All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

This was my book club’s pick for February. And I just finished it last weekend. What can I say? I am a mediocre member. 

This WW2 historical fiction has been on my bookshelf forever; and I know I don’t really need to rave about it. Afterall, it won the Pulitzer Prize in 2015. 

But here are my two sentences. It is hauntingly beautiful. It didn’t hit me right away, but once I became acquainted with all the characters/perspectives I was hooked in and hopeful for Marie-Laure Leblanc. 

For a character that is so vulnerable to challenges, she is one of the bravest and smartest characters I have read in a book.

I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

This memoir shares one of the ways we find solace after the death of a loved one. The author, Michelle Zauner, describes the ways she found comfort in her kitchen after the death of her mother. In recreating her mother’s favorite dishes in the kitchen, she experienced her mother’s presence, and connection to her Korean culture.

Similar to Michelle, I lost my mother in my early 20s; and found comfort in the kitchen and going to places my mother loved.

While we don’t share the same cultural background, I felt connected to Michelle in her grief for her mother. The way a recipe can trigger a memory or feeling from all those years ago. The struggle and hurt as you witness your loved one slipping away. Especially, when there is so much you haven’t said or righted. And the confusion that happens when she comes into your dreams.

I highly recommend this book . Thank you Michelle for your vulnerability and sharing your story.

Make sure to check out my spotify playlist for this book.

Fable by Adrienne Young

“𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚍𝚊𝚢. 𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚛. 𝙸’𝚟𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚘 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚜𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚙𝚞𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝙸 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚘𝚔𝚎 𝚞𝚙. 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎.”

Who would have thought I needed a pirate story in my life? Fable is a survivor. Abandoned by her father after her mother dies, she manages to escape the evil island years later. And that’s where her story begins…

There’s surging seas of drama, fighting, and a little bit of romance.

Will she reconnect with her father? Or create a new family for herself on the open seas?

I give this 5 stars, and highly recommend to those who enjoy YA Fantasy.

Make sure to check out my spotify playlist for this book.