The Quirky Bookworm

I can’t believe we’re almost in May! I know so many of you are busy with end of the year school events and preparing for summer activities like me. I wish all of my readers safe travels over the coming summer! Happy reading!

Title: The Four Winds
Author: Kristin Hannah
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Date: February 2021
Page Length: 464

The Four Winds is excellent for historical fiction, as I believe Kristin Hannah provides a realistic portrayal of what life was like for many people during The Great Depression, specifically for the states of Texas and California. The plotline for Elsa Wolcott’s character is very heavy, and not just in regard to the fact that she lived during a difficult period of time. It took me several attempts to become absorbed into the novel. I wasn’t sure if I would ever be able to finish reading. I’m appreciative of what I was able to learn about The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. It prompted me to do further reading. The Four Winds is a Today Show Book Club Pick, Amazon’s Editor Choice and Goodreads Choice Award for Historical Fiction. For additional information about the novel and author, visit https://kristinhannah.com/.

Additional Readings:
Library of Congress: The Dust Bowl
https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/great-depression-and-world-war-ii-1929-1945/dust-bowl/
Texas Highways: Texas Grit: How the Dust Bowl Changed the Course of History in the Texas Panhandle
https://texashighways.com/culture/history/texas-grit-panhandle-plains-dust-bowl-heritage/
America’s Great Migrations Project: Dust Bowl Migration to California
https://depts.washington.edu/moving1/dustbowl_migration.shtml
Katie Couric Media: Author Kristin Hannah on Her New Bestseller and What She’s Reading This Spring
https://katiecouric.com/entertainment/kristin-hannah-four-winds-book/
Read with Jenna: Kristin Hannah discusses The Four Winds
https://www.today.com/video/read-with-jenna-kristin-hannah-discusses-the-four-winds-101520453606

Title: The Santa Suit
Author: Mary Kay Andrews
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: September 2021
Pages: 224

The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews is one of my favorites for holiday reading, and even for summer if you prefer. It’s a delightful, uplifting story set in small-town North Carolina. Ivy Perkins is recently divorced and needs a new place to call home. She purchases a farm that needs a lot of TLC. She finds a Santa suit left in a closet by the previous owner. A note is attached written by a child requesting that her dad return home from war. Ivy is determined to find the author of the note to see if the child’s wish for Santa was fulfilled. The Santa Suit is perfect for fans of Nancy Thayer and Elin Hildebrand. For additional information about the novel and author, visit https://marykayandrews.com/books/the-santa-suit/.

Title: The Fifth Letter
Author: Nicola Moriarty
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: January 2017
Page Length: 320

I found the novel, The Fifth Letter, at a public library near my home. I didn’t know that the famed writer, Liane Moriarty, had a sister that wrote novels of her own. She’s definitely talented in her own right. I really enjoyed The Fifth Letter. Four girlfriends decide to take a vacation and one evening after too many drinks, each woman decides to type anonymous letters revealing long held secrets. A fifth letter was found by Jodi in the fireplace revealing the most shocking secret of all. The Fifth Letter is a perfect beach read, and of course, for fans of Liane Moriarty. The Fifth Letter is being optioned for film and TV. For additional information about the novel and author, visit https://nicolamoriarty.com.au/.

Title: Saints for All Occasions
Author: J. Courtney Sullivan
Publisher: Knopf
Publication Date: May 2017
Pages: 335

I loved Saints for All Occasions, and I can honestly say that J. Courtney Sullivan became one of my favorite writers after reading this novel. She writes so well about family life in a way that resonates with the reader. Two sisters, Nora and Theresa Flynn, journey from Ireland to the United States to start a new life. When Theresa becomes pregnant as a single woman, Nora is forced to make a choice that will change their bond forever. Saints for all Occasions is a Washington Post’s Top Ten Book of the Year. An interview with Sullivan hosted by Entertainment Weekly can be found at https://ew.com/books/2017/01/31/j-courtney-sullivan-saints-all-occasions/. Additional information about the novel and author is available at https://www.jcourtneysullivan.com/saints-for-all-occasions.

Title: Maine
Author: J. Courtney Sullivan
Publisher: Knopf
Publication Date: June 2011
Pages: 388

I read Maine after reading Saints for All Occasions. I loved Maine just as much for its family saga. Three generations of women are forced to reckon with long held secrets at their family’s summer retreat. Maine is a Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Fiction and a Time Magazine Book of the Year. For additional information about the novel and author, visit https://www.jcourtneysullivan.com/maine.