Author: Marilynne Robinson

This is actually the first book in a series but reading the second one first really didn’t make any difference. In fact, this filled in a few of the gaps that I noticed in the second one.

John Ames, an elderly minister, has started to write down stories and thoughts for his very young son (only 8 years old) to read when he is a grown man. There are a few notable quotes but I never thought to write them down at the time I read them. It was a library book so I couldn’t mark them either.

I didn’t think I wanted to read the third in the series but it is the back story of one of the characters so I’ve ordered it from the library.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

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: 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: * * * *