This month was filled with more varied subjects than in previous weeks. It was refreshing to change it up.
Before We Were Yours // Lisa Wingate
All of the reviews on the front pages of this book repeated the same word: heartbreaking. This is the best word I can use to describe this novel. What is even more shocking is that this book was based on true events. This story unpacks controversy in the early 20th century when a reputed woman was stealing children from poor families and effectively selling them to rich families covered up as “adoption” via the Tennessee Children’s Home. It is told through the eyes of a child, which tears your heart into pieces. If you’re in the mood for a sad story, I give it a 4/5.
Lies // T.M. Logan
It’s been a while since I immersed myself in a thriller, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I gobbled up this book in 24 hours on the first day of vacation. 4/5.
Keep Going // Austin Kleon
I needed this book. I read it at the most appropriate time, just before peak season. I’ve enjoyed all of Kleon’s books, mostly because they are simplistic in nature, but intensely thoughtful in practice. The premise of the book is how to work through creative blocks. If you liked War of Art, you’ll love this one. 5/5.
Once Upon A River // Diane Setterfield
This novel has taken up the majority of the month, mostly because my time to read has been limited in the final weeks of August. The story is a bit too “fantastical” for my preference, but if you’re into that type of thing, you might love it. The novel follows a girl in the late 1800s who is rescued from the river by a photographer, and he seeks refuge at a local pub. She is revived to life and claimed by three different people. Their stories of loss are interestingly intertwined throughout. It was a different read than anything I have discovered before, and for that, I liked it. 4/5.
