Early Autumn Reading

I need to begin by saying I did not make this wonderful little quiltlet to the left. I found the picture on a tutorial at Don't Call Me Betsy and thought it would be the perfect illustration for a book report post. I think it might be fun to make a little bookshelf quiltlet, but can't imagine when I'd get to it!

Autumn usually sparks an interest in reading books that are somewhat more substantial than "summer reading" or "beach books" (not that I ever sit on the beach and read). This year has not been an exception, and I'd like to share two wonderful reads.

We Are Not Ourselves by Matthew Thomas came to me as an Amazon recommendation. I read the little blurbs about it and promptly put it on the reserve list at the local library. Two or three months later, when we were getting ready for a weekend in Cape May, I was still approximately forty-first on the library list so I went out and bought it. In hardback. I've not regretted it. It's a wonderful novel about Eileen, who grows up with hopes and dreams about a better life for herself and her family. She's achievement oriented, but not in a bad way at all. She falls in love with a man who is easily satisfied, prefers the status quo, and has no grand ambitions. The story is about how they mediate what is important to each, and they honor their "in sickness and in health" vows. I loved this book and was glad I had bought it so I could share it with my sister and my husband.

The Banks of Certain Rivers by Jon Harrison came to me through Bookbub, and I read it on the Kindle. A true page turner, it is the story of Neil, a teacher and coach, whose wife  is in a persistent vegetative state as the result of a tragic accident. Neil raises their son on his own, supports his chronically ill mother-in-law, and eventually moves on to a relationship with another woman. Early in the book while out for a run, he breaks up a fight between students, and this leads to an untenable situation for this nice man. I read this book way too fast because the various plot strands were all compelling and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next.