This is the list of books I’ve read in 2015 and what my impression of them. I’m compiling this list for two reasons:
The first: I’ve read hundreds of books (maybe thousands?) in the three decades of my existence but I remember some better than the others. A friend had earlier suggested I keep a list… only now I realise it’s time to record my readings, with my opinions or impressions of the books.
Second: To keep track of the number of books I read as part of the #BrunchBookChallenge by HT Brunch for 2015 (target: 30 books), though I intend to continue this list even after the year is over. Wish me luck! 🙂
1. V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd
My first complete comic book set(!). I was surprised how intrigued I was by this book despite having watched the movie a number of times already. Initially the illustrations distracted me, but I soon learnt to see the “big picture” while reading (yeah, pun intended). While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I felt the climax was rushed and could have been fit together better. Also, I had hoped the book would address some unanswered questions from the movie, but it didn’t.
2. The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
This is the kind of writing I would love to do some day! Hooked me from the first sentence till the last. The three women’s lives were loosely inter-connected, though it wasn’t a forced fit. Strong characterisation, hypothetical tangents and the depiction of grief are the high points of the book. Of course, the revelation of the secret was a BIG SHOCK. The resolution at the end was depressing, but that’s how life sometimes is, isn’t it? If I had to point out a flaw, I’d say the character Tess’s story was underdeveloped and her final decision was not too convincing, but now I’m just nitpicking. BTW, this book seems to be book club favourite across the globe!
3. When I Found You by Catherine Ryan Hyde
This one’s a concise book- I finished it in a day. It’s a heart-warming story about a hunter who finds an infant in the woods. They are soon parted but circumstances bring them back together more than a decade later. What evolves from there is a story of love, endurance and waht it takes to be family- however small it may be. There are limited characters in the book with couple of them nearly flawless (some people may think they are too goody-two-shoes-t0-be-true). The story seems real, though it can be frustrating to understand what drives the protagonist (Nathan Bates) to change himself over a period of time. Is it just the power of unconditional love (Nathan Bates doesn’t seem interested) or has he seriously willed himself to change (why, when and how)? It’s a simple plot with a simple narrative, though poignant at times.