Have you read The Virgins of Venice yet? If not, you can enter a Rafflecopter giveaway to win a copy! All you have to do is enter and then visit my Facebook writer’s page and private message me or post something publicly. I’m proud to say that the novel has made it high up on several important Goodreads lists, including “Unforgettable,” “Best Ending,” “Original Stories… A Breath of Fresh Air,” “Books that Blew Me Away and that I Still Think About,” and “Must Reads!”
Now, on to some of my recommended novels, perfect for curling up with this fall with a warm blanket and a cup of rooibos tea (and a fuzzy pet, if possible):
The Bookbinder by Pip Williams – I loved The Dictionary of Lost Words, about the women’s words not included in the Oxford English Dictionary, and this companion novel (not a sequel but similar setting) did not disappoint. Williams is an elegiac writer, and spending time in my head in Oxford never disappoints.
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks – I’ve pretty much loved everything I’ve read by Brooks, and this novel does not disappoint. It’s structured differently than her other novels, a dual timeline except the second timeline keeps receding into history. It’s about the intersection of the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faiths (not to mention some atheists) as conservators try to save the Sarajevo Haggadah. Gorgeous.
La Brigantessa by Rosanna Micelotta Battigelli – This book was such a wonderful surprise. I knew nothing about it and went in with no expectations. Reading it blew me away. What a richly detailed and descriptive book about a time period and region I knew almost nothing about. The characters were very well drawn, the plot was fascinating, and the setting was beautiful, sad, and harsh. My main and very minor quibble is that I think the very end could have been slightly more satisfying, although it was still satisfying. If you want to immerse yourself in a different era and region of Italy, then this book is for you. I recently lent this to my old Calabrian neighbour, and she verified how realistic it was and that it was also based on a real “Robin Hood” who roamed the mountains of Calabria in the 19th century.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles – A beautiful book you could really sink into. This book took me longer to read than usual, partly because I was busy, partly because the world building and characters were so compelling I didn’t want it to end. And the narrative style was like that of an old friend telling you a story, with a fairy tale element. It made it all very enjoyable and satisfying, although it doesn’t end exactly how you think it will.
Bittersweet by Susan Cain – a rare nonfiction pick for me. It’s beautiful, thought-provoking, and explains why some people are moved to tears by sad songs, why people love flamenco or Rumi or Chagall. It makes you think about life, death, poignancy, meaning, love, and purpose. It’s partly philosophy, partly psychology, partly how-to, partly beauty. I read it at the perfect time.
Image credit: Isil, Pexels
Gina Buonaguro 