Author: Holly Kennedy

This is one of the books included in Kathryn’s 2025 birthday bag. I saw the idea on Facebook and decided to pass it along. On her birthday Kathryn received a bag of books (second hand that I’ve pre-read) each wrapped in brown paper. The idea is that once a month (on her birthdate) she can pick a book to read. Each book includes a bookmark of some sort.

This is one of the books that I didn’t pre-read. I got it because I liked the cover!

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: 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: * * * *

Author: David Benioff

Another book from the Facebook group I belong to.

In the first chapter the author talks of his grandfather and grandmother who were Russian immigrants. At the author’s request the grandfather has finally agreed to tell the story of their lives in Russia during the siege of Leningrad. When pressed on some of the details, the grandfather tells the author “You’re a writer. Make it up”.

What follows is the story of two young men, Lev and Kolya, who were caught out after curfew and thrown in the same cell. Expecting to be executed the next morning they are surprised to be shown to a powerful Soviet colonel. He will grant their reprieve if they can bring him a dozen eggs in order that a cake can be made for his daughter’s wedding – an almost impossible task.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *