The Four Winds is heavy. To say that this novel will move you is vastly underselling the depth of Elsa Martinelli’s story, as author Kristin Hannah sweeps you through 15 years in Elsa’s life. We’re with Elsa through a closeted life of emotional isolation, to the quiet loneliness of marriage, to the raw, gritty lengths to… Continue reading The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Tag: 5-Stars
A five-star rating means I loved the book. These are books that I’d recommend to just about anyone, especially as an introduction to a specific genre because I feel it represents the best— it’s just that good.
Believe IT by Jamie Kern Lima
Have you ever read a book so profoundly impactful that you’re not only still thinking about it after finishing— you’ve got a clear and soul-filling sense that it’s going to influence your life for years to come? Yup— that’s how I feel about Believe IT. Part memoir, part personal development advice tome, Believe IT is the story of IT Cosmetics’ founder,… Continue reading Believe IT by Jamie Kern Lima
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Fans of gothic fiction will find lots to adore in Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s eerily romantic tome, Mexican Gothic. In this story, we follow socialite Noemi as she fights to uncover the reason behind her cousin Catalina’s mysterious illness and if her cousin’s husband is to blame. Mexican Gothic starts at a deceptively leisurely pace. In the… Continue reading Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
The House in the Cerulean Sea starts off as the story of unassuming stickler-for-rules Linus Baker. Despite Linus’ reserved attitude and what seems like a paralyzing aversion to conflict (an aversion to making waves, you might say), you immediately sense there’s something more. Readers can look forward to watching his unexpected transformation hiding just around the corner. Despite… Continue reading The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
The Practice of Practice by Jonathan Harnum
At the recommendation of a fellow violin student, I picked up The Practice of Practice by musician Jonathan Harnum. Admittedly, I was initially skeptical of the rave reviews my fellow violinists gave the book, but it absolutely lived up to the hype with delightful anecdotes, eye-opening data, practical mindset tips, and widely applicable practice strategies.… Continue reading The Practice of Practice by Jonathan Harnum
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
So who else besides me read the book after the movie? Howl’s Moving Castle (the Studio Ghibli movie) is a glorious fever-dream delight. And if you enjoyed that, you must read the YA novel that inspired (at least the first 15 minutes of) the movie. In the book, Sophie shines as an even stronger heroine than she was depicted… Continue reading Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones