A Good Read - or Two

As much as I complain about the crappy weather we are having, there are bright spots, even though they don't come from the sun.  The bright spots are from really good books.

As I have mentioned before, I enjoy mostly murder mysteries.  But my favorite books are 'Atlas Shrugged' and 'The Lord of the Rings Trilogy', no murders there, so I am always on the lookout for 'good reads'.

Lately, as soon as I put my latest book on my blog page, I am off reading another book.  Sunday, with the cool temps, I managed to read an entire novel.  So, here are my recommendations for two really good books, IMHO, for your summer reading pleasure.

First, Khaled Hosseini's 'And the Mountains Echoed'.  I cried.  More than once.  If you have read either of his previous novels, 'The Kite Runner' or 'A Thousand Splendid Suns', then you are familiar with his beautiful works.  If not, this book is a good place to start. 

The book begins with a father in Afghanistan telling a story to his two children.  While it seems inconsequential, it sets the stage for the entire story to follow.  I couldn't help but wonder what choices I would have made had I found myself in this father's position.

Of course, there are reviewers out there who really panned this novel, so you may find that you do not enjoy it either.  But I did and am glad I took the time to read it.  I am also glad I did not read any reviews first, as many of them gave away most of the plot!  Geez.  I only want to know if it was good.  I can read the story myself if it is!




The novel I blazed through on Sunday is Harlan Coben's 'Six Years'.   Coben has become one of my favorite authors.  The first of his novels that I read was 'Tell No One', on the recommendation of one of my sons.  I was hooked and have since read all of his novels.

I think this is the best novel since the aforementioned 'Tell No One', which was made into a movie by the French.  Of course, both books have similarities in that the men have both lost their true loves and go searching for them.  But it was a very enjoyable read and I was surprised by the twists and turns it took.

Of course, being able to lie out on the lounge in some really nice weather would have made it even more enjoyable. 

So, what are you  reading?