I’m starting with the YA titles this month.
The Fourteenth Goldfish (Jennifer L. Holm): This book is a delight. Ellie is your average 11 year-old whose grandfather is a mad scientist. And yet, maybe he’s not mad. We listened to Georgetta Perna’s lovely recording and enjoyed every minute, so much so that we fought over the CDs when we had to take 2 cars. Highly recommended.
Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures (Kate DiCamillo): DiCamillo’s highly illustrated novel may seem like an odd choice for an audiobook, but K.G. Campbell’s reading made me wish she read me all the comics my children bring to me. Flora and Ulysses are an unlikely pair, but when I need a superhero, I’ll be calling them. Highly recommended.
One Plus One (Jojo Moyes): Like its characters, One Plus One is a hard sell. Its narrators are a divorced cleaning lady/waitress, her odd math genius daughter and mascara-wearing stepson, and a tech developer accused of insider trading. It took me a bit, but knowing how much I’ve enjoyed all Moyes’ other titles, I persevered. Once the pieces had come together, I was hooked. There was only one moment when I had to put the book in the freezer. Highly recommended.
The Bronte Plot (Katherine Reay): I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I expected to. Like Reay’s other offerings (here are my quick reviews for Lizzy and Jane and Dear Mr. Knightley), The Bronte Plot depends heavily on a literary background of the Brontes and Austen. This time, however, it felt less like name dropping and more like dysfunction. I was still rooting for Lucy, the troubled MC, but this time it was harder to find her among all the books and vases and tourist attractions. Still recommended.
I read Katherine Reay’s other books and The Bronte Plot is next on my list. I am a tad bit nervous since I don’t really know too much about the Bronte sister’s life but I am still gonna try to read it next month
Oh, don’t be nervous- you’ll like it!
Thanks for all the recommendations. I read One Plus One and liked it, but not quite as much as Me Before You. I plan to put the Fourteenth Goldfish on my to-read list! Have a great weekend!
Me Before You is my favorite, too. =)
My library said Flora and Ulysses was in stock but I coudn’t find it when I got there sigh. I’ll try again next time because it sounds worthwhile.