Fact: When I get away from the internet washing machine, I get more reading done. Generally speaking. Although, I have been known to just pass out at nine or look at on my phone before bed. Bad, Lani, bad!
Anyway, after reading a Western, I needed something different. In the past, Agatha Christie was my palate cleanser, my go-to author, or I’d gravitate towards historical fiction, but this time, I went wayyy back and grabbed a recommended read from one of you all.
I was a little worried that it might be too much like Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, but it’s very much it’s own story. I enjoyed the different character perspectives. Writers that can pull this off really have my respect and admiration.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley takes place on an island off the coast of Ireland. But it’s pretty much been deserted, so everyone who is there has been invited for a wedding. Anyway, it’s a good murder mystery that grabbed my attention and kept it. Dark and atmospheric, Foley leads you down several roads that make you wonder who’s going to get axed and who’s dunnit.
One of the criticisms of The Guest List is none of the characters were likeable, which I find amusing considering the mood Foley was setting up and the genre. Nevertheless, I wanted something lighter afterwards, so I chose How Not To Die Alone by Richard Roper.
Andrew’s job is to go into people’s homes after they’ve died and try to find a next of kin or any contact information. It’s a bleak task, and Andrew’s lies have made a mess out of his life, but Roper’s humor keeps it from being too depressing. There was the right amount of details to make the story quirky, and it definitely went in directions I didn’t expect.
If you like to look at Goodreads, or read ratings, you’ll discover that both novels really had mixed reviews. As I alluded to earlier, some of them don’t make sense to me. Were these books amazing? No, but I enjoyed them for what they were. Someone remarked that Andrew was boring — and I’d say, that was the point. He’s this ordinary guy. Of course, he’s not, but it makes me wonder if folks are less forgiving about a book than they are a movie or series. What do you think?
Lastly, I’m including a book I read to my third graders. When I was a child, Bunnicula was a popular story. It became a series and later, a cartoon. In any case, it was one of those things that suddenly popped into my mind and luckily, I found a copy.
In the beginning, I wasn’t sure if the boys would take to it, but they definitely got into the story of Harold the dog, narrating, Chester the cat, and the mysterious Bunnicula! So, if you are looking for a fun read with the kids that no one else is probably thinking of, remember vampiric rabbits!
What did you read in June?
Life, the Universe, and Lani 
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