On My Bookshelf No.9

I took the longest hiatus from this series, I think that I ever have! I was still reading quite a bit in the interim, but not nearly as much as I normally do, which is totally okay with me. On My Bookshelf is a place where I recap my reads from the last month or so, the good and the bad, and all my thoughts in-between. Reading is a happy escape for me, and I try to do it when it works for my mind and schedule. I’ve gotten back into a great groove, so instead of trying to recap everything I read between my last post and now (which I will do at some point, because there were some gems in there), I’m going to just pick up over the last couple of months. 

Float Plan by Trish Doller: 3.75 stars

(TW: Grief and suicide)

At first glance, this is a romance read, but it’s so much more than that. It’s really romance meets fiction, self-discovery, and tells a complex story of grief and mental health. It’s still a love story so to speak, but it had so much depth packed into the main character, Anna. She lost her fiance to suicide, and decides to go on a sailing excursion to soul search and grieve. Along the way, she experiences a raw range of emotions, finds herself, experiences joy, and finds love. 

The most important thing is how in the shadows of such pain, grief and sadness, Anna was able to grow and discover parts of herself she didn’t know before. If I had one critique, it would be that the love storyline post-lost did feel a little forced at times, but I thought it was really well done and gave insight to moving forward after trauma and loss. I enjoyed the writing and it’s unlike any story I’ve read.

Who is Maud Dixon by Alexandra Andrews: 5 stars

You know I love a psychological thriller – it’s my favorite genre! I’ll try my best without giving too much away, but it tells the story of Florence, an aspiring writer, who lands a job assisting a famous author, who operates anonymously under the name Maud Dixon. Florence comes to know Maud, and how complex and clandestine she truly is. Florence finds herself under Maud’s wing, for better or for worse. The two are traveling in Morocco when Florence wakes up in a hospital with no recollection of what happened, and Maud is gone. 

The story takes an incredibly intense, eerie and suspenseful turn from that point forward. I can’t really share more from here, but just trust me, if you are a thriller person, you won’t be disappointed. It’s a strong character-driven story, and at first it’s a little slow-burn, but it picks up and before you know it, you’re in deep. I love books that are carried by the characters just as much so by the plot, and this is definitely one of those books. 

Infinite Country by Patricia Engel: 4 stars

This is one of the more powerful stories I’ve read in a while. A lot of my friends had very positive and impactful things to say about its relevance and significance to topics surrounding immigration. It tells the story of a family who is separated, half in the United States and half in Colombia. Elena and Mauro are husband and wife, who end up divided, each with their children. The family wants to collectively live in the United States, and we’re given insight to what it’s like to be a family with mixed-status. It provides such a raw look into an immigration experience, how it affects each person involved, and the choices this family makes when faced with decisions that can determine their future. 

It’s definitely a poignant read that’s relevant to what so many are experiencing right now. It was a shorter book for how much was packed into it. The timeline is fragmented at times, which can feel confusing, but it’s by design and significant to how Engel structures things. I think I would suggest this book to anyone, as it tells an important story. 

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman: 4.5 stars

I am a little late to this one, but I enjoyed it so much! Since I am by definition an anxious person, I had to read this. It was nothing like what I expected it to be, it was so cool and different. Let me say this from the start, Backman can really write. Anxious People is a quirky piece of fiction, about someone who tried to rob a bank out of desperation, failed and ended up at a nearby apartment open house, where a motley group was then held hostage. The unique group of people could not be more different from one another, yet there is something in the undercurrent weaving them together. You find yourself laughing, crying, but most of all, you find yourself lending compassion and empathy to each of the characters as things progress. 

Backman’s writing is special and so dynamic, You know I also love strong character development, and I felt like I could visualize each and every person to a T, really feeling their own struggles and quirks. It’s also a Netflix Series (or will be one? I don’t think it’s been released yet), so I wanted to read the book in anticipation for it. Side note, I got a Kindle and this was my first read on it!