AUTHOR LOIS WINSTON TALKS LITERARY PALATE CLEANSERS #AMREADING

Palate Cleansers

By Lois Winston

 

As much as I enjoy tossing dead bodies at the feet of Anastasia Pollack, my reluctant amateur sleuth, there are times when I need to step away from murder and mayhem. Because so many of my plots are inspired by real-life crimes and events, I not only write about murder and mayhem, I read about murder and mayhem—a lot! For that reason, every so often I find I need a literary palate cleanser.

 

I also do a lot of catch-up reading whenever I finish writing a book. I’m not someone who can jump right into the next project as soon as I finish one. As much as I love getting Anastasia in trouble, there are times when I need a break from her as well. I’m sure she also appreciates a break from me and all those dead bodies.

 

So, I thought I’d share some of my favorite non-mystery reads of the last few months and what I thought of them.

 

Imagine Summer by Shelley Noble

Some beach reads are pure fluff. Not Shelley Noble’s books. Although set in beach locales, this author writes thought-provoking women’s fiction. In Imagine Summer she tackles deep-seated sibling rivalries taken to extremes and shows how they impact us throughout our lives, even when we think we’ve moved on. We’ve all known an Amy, and I dare say, many of us have suffered from the experience. Noble’s skill with words and her ability to create realistic characters allows us to understand the complexities of human nature, making for a compelling read.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

I was immediately drawn into this book and couldn't stop reading. The characters are either real people or fictional versions of real people who were involved in the secret work of codebreaking at Bletchley Park in England during WWII. Parts of this book will make you cheer while other parts will make you cry and still others will make you seethe with anger, but isn't that what a good book should do?

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

A well-researched, heart-wrenching novel about the blue-skinned people of Kentucky during the 1930's with lessons that will resonate in today's world.

Noah’s Wife by T.K. Thorne

The author takes the story of Noah's Ark, mixes it with modern-day knowledge from archeological digs and scientific evidence, and spins a tale of what might really have occurred. With excellent writing and characters that are both realistic and engaging, the novel is told through the eyes of a brave young girl whose differences make her question everyone and everything. This is a story readers won't soon forget.

Do you only read a certain genre, or do you like reading across multiple genres? And what have you read lately that has stood out for you?