It's the time of the year when gift-giving is being considered. Book suggestions please!
Happy holidays, everyone!
Books make the best gift. I always spent time in the bookstore when my daughters were younger, choosing a selection for them to read over the break. I still love to give and receive a good book and believe this is one of the best presents one can give.
Looking back over 2024, I didn't read a great deal of crime fiction, which is unusual for me. I completed writing a manuscript, Who Lies in Wait, which will be released May 1st and began penning another book. As a result, my reading time was limited. However, I belong to a book club and have three recommendations based on our selections.
First up is Crow Lake by Mary Lawson. This is her first novel about the children of a family in Northern Ontario who try to stay together after their mother dies in a car accident. The writing is strong and the story is unforgettable. Here is part of the synopsis: "In this universal drama of family love and misunderstandings, of resentments harbored and driven underground, Lawson ratchets up the tension with heartbreaking humor and consummate control, continually overturning one’s expectations right to the very end."
Another book I really enjoyed is Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane. The protagonist May Attaway is a socially awkward botanist at a university who decides to visit four friends from her past to rediscover friendship. Again from the synopsis: "With simplicity and honesty, Jessica Francis Kane has crafted an exquisite story about a woman trying to find a new way to be in the world. This nourishing book, with its beautiful contemplation of travel, trees, family, and friendship, is the perfect antidote to our chaotic times."
And my favourite read of the year is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Who knew a book about an octopus would charm and move me? Tova Sullivan's husband has died and she begins working the night shift in the Sowell Bay Aquarium where she forms a friendship with Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus that regularly escapes its tank to forge for food. Part of the story is told from his point of view, and he's more intelligent than anybody realizes. A quote from the synopsis: "Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible."
And, of course, you can't go wrong delving into a book from any of the wonderful authors on this blog site. We're sad to say goodbye to Susan Shea and Josh Stallings, whose words of wisdom and insights have inspired us these past years, but their books will continue to be there when we need to connect again. Welcome to new minds Poppy Gee and Angela Crook. We look forward to learning more about you, your work, and your perspectives on the craft of writing.
My New Year's resolution is to read more crime fiction!
All the best to each of you in 2025.
Facebook & Instagram & Threads: BrendaChapmanAuthor
Bluesky: @brendachapman.bsky.social
2 comments:
Rules fir Visiting sounds wonderful and I just added it to my must read list. Thanks for the recommendation, Brenda. I may not be posting any more but I will read the blog!
All the best, Susan. I look forward to following your writing and hope you come back to guest blog soon.
Post a Comment