The past couple of months have been AWESOME in the reading department! I've only slowed a little so really hoping to keep this streak alive. Wish me luck!
Here are a few of my favorite fiction titles from March & April:
Girl at War by Sara Nović
Ana Jurić is just ten years old when the civil war in Yugoslavia forces her family and neighbors to routinely visit the bomb shelters near her home. Once an emergency forces her mother, father, and young sister to cross into Bosnia, Ana finds herself alone, and is soon recruited as a child soldier. Snippets of this life are told through the lens of 20-year-old Ana, a student at NYU, as she faces her past and returns to her homeland.
First, I was shocked by how little I knew of the war in this region considering it occurred in the early 90s. As Ana's character is close in age to me, during a very real event in recent history, I felt the rawness of it all more acutely. I found myself weeping at heart-wrenching passages that made it come alive. I couldn't stomach reviewers who criticized Ana's character's withdrawal and habit of not sharing any information from her past when it would seem so paralyzing to have lived through something of that magnitude. Definitely a novel I'll remember for years to come. (4 stars)
Rush Oh! by Shirley Barrett
Told from the perspective of the young matriarch of a whaling dynasty in Australia in the late 19th century, Rush Oh! is the perfect blend of literary and historical fiction.
Absolutely loved this novel. It's intelligent, hilarious, and just such a great example of historical storytelling. I 'll admit that I was so sad to see this absent from the Bailey's shortlist. (4 stars)
Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye
More of a story inspired by Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre than retelling, Jane Steele follows the life of a forsaken, yet strong-willed woman during the Victorian period in England. A self-confessed murderess, Jane's unfortunate circumstances place her in precarious positions time after time, and are sure to catch up with her in the end. Interesting characters and brilliant cultural references, Jane Steele was fun! (4 stars)
So, what's next?
I'm going to try to tackle ARCs on the ereader in anticipation of Summer/Fall releases. I've got my eyes on several that I'm beyond excited about: Marrow Island by Alexis Smith, Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, Yuki Chan in Bronte Country by Mick Jackson, Chronicle of a Last Summer by Yasmine El Rashidi.
Also, BEA is exactly one week from today and I cannot wait to meet so many of you beautiful souls!!
What are you reading?
Agreed on all counts about Girl at War! I loved that novel so much and it just broke my heart. I think I need to get to Rush Oh! sooner rather than later. And I can't wait to see you at BEA :)
ReplyDeleteI received a copy of Girl at War for Easter and can't wait to read it. Sounds terrific! I've heard so many good things about Rush Oh! - I need to read it! I have that Dominic Smith book on my TBR list - can't wait to find out what you think of it. And, I love Hamilton - the music is awesome!! Enjoy your ARCs - I have the last two you mentioned on my kindle waiting to be read. Seems like a lot of good reads are out there lately - I love it!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Girl at War and this is the second post I've read today about Rush Oh! which now makes me want to read it. See you next week! :)
ReplyDeleteI've heard so many good things about Girl at War; I'm glad to hear you loved it as well. It sounds like something I definitely need to read.
ReplyDeleteI really need to get to Girl at War; I've heard so many good things from people I trust!
ReplyDeleteI just finished Marrow Island and liked it. Can't wait to hear what you think.
AND ALSO IT WAS SO GOOD TO MEET YOU!