If you know me, you'd know I'm an avid reader. And if you don't, here's that piece of information anyway - I love reading. It goes without saying; an aspiring author who doesn't love sticking her nose in pieces of literature? Good one.
Even if you don't like reading, there's certain books that I think can appeal to everyone. Whether it's fiction or non-fiction, romance or sci-fi, horror or in-depth biography; there's hundreds of different stories to tell, different facts to reveal, and subjects to study.
I myself have a soft spot for fiction, and in my opinion one of the best opportunities to indulge in a good book is in summer. Unfortunately I find time less and less to read now, which is why I committed over the summer to picking up a few books and really getting into them. I hope to read many more in the run-up to Christmas, having rekindled (not that it ever went out!) my love of reading; and here's to hoping I stick to finding time in the day or evening to indulge in other worlds and characters.
Now that summer is drawing to a close, I've put together some of the novels (that I can remember!) I read over the summer. They're not summer-exclusive books, in the sense their own settings aren't summery and don't beckon promises of ice cream and sunshine, which is partly why I present them now - they're good all year round!
Books I Read This Summer:
1. 'Truly, Madly, Guilty' by Lianne Moriarty
Alongside the book's stunning cover (a hint of minimal art, dab of colour, and some good traditional font titling), and Moriarty's fantastic name (Lianne Moriarty is what I would definitely deem worthy for my as-of-late remark, "Now that's an author name!"), I was so excited to read this book because of its ambiguity. Such in a book often leaves me with the lingering question of intrigue - so what happens?!
The story follows a barbecue. It's presented originally as an ordinary barbecue, but is then revealed to be a barbecue that turned out not so ordinary. Clementine and Sam, two of the book's pivotal characters, and a married couple, start with accepting their invitation to the aforementioned barbecue because the hosts are neighbours of their old friends, Erika and Oliver (the other main characters), friends they probably should've "severed ties with years ago". The blurb carries on with a cliffhanger - they probably should've said, "No, thank you." Three little words. Three words that would've changed everything.
"Three words that would've changed everything."
I was attracted to its vagueness and its potential clashing all at the same time. Nobody likes a blurb that lays out the whole book plot for you. We have Wikipedia Summary Plots for that.
This book, I feel, leaves a lot open to interpretation. Actions speak louder than words. As a reader you are able to feel the tension between certain relationships, or the affection, or the complexity. It was an easy read - something I daresay I appreciated in the height of a lazy summer - because its plot wasn't as in-depth as some of her other novels, like 'Big Little Lies', and it revolved around something not too extraordinary; a summer barbecue. I recommend reading this if you're looking for a book that doesn't drag on but is impossible to put down; short but sweet.
2. 'Chocolat' by Joanne Harris
Joanne Harris' 'Chocolat' is also a film starring French actress, Juliette Binoche, and Johnny Depp - you might know it. The film is just as fantastic as the book; however, I find the book broadens Harris' world and characters in a sense where the film slightly lacks. Though my personal feelings are that nine times out of ten, description and imagination always trumps imagery displayed in front of you, like in a film. Imagination > Images. Does that make sense? Oh, I don't know, but there you are.
Harris writes very lyrically, so her description encapsulates feelings and sensations which really bring the setting of the book, Lansquenet-sous-Tannes (a small French village, which is fictional), to life. Many of her reviews follow the same train of thought. I particularly enjoyed this book as it preserves a touch of magic without seeming too far-fetched, the work of Harris' protagonist, Vianne Rocher, a chocolatier, seeming fantastical in the most realistic sense of the word. The relationships between characters in this book are hopeful and enthralling, and as the book progresses, and Vianne Rocher infiltrates Lansquenet more and more, shadows and truths are revealed in the shape of the formidable priest, Father Reynaud, who despises both Vianne's work and impact on his village.
'Chocolat', is, in simplest, an escalating division between almost juvenile indulgence - Vianne's chocolates - and the orthodox, solemn views of the Church - at the hand of Father Reynaud. It is a book that I highly enjoyed reading, despite having watched the film beforehand; it was not the kind of book which I couldn't pour over despite knowing the plot previously. The way in which Harris writes is captivating and sensuous enough, I'm sure I'd read a book by herself about the fascination of door handles.
If you go into bookshops often, you probably would've noticed Hawkins' first debut novel, The Girl on the Train, stacked on all of the shelves. That book was so popular it is now a film starring Emily Blunt, and 'Into the Water', Paula Hawkins' second book, doesn't disappoint. Contrary to the fear once an author has his or her first international bestseller, no other book he or she writes onward can compare, I feel 'Into the Water' was just as compelling as 'The Girl on the Train'.
It revolves mainly around the death of a woman named Nel Abbott, a single mother who mysteriously died and is suspected of committing suicide by jumping into the nearby river of her hometown, the same river she was writing borderline-obsessively about for her first book. This river has now been the location in which two bodies have been recovered, Nel's, and a teenage girl, within the same year.
This was a fantastic read. Being a thriller, which is one of my favourite genres, it intrigued me until the very last page. It is not a morbid book as the presence of death may suggest, but thought-provoking and surprising, a gasp-aloud book which I definitely recommend.
It revolves mainly around the death of a woman named Nel Abbott, a single mother who mysteriously died and is suspected of committing suicide by jumping into the nearby river of her hometown, the same river she was writing borderline-obsessively about for her first book. This river has now been the location in which two bodies have been recovered, Nel's, and a teenage girl, within the same year.
Nel's death impacts her entire hometown in ways which shape and craft the future and reveal secrets of the past. It follows many narratives which all link in some way or another to uncovering the whole truth.
This was a fantastic read. Being a thriller, which is one of my favourite genres, it intrigued me until the very last page. It is not a morbid book as the presence of death may suggest, but thought-provoking and surprising, a gasp-aloud book which I definitely recommend.
4. 'The Da Vinci Code', by Dan Brown
And this is where my photographs end. I read 'The Da Vinci Code' on my Kindle, and since pictures of electronic screens don't quite muster the same effect, my ramblings of praise for this bestseller will have to suffice.
'The Da Vinci Code' is unlike any book I've ever read. It's a calculated, meticulous book which follows fine detail (which seems to be Brown's forte; after also reading 'Deception Point', another one of his books which consequently led to me reading 'The Da Vinci Code', it's undeniably well-crafted and researched, to a point where it's almost believable as non-fiction) though is not at all boring. The book centres around Robert Langdon, who, alongside French detective Sophie Neveu, works to uncover mysterious clues linking to some of Leonardo Da Vinci's most famous artworks following a murder in the Louvre. Such revelations lead to a groundbreaking discovery; a chink of history left untold that could alter the entire course of Christianity.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Long after reading did questions still pop into my head - not implying any threads were left untied, just meaning that it is the kind of book which leaves an effect that keeps you guessing. It is inevitable given its religious aspects, which are prevalent in society today.
5. 'The Lonely City' by Olivia Laing
I'm happy to write about this one as I've just realised most of these books I've included are thrillers and this is deeply contrasting, so, last but not least, 'The Lonely City' - a non-fiction book - begins with the author's move to New York, when she was nineteen-years-old. Laing moved to New York to continue her relationship, but when this relationship drastically ended, she was left very much alone in one of the world's busiest cities.
This book is philosophically intriguing; it enters depths of loneliness artists, a constant and vibrant aspect of life in New York, faced - famous creators such as Andy Warhol, for example. It explores and contemplates their own struggles, with each chapter shifting focus from one artist to the next. Their similarities and occasional reflection by Laing draw to conclusions about social expectation and realistic struggles when it comes to the premise of being alone. What I really liked about this book was that it wasn't made painstakingly obvious it was a non-fiction, and even though I was fully aware of the fact, it drew me in all the same.
I would recommend this book if you're interested in artists, in urbanised lifestyle and exploring the complexities of living and embarking in the world alone. Even though I'm very far from doing anything like spontaneously moving to New York, this was still a read I found very interesting in its experienced perspectives. Since I rarely read non-fiction (admittedly, I did pick this up thinking it was fiction), it was refreshing to gain something new from a book that I know was real and not crafted in means to support or progress a fictional plot!
I hope at least one of these books appeal to any one of you!
I'm sorry that they're not incredibly diverse in the sense of genres; it is something I want to work on in the future, instead of resorting to books I know I'll like. I need to remember there's so much more out there!
Thank you so much for reading! If any of these books really piqued your interest, I've placed a bunch of links below to them so you won't be deprived much longer, or if you want to see how they're received by other book-readers. :)
Olivia
LIKE THE LOOK OF THESE BOOKS?
LINKS:
BOOK 1: TRULY MADLY GUILTY by Lianne Moriarty
BOOK 2: CHOCOLAT by Joanne Harris
BOOK 3: INTO THE WATER by Paula Hawkins
*I linked the hardback because it's currently cheaper than the paperback, reduced from £20!
BOOK 4: THE DA VINCI CODE by Dan Brown
BOOK 5: THE LONELY CITY by Olivia Laing
LIKE THE LOOK OF THESE BOOKS?
LINKS:
BOOK 1: TRULY MADLY GUILTY by Lianne Moriarty
BOOK 2: CHOCOLAT by Joanne Harris
BOOK 3: INTO THE WATER by Paula Hawkins
*I linked the hardback because it's currently cheaper than the paperback, reduced from £20!
BOOK 4: THE DA VINCI CODE by Dan Brown
BOOK 5: THE LONELY CITY by Olivia Laing
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