Wow, April was a busy month! I knew I was struggling through the month, but I can tell how busy I really am during a given time by how many books I read.
I read only six books in April. Of those, I gave one non-fiction and one fiction book perfect scores.
The Sun Does Shine
It’s better to be white, wealthy and guilty than it is to be black, poor and innocent.
Anthony Ray Hinton was poor, black and without appropriate legal representation when he was convicted of two murders he didn’t commit. For the next three decades he was trapped in solitary confinement on death row, watching as fellow prisoners were taken past him to the execution room.
Eventually his case was taken up by lawyer Bryan Stevenson, who managed to have him exonerated, though it took 15 years. During those 15 years, Hinton started a death row book club and helped the men there see that someone cared about them.
Hinton didn’t give up hope and gave it to others too. He tells his powerful story of faith and strength in this book.
The Good Daughter
It’s a normal evening at the Quinn house until two armed men appear in the family’s kitchen on a mission against the father, a controversial local defense attorney. They murdered the mother and forced the two girls into the woods. Charlie ran. Samantha was shot and buried alive. Both were changed forever.
The next time Samantha got the chance, she ran. She’s nursing her disabilities and wounds while living a wealthy, successful life, despite her past.
The next time Charlie got a chance to run, she stayed. She still lives in Pikeville and is a lawyer sharing an office with her father.
Now, 28 years later, tragedy strikes the town again, bringing the sisters back together to deal with the present while coping with the past.
The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter was truly difficult to read at times, but I also just couldn’t put it down.
There they are, my favorite books of April! I hope you find something on the list to read and love.
As always, happy reading!
