to know more of his story.
The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry
One day, Clara’s mother just walked out of the house with the dictionary that would translate a well sought-after novel. Decades later, Clara has a daughter of her own and is living with her father after a divorce. Then the phone rings and a man in England claims her mother’s lost dictionary is part of his father’s estate. Her decision to take her daughter to England and retrieve the dictionary changes the course of everyone’s lives in The Story She Left Behind.
Share in the comments some of the books you’ve been reading recently!