Greetings Book Lovers! As we navigate our way through the holidays, those of us who work in the church library and participate in Book Talk thought we should gather names and titles of favorite books and pass them on to you. When we feel alone, or when we are unable to enjoy the company of friends and family, one of the best sources of solace, entertainment, and escape is a good book. In fact, books are a bit like dogs; they are pretty warm and reliable companions! And by the way, if you are looking for some simple Christmas gifts, you can rarely do better than a good book, whether you shop at Warwick’s or on Amazon.
While we don’t have room to provide details about each book, you’ll find some tips for quick and efficient reviews at the end of this post.*
From Susan Russell:
- Virgil Wander, by Leif Enger – a quirky sleeper hit for many of us
- The entire series featuring Inspector Gamache, by Louise Penny. These action packed police thrillers feature emotionally complicated characters. Beloved by many.
From D.Ann Fanestil:
- Caste, by Isabel Wilkerson
- American Dirt, by Jeanine Cummins – on many book group lists this year
- The Water Dancer, by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- Just Mercy, by Bryan Stevenson
- The Hummingbird, by Stephen Kiernan
From Omar and Carol Winter:
- The Storied Life of A.J. Fikery, by Gabrielle Zevin
From Cindy Rushing and her book group – their selections for 2020:
- Washington Black, by Esi Edugyan – a fanciful telling of the fraught friendship between a poor plantation slave and his rescuer
- The Dutch House, by Ann Patchett – two children spend a lifetime recovering from their parents’ perceived abandonment, and their eviction from an unusual house
- Say Nothing, by journalist Patrick Keefe – a searing and deeply researched account of the troubles in Ireland, and their effects on IRA members and their victims
- Nothing to See Here, by Kevin Wilson – a darkly farcical story about dysfunction in a political family
- The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennet – the story of twin African American girls raised in the Jim Crow south, one of whom runs away to live her life passing as white. Another big book group favorite.
- The Lost Man, by Jane Harper – an unconventional mystery and rich psychological thriller which takes place in the harsh Outback of Australia
Here are some bestsellers that you might enjoy:
- The Splendid and the Vile, by Erik Larson
- One Minute to Midnight, by Michael Dobbs
- News of the World, by Paulette Jiles
- Red Notice: The True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man’s Fight for Justice, by Bill Browder
- A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles
- Younger Next Year, by Chris Crowley
- Hillbilly Elegy, by J.D. Vance
- Boys in the Boat, by Dan Brown
Happy reading!
Cindy Rushing
LJUMC Book Talk”
*Those of you who read on a Kindle are no doubt familiar with the way to download a quick free sample of any book. If you don’t read on a Kindle or other e-reader, I suggest searching books on the Amazon website, where you can quickly read reviews and a sample chapter or two.