Welcome to Readers Recommend, my monthly feature where “regular readers” (i.e. readers who do not have their own book blogs) share their book recommendations!
One of the most surprising things I learned in this year’s reader survey was that over 70% of you do not have your own book blogs. This means you are not book bloggers, but “regular readers”! That’s a large chunk of Sarah’s Book Shelves readers with fantastic book recommendations floating around in their heads and no place to share them. I’m thrilled to be able to mine all this brainpower for some great books! Prepare for your TBR to explode…
If you’d like to be featured in an upcoming “Readers Recommend” post, leave a note in the comments section or email me at [email protected].
Let’s welcome our guest…our first from outside the U.S.!
Get to Know Anne
- Home: I live in a small city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, right between the wide open prairies and grain fields of the south, and the forests and lakes of the north. Big skies, big horizons, and lots of open spaces. I was born in the Maritimes though, so I miss the ocean.
- Career: I work in support services in a large health care facility. I work 12 hour shifts; long days, but it means a lot more time off than the normal full-time work week provides.
- Hobbies: My other hobbies include quilting (it’s an addiction), and photography. I also dabble in knitting and furniture refinishing on occasion.
- Favorite TV Show: My favourite TV show is The Big Bang Theory, and I love Stranger Things! Other than those programs, I don’t watch much TV. I’d rather read or craft.
Anne Recommends…
An Old Love
The Beacon at Alexandria by Gillian Bradshaw
Fiction – Historical (Released 1986)
376 Pages
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon
Anne:
The Beacon at Alexandria is my favourite novel by my favourite writer of historical fiction. Set in the 4th century A. D., it’s the story of Charis, a young woman who chafes at her expected future life of marriage and motherhood. She runs off to Alexandria, Egypt, disguised as an eunuch, to study medicine. Bradshaw is a classical scholar, so there’s lots of historical detail and background, but this is really a coming-of-age story, as Charis becomes a doctor, ends up – still in disguise – in the service of the Roman army, and builds a new life for herself. It’s a lovely, smart, and entertaining read, set against the declining years of the Roman Empire.
My Take:
I don’t read much historical fiction anymore, but I love the theme of a woman chafing against the expectations of marriage and motherhood…especially in a time when those expectations were quite different than they are today…and when so few women pushed back against those expectations.
A New Love
Rust and Stardust
Fiction – Thriller (Released August 7, 2018)
368 Pages
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon
Anne:
Rust and Stardust is a fictional version of the kidnapping of Sally Horner, whose story may have inspired the infamous novel Lolita. It’s a heartbreaking, sad, but beautifully written novel, that at times made me want to scream at the gullibility and naivete of Sally and her mother. It follows her captivity over a period of months at the hands of pedophile Frank LaSalle, the people she meets along the way, her brushes with rescue, and her family’s heartbreak and search for her, all without being overly graphic. I’m unsure if author T. Greenwood is particularly well-known, but this definitely won’t be my last book by her.
My Take:
I tried to read The Real Lolita, the nonfiction story of the kidnapping of Sally Horner and its connection to the classic novel Lolita, last year and ended up DNFing it. It wasn’t the story that was the issue…it was more the execution, so I would be open to another take on it. When I talked about DNFing The Real Lolita on the blog, a number of y’all mentioned Rust and Stardust as a possible alternative. So, I’m hoping to fit it in at some point.
A “Didn’t Love”
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Fiction – Mystery / Thriller (Released May 24, 2012)
419 Pages
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon
Anne:
This may shock many people, but I didn’t love Gone Girl; it was definitely a page-turner, but I found it simply too over the top for my taste, and I don’t just mean the big plot twists. Scenes like the anniversary scavenger hunt had me thinking, who actually does things like this? Do I really know anyone who acts and thinks like this? I thought Flynn’s second novel, Dark Places, was a much better book; dark, gritty, and suspenseful, with more believable characters.
My Take:
I did love Gone Girl when I came out and I always hold it up at the example of my perfect plot twist. I was 100% shocked by it, yet it totally made sense when viewing the first half of the book through a different lens. It was shocking, but still made sense. However, Gone Girl was the first book of its kind that really took off. Since then, I’ve become frustrated with all the books that try to do similar things. So, I wonder what I would think of Gone Girl if I read it for the first time now? But, you can’t put the genie back in the bottle.
What do you think of Anne’s recommendations (or her “Didn’t Love”)?
I don’t watch much TV either. I’m not familiar with Rust & Stardust but it sounds good to me.
It’s always fun to see someone else’s thoughts on books. I’m with Sarah in that I loved Gone Girl, too. At the time it was just so surprising and like nothing else I’d read. It set the bar high and many, many books have failed to reach it! I DNF’d Rust & Stardust, but had liked other books by Greenwood.
I agree with Ann about Gone Girl. I read it with my book club, but it wasn’t a big hit with any of us. I haven’t tried anything else by the author, so maybe I should.
I’m also one of the few who didn’t love Gone Girl. I completely agree with her take on the book! I was avoiding Dark Places because I figured it would be more of the same, but maybe I’ll have to give it a shot.
OK – so I’m the opposite. Loved Gone Girl, didn’t love Dark Places. So that may mean it’s a good choice for you!
I DNF’d Gone Girl, so I’m with ya, Anne!