Despite the fact that May was an insanely busy month for me (hello getting married), I still managed to get a lot of reading done (hello honeymoon). It was 10 books and a total of 3,700 pages. Which averaged 119 pages a day. So let's get to it.
How Jesus Became God by Bart D Ehrman (371 pages). This was a theological study by an agnostic Bible historian who attended Wheaton College. Yes, that's an oxymoron for me as well. I found it interesting and thought-provoking. But never once did I question my own faith and beliefs. Basically he went into great historical and theological debate on why Jesus was merely a man who was elevated to go-like status by his followers. Honestly, he made some interesting observations. But I was truly just sad for him. I finished in 5 days.
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave (303 pages). Hannah is madly in love with her husband of one year, Owen. His 16 year old daughter? Well, let's just say that Bailey isn't Hannah's biggest fan. But when a child shows up with a note from Owen that simply says "protect her," Hannah knows who he is talking about but doesn't know why. Until the news breaks that the company Owen worked for was involved in a huge Ponzi scheme. As the US Marshals and the FBI begin to show up on their doorstep, Hannah and Bailey go on a quest to learn the truth about the man they both love. I finished in 2 days.
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles (351 pages). Ah, historical fiction. My favorite! In 1920, the American Library was founded in Paris-the largest English language lending library in mainland Europe. In 1937, Dorothy Reeder was named directoress. And Dorothy Redder was a real life hero. the novel begins in 1939 when Odile gets a job at the American Library. Unfortunately, her dream life becomes a nightmare when the Nazis march into Paris. But under the leadership of Directoress Reeder, the librarians band together to save their beloved library and its books. In 1983, in a small town in Montana, teenager Lily is lost after the death of her mother. Until she begins to befriend her next door neighbor. And as the neighbor's past comes to light, Lily learns much about life. I finished in 4 days.
You Love Me by Caroline Kepnes (385 pages). Book 3 in the series (which is so different than the Netflix series at this point). Unlike the Netflix version, in this one, Love is alive. And the Quinn family paid Joe off to relinquish custody of his son. So Joe moves to Bainbridge Island. And promptly falls in obsession with Mary Kay, the head librarian at his new job. Joe swears to himself that he will be a different man this time. And everything seems different with Mary Kay. Until it isn't. When your past comes back to find you, do you really have any hope for a future? I finished in 2 days.
Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell (356 pages). 10 years ago, 15 year old Ellie Mack disappeared without a trace. Teen-agers might be prone to something like that but not Ellie. Her life is perfect. Her mother, Laurel, is still reeling from her loss all these years later when she meets a perfect man. And when she meets his daughters, 9 year old Poppy takes her breath away. Because she looks just like Ellie. Now Laurel begins to wonder again what happened to her daughter. And the truth is more bizarre than anyone could have imagined. I finished in 2 days.
The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba by Chanel Cleeton (367 pages). Another historical fiction (because you know it's my jam). In 1896, New York is in the midst of a newspaper war between Hearst and Pulitzer (and now the Newsies soundtrack is running through my mind). Reporter Grace Harrington gets a job with Hearst's Journal. Meanwhile, Cuba is in the midst of its own revolutionary war. Evangelina Cisneros is the daughter of a revolutionary, unjustly imprisoned. But when the Journal learns of her plight, she becomes The Most Beautiful Woman in Cuba and a rallying cry for America to help the Cubans fight for their independence. Despite her spectacular escape of New York, it takes the explosion of the USS Maine for America to declare war on Spain. Meanwhile, Marina Perez, wife of a Cuban rebel, does her part as a courier, delivering messages all over Havana. These three women (two of them fictional, one historical) show the bravery of all of the women involved in the revolution. I finished in 2 days.
Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline (366 pages). Obviously, the sequel to Ready Player One. Wade and his friends are now the owners of Halliday's technology. And when Wade (as the heir) discovers a new technology Halliday created that will make the OASIS even more amazing, he and his friends decide to share it with the world. But unfortunately, there are still quests and secrets hidden within the OASIS. And the friends must go on one last quest. This time to save humanity. I finished in 1 day.
After All by Heidi McLaughlin (318 pages). It's been 15 years since Brooklyn Hewitt set foot in Cape Harbor. But when she gets a call from Carly woods, her would have been mother in law and 14 year old daughter Brystol's grandmother to help her reopen the Driftwood Inn, Brooklyn knows she needs to go home. Even though it means confronting the ghosts of her past- Austin, her child's father who was tragically lost at sea. And Howie, his best friend. With whom she spent one night- the very night they both lost Austin. Reuniting to rebuild the Driftwood forces them to face the past. And contemplate their futures. I finished in 1 day.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt (559 pages). After one miserable year at a college near home in California, Richard transfers to the idyllic Hampden College in New England. He immediately becomes fascinated by Professor Marrow and his elite Greek students- Henry, Francis, Bunny and twins Charles and Camilla. The students and professor are almost cult like in their devotion to their studies and to each other. As Richard becomes one of them (or at least on the outer edges of the inner circle), an incident occurs that leads them to killing one of their own. And to the subsequent dissolution of this once intertwined group. I finished in 7 days.
Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier (324 pages). For centuries, the women of the Montrose family and the men of the De Villiers family have been a part of the Lodge, a group of time travelers and their associates. One day, 16 year old Gwen (who was assumed to be missing the time traveling gene) leaps into the past. She is quickly brought up to speed on what she can expect (well, halfway up to speed). She meets her time-traveling counterpart, Gideon. And once she learns what their mission is, she is ready to accompany him into the past. I finished in 4 days.
This month's favorite was...…a tie between The Paris Library and Then She Was Gone. Totally different genres, but both equally enthralling.
