The Next Good Book
  • Home
  • Alphabetical Archive
  • Archive by Category
  • About

 so i like to read- 

friends often ask for book suggestions so i created this site in 2014 to help me think about what i read and pass it on.  

I hope you find many good books here!


e-mail-thenextgoodbook5@gmail.com

sing, unburied, sing by Jesmyn ward

11/29/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
285 pages
 
What’s it about?
Jojo is 13 years old and trying to navigate the world.  He is surrounded by Pop, Mam, Kayla, Leonie, and Michael- but love is not perfect and either are the people that surround Jojo.  This is a story of what it means to be a family.
 
What did it make me think about?
This book not only makes you think- it makes you fell.
 
Should I read it?
I am awestruck by this book.  It is one of my favorite stories of the last few years!  Just amazing.   Run to buy this one!
 
Quote-
 "He was just tall enough that when he hugged me, his chin rested on the top of my head, and I was cupped under him.  Like I belonged.  Because I wanted Michael's mouth on me, because from the first moment I saw him walking across the grass to the where I sat in the shadow of the school sign, he saw me.  Saw past skin the color of unmarked coffee, eyes black, lips the color of plums, and ​saw me.  Saw the walking wound I was, and came to be my balm."

If you like this try-
Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
​
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
Ruby by Cynthia Bond
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

9 1/2 stars

0 Comments

a piece of the world by christina baker kline

11/20/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
​A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline
296 pages
 
What’s it about?
Christina Olson lives on a small farm, in a remote town on the coast of Maine with her family.  All her life she is seen only for her disability.  In her middle years it seems that the bitterness may overtake her.  About this time, she becomes acquainted with artist Andrew Wyeth.  Eventually she will be the subject of one of the most well-known paintings of the twentieth century.   In this novel Ms. Kline tells a story of what she imagines was behind this painting.
 
What did it make me think about?
This novel shows the progression of Christina from a young person with an unknown affliction, to a woman who struggles not to succumb to bitterness over her lonely life.  This book made me think about how age changes all our perspectives. 
 
Should I read it?
This was another novel whose inspiration was a painting.  I have mixed feelings about this one….  I felt for Christina, but for much of the novel I just did not like her much.  Her feelings for her friend Gertrude pretty much say it all, “Gertrude has become a stand-in for anyone who ever pitied me, didn’t try to understand me, abandoned me.  She gives my bitterness a place to dwell.”   
 
Quote-
“In truth, I can’t remember the last time anyone noticed my physical discomfort and did something about it.  When you live on a farm, everyone is uncomfortable much of the time.  Too cold, too warm, dirty, bone tired, banged up, injured by a tool or a hot grate- too pre-occupied to worry about each other.”

If you like this try-
 Georgia by Dawn Tripp
The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenhoff
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
​Among the Living by Jonathan Rabb

7 stars
0 Comments

love and other consolation prizes by jamie ford

11/15/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford
297 pages

What’s it about?

 "Parents always have a story that their children don't really know."
​This is the story of Ernest and his two loves.  The novel switches in time from the first World's Fair in Seattle in 1909 to the World's Fair in Seattle in 1962.    We follow Ernest as he escapes starvation in China by being smuggled onto a boat  bound for America.  His journey is an interesting snapshot of a time in history.

What did it make me think about?
 This is basically a love story- set in a time and place in our history that was interesting to read about.  Who would think that just a little over a 100 years ago it would have been acceptable to auction off a young boy to the highest bidder at the fair?

Should I read it?
 I recommend this to any fan of historical fiction or just a good romance.

Quote-
​
" 'He suspected that everyone his age, of his vintage, had a backstory, a secret that they've never shared.  For one it might be a forsaken husband back in Japan.  For another it could be a son or a daughter from a previous marriage in China.  For others perhaps the secret shame was a father they didn't talk to anymore, or a baby they'd given to a neighbor, never to be seen again.  Or perhaps a vocational secret- back-room gambling, bringing rum down from Canada during Prohibition, or the personal, private horrors that lay hidden behind the bars, ribbons, and medals of a military record.
We all have things we don't talk about, Ernest thought.  Even though, more often than not, those are the things that make us who we are.' "


If you like this try-
​Circling the Sun by Paula McLain
​*Georgia by Dawn Tripp
​Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
​The Patriots by Sana Krasikov

8 stars

**Side note-
​I was lucky enough to see Jamie Ford speak at our local library.  You couldn't help but like him!  I enjoyed "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" and am going to add "The Story of Willow Frost" to my want to read list....  Enjoy!


0 Comments

my absolute darling by gabriel tallent

11/8/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent
417 pages
 
What’s it about?
Turtle Alveston is the heroine in this incredibly dark tale.  After her mother dies Turtle is left with only her tough, survivalist father.   She survives eight-grade by isolating herself from the other students.  Her only other friend is her elderly grandfather who lives down the road.  The summer before high school she runs across two normal teenage boys who are lost.  She leads them out of the wilderness- and in the process she discovers two friends.  But what will Martin, her father, make of this?
 
What did it make me think about?
 This novel is so dark that I could hardly read it at times- and I don’t mind dark.  This novel is fiction and I am glad about that. It is unbearable that children live this way.
 
Should I read it?
 This is beautifully written and the second half of the book just flies by.  It was a good book.  The characters were so real and the plot picks up the pace as it moves forward.  Turtle is a hero in every sense of the word!  Having said that- I would recommend this book with BIG reservations.  If you are someone that likes to keep it light- do not pick up this book!
 
Quote-
“A girl should have a grandfather in her life, I guess.  Christ.  I would’ve said his capacity to hurt me was all run out, but it was something else, I tell you to watch him with you.  I tell you what.  You come up as a child with such a man as that for a father and you have to spend a lot of your life persuading yourself that it was nothing to do with you, because I tell you- he was not so gentle with me.  He was the most sadistic kind of fuck, kibble.  So it takes some persuading.  And it’s hard, because it comes so natural to think that.  It’s somehow easier than thinking his hate is inscrutable.  That makes no kind of sense to a child.  It is quite a thing, I tell you.  And yet I have seen him be the most patient kind of man with you, kibble.  I hated him for that.  Isn’t that strange?  Years and years later.  I would’ve said his capacity to hurt me was all done.  Well. ”
 
 If you like this try-
The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinit
The Enchanted by Rene Denfield
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
*Ruby by Cynthia Bond

9 stars
0 Comments

standard deviation by Katherine Heiny

11/1/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny
319 pages

What’s it about?
Graham Cavanagh is in his second marriage to Audra.  Audra is younger than Graham, more vivacious than Graham, and definitely more animated than Graham.  All the qualities that Elspeth, Graham‘s first wife, lacked- Audra has in excess. Be careful what you wish for! This novel explores Graham and Audra’s marriage with humor.   Having said that, the topics this novel explores are not always light- but the author observes every situation with such a wry wit you will be smiling despite the situation.

What did it make me think about?
Nora Ephron!

Should I read it?
This novel is a hoot! Audrey is a character that will not soon be forgotten-“Graham had noticed that shy people loved Audra because she talks so much, and she frequently did both parts of the conversation.”  Making Graham the narrator was brilliant. To see life through his eyes made this novel work. If you like good satire then I would highly recommend this one. 

Quote-
“ War is hell, yes; but so is Cub Scouts. Or at least being the parent of a Cub Scout is. A subtler kind of hell where the people have no sense of irony, and they make you go camping in cold weather, and you have to carve small race cars out of blocks of wood, and sing songs that have lots of verses, and attend den meetings, and help your child obtain all sorts of useless (and nearly unobtainable) badges. And then, after years of encouraging your kid to like Cub Scouts, you have to quick discourage him from liking it around age 12 so it doesn’t adversely affect his social life. Plus, they ban alcohol.”

If you like this try-
Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple
Goodbye Vitamin by Rachel Khong
Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig
Prayers For the Stolen by Jennifer Clement

​
8 1/2 stars
0 Comments

    Subscribe! Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed

    next up

    Picture

    favorites from 2020 

    Picture

    some favorites of the last decade

    Picture

    best of winter 2020

    best of summer/fall 2019

    best of winter/spring 2019

    best of summer/ fall 2018

    best of winter/spring 2017-18

    best of spring/summer 2017

    best of winter
    2017

    best of fall
    2016

    best of spring-summer 2016

    best of winter
    2016

    best of fall 2015

    best of summer 2015

    best of spring 2015

    best of winter
    2014-15

    best of fall 2014

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    best of summer 2014


    last spring favorites

    Picture
    A sad, poignant, mystical read. I won't give too much away. Quick and well worth it! 9 1/2 stars!
    Picture
    A coming of age story set in Mexico. It certainly gives you a whole new view of all the people coming over the border. 9 stars
    Picture
    Quirky characters and the story told through letters to Richard Gere. Who could ask for more? 9 stars

    on my nightstand


    edge of your seat

    FUN READS

    Picture
    RECENT FAVORITES
    PAST FAVORITES
    WORTH READING AGAIN
    Picture

    guest reviews

    and the mountains echoed

    the bully pulpit

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014


    Picture
    Picture
    “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”
    ― Charles William Eliot
    Picture

     ratings

    1 to 2- I did not enjoy this book.
    3 to 4- I found some aspect of this book redeeming but would not recommend it.
    5 to 6- I really enjoyed something about this book (characters, plot, meaning etc.) but it was uneven. Some aspects were stronger than others.
    7 to 8- It was a good book.  I liked lots of aspects of this book.  I would recommend it.
    9 to 10- I was sorry to turn the last page.  I highly recommend this book!
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.