The books I read are a mix of trashy “holiday reading”, and books on meditation, popular science and psychology.
At the moment the “holiday reading” is winning, as it is light and easy and relaxing. My guilty pleasure. Just what I need at the moment.
The last book that I read was Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty.
I love everything Liane has written.
I love her gentle humour. She is an Australian author and all her books are so realistic. They accurately reflect the kind of people I know, and the culture I live in.
Her last two books, this and The Husband’s Secret, have taken a darker turn. They are still really enjoyable reads, but the dilemmas posed are more interesting. For the last two of her books I have found myself reading late into the night. I think I was up to 1am or 2am with the last one. (I’ve got to remember to start her books in the morning so I get more sleep next time!)
What I like about Liane’s books is that she writes well, the plotting is unpredictable but believable (apart from The Hypnotist’s Love Story). I have enjoyed reading every one (even THLS).
Prior to Big Little Lies I read The Third Wife by Lisa Jewell. Another seemingly dark novel that I found enjoyable to read.
While there are elements of this story that are a tad unbelievable, she writes so well that it is easy to gloss over those points. This book is a combination of fantasy homes and lifestyles, mixed with themes of divorce and step families.
I think it is a sign of a great writer that even though the plot sounds terrible, it was somehow an enjoyable read. I really liked the children characters in the story. I liked the way the book moved between the different point of views.
The ending is unpredictable, which is both good and bad. Part of the resolution was very satisfying and believable, while another part was just plain wish fulfillment, no way jose, never going to happen nuts.
I thought about the themes of this book long after I finished reading it. I am glad that she tackled the subject of divorce, and I think she represented how it impacts a family really well.
As a child of divorced parents, the dilemma of ‘their happiness over mine’ has always been something I have pondered. I appreciate the way these ideas are explored in this novel, but at the same time it is fun to read. Quite an achievement!