A friend recently asked for a few book recommendations to pull him out of a reading rut. That’s almost an impossible question for me, and a “few” became 11 novels. So here are a few of my favourite reads, in no particular order.
Needful Things by Stephen King
Leland Gaunt saunters into Castle Rock and opens Needful Things, a store where anyone can buy the object of their greatest and deepest desires. In exchange for these objects, Leland asks not for money but for the buyer to play an innocent prank on their fellow townsperson. Soon, the town descends into chaos and destruction.
This is one of my favourite novels of ALL time.
Every Note Played by Lisa Genova
Richard’s life as a concert pianist comes to an end after a devastating ALS diagnosis. His wife, Karina, and their daughter stay by his side to take care of him, despite his neglect of his family before his diagnosis.
I started reading this book at Okinawa airport while waiting for a delayed flight to Kagoshima and finished just before we landed. Genova, who has a PhD in Neuroscience from Harvard University, managed to weave science into her work without losing the emotional connection to the reader. It is an excellent read.
Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes
Tara, Katherine, and Fintan are best friends trying to figure out life in their thirties. They navigate bad romances, family drama, and health challenges the only way they know how…together.
I loved Tara, Katherine, and Fintan and rooted for them from start to finish. I laughed, I laughed out loud, and I laughed some more. If you’ve never read Marian Keyes, this is a good place to start.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Amy Dunne goes missing on her fifth wedding anniversary, and her husband, Nick, is the prime suspect.
Do yourself a favour and read Gone Girl if you haven’t. This book is so good that the wildly successful and critically acclaimed film adaptation still does not do it justice. An absolute masterpiece. Many books published since have been touted as the next Gone Girl. It’s lies, all lies! There is only one, and nothing has yet come close.
An Untamed State by Roxane Gay
When Mireille is kidnapped by a gang of heavily armed men in front of her father’s estate in Haiti, her wealthy father must pay the ransom to secure her release.
I always hesitate to recommend this book because of the heavy subject matter, but Roxane Gay is simply superb. Check out some reviews, decide if you can handle it, and then dive right in.
The Client by John Grisham
A suicidal lawyer’s last words to eleven-year-old Mark Sway are the location of the body of a Senator murdered by the mob. Mark finds an ally in Reggie Love, a lawyer who will do whatever she can to help her client.
This is one of the first books I can remember reading as a teenager to the exclusion of everything and everyone around me, simply because I could not put it down.
The 13th Juror by John Lescroart
Jennifer Witt is on trial for murder. The victims? Her first husband, her second husband, and her eight-year-old son. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Jennifer maintains her innocence. Lawyer and criminal investigator Dismas Hardy must find the truth before it’s too late.
This is one of those books I can enjoy no matter how many times I read it.
Every Day by David Levithan
‘A’ wakes up in a different body every day. But one day, ‘A’ wakes up in Justin’s body, and falls in love with his girlfriend, Rhiannon. For the first time, ‘A’ has someone they want to be with, every day.
I’ve recommended this one to several people, and they all loved it.
Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult
Running from a seemingly dark and mysterious past, Jack tries to build a new life in Salem Falls.
I’ve read several of Jodi Picoult’s novels, but this is the one that infuriates me the most. It’s a long read with twists and turns from cover to cover.
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah is brilliant. And that’s all I have to say about that.
The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson
Ted Severson and Lily Kintner meet on a flight from London to Boston where they discover their mutual affinity for murder.
Listen. Just read it.
