I have briefly talked about reading on a couple of posts here before, but I don't think I went into detail about just how much I read. I have always been a fan of reading, but the older I got
I found myself reading less and less. Up until last year that is. I set a goal for myself at the beginning of last year to read a book a week. There were weeks where that was easy and I found myself reading two and there were weeks where I would barely get through half, but in the end I accomplished my goal and decided that it would become a regular thing for me. So every month I pick out 4 books to read and I decided to share with you the ones that I read during the month of April.
The Nightingale
The Nightingale is a wonderful historical fiction novel set in France during World War II that tells the story of two sisters whose worlds were changed with the death of their mother at a young age. While it is a work of fiction, the book is very historically accurate and one of the characters is even based on the contributions of a young Belgian woman. We are taken through their experiences as young adults through romance and motherhood in a time of turmoil and resistance and while we hear the story about the men in their lives, it is these amazing women that make this book unforgettable.
Honestly, it took me a little bit to really get into the book to the point where I could't put it down, but once I got there I was so enveloped in the story that it almost felt real. The Nightingale is so emotionally stirring and makes you feel what the characters are facing. Grab some tissues and a big mug of tea for this one. This is my must read recommendation for the month. Believe the hype, it is THAT good!
Catherine of Braganza
If you are a fan of historical non-fiction like myself and enjoy reading about english royalty and the Tudor dynasty in particular then Catherine of Braganza might be a name you are familiar with, but not know much about. This book by the same name by Sarah-Beth Watkins was a great historically accurate account of the wife of Charles II's wife in the Restoration period. This was a fascinating read that is backed with letters detailing stories of events and relationships that gives you an insight to the marriage that many people may not have known about. It was a quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is not a book for everyone, but anybody who enjoy historical non fiction would definitely enjoy it.
The Idea of You
This is what I would call the perfect beach read. It is a good enough story to keep your attention, but not so emotional that it will ruin the fun time that you are having. This tells the story of a woman who feels she has it all. She has a wonderful husband, the perfect home, and a career she loves, but she soon finds that there's something missing: a child of her own. Journey with her as she goes through the ups and downs of pregnancy all while juggling being a wife and step mother to a difficult teenager.
Death on West End Road
This is another light and easy read. It is the third part of the Hampton Murder Mystery novels, but you don't need to read the others to be able to understand the story. It tells the story of a young owner of an Inn who because of her nosy ways is enlisted to solve the mystery of a 20 year old murder of a young local girl. Through many twists and turns you start to see a different side of the story and find yourself scratching your head to try to solve this one. It's a fun read that isn't to be taken too seriously, but is enjoyable nonetheless.
Luckily I didn't find any duds this month and thoroughly enjoyed all my reads. Stay tuned to hear about my book choices for the month of May!
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I received these books free to read, but all opinions are my own
