Everything I Read in April 2020
I'm on week seven of quarantine and to be honest, I'm still loving the alone time. While I didn't read my goal of 10 books this month, I definitely read a lot of interesting books.
Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie: It's pretty embarrassing as someone who claims thriller as their favorite genre to read, this was my first Agatha Christie novel! While I was browsing upcoming movie releases on IMDB, I noticed "Death on the Nile" and was intrigued because Armie Hammer is a leading role. I instantly knew that I had to read the book before watching so I impulsively ordered it on Amazon. This book kept me entertained the entire time and I was captivated by each of the large cast of characters. This may have been my first Christie novel, but it won't be my last!
Rating 4/5
7 1/2 Deaths of Evenlyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton: A friend recommended me this book once I told them I finish every mystery novel in one sitting. The only word I would use to describe the book is "WOW." The main character, Aiden Bishop is forced to relive 8 days in different bodies until he solves the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle. The beginning of the book was a little slower than I was expecting, but I loved the methodical approach it had in solving the mystery. There were a couple of remaining questions that I wish had been answered by the end but overall I thought the author did an extraordinary job on this original, well thought out plot.
Rating 4/5
Educated by Tara Westover: This book has been on my to-be read (TBR) list since 2018. When I saw that one of my friends was starting a book club and this was the first book, I immediately joined in. There were parts of this book I enjoyed and parts that just did not keep me interested but ultimately I think this is a book that everyone should read. I'm still amazed that the author was able to write a novel after having little to no pre-college education. The book can be a little tough to read as abuse is chronicled throughout. There were many times when the author was describing these events that left me feeling upset. Westover did a fantastic job of putting emotion to paper in scenes dealing with her family in each stage of her life. One of the complaints I had is that the ending felt rushed and some things may have been left out about her family. I'd love to get your thoughts on this part as well if you have read the book.
Rating 4/5
The Story of Christianity: Volume 1 The Early Church to the Reformation by Justo L. Gonzalez: Robert, my husband, is an expert in Christian history and I'm often confused about anything he's talking about when we discuss the subject. One day I was asking a million questions about the papacy and he finally grabbed this book from our shelf and told me to read it. It's actually a textbook for theology courses, but the author did a great job in making it read more like a story. History was my favorite subject in school so there was no doubt I would enjoy the book, but I was surprised by how much I actually learned from it. If you want to learn more about Church history you should definitely try this one. I'll likely read Volume 2, which chronicles the Reformation through modern day, at some point in the future.
Rating 3/5 *I will say I don't read many books such as this one so I'm not sure how to rate it. On a 1-5 scale, a 3 usually means I enjoyed the book and would recommend.
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi: Guys - if there is one book from this list that you should read, it's this one. It is exceptionally engaging and I'm impressed that this is only the author's debut novel. The story follows the family histories of two half sisters while tracking the cultural changes in both Ghana and America. Gyasi is an amazing storyteller and this was an epic generational book spanning over six generations that immediately draws you in as each page is filled with so much vivid detail and history. My heart is still hurting over all the injustices that these characters experienced, knowing so many in our world have faced the same. I think it's incredibly important for people to read stories like these and to feel the anger caused by man's inhumanity to fellow man.
Rating 5/5
Text Me When You Get Home: The Evolution and Triumph of Modern Female Friendship by Kayleen Schaefer: I wanted to like this book so much, but it just didn't sit well with me. I started it over a year ago and stopped midway because I didn't care for the way Schaefer opened with how she didn't want to be friends with other women, but I decided it was time to just tough it out and finish. I was expecting the book to be a little more scholarly and provide insight on the historical development of female friendship, but it felt more that the target audience is women that prefer the friendship of males. While there were parts that I did appreciate, I already realized the power of strong female friendships and thought this was just a little too preachy.
Rating 2/5
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway: I've never read Hemingway - crazy I know. I feel that this shouldn't have been my first book of his, as I found it really lacked a plot. I truly love the way Hemingway writes and I'll definitely be reading his other novels, but this one really boring. This opinion has caused many arguments between Robert and I, but I would love to get your thoughts on the book if you've read it.
Rating 2/5
I'd love to hear about what y'all are reading while you're stuck inside! You can always email me at carolinegcone@gmail.com.