Have you ever been in this situation? You read a book and want to discuss it with somebody. Then you discover that none of your friends (or hardly any of them) have read it...so you go around trying to get them to read it! This post is my attempt to do just that. :D Here are short summaries of five books that I really like and think others would like to read too!
The Paradise Project by Suzie Andres
The Paradise Project is a Pride and Prejudice-esque novel set in the modern day. It's really fun as a Jane Austen spinoff, but I know I would have loved it even if I had never read any Austen at all. The characters are vivid; the plot is well-done; and the humor is terrific! The main character, Elizabeth Benning, embarks upon a year-long project to find happiness. With support from her loving sister Jane and best friend Emily, competition from Jane's husband Pat, well-meaning interference from a mysterious man named Ralph, and chilly behavior from Ralph's friend (or is it girlfriend?) Gretchen, Elizabeth has her work cut out for her to find where her happiness lies!
This book is extra-special to me because I know the author, Mrs. Andres, personally. If you want to learn more about her writing, you can visit her website: http://www.suzieandres.com/ !
Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery
I read Enemy Brothers first in high school and enjoyed it immensely. In fact, I liked it so much that when I had to write an essay on a book for my college application, I chose it for the subject of my essay. Enemy Brothers is the story of two brothers caught on opposite sides of World War II. Twelve-year old "Max Eckermann" is taken away from Germany and brought to England. When he gets there, he runs into a young Englishman named Dym who says Max is really his kidnapped younger brother Tony. Max--or Tony--is determined to get back to Germany and help Hitler win the war; Dym is equally determined to show him that he's really his brother and that England's cause is right. The characters, especially those of Dym and Tony, are fantastic. I've re-read this book at least half a dozen times, and every time I enjoy it just as much as the time before.
The Mass of Brother Michel by Michael Kent
I borrowed this book from a college friend and absolutely loved it! For years it was out of print, and I tried to get it used but despaired when I saw how much money it was going to cost. Finally, however, it's back in print!
The Mass of Brother Michel tells the story of a young nobleman in the Middle Ages. At the beginning, he seems to have all the good things in life: health, good looks, riches, and a beautiful and good lady in love with him. But when he gets seriously injured in a hunting accident, his whole life turns around as evil family members turn against him. Michel ends up in a monastery, offering all his sufferings up to God. In his new life, his one desire is to become a priest and be able to offer Holy Mass...but he needs to learn that sometimes even the holiest of desires is unattainable on earth. This book explores the depths of human misery and suffering and the joy of holiness; it's one of the most moving books I've ever read. I highly recommend it.
Where The Woods Grow Wild by Nate Philbrick
It's hard for me to find a fantasy novel that I like. If it isn't by C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien I have an inherent distrust of it. Other fantasy novels usually seem to be 1) not very good or 2) totally copied from Lewis and Tolkien. But I stumbled upon this fantasy novel, Where the Woods Grow Wild, a few months ago, and I loved it. It's a new book...it just came out in December 2016!
Where The Woods Grow Wild is the story of a boy named Martin who goes into the forest to search for his missing friend Elodie. This forest isn't like any other forest I've read about, and the creatures in it aren't like any creatures I've read about, either. The author, Nate Philbrick, did a fantastic job at building his own fantasy world. The characters are complex and well-rounded. Also, the book is very clean (which I really appreciate). A lot of the things Martin finds in the forest are downright terrifying, so that I was on the edge of my seat with suspense. This was a very fun, exciting book!
The author (who's only in his twenties, by the way) has a blog at https://youwritefiction.wordpress.com/ where he gives terrific (and funny) writing advice and talks about the other writing projects he's working on (including a sequel called Where The Woods Grow in Flames).
Carney's House Party by Maud Hart Lovelace
Last but not least, Carney's House Party is a book about a girl living in a town called Deep Valley, Minnesota right before World War I. It has many of the characters from Maud Hart Lovelace's "Betsy-Tacy" books, but it's not necessary to have read the "Betsy-Tacy" books to enjoy this one! Caroline, or "Carney," is home from college for the summer and navigating relationships with her friends. With Larry (her old beau) coming back from California, Isobel (her sophisticated, sometimes stuck-up, college roommate) staying with her, Sam (a dashing young neighbor that Carney can't understand) hanging around for reasons of his own, and a community spreading gossip like wildfire, Carney is in for an unforgettable summer!
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