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Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl invited us to share our top ten books on our spring 2021 TBRs this week but I don’t plan ahead like that. I decided to share ten fiction books that I never reviewed because I read them while I was on my extended blogging break. (You can also check out ten nonfiction books I never reviewed.)
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell–I read this two years ago and I still find myself wanting to talk it over with someone. I practically begged my brother-in-law to read it, telling him, “I need someone to talk this over with, dammit!” I think it’s very much his kind of book, so we’ll see what happens. The crazy thing is that I did review the sequel!
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden–I read this entire trilogy on my blogging break and adored it. It’s a dark story set in Russia at a time when Christianity is uprooting “pagan” beliefs. With strong characters and fairy tale elements set in the historical world, these books are keepers.
Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue, read by Prentice Onayemi–This book, about a family of Cameroonian immigrants who live in New York at the beginning of the 2008 recession, was thought-provoking. Sometimes the “American Dream” is just too hard or it’s not all that legends make it out to be. Beautifully narrated.
The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy–WWII books about civilians doing what they can to survive are a safe bet for me at any time. But this entirely-realistic retelling of Hansel and Gretel is truly something special. It remains true to the time but turns the fairy tale on its head.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, translated by Henning Koch, read by George Newbern–Stories of redemption and hope are also sure to satisfy me. Ove is such a crusty old codger when we meet him, everyone he knows has written him off. But as we learn about his life and see him slowly, reluctantly, open up to the new young family next door, we learn to love him as much as they do, proving that no one is ever beyond hope.
The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash–Other readers may recognize Wiley Cash more for his debut, A Land More Kind Than Home, which I haven’t read yet. But this one is part of a small set of books that I think of as “Women Who Feel Like Family.” Ella May–a young, single mother of four–lives in the foothills of North Carolina in 1929. She’s so broke that she and her family (white), have to live in the Black community. But Ella May dares to dream of more for her family and becomes an organizer when the union comes to the textile mill where she works.
Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth, read by Kate Reading–This beautifully-written retelling of Rapunzel weaves together the stories of three women who seek to live lives of their own choosing–not the roles society dictates to them.
One Foot in Eden by Ron Rash–Set in upstate South Carolina, Rash’s debut novel is as harsh and haunting as the landscape he writes about. The town troublemaker disappears and Sheriff Will Alexander knows in his bones that the man has been murdered but he can’t even find the body. Exploring ties to family, community, and the land, Rash’s book is perfectly atmospheric and relevant to me as a southern Appalachian woman with roots in the area going back many generations.
Kill the Farm Boy by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne, read by Luke Daniels–I don’t think the humor in this book will appeal to everyone but it definitely appealed to me. Turning almost every fairytale trope on its ear, I laughed throughout the entire book.
The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty–I stumbled on this book at the library and I couldn’t walk away from that cover. I devoured the book and the next two in the series as soon as I could get my hands on them. A world of djinn and other elemental spirits, alongside but apart from Napoleonic Egypt, featuring love, betrayal, and unknown identities, there is a lot to love in this series.
That’s my list! Have you read any of these? What did you think? Link up every Tuesday at That Artsy Reader Girl!
26 Comments
Great idea to do some mini reviews. I loved the Bear and the Nightingale but the other two in the trilogy weren’t out yet and somehow I just never got to them. I need to remedy that this year. So many of these I haven’t heard of. Kevin Hearne wrote the Iron Druid Chronicles and I loved them so much. SO I know his new series will be fun. I have a lot more books to add to my TBR list.
Hansel and Gretel sounds interesting to me, especially the bit about turning it on its head, and City of Brass- I just love the sound of that.
Those were both excellent books!
I’ve not read any of these but I’ve always fancied trying The Bear and the Nightingale.
I really think you would like it but it’s best read on a cold, wintry day.
The City of Brass was one of my favourite books of last year. I’ve heard so much good stuff about The Bear and The Nightingale, I definitely want to read it at some point.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2021/03/16/top-ten-tuesday-307/
I hope you enjoy them when/if you read them!
Thank you!
THE CITY OF BRASS isn’t my usual kind of read, but it sounds really good and I’ve seen some excellent reviews. I might just have to pick it up.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
City of Brass is absolutely my kind of read so I don’t have words of wisdom about trying it. I’ve had good and bad experiences when I venture out of my comfort zone. Maybe give yourself permission to drop it after, say, 100 pages (It’s a tad slow to start, if I recall correctly)?
I still need to read the Winternight Trilogy! One of these days…
My TTT: https://bookwyrmknits.com/2021/03/16/top-ten-tuesday-spring-2021-tbr/
I have a feeling it would really appeal to you. There’s just never enough time for everything though!
Right? Too many books, not enough time. (But I prefer it this way to not having enough books.)
Now here’s a co-incidence — I plan to review The Sparrow soon. Definitely one of the top 5 most thought-provoking books I have ever read. Though I was never brave enough to read the sequel, so I am going to read your review first. 🙂
Haha! That IS a coincidence! The Children of God review hasn’t made it on the blog yet but here’s the GoodReads link. I didn’t like it as much but I did feel like it wrapped things up and explained what happened better. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3316695901?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
Well, that I must check out. I do need to know whether poor Sandoz gets some measure of peace back
I always feel bad when I don’t get round to writing reviews of books I love. I try and at least write a few words in my weekly updates now.
I’ve debated doing that but worry about how long that will make the post. I’ll have to give it a try and see what happens because I feel bad about it too.
These count as reviews, I think!
I was hoping they would!
I love this list, and I especially love that you link to Malaprops! Makes me want to head over to Asheville this weekend! I loved the Wiley Cash book and also A Man Called Ove. I just finished Backman’s Anxious People last week, and it was marvelous. I’m adding the Ron Rash book to my list.
If you’re close to Asheville, you really need to read One Foot in Eden. Have you read any of Rash’s books? So. Good. I’m so happy to find someone who’s familiar with Malaprop’s!
Great list! I love the Daevabad Trilogy. Bitter Greens has been on my TBR for years, and I’ve heard brilliant things about The Sparrow and Kill the Farm Boy, too.
Daevabad was so good!
I’ve read The Sparrow twice (and met the author way, way back in 1998 at a small book conference) and absolutely loved it! I can’t say the same for the sequel, although it was nice to see what came after the end of The Sparrow… I also loved A Man Called Ove. Both of these are reviewed on my blog, if you’re interested.
I have The True Story of Hansel and Gretel on my TBR shelf, as well as The Last Ballad. Hope they’re good!
It’s awesome that you met Mary Doria Russell! I completely agree with your assessment of Children of God.
I hope you enjoy The True Story of Hansel and Gretel and The Last Ballad when you get to them!