Recent book list

Like most of my hobbies and passions, my waves of motivation and gumption to pursue them come in ebbs and flows.

(Honestly, it’s more like tsunami waves or desert dry spells, thanks to what I now know is ADHD.)

Reading, though one of my very favorite things, is also victim to this pattern of consumption and abstinence; however, lately I’ve been fortunate to have dedicated reading time through plane travel. That, as well as the dusty old Amazon tablet I found in a moving box that is acting as a makeshift kindle.

Here are a few of the titles I’ve loved lately and cruised through easily.

Books I’ve devoured

This was brought to me via my new book club! I downloaded it on Kindle and read it within four hours; it sucked me in and I was hooked immediately.

Every Last Secret is pretty juicy, involving a successful businessman, his beautiful wife, and their new neighbor who only has one goal in mind: to level up.

More info: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52347808-every-last-secret

Buy Every Last Secret | Amazon | IndieBound | ThriftBooks

Because I liked the first book so much, I decided to seek out another title from the same author.

The Good Lie was dark, twisty, and kept me up into the middle of the night to finish. It involved gruesome murders of teenaged boys, a therapist who works with violent patients, and a lawyer seeking justice.

More info: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56238004-the-good-lie

Buy The Good Lie | Amazon | IndieBound | ThriftBooks

Set in a Paris apartment building where every resident has something to hide, this novel is a fun and quirky journey where I just wanted to know more. The story follows down-on-her-luck Jess on her quest to find out what happened to her older brother, while she stays in his luxurious apartment in the meantime.

More info: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58468990-the-paris-apartment

Buy The Paris Apartment | Amazon | IndieBound | ThriftBooks

A harrowing and gripping tale, American Dirt details the journey of a Mexican woman whose entire family was brutally murdered by a major drug cartel and escapes to the United States with her son.

I found American Dirt especially moving and disturbing, especially knowing that so many families make this horrifying journey each year and only the luckiest survive. I think everyone should read this book.

More info: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45046527-american-dirt

Buy American Dirt | Amazon | IndieBound | ThriftBooks

Told through two connected narratives of a young journalist in the present and her grandmother in the past, Next Year in Havana is a historical family drama and romance set in and around Cuba.

Cuba acts as a main character in itself, and it seemed important to learn more about the relentless political strife, uncertainty, loss, and identity issues that its citizens faced. I appreciated the two perspectives and learning about the Cuban culture and history in small pieces.

Note: I listened to this on Audible while I walked on the treadmill. I’m not really an audio book person, so it took me forevvvver to finish.

More info: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45046527-american-dirt

Buy Next Year in Havana | Amazon | IndieBound | ThriftBooks

This book is a cute read with a healthy mix of serious and silly topics: grief, teenagers, change, Italy, secrets, diaries, and gelato.

Love & Gelato was a quick one, and I enjoyed it from start to finish.

More info: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25756328-love-gelato

Buy Love & Gelato | Amazon | IndieBound | ThriftBooks

Back in college, my newspaper colleague Morgan told me about her favorite book, The House on Mango Street, and recommended that I add it to my list. On the plane back from Colorado, I finally got around to reading it.

I loved it. It’s several short narratives woven together to tell a story about a house in Chicago and the people living in and around it. The writing was beautiful and engaging and inspired what I’d like to see in my own future writing.

Thank you, Morgan.

More info: goodreads.com/book/show/139253.The_House_on_Mango_Street

Buy The House on Mango Street | Amazon | IndieBound | ThriftBooks