What I’ve Been Reading 6

It’s time for another round of What I’ve Been Reading! I love doing these book reviews for you and I love to hear what you’ve been reading too! Today I’m tackling a blogger’s memoir about fighting obesity, a classic Southern gothic novel, and a fun murder mystery with heart. 

 

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty 

I loved this book.

I was a bit worried, because it started slightly slow. But as you get wrapped up in reading in an Australian accent, picturing the seaside town it is set in, and storing little tid bits of information about each character, you get sucked into the story. I love that you truly get to know multiple characters in the story, because the author switches point of view SO well (to see a terrible example of switching POV, read this* __ INSERT REVIEW FROM DIVERGENT). You get to know three ladies and their families, all whom have different lifestyles, yet all send their children to the same school.

At the begging of the novel, you know that one character is dead. Throughout the story, there are little asides, bringing you back to present and hearing chatter about the death that happened at a school charity function. Then, the story is basically the past events in each of the families lives leading up to that night.

Each of the characters has her major flaws, yet they are so endearing and you are on all of their sides. You have a feeling you know what happened, but while learning their backgrounds, you just aren’t quite sure who died until you get closer to the event…then, you just want to know HOW it happened and WHAT set it all off.

This is truly a light read, no scary murder/stalking scenarios to keep you up at night, and endearing, meaningful characters. You’ll love it. I can’t wait to read her other books!

 

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt 

Oh this book.

Ok, so this is a classic (as in, referred to often, not necessarily because it’s old…) gothic Southern novel, set in Savannah.

The narrator is a visitor to the area that decides to live there part-time due to the charm of Savannah. He makes his way around the area, introducing you to some crazy characters that make the town exactly what it is (a drag queen, a witch doctor, lots of snobby wealthy people with lots of secrets, bar owners, and a slightly genius yet on-the-edge-of psychotic mastermind who could kill them all if he wanted to). He gets caught up in a murder mystery while he’s there, though.

Jim Williams, a wealthy antiques dealer, is accused of murder because he shot the young man who works for him. As details about their relationship and the events leading up to the shooting unfold, we have to decide our feelings on the whole thing. Do we think he murdered him on purpose? Do we think it was self-defense?

Ok, I liked the premise of this story. I liked the setting and it made me really want to travel farther south. And I loved the non-bias in which the narrator gets to know each character that lives there. He truly gives you a chance to make up your own mind, and he never scoffs at people, no matter how ridiculous they may be.

BUT. I didn’t like how it dragged on. I didn’t like, after the trials were started, it was endless. I seriously could’ve skimmed. I wish that was all edited down.

It’s a toss up. I know they made a movie and I might want to see that. It has Kevin Spacey in it, who happens to be the man I was imagining while reading the character (because his drawling House of Cards character was stuck in my head). So I need to check that out.

 

It Was Me All Along by Andie Mitchell 

I’ll start by saying, you have to read this book.

As someone who struggled with her weight and went through a lot of the mental issues associated with it, this book hit my heart HARD.

But it’s not just about that. Andie’s tortured relationship with her alcoholic father, the relationships she experiences with boyfriends, and the many drastic turns her life makes are just riveting. You’ll feel so akin to her and she’s just so relatable.

Andrea grew up morbidly obese, watched over in the loosest sense of the term by her alcoholic father while her mother worked 3 or more jobs to support their family. After her father’s emotional death, Andie is plagued with binge eating to mask her feelings. After hitting a weight that she could hardly fathom, she truly decided to make a change.

This book is amazing. It is inspiring, it’s heart-felt, it’s funny and real. I loved it and will probably read it again (which I never do!).

 

Currently Reading: The Husband’s Secret. 

I’ll let you know how it goes! No spoilers please. 

What are you reading right now?

Note: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links are affiliate links with Amazon but I purchased all of these books with my own pennies from various stores.