1. "Death in the City of Light" by David King
There are so many reasons why I love this book. Most namely being its roots in history and the captivating writing style. "Death in the City of Light" follows the investigations of detective Georges-Victor Massu, who sifts through Nazi-occupied Paris to find a serial killer terrorizing civilians. The story is reimagined though a new lens yet the bones find their structure in fact. This gripping true crime book is a must read for sure.
2. "Heretics and Heroes" by Thomas Cahill
This historical retelling is such an interesting read and one that I would recommend adding to your reading list. Again, I love reading books with historical context so this examination of Renaissance artisans and reformation priests was brilliant. The author delves into artwork and their themes as they reflect on Renaissance culture and values alongside radical clergy with revolutionary ideas about religion. Cahill brings Renaissance vibrancy to life through its art and portrayal of the church and its position in ‘civilized’ life during the post-dark ages.
3. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky
No matter how many times I’ve read this novel, I still leave reimagining the story. Chbosky uses letters to tell a story about an awkward teen Charlie, who’s moving into high school. We see his failures, his unusual perspective on life, and we see him blossom. This book will always be my go to on a rainy day because the easy read will always leave me with a bittersweet ending that I find myself needing to start from the beginning again.
4. "Chinese Cinderella" by Adeline Yen Ma
This autobiographical novel follows the true story of Adeline the fifth born daughter in a Chinese family. Her mother died a few weeks after Adeline’s birth, making her bad luck and treated terribly by her family. When her father remarried, her stepmother had no love for the five children, least especially Adeline. This story is amazing for a few reasons, the writing style and voice is unbelievably strong, Adeline’s childhood will leave you in disbelief and heart broken, but the ending will leave you with a wonderful feeling of justice.
5. "Hood" by Stephen R Lawhead
The last book on my re-reading list is "Hood" because this novel is one of my favorites based on storyline, voice, character development and wonderfully nuanced lore. Lawhead riffs on the classic Robin Hood tale but instead places the hero in medieval Wales, where his name is fitting, Rhi Bran y Hud, which in Welsh means Bran of the Hood. This well crafted novel will once again be in hand as I make my way through my re-reading list of 2017!
