Five Friday Favorites from Brittany P.

 

Every Friday we are going to highlight one of our book club members, their 5 favorite books, and why these meant something to them. This will allow you to get to know us, what we've read, and what stuck with us. And if you're lucky, It just may give you some recommendations to look into and check out... 

Our fourth member's Five Favorites is from Brittany P. 

How does one who run a book club, pick her top favorite books? I can assure you outside of the first two, it was incredibly challenging. But each one of these books as stuck with me in so many ways. Be it a love story, I could never shake…A thriller, I couldn’t put down….Life lessons, I can’t get enough of…or a story told by a dog, these books are my books. They are my top five favorites. 

1. Tuesday’s with Morrie, Mitch Albom: It chronicles a man named Morrie Schwartz in the last days of his life, and while it is about the acceptance and inevitability of death and grief, it is almost more about living and getting the most out of life. I reread this at different points in my life (it’s one of the few books in my library that I revisit). I feel like something new always resonates with me, be it that I was coming out of a breakup, navigating living on my own, graduating high school/college. There is always the right life lesson to take away. That book is well loved and valued beyond measure for me and I was lucky enough to meet Mitch and get him to sign it.
   
2. The Art of Racing in the Rain, Garth Stein: How can you possibly not love a book told from the perspective of a dog? Anyone that know’s me for instance know’s how much I love my Annabelle. Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through. The book is heart wrenching, funny and moving. I highly recommend it. And the movie is pretty fantastic too. 
3. Message in a Bottle, Nicholas Sparks: What can I say, I’ve read every book that Nicholas has written…and honestly I always will. However this particular story is one that really stuck with me. It’s emotionally intense, and captivating. Thrown to the waves, and to fate, the bottle could have ended up anywhere. Instead, it is found just three weeks after it begins its journey. Theresa Osborne, divorced and the mother of a twelve-year-old son, discovers it during a seaside vacation from her job as a Boston newspaper columnist. Inside is a letter that opens with, “My Dearest Catherine, I miss you my darling, as I always do, but today is particularly hard because the ocean has been singing to me, and the song is that of our life together…” For Garrett, the message is the only way he knows to express his undying love for a woman he has lost. For Theresa, wary of romance since her husband shattered her trust, the message raises questions that intrigue her. What happens next, you’ll have to read for yourself. But I can assure you, it’s well worth it. 
4. My Lovely Wife, Samantha Downing: I literally could not put this book down. It was my first introduction to Samantha as an author, and I have to say you’ll have to also read the book He Started It (if you haven’t). It is outstanding, smart, and an entertaining debut thriller that keeps you on your toes and makes you cry when you take a look at your nails because you bit them all during your read! Welcome to your crazy train ride ! Your destination is a suburban town, meet with this lovely family, party of four. A lovely real estate agent wife, a tennis instructor husband and their smart and beautiful kids. Nope, nothing as it seems…read for yourself to see just where this wild ride takes you. 
5. P.S. I Love You, Cecelia Ahern: Grab your tissues ladies if you haven’t read this book. It centers on a woman, Holly, who is stricken with grief following the death of her husband, Gerry. However, because he was diagnosed with an illness prior to passing, Gerry prepared for his wife’s grief and wrote her a series of letters that are sent to her after he dies—one a year, all ending with “P.S., I love you.” Gerry’s letters to Holly are meant to help her to move on in a healthy way after his death. I must say, who doesn’t want to find a love like this? And it’s also a movie I suggest you check as well. (BEST PART - - - Gerrard Butler plays Gerry, hello man crush Monday/or every day!!) *Swoons* 

Posted by book lover: Brittany P.