Author: Fredrik Backman

The suggestion for this book came from a Facebook group I belong to. I probably would have passed on it except that it is written by the author who wrote A Man Called Ove which I really enjoyed – both the book and the Swedish movie.

The book is a story about Ted and Louisa who meet shortly after the death of a famous pai who is Ted’s best friend/maybe lover? There is a story within a story within a story and the people telling those stories are friends of the characters in the story. I wondered all the way through whether or not there would be a happy ending, but we are reminded time and time again through the stories that it is the moments in a life that make us happy, not the ending.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Author: Ken Follett

Pat bought this for me at the Texada Library’s book sale. They hold it every year on the August long weekend but because that is also the festival weekend I wasn’t able to attend so I was happy to get a gift from it. I have read another tome (1000 pages) by Ken Follett and wondered at first if I’d read it before. It seemed familiar but my website confirmed that I hadn’t read it.

The story takes place in the 12th Century at a time of upheaval between the royals and the Church. Tom Builder is a master craftsman and has started to build a cathedral at Kingsbridge. There is a lot of conflict during the story and although we move through two generations of builders I admit by the end of it I wanted some resolution to all the struggles.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Author: Denis Johnson

When my Facebook group recommended this book I didn’t realize it was a novella, a genre I don’t generally read. Pat picked it up at the library for me and, after he brought it home, he sat down and read it through in an afternoon. I took a bit more time than that.

The book is more or less the life story of Robert Grainier who lived during the early 1900’s. He was a hard working man who suffered the loss of his wife and child in a forest fire while he was working in a logging camp. How he deals with his grief and the rest of his life is the thread that runs through the story.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

Author: Marilynne Robinson

One of my favourite books is Housekeeping by this author. When my Facebook group suggested a book by her I quickly added it to my list. I went looking at the library for the suggested book and I realized it was part of a series. I wasn’t able to get the first book but I borrowed this second book because the cover said I didn’t need to know what happened in the first.

The book tells the story of the Boughton family, but specifically Glory, Jack and their father, a retired minister. Glory has come “home” to Gilead (the title of the first book) after a long relationship ended and Jack has come “home” after being absent for almost twenty years. The family dynamics are interesting and as the father’s health fails he isn’t able to let bygones be bygones.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *