China – Edward Rutherford
—-Notes: Wow. This guy’s books are epic. I mean, this one was around 800 pages. I can’t imagine the research and mental and creative work that goes into something like this. My biggest takeaway is from bits of history – that there is nothing new under the sun, and that a lot of the political strife and drama that is happening today started centuries ago. Especially enjoyed reading about China, possibly because I’m Chinese-American.
Paris – Edward Rutherford
—-Notes: Again, wow. See notes from “China,” above.
The Paradise Problem – Christina Lauren
—-Notes: This was a big swap in mental energy and space after reading the Rutherford books above. A light-ish read. I think I may be transitioning out of the contemporary romance/fiction space due to being troped-out.
Park Avenue – Renee Ahdieh
—Notes: Great story, great writing. I bought this one after stalking it on the shelf and realizing I couldn’t get it at the library and read it twice, which doesn’t happen with many books.
The Picasso Heist – James Patterson
—Notes: Is it wild that this is the first time I’ve heard of James Patterson? This was an engaging and easy read; I’ve found I quite like art heist books.
New York – Edward Rutherford
—Notes: Yet another epic tome from this historian/novelist. See above for other books read. So interesting to see the history of an iconic American state and how it came to be…if the Dutch had remained in control it would have been New Amsterdam! Not quite as catchy for songs.
All Things in Heaven and on Earth – Jeff High
—Notes: A fun find by a local-ish author. A nice, heartwarming, redemptive small town story. Kind of like a Hallmark movie but calmer, less hypey, and with a male protagonist.
A Little Ray of Sunshine – Kristin Higgins
—Notes: First time trying this author. While I appreciate the idea of the story, the writing and general tone were not for me. I almost didn’t finish it. I think the author tried to cover a lot of different cultural, emotional, and familial themes and they didn’t meld well into the story but rather stood out as themes trying to be fleshed out.
Run, Rose, Run – James Patterson & Dolly Parton
—Notes: Figured I would try more James Patterson! I like that he does so many collabs. This was a great action-packed story and I could see Dolly’s influence.
Camino Island – John Grisham
—Notes: My first John Grisham, recommended by my favorite librarian and friend, Mike. Another heist book but in document land. Creative and well-written. I guess I’ve been missing out on the classic commercial fiction male authors!! My husband actually read it first while I finished another book, and he liked it too.
Homeseeking – Karissa Chen
—Notes: Amazing story. I think Celeste Ng’s soundbite captures it best: “A kaleidescopic yet intimate view of the Chinese diaspora…” It actually helped me place some of my family history and prompted me to ask my parents some questions. One of my favorites, I’ll probably buy it for my collection.
Sindy Hankins 