Favorite Reads of 2015

When I was little, I read nonstop. You could always find me curled up on the couch reading a Nancy Drew book for hours and hours. I would have to be forced to go outside or to come to the dinner table. When people asked me what I did for fun, the answer was always reading. Once high school hit though, I didn't have time to actually enjoy sitting down to read a book. Even after college I felt like there were more important things to do and just got out of the habit of reading.

Now as a librarian, I have not only unlimited access to books, but I actually have time to read while covering the circulation desk! (Can I just say how much I love my job?) Just in the last few months of 2015 I was really able to get back into reading and remembered how much I love it!

There are also definitely pro's of having an English/Literature teacher for a sister. After finishing a book I always tell Reba, "I just finished my book! What should I read now??" and now I have a long list of books to read. I think that I probably read around 30 book just from September to December of 2015, but here are some of my favorites that really stuck out to me.

I would also like to throw out there that I find a lot of the books I read on Goodreads. If you're not familiar with Goodreads, I really recommend that you check it out! I love this site because you can see what your friends are reading as well as what books are really popular in different categories and genres. You can rate each book you read and see what others are saying about it. This is great because I like to check and see what the average rating of a book is before I commit to it. I know that I might not always agree with what other people are saying, but it's nice to just have that knowledge so you don't get stuck reading a 700 page book that had a 2 star rating (I wasted 3 weeks of my life reading one of those). You can also keep track of what you're reading by putting down what page you're on and it will show you the percentage you've read. I know you can kind of just eyeball it by looking at your bookmark, but I'm the kind of person who enjoys knowing that I'm 37% done with a book. Anyway, if you're interested, check it out at goodreads.com.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

This is the story of two French sisters during World War II. The oldest sister, Vianne, says goodbye to her husband as he leaves to fight on the Front. She is left with her young daughter to fend for herself even when the enemy is under her own roof. The younger sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious, strong-willed girl who ends up joining the resistance. The two sisters go down two different roads, but both have to fight to survive and to protect their loved ones.

The Nightingale is such an inspiring book, you forget that it’s a novel! I have to admit that the end had me tearing up a bit, and I don't usually cry from books. This might be my absolute favorite read; it was so amazing and I cannot say enough good things about it.

Bellweather Rhapsody by Kate Racuulia

A young musician at a high school music festival disappears from the same room that was the scene of a murder-suicide 15 years earlier. The young girl who first witnessed the traumatic event has returned to face her demons, and ends up helping to solve the mystery that traps them all at the Bellweather Hotel during a snowstorm. Think Agatha Christie and Glee combined. While reading this book, I thought, where in the world is this going? A book about teenaged musicians, a murder-suicide, and a paranoid chaperone with some dark issues definitely seemed a little strange at first. When you get to the end though, you see it all in a completely different light. Bellweather Rhapsody was so well put together and planned out that I was left impressed and entertained. It's the kind of book where I'm not sure how to explain it without giving everything away, but it was really good. It's just one of those books you finish and go, "ohhhh".

Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue

Jack was born in Room and it’s all he’s ever known. All he has his is Room and Ma, and its home to him. Old Nick comes at night to visit, and Jack goes to sleep in the wardrobe so Old Nick won’t see him. Ma has had enough. After being held captive in room for 7 years, she plans a daring escape that relies completely on Jack being brave.

Room will have you at the edge of your seat, waiting to see what will happen to Jack and Ma and how they can return to a world that has changed so much. The book is written entirely from Jack’s point of view, so at first the wording can be a little difficult to follow, but you quickly fall into the rhythm and style of the book and I can promise you that you will not be able to put it down until you finish. Even then you will still want to continue Jack’s story.

I think I should also add that I'm not the kind of person who usually goes for the psychological thrillers. This was definitely a book that pushed me past my comfort zone, but it wasn't something that gave me nightmares or anything. I am curious to see as whether or not I can handle the movie. I'm waiting to see it on DVD so I can have my blanket shield at the ready!

Rena's Promise by Rena Kornriegh Gelissen

There are so many World War II books out there and some many famous ones of Auschwitz survivors, but I think that this is the most inspiring one I have read. Some of the Holocaust stories can be so depressing, and it was a horrible time, but this story is different. This book is the memoir of Rena Korereich Gelissen, a holocaust survivor that was sent to Auschwitz on the first Jewish Transport. While there she was reunited with her sister, Danka. Rena had promised her mother that no matter what, she would take care of her sister. For over 3 years, she kept this promise and follows the everyday struggle to survive and to keep hope. Rena’s Promise displays a glimmer of hope and love in a time of evil and inhumanity.

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

21st Century Courtney Stone wakes up to find herself in the body of Jane Mansfield in 19th century Britain, a 30 year old woman who has just fallen off a horse. At first Courtney thinks she’s dreaming, but then she starts to think and act like Jane as well as share her memories.

While some gave this book a low rating on Goodreads, I found this book so entertaining. I am a diehard Jane Austen fan, so a story about a girl waking up in Jane Austen’s time is a dream come true! (No pun intended.) I couldn’t help but laugh at Courtney struggling to make it in the 19th century (especially when she finds out she has to stay in bed a whole week when Aunt Flo visits). I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who loves Jane Austen!

Liar, Temptress, Solider, Spy by Karen Abbott

This book follows the lives of four undercover women in the Civil War: a farm girl, a widow, a southern belle, and an abolitionist. All four women risked it all to be a part of a cause bigger than themselves. Some fought for the South, and some for the North, but all four women showed incredible amounts of courage. These women lived extraordinary lives, and their stories are left to us to learn from. It was also really cool to learn that I had been to a hotel where one of these women worked undercover! Ross and I went to the Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. a few months ago, and they actually had a small display about these women and had some of their personal items I had read about. This really made the book become more real and personal for me.

I hope you enjoyed reading about some of my favorite books from 2015! If you've ready any of these, what was your opinion on them? Do you have a favorite book from 2015? Let me know in the comments!

#books #readinglist #favorites