March was a month that will go down in my reading history. It was the month I gave three books perfect five-star ratings. I rarely give books perfect ratings, so it’s unusual for me to claim that three books I read in a month were that well written or life changing.
Two of my favorite books of the month are fiction and the other is non-fiction.
The first fiction book I loved this month was Saving Grace by Jane Green.
The book is about novelist Ted Chapman and his trophy wife, Grace. The couple seems to live a fairy tale life, despite Ted’s rages that no one knows about. But, when Grace hires a new assistant, she finds herself questioning her marriage, her reputation and her sanity. The question becomes how much the new assistant, Beth, has to do with Grace’s problems.
I changed my mind about Grace’s issues several times while reading this book and still was surprised by the end. That’s some strong plot development.
The second fiction book I loved this month was Lacy Eye by Jessica Treadway.
The book is about a couple, Joe and Hanna, and their daughters, Dawn and Iris.
Iris is the stereotypical beautiful, popular teen. She’s the daughter Joe and Hanna don’t have to worry about.
Dawn is plain, awkward and frequently teased at school. She’s the daughter that gives the couple constant worry.
The couple is happy when Dawn seems to be settling in at college, and they hope she’s finally found a place where she fits in. They are less-than-impressed when Dawn brings her boyfriend, Rud, home for her sister’s wedding. There is just something off about the first man in their daughter’s life, although they try not to focus the possibility that they can’t figure out why someone so handsome would be with Dawn.
After a Thanksgiving dispute among the four, Hanna and Joe are attacked in their home. Joe is killed and Hanna is beaten severely, causing a head injury and memory loss. Rud is convicted of the crime and, while Dawn initially is thought to be involved, she is not indicted by a grand jury.
When Rud is given an appeal, Dawn returns home to live with her mother, who desperately tries to remember what happened that night so she can keep Rud in jail and exonerate her daughter for good.
I read Lacy Eye in a single day. It was one of those books that I just couldn’t put down. The writing was wonderful, and the plot kept me questioning the final outcome. When I reached the end of the book, I was dealt a few new surprises, which I absolutely love. In a time when it seems like there are few new storylines, Treadway introduced one.
The non-fiction book I loved was Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content by Ann Handley.
Everybody Writes is the writing book for this decade. I will require it next semester in my mass media writing course.
The premise of Ann’s book is simple—We may not all be journalists or authors, but we’re all writers. Why? Because, from social media updates to email messages, we’re all writing essentially all day, every day.
Ann then provides writing rules on everything from basic grammar to writing headlines for marketing content.
I loved everything about this book. The chapters were short and the tips easily understood. Ann’s witty personality shines through in her writing and, for me, her journalism background and success with MarketingProfs gives her the credibility she needs to be an expert on my favorite subject—writing.
Everybody Writes is a must-read for everyone who writes… which, if you’ve been paying attention, you know is everyone.
Let’s Talk Nerdy!
What were your favorite books you read this month?
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annhandley says
profkrg thank you! Where do you teach?
profkrg says
annhandley I teach mass communications at OKCU!
annhandley says
profkrg ah awesome! Well, big thank you. Sincerely appreciate it. OKCU