James Herriot's heartwarming memoir of his life as a veterinarian in Yorkshire.

At a party in the vice-presidential mansion of an unnamed South American country, a band of young terrorists enters and takes hostages. The hostages include a world-renowned soprano, a Japanese business titan, and diplomats from various countries. The days and months stretch on and lines blur, relationships form, and tensions rise and fall and rise again. This is one of my favorite books and was my first introduction to Ann Patchett--now one of my favorite authors. I recently reread it and had a great experience; read about it in Why You Should Reread Your Favorite Books and How to Make It Worth Your While.

The Art of Racing in the Rain was one of the books that brought me back to avid readership after grad school burnout. I have always been a dog lover, so of course I couldn't resist a book narrated by Enzo, a philosophical dog who bemoans his lack of thumbs and likes to ride in race cars. Enzo will alternately charm you and break your heart, as he reflects on his life while anticipating his death. Dog books are predictable in their sadness, but those of us who love them also love dogs. It's hard to resist an imagining of their rich inner lives, and Enzo is particularly irresistible. It should go without saying that you'll need your tissues, but it's worth it.

This is a book that initially didn’t grab my interest with the title, cover, or description. For some reason, I picked it up anyway, and it stands out as a favorite. Victoria has aged out of the foster care system and finds herself working in a flower shop. She discovers that she has the unique talent of matching people with the perfect flowers.

In 1942 Paris, Jewish people are rounded up and sent away--often to their deaths. Sarah, 10 years old, hides her little brother in a cupboard, locking the door and promising to return. What follows is the story of her desperate journey back to him, alternating with the story of a journalist 60 years later who is investigating the round up. This is another book that stuck with me but that I've lost the details of. There are many great World War II books, and I've read a few in recent years. I'd like to reread to see if this one holds up.

In a dystopian future when few babies are born and an oppressive regime has taken power, fertile women are pressed into service as handmaidens.

A woman in 1945 steps through standing stones in Scotland and is transported 200 years back in time to the 1700s Scottish Highlands.

My Review

I can't say that a story about building a cathedral in Middle Ages England sounded like a riveting premise--but I was wrong. This massive tome is filled with drama and intrigue, evil characters, romance, political maneuvering, and fascinating history. It's a bit of a historical soap opera, on par with Outlander, in the best possible way. Highly readable, hard to put down, and also a bit of a guilty pleasure. The third book in Follett's Kingsbridge series, A Column of Fire, was released in 2017 and the prequel The Evening and Morning in 2020. They reference one another a bit, but each is set several centuries after the last, so reading them all isn't completely necessary. Each is completely immersive and riveting--reading experiences that don't come along often, especially over 800+ page books.

Two twins in Ethiopia are born to an Indian nun and a British surgeon, but they are orphaned after their mother's death and their father's disappearance. Love of the same woman pulls the twins apart, but their bond them back together to reckon with the past. This is an epic story, set across decades and countries, about families, forgiveness, and the nature of healing. I know I loved this book, but I remember very little about it. I'm looking forward to reading it again like it's the first time.

The tale of two women brought together under oppressive circumstances in Afghanistan.