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Let’s read together!

I read on average about 5 books a month, which will probably slow down now that it’s summer and I don’t have to sit in the school car loop line for hours at a time.


In all those books, here’s what I’ve learned about my preferences and what I enjoy most:

-historical fiction that makes me bawl my eyes out


-romantic comedies that rival a Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan/ Rachel McAdams/ Ryan Gosling mash up of sap, tears, partner matchup improbabilities, and a quirky best friend.  And they’re all stupid attractive (it’s my brain, I can picture them any way I’d like, right?).


-gory, horror, absolutely no way the paranormal activity in these books could happen.  Stephen King is my favorite.



That doesn’t mean this is all I read, I’m definitely up for new recommendations any time!  Non fiction is a hard sell for me, but I’m open!


I also like to picture actors to play the main characters on screen if the book were ever made into a movie. I usually get a good feel for who I think it will be early on, and I just picture them acting out the scenes.  

So far, several that I’ve read have actually been made into films, and none of my choices were picked.  Apparently, I would be an awful casting director. 


Ratings- 5 stars is tough to get from me, and it means would read again, loved, will definitely remember the plot,  characters, etc. for years to come.


Ok let’s read! 


May Books I Read



“The Water Dancer” by Ta-Nehisi Coates
 

My She-ro Oprah called this “one of the best books I’ve ever read in my entire life”.  At the age of 12 she steered me to “She’s Come Undone” by Wally Lamb which will eternally be in my top 3, so so I knew I had to check this one out.


And, this one got me.  My husband likes to mess with me and proclaims that “reading fiction is just the same as reading fairy tales because they’re all “fake stories””, but the details in this novel of the horrors and heartache of slavery felt the truest I’ve read.  There is a supernatural/fantasy aspect to this one, but the depth and very real, terrible truths made it heavy, but also an absolute must read.

And this was his debut novel, y’all!  Can’t wait to see where he goes next.


Rating- 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Actors playing lead roles in my head-

Hiram- Not possible, but Chadwick Boseman was the only actor I could picture for this stellar of a role (RIP😭😭😭)

Sophia- Kerry Washington 




“Northern Spy”- Flynn Berry


Two sisters who are VERY different, their lives in Belfast and dealings with the IRA (Irish Republican Army for those of you like me who know nothing about the Good Friday Agreement, this area, the people, etc.) 


OK, this may be an unpopular opinion, but this was not thrilling to me.  It needed more meat on its bones, more twists and turns to be considered a thriller like it was pitched to me by Reese Witherspoon (who can still do no wrong in my eyes so I totally forgive her).


Clocking in at a mere 288 pages, I found it to be a quick read, but left me with absolutely no desire to root for, or meet these people.  It was pretty bleak. 


Rating- 2/5 -⭐️⭐️


Actors playing lead roles in my head--

Tessa- Ginnifer Goodwin

Marian- Jennifer Carpenter 



“The Survivors”- Jane Harper

This one was much more twisty! Yay, Jane!  Lots of “who dunnits” in this one.  I usually pride myself on being able to figure out a twist about halfway through, but this one left me guessing for awhile.  Set in Tasmania, it was fun to picture the scenery and all the twisty caves they described in this one. 


Rating- 3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌗


Actors playing lead roles in my head--

Kieran- Eddie Redmayne

Mia- Mila Kunis 



That’s it for May, let me know if you read them and what you think!

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