I have enjoyed Moran's historical novels in the past, and this may be my favorite. The British conquest of India is not a period I know well, and I certainly was unaware of the "Rebel Queen" who tried to keep her country safe -- not just from British Imperialists, but Indian contenders as well. Moran's writing is beautifully detailed, historically rich without being cumbersome. (I'm a bit of a fangirl, ha), and her characters have so much life and depth. An intriguing and engrossing read.
I'm trying to read more nonfiction this year (I'm regretfully behind my goal), and this was a fun, quirky read I picked up on a whim. Sundquist has only had one girlfriend in his whole life -- for 23 hours, in the 8th grade. In an attempt to figure out why he is perennially single, he looks at every girl/crush/attempt-to-date and gives each case an in-depth analysis. More than a humorous memoir on trying - and failing - to understand the hows and whys of relationships (can't we all relate?), this is an honest and entertaining read about, well, people.
This may not be universally adored, and some people may find it downright strange, but I absolutely loved this little book. It's different and unconventional and I was laughing out loud during some points. The premise is simple: a librarian discovers a patron spent the night locked in the library, thus prompting a long and lovely monologue that covers just about everything under the sun. There were startlingly true observations about libraries and people and just the human experience. It's fun and quirky and maybe I'm weird, but I loved it, so very, very much.
Oh goodness. This book. Sometimes you read things that just ... strike home ... The story itself bears no resemblance to my life (Quinn's boyfriend, an organ donor, was killed in an accident, and she has found the boy who received his heart), but that's a minor detail. This is a story that drew me in and wouldn't let go. I devoured it. The reading felt real and raw and that kind of tangled-up-beautiful-mess that is life. (Sidenote: I love all epigraphs at the beginning of the chapters. So. Cool.)
So there's a glimpse of what I've been reading, and believe me, it's just a glimpse. I'll post some more mini reviews through the summer -- in the meantime, what have you been reading?
