A review of the books When Breath Becomes Air, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Echo.
2016 has started slow for me on the reading front…after exceeding my Goodreads goal from last year by 9 books, I guess I needed a little break at the beginning of this year. Well, that break lasted a couple of weeks and now I am absolutely craving reading time again! My goal is to read 52 books in 2016 (my goal in 2015 was 30 books, so I’ve upped the ante quite a bit!).
I was thinking that after I read each book, I’d share my thoughts on them with you all so you can hopefully add to your “want to read” lists. You can expect a weekly book review post from me from here on out. Hopefully they’ll be on Fridays, but you all know how I am… that may not always be the case 🙂 (I love how you all still stick with me, even though I’m incredibly inconsistent!)
I have three beautiful books to share with you today. All very different, but beautiful reads just the same.
Have your tissues near by when you read When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. This is a beautiful memoir with a message everyone should read. Paul was a neurosurgeon who was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer when he was in his early 30’s. In this story, Paul faces his mortality head on but also confronts the issue of how medical professionals treat the dying. As much as I loved the book, the epilogue by his wife was just as beautiful and life changing. I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. Buy When Breath Becomes Air on Amazon or add it to your “want to read” shelf on Goodreads.
When my 12 year old nephew received this book for Christmas, I picked it up and started thumbing through it. My mother-in-law then went on to say that she had read it before wrapping it and loved it so much. I downloaded it on my Kindle soon after and began reading it. Echo by Pam Munoz Ruan, is a young adult book that I believe would appeal to adults just as much as tweens and teens. This story is about a magic harmonica that ends up in the lives of 3 different people in very distinct points in history. In the end, all three stories are woven together to make an incredible end to a magical journey. I gave this novel 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. Click here to purchase Echo on Amazon or you can add it to your “want to read” shelf on Goodreads by clicking here.
My mom has been telling me to read A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith for as long as I can remember. Why I didn’t listen to her before now, I’ll never know, as this classic novel was one of the best books I have ever read. This is Francie Nolan’s coming of age story as well as the story of her family and their struggle and hardship in Brooklyn during the early 1900’s. You will absolutely fall in love with this sweet, innocent, quirky, compassionate, creative girl. Your heart will break a million times, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll mourn and you’ll be incredibly sad the story is over when you reach the final page. I can’t recommend this book enough. I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. You can purchase A Tree Grows In Brooklyn on Amazon by clicking here or you can add it to your “Want to Read” shelf on Goodreads by clicking here.
I’m currently reading Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes and really enjoying it! I should finish Year of Yes in the next day then what’s after that is still up for debate. Any suggestions?
Have you read any great books lately? Let me know in the comments section below! Happy reading!
Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I just finished The Lake House from Kate Morton last night. She’s one of my favorite authors and like her other books, this was a real page turner. I may just add your suggestions to my kindle tonight, I can always count on you for good books to read.
Oh Aggie and I were just talking about The Lake House! I’m going to download that one now. Thank you!
I had it selected and I’m not sure if I actually bought it or not…I don’t think I’ve read this author yet, I’m glad you mentioned it Miss!
Oh I really want to read ‘Year of Yes’ and it sounds like I need to read ‘A Tree Grows in Brooklyn’.
I just finished ‘Alias Grace’ by Margaret Atwood and loved it, and I’m currently reading ‘The Little Stranger’ by Sarah Waters, which is an old fashioned ghost story set in an English manor house. I’m enjoying it! Next up is ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’. I’m going to try and read lots of Japanese books in preparation for my honeymoon in Japan next year!
I can’t wait for the regular book posts. There’s nothing better than talking literature 🙂
I didn’t expect to love Year of Yes as much as I do, but it’s great! And YES! Read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn… I’m kicking myself for not reading it earlier on in my life!
Memoirs of a Geisha was so great!! And thanks for the other recs!
This is the first year I’ve set a GoodReads goal and I’m terribly excited so I’ve been tearing through books this month. Lol! I’m currently reading The Girl on the Train. I’m late to the party I know.
You go girl! How many books did you set as your goal?
Hi – I would highly recommend The Nightingale and A Man Called Ove – love both of these. I keep hearing about When Breath Becomes Air so that might be on my library list next. I am currently reading Fates and Furies, I am finding it a bit confusing, but I must finish it!
Oh yes – I loved those two books. In fact, I’d say The Nightingale was easily my favorite book from last year. I loved it so much! When Breath Becomes Air is a really quick read. I read it in an afternoon – it’s a really moving story!
It’s been something like 28 years since I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I suppose if I read it again, it would be like a new book. 🙂
I just finished the 2nd book in the Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children series. I failed miserably at my reading goal for last year–trying harder this year!
I need to read the Miss Peregrine’s Home books – did you love them? I don’t know why I’ve never picked those up!
Plainsong by Kent Haruf – one of my all time faves. Love all his books – not light reading by any means though.
I’ll look it up – thank you! I’ve had his book Our Souls at Night on my “Want to Read” list for quite some time!
I’m really looking forward to seeing more of your book reviews. I’m always looking for a good book to read. “A Year Of Yes” is on my list to read next so I’m happy to see you’re enjoying it. I just finished reading “The Nightingale” and loved it! “Brooklyn” is on my kindle now and I hope to get to reading it soon.
I finished Year of Yes yesterday and I did really like it. If you like Shonda’s shows, you’ll really like her writing style!
You’ll have to let me know about Brooklyn. Have you seen the movie? It is one of my favorite in a really long time. Such a great movie!
I just read Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall and loved it! It was told through a nine-year-old’s view and it was so, so good. It was a combo of Because of Winn Dixie with The Help. Also, love Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams.
Whistling Past the Graveyard was such a great book! I actually have never read Because of Winn Dixie though and need to! Thank you!
I am so so glad you loved A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I read it seriously once a year. It is soooooo amazing. I added Echo to my books to read lis. Can’t wait.
I’m so sad it took me sooooo long to read it! It’s a wonderful book!
I AM NEW TO YOUR BLOG AND AM SO HAPPY YOU HAVE GREAT INFO REGARDING BOOKS. I AM AN AVID BOOK READER – READ A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN AND LOVED IT. I ALSO LIKE KATE MORTON’S BOOKS MUST GET THE LAKE HOUSE. ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVERY READ IS THE SHELL SEEKERS BY ROSEMUND PILCHER AND FORTUNE IS A WOMAN AND THE RICH SHALL INHERIT BOTH BY ELIZABETH ADLER. THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING THE BOOKS.
I’m so glad! The Lake House is definitely on my list to read soon! I’ve heard so many great things.
So glad you commented! Nice to meet you!