THE ROAD, by Cormac McCarthy, recommended by book lover, Fauntel Deshayes

Author / Writer / Book Lover - which are you?

FD ~ Book lover, although I have always enjoyed writing, too.

Fiction title and year published

The Road published in 2006

Author name

Cormac McCarthy

Type of book 

Post-apocalyptic drama

What is it about this book that pulled you in?

FD ~ This book reads so beautifully.  It is truly a masterful piece of art.  The words are written lyrically.  Within the first paragraph there are lines such as, "Like pilgrims in a fable swallowed up and lost among the inward parts of some granitic beast".  As soon as you begin you know that there is a powerful story waiting to be told.

Is there a relationship in the story that resonated with you?

FD ~ This story resonated with me deeply as it is ultimately a love story, but not in the traditional sense of romantic love.  It is a love story of a man and his child. The man’s sole purpose is to care for his child and maintain his innocence; protecting him at all costs from the harsh realities that the world has become.  Throughout the book the father teaches the child how to survive, and allows the child to feel and maintain hope about the future even though you know the father does not share the same hope.  The way the father gently teaches the child each valuable lesson reminded me of my own dad.  Particularly, his patience and the way he cared for his son and allowed him the freedom to express his emotions while comforting him.

Do you think that relationship was portrayed realistically?

FD ~ Absolutely.  It is the most beautiful part of the book.  Each and every action that takes place is for the greater purpose of the man pressing forward in the face of adversity for his son.  The son adores and cherishes his father.  It is very powerful. 

Anything else you want to tell us about the book without giving away too much of the plot?

FD ~ The audio version of this book was excellent.  I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and this was by far the best one I have ever listened to.  However, the physical version offers a lot as well since it is lyrically written which you do not capture in the same sense while listening to an audiobook.  This is not a light read.  There is starvation as all wildlife is extinct, there is cannibalism, there is violence, but the underlying relationship between the two main characters is what carries the story through. 

Attention readers ~ Have YOU read this book, or did you see the movie?  If so, tell us what YOU thought of it!

***To leave a comment - Click the red 'comment' word below photo of book.

JHA ~ Thanks so much, Fauntel, for taking the time to recommend one of your favorite reads, one I read years ago that I know has invoked many interesting discussions!

To follow this weekly book blog, just click the "Follow by email" link on the right side of this page, or sign up on my website through blogger or google plus.  

Interested in being a contributor? Contact me via email at jilla27@gmail.com. You will also find the list of upcoming contributors under the Fridayfictionfriend tab.  I'd love to hear from you if you have a great book to recommend.

OUTLANDER, by author, DIANA GABALDON, recommended by writer, Kerry Ann Morgan

Author / Writer / Book Lover - which are you?      

KAM ~ Book lover since birth (or pretty close to it), writer since high school, and author since Spring 2014 when my non-fiction piece was included in the book THREE MINUS ONE. Someday women's fiction author.

Title and year published     OUTLANDER, 1991

Author       Diana Gabaldon

Type of book   

   

KAM ~ That's tricky. How about historical fiction/romance/adventure/fantasy?  It did win the RITA for Best Romance of  1991, but at 650+ pages, it's FAR from your typical category romance. (Some bodices may have been ripped though.)

What is it about this book that pulled you in?  

KAM ~ The book has been out forever, but for some reason, I only picked it up this September.  I was instantly hooked by this swashbuckling adventure of a kilted hero and a spirited heroine who defy time to be together. When English nurse Claire touches a strange cleft stone on a Scottish hilltop she's swept through time into the dangerous world of 1743. Just as she's about to be captured by an evil English captain, she's (literally) swept away by Scotts warrior Jamie Fraser. The epic is the perfect blend of  history and intrigue—and then there's that fiery love story. Despite the long page count, there's no purple prose; instead the story is infused with vivid characters, wry wit, and a plot that races at a breakneck speed. Who could ask for more?

Is there a relationship in the story that resonated with you?

KAM ~ I was totally team Claire and Jamie. Though Claire is actually married back in her real time, I never connected with her husband. Jamie is far more her match, and both characters possess a ruggedness, intelligence, and sense of humor that make them a perfect match, even when sparks fly. I just had to keep reading to find out when those sparks would ignite.

Do you think that relationship was portrayed realistically?

KAM ~ Women across the globe have fallen in love with Jamie, so it's no surprise Claire succumbs to his wild Scottish ways. She's a pretty tough cookie herself—a WWII combat nurse and far more liberated than the typical 1940's woman. She doesn't have a problem standing up for herself or speaking her mind, even when amongst a pack of wild warriors. Jamie is practically the prototype for the alpha male, but he has some rather brutish behaviors that today's women would find...unacceptable. Claire's reactions as a 20^th century woman occasionally gave me pause, but then I remembered not only where she was, but when, and how she put him properly in his place.

Anything else you want to tell us about the book without giving away too much of the plot?

I'd read amazing things about this book and the entire series for years, but I was scared off by the “romance” and “fantasy” categorization. I was not a big reader of either genre. The amount of fantasy is ridiculously nominal and the story is set enough in reality that I wouldn't even consider it fantasy or sci-fy. And the romance is, well, swoon-worthy. There are some “uncomfortable” topics included that I thought were taboo in a romance, so once again this novel defies genre norms. Don't let the length scare you away either. The story so completely seduced me that I finished the book in a few nights, preferring to linger in 18^th century Scotland than to drift into my own dreamworld.  I haven't watched the new TV series yet, but I'll be getting my highlander on as I watch the adaptation.  Oh, and if you do read it, it's okay to cheat a little and google the correct pronunciation of “Sassenach.” You'll be glad you did.

If author or writer, your social media links:    

Website:		http://kerryannmorgan.com
Twitter:	@vinobaby1
Facebook:			https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vinobabys-Voice/161003207282858

JHA ~ Thanks so much, Kerry Ann, for recommending this mega-hit book. I've heard so much about it, and the very popular TV series! I am probably one of the few who hasn't been watching it, but I will definitely be reading this book!

Attention readers ~ Have YOU read this book?  If so, tell us what YOU thought of it!

Interested in being a contributor? Contact me at jilla27@gmail.com. 

You will also find the list of upcoming contributors under the Fridayfictionfriend tab.  I'd love to hear from you if you have a great book to recommend.

To follow our weekly book recommendations by guests, just click the "Follow by email" link on the right side of this page, or sign up on my website through blogger or google plus.  

WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER'S "CORK O'CONNOR" SERIES, recommended by Don Anderson

Author / Writer / Book Lover - which are you?

DA ~ Book Reader

Title of book & year published     Cork O’Connor Series

Author name          William Kent Krueger

Type of book          Mystery

What is it about this book that pulled you in?

DA ~ I was given the book “Lake of the Woods” to read while on vacation a year and a half ago. I couldn’t put it down. The story was gripping, and it took place in an area of the state I am very familiar with. I had stayed at the resort referred to in the book, as well as fishing around the countless islands of the lake.

Once the story led to Henry Meloux, I was hooked. Henry is a very old Native American of the Anishinabeg people, otherwise known as Ojibway. He is a Mide, sometimes referred to a medicine man, or healer. His real age is unknown. In the earlier books, he is described to be at least in his eighties. As the series goes on, he’s probably in his 90’s, maybe pushing 100. Most readers might agree that he is the heart and soul of the series.

Is there a relationship in the story that resonated with you?

DA ~ Cork has many intertwined relationships, including his wife, children, parents, inlaws, friends and co-workers.

The books in the series all contain many sub-plots, occurring at the same time between different characters in the stories.  Many of these relationships continue throughout the series.  I believe this is why I couldn't wait to get to the next one.....to discover what happens between the many characters.

The most compelling of these has to be between Cork and Henry Meloux.  Each story reveals more of what has happened between them and to them in the past.  Their time together has been a mix of fun, humor, adventure, spirituality, tragedy, pain and loss.  Many times, each of them has risked his life for the other.  Only with the help of Henry's uncanny intuition is Cork able to understand how to proceed in his investigation of each mystery.  The families of these two men are also dragged into sometimes tragic events as a result of Cork”s investigations.

Do you think that relationship was portrayed realistically?

DA ~ Personalities possessed by these two characters would be few and far between.  I doubt that one could find many relationships such as theirs in real life, but just the possibility is what I find most interesting. 

Anything else you want to tell us about the book without giving away too much of the plot?

DA ~ Each story begins with a tragic event that happens in or around Cork's home town of Aurora, Minnesota.  Cork becomes involved either through personal relationships, or through his job of County Sheriff, or later, as a private investigator.  The events include murder, kidnapping, gang activity and sexual exploitation.  Cork, his friends and family are often affected by these events, sometimes in tragic ways.                                                                                                                                                      

The process of solving the mystery involves many people, often including his family, and always with the aid of Henry Meloux.   

Indicated by some of the titles, the stories take place in and around Minnesota.  Many Minnesotans will be familiar with the towns, streets and businesses mentioned in the stories.

I devoured all the books in the series in a few short months.  For fans of well-written mystery, I heartily recommend all of Mr. Krueger's books!

JHA ~ Thanks so much, Don (my wonderful husband!), for recommending this amazing author! (I had the pleasure of meeting William Kent Krueger recently ~ photo below.)

Interested in being a contributor for this blog? Contact me via email link on my website home page (www.JillHannahAnderson.com) at jilla27@gmail.com. 

You will also find the list of upcoming contributors under the Fridayfictionfriend tab.  I'd love to hear from you if you have a great book to recommend.

THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY, by author, Gabrielle Zevin, recommended by author, Wendy Paine Miller

Author / Writer / Book Lover - which are you?

WPM ~ All of the above. THE DISAPPEARING KEY & THE FLOWER GIRLS are two of my novels. THE DELICATE NATURE OF LOVE releases next week! 
(Congrats to Wendy on her newest book release this next week!)

Title of Fiction book and year it was published

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry (2014)

Author name    Gabrielle Zevin

Type of book    Literary, Contemporary Fiction

What is it about this book that pulled you in?

WPM ~ The characterization, and that it takes place on an island and mostly in a bookstore.

Is there a relationship in the story that resonated with you? 

WPM ~ I appreciated watching A.J.’s relationship evolve with the community.

I also adored reading what happened with A.J. and the baby. That’s all I’ll share about that so as not to give anything away. But that relationship changed him, it pulled him out of his grief and it was entirely engaging to witness.

Do you think that relationship was portrayed realistically?

WPM ~ Yes. Zevin accomplished what all the best writers are able to. She sloughed off the unnecessary and trivial in order to reveal deeper, layered relationships that have that magical way of floating off the page and sinking inside the reader, inciting reflection. She imbued humor with great tragedy. No sugarcoating. No wrapping it up with a bow. Purely realistic and raw in its beauty.

Anything else you want to tell us about the book without giving away too much of the plot?

WPM ~ I love how important book clubs became in the community and in the bookstore. For years I’ve been an avid book club fan. One of my favorite parts of being an author is that now I have an excuse to visit many dynamic groups, local and via Skype.

Also, I rarely cry while reading books. I cried hard at the end of this book. It was beautiful. The cry and the book.

If author or writer, your social media links:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Writer-Wendy-Paine-Miller/232985413400039?ref=bookmarks

https://twitter.com/wendypmiller

https://www.pinterest.com/wendypmiller/

http://thoughtsthatmove.blogspot.com/

JHA ~ Thanks so much, Wendy, for recommending this best-seller!  Another TBR book on my ever-growing stack of books!

Interested in being a contributor for this blog? Contact me via email link on my website home page (www.JillHannahAnderson.com) at jilla27@gmail.com. 

You will also find the list of upcoming contributors under the Fridayfictionfriend tab.  I'd love to hear from you if you have a great book to recommend.