Winter Reads
BOOK REVIEW
From November through January, Old Man Winter practically demands that I sit in front of a crackling fire with a hot drink, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket with my dog and a good story. The short days and colder weather erase all guilt about curling up with a good book. I hope this month’s book suggestions will inspire you to read more and consider blessing someone you love with the gift of a great book.. As always, all titles are available right here in Chapin, at The Coffee Shelf.
“The River”
by Peter Heller
Wynn and Jack are college buddies whose friendship is born from their mutual love of the mountains, fishing, camping, canoeing, and books. During summer break, they embark on an ambitious canoe and camping trip in the remote parts of Northern Canada.
Early in the trip, they encounter a man and woman in a heated argument, so they quietly move along, not wanting to interfere with what appears to be a marital spat. Shortly after witnessing the couple’s heated argument, Wynn and Jack realize a massive forest fire is heading in their direction. Should they go back and warn the couple? Should they mind their own business? They decide to think it over, but the next day run across the distraught man paddling in his canoe WITHOUT the woman. He seems desperate to find her. In the meantime, the fire is approaching and it’s larger and faster-moving than they feared. Wynn and Jack offer to go back and search for the woman. Will they find her? Was the man involved in her disappearance?
This wilderness survival tale is a page-turner whether or notyou participate in adventurous activities or if your idea of roughing it is staying at the Holiday Inn.
“Edisto Tidings”
by C. Hope Clark
Mystery lovers - Police Chief Callie Morgan is back! This time she’s sorting through a string of burglaries and a murder investigation that have all the markings of being committed by “Edisto Santa.” Whether you’ve read the five previous mysteries in the series or not, this one digs deeper into the quirky, cantankerous and lovable long-time residents of the island, like Janet Wainwright, retired Marine real estate broker. Janet has appeared in other books in the series, but “Edisto Tidings” features her more prominently. There are also some new characters that add intrigue to the island in more ways than one. You’ll be wondering “Whodunit?!” until the very end of this fantastic story. Unwrapping this holiday mystery would make readers on your list very happy! And as a bonus, you’ll be supporting local author C. Hope Clark who penned the Edisto Island Mystery series and the Carolina Slade Mystery series which are set in South Carolina.
“A Man Called Ove”
by Fredrik Backman
Ove is a recent widower, deeply depressed after losing the love of his life. To everyone he comes in contact with, Ove appears bitter and angry. He has no friends. A chance encounter with a neighbor changes the course of his life. This inspiring and powerful story will change the way you look at people, especially those you may have overlooked or just ignored because you’re busy. “A Man Called Ove” illustrates how sometimes small, seemingly insignificant gestures can transform a person’s life and heart. This 2012 novel by Swedish writer Fredrik Backman would make an excellent gift! (Similar titles: “The Stored Life of AJ Fikry” by Gabrielle Zevin and “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman.)
“The Warehouse”
by Rob Hart
Imagine no longer going to the store for any of your needs but instead having everything delivered overnight by Cloud, a massive, multi-billion dollar corporation that’s gobbled up all the small businesses… Fast forward into the future, and the expression “the market dictates” has become absolute truth. People don’t venture outside after the Black Friday Massacres scared shoppers to death, it’s not safe to go outside because the earth’s environment is in chaos, jobs are scarce and one of the only good options is working for Cloud.
A job at Cloud is the ultimate in security: you live and work at the facility. After being evaluated and tested, new hires are assigned to a work area and living quarters. Their every movement is documented and timed, so they will earn the coveted 5-star rating. This fiction cautionary tale is told from the perspective of three people: Gibson, Cloud founder, and CEO; Paxton, new Cloud hire and former businessman whose company was destroyed by Cloud; and Zinnia, a new hire who’s a corporate spy.
“The Warehouse” starts out slow with background details on Cloud and the main characters, but it pays off. My guess is a certain multinational technology company that delivers all sorts of goodies to your house overnight doesn’t want you to read this book. It’s creepily-absorbing and might remind you of “Fahrenheit 451” or “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
