Both my Monday and Wednesday posts last week were about my shelves. You would think that it’s time for me to move on. And yet, I will not.
This is not however in any way interior decor related content. This is straight up let’s talk books. I could not leave the topic of shelves without bringing up the objects they were designed for. So, without further ado, my six favorite books that are currently sitting on my bookcase, in no particular order.
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan This book is based on a true story of an Italian teenager during World War II. When I tell you it will boggle your mind that it is based on real events I’m not using hyperbole. The fortitude of the generation that lived through that period of time is inspiring. Another based-on-a-true-story WWII book that I lost my copy of along the way is We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter. Also highly recommended.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles This book follows a Russian Count who is under house arrest in a luxury hotel beginning in the 1920s. It has the most delightful characters and I love, love, love the style of the writing. It is a beautiful, funny book.
The Tears of Dark Water by Corban Addison This is a present day pirate story and it is riveting. Every single member of my book club couldn’t put this book down, which I promise does not happen often.
Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore This is probably the “lightest” book here. A story about a woman who lives her life non-consecutively. Every year at midnight on New Year’s, she is transported to a different year of her life. She can be 25 on the inside and live her 53rd year or be 26 internally in her 19 year old body. Despite the perhaps silly concept, the book does have some really poignant moments and is very easy to get into.
Recursion by Blake Crouch This book is hard to describe. It’s a psychological thriller based on memories and well, I think that’s really all I can say. Other than its a real page turner.
Daisy Jones and the Six Is a book about a fictional 1970s rock group that is written as if told through interviews looking back on that time in present-day. I have not met a single person who has read this book and not wished they were a real band.
Since these are all works of fiction, I did want to mention perhaps my favorite non-fiction book, which I’ve recommended and lent out so many times that it’s no longer in my possession. But, I simply cannot do any sort of list about books I love without mentioning The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. If you told me that I would fall in love with a book about a 1936 USA Olympic Crew Team I’m not sure I would have believed you. But, this is one of my favorite books of all time.
There are many other books that I’ve read and loved, but, like The Boys in the Boat and We Were the Lucky Ones, they’re not included here simply because they’re not sitting on my shelves any longer. And that’s okay. I hope whoever has them now loves them just as much as I do.