ten things tuesday

Ten recent reads that I recommend:

1)  You Like It Darker by Stephen King.  He is a master storyteller.  The horror in these short stories is not gory, it's the kind that gets into you--in your mind and under your skin.  

2)  The Ministry of Time by Kilaine Bradley.  A real genre-bending book that has something for everybody.  I love how historical eras and the present are brought together and how love conquers all.

3)  James by Percival Everett.  A reimagining of Huckleberry Finn told from the perspective of Jim, the runaway slave.  I was reluctant to pick this up but I am so glad I did!  It's compelling, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful.

4)  The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith.  This seventh installment of the series is one of my favorites.  The complex relationship between Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott is more than a will-they-or-won't-they.

5)  How To Read A Book by Monica Wood.  The characters of this book made me want to join their world.  There are some poignant moments in this book about second chances.  All sorts of second chances.

6)  The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon.  Historical fiction based on a real person and real events.  I love how the author takes mundane journal entries and crafts an entire life from them.  The time and place were remarkable.  This was a compelling murder mystery.

7)  The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters.  While her family is picking blueberries in Maine, a young Mi'kmaq girl vanishes.  This is the story of the impact on her family and their search for reunification.

8)  Table for Two by Amor Towles.  Short stories show the intricate connections and dynamics through encounters--often over meals.  

9)  The Fury by Alex Michaelides.  There are elements of mystery in this psychological thriller.  A reclusive movie star invites her closest friends to her private Greek island for an Easter escape but a sudden storm isolates them and a murder occurs, forcing the group to confront their dark secrets.  It's structured like a Greek tragedy.

10)  The Women by Kristin Hannah.  Set during the Vietnam War, Frankie McGrath enlists as a nurse after her beloved brother's death.  Her experiences forge a bond with fellow female nurses as they navigate the horrors of war, only to face a society that struggles to acknowledge their sacrifices upon return. Although every Vietnam War cliche is touched upon, this is compelling and evocative.