The Ladies of Missalonghi by Colleen McCullough Recommended by Pastor Katy
Colleen McCullough is probably best known as the author of The Thorn Birds (another good quarantine read), but this small book is one of my favorites. Missy Hurlingford lives at home with her mother and sister, all existing in a genteel (but very real) poverty at the edge of a small Australian town. When a mysterious (and handsome) stranger moves into town, Missy sees her chance to break out of a drab and dreary life – and changes the whole town as a result.
Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling Recommended by Becky Cole & Pastor Rita & Pastor Mary-Alyce
This series is the story of a boy who grew up not knowing he was a wizard and how famous he is in the wizarding world. Each book is one year of his life through his teenage years. The books show the value of friendship, working together, and being honest with each other. Each teenager (and their family) have struggles and this series also includes the interactions of teenagers with adults. I also love that although Harry lives with his aunt, uncle, and cousin, his parents never ending love go with him throughout his life.
American War by Omar El Akkad Recommended by John Sparkman
The first novel by Canadian-Egyptian journalist Omar El Akkad, American War is set in a near-future US, one which has been ravaged by climate change and disease, leading to a second Civil War, with similar regionalisms as the first, over the continued use of fossil fuels. Following one family’s ordeal to move through a devastated Mississippi River valley to reach a refugee camp after their home in Louisiana is flooded, the novel ponders the political and social upheavals that the climate crisis may bring about, and the difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter, if there is one.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Recommended by Danielle Dadashi
This felt like a real cheat on my part—who doesn’t know and love Pride and Prejudice? I still remember reading this book for the first time in ninth grade, dreaming of life as Elizabeth Bennett while feeling oh-so-sophisticated for reading a true classic for fun! This book doesn’t need my recommendation, only a gentle reminder that sometimes a quarantine is the perfect time to reread a classic book and then binge the many mini-series, movies, and adaptations (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, anyone?) available everywhere.
A Gentleman in Moscow Recommended by Pastor Rita
It is a historical novel written by Amore Towles. It takes place at the beginning of the 20th century in the Hotel Metropol. A fun fact, this hotel happens to be a very real hotel that is across the street from the Kremlin. Maybe some of you have actually seen it. The main character, is Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov and he has been sentenced by a Bolshevik tribunal (aka a Communist Russian court) to live the remainder of his life under house arrest in the Hotel Metropol. His crime is being an unrepentant aristocrat. This man learns many things about people, life and the importance of relationship as he lives out his many days of confinement. There is romance, humor, wit and well developed characters. Enjoy!
Women’s Murder Club Series by James Patterson Recommended by Becky Cole
This collection of books is based on four women – a police office, a reporter, a medical examiner, and a district attorney. They have been friends for a long time and routinely work together in their respective jobs. The club gets together to talk about life, discuss clues, and enjoy each other’s company – typically over a meal and drinks. These women value friendship and make time in their lives for each other.
Big Little Lies by LIane Moriarty Recommended by Danielle Dadashi
Liane Moriarty is one of my favorite authors, and her most famous book, Big Little Lies, is one of her best. Following the lives of several upper middle class families in suburban Australia, the story jumps forward and backward in time unraveling a mysterious death in their community. While the death looms large in the background, the elements that intrigued me the most were the inner lives and everyday issues of the main characters. I have made an effort to seek out books written by women about the complex lives of women, and this one fits the bill! This book has also been adapted into an award-winning HBO miniseries. Check it out!
Betsy-Tacy series, by Maude Hart Lovelace Recommended by Ruth Hanley
Books about three friends at the turn of the century and the relatable adventures and misadventures they get into, age 5 through adult. Its based on Hart-Lovelaces childhood. If your child age 5 and up wants a playdate during this time of social distancing, this is the perfect book of friends to play with!
The Beautiful Not Yet: Poems, Essays and Lyrics by Carrie Newcomer Recommended by John Sparkman
With words, music and soul-deep creativity, Carrie Newcomer transforms everyday conversations and ordinary experiences into something precious and rare. In this varied collection of writings, she shares through poetry, prose and the lyrics of some of her songs the beauty of everyday life before it comes into view, seeing it before many of us are able. Underneath our broken facades, Newcomer manages to get a look at what Thomas Merton called the 'hidden wholeness,' then shares what she's seen so we can see it too.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows Recommended by Pastor Katy
When I need a comfort read, I head straight for my favorite genre: British people having romantic problems during war time. (It makes me feel better. I don’t know why.) But this book is the best of the bunch. It’s written as a series of letters, primarily from Juliet – a young woman struggling to find her way as a writer after WWII – to her newly discovered friends on Guernsey, an island just off the coast of England. Juliet discovers what life was like on Guernsey during the war, as the only piece of Britain occupied by Germany. And she discovers why she might belong there rather than in her London apartment. (Yes, there is romance too. Read and see!)
County of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett Recommended by Ruth Hanley
A woman writer comes to live with a mysterious and kind healing woman. Its the 1900s and she comes to the small town as a stranger, an outsider, but she learns so much about the little east coast seaside village and the people who reside there. One of my favorite books to "live" in.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster Recommended by Ruth Hanley
Charlotte and I read this and laughed and laughed at all the funny parts, of which there are many. It combines a love of letters and numbers with an exciting adventure that stands the test of time.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides Recommended by Pastor Rita
It is a psychological thriller. A woman, who is an artist, is accused of killing her husband but will never speak about what actually happened. In fact she just doesn’t speak at all. She is therefore sentenced to a mental institution. A therapist becomes obsessed with breaking her silence and . . well . . . I won’t say more because I don’t want to give away the ending. It’s a surprise ending that is chilling.
The Ladies of Missalonghi by Colleen McCullough Recommended by Pastor Katy
Colleen McCullough is probably best known as the author of The Thorn Birds (another good quarantine read), but this small book is one of my favorites. Missy Hurlingford lives at home with her mother and sister, all existing in a genteel (but very real) poverty at the edge of a small Australian town. When a mysterious (and handsome) stranger moves into town, Missy sees her chance to break out of a drab and dreary life – and changes the whole town as a result.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows Recommended by Pastor Katy
When I need a comfort read, I head straight for my favorite genre: British people having romantic problems during war time. (It makes me feel better. I don’t know why.) But this book is the best of the bunch. It’s written as a series of letters, primarily from Juliet – a young woman struggling to find her way as a writer after WWII – to her newly discovered friends on Guernsey, an island just off the coast of England. Juliet discovers what life was like on Guernsey during the war, as the only piece of Britain occupied by Germany. And she discovers why she might belong there rather than in her London apartment. (Yes, there is romance too. Read and see!)
Still Life by Louise Penny Recommended by Pastor Katy
This is the first in a series of mysteries by Louise Penny featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, of the Quebec police. There is nothing better than finding the first in a series of books you love – and knowing there are so many more to look forward to! Each story stands on its own, but as the series progresses, a longer narrative begins to unfold as well (so it’s best to read them in order). Along the way, Inspector Gamache must confront his spirituality, mortality, and the ups and downs of life in Three Pines, the small town in which most of the series takes place. Best of all, Penny is still writing new additions to the series; the next is scheduled to come out in September.