It begins with Mukesh Patel, a lonely and grieving widower, whose wife loved books; Mukesh wants to connect with his granddaughter, Priya, but doesn't know how. An overdue library book of his wife's leads him to the local library where he meets Aleisha, a lonely teen working at the library for the summer who doesn't actually read much, and who has no idea what book to recommend to Mukesh.
But then she's given a list of eight books with the heading: "Just in case you need it," and she starts to read them...and recommend them to Mukesh. And these books help Mukesh connect with his granddaughter, and with Aleisha, and pushes him to socialize more; they also help Aleisha connect with her mentally ill mother, and with a boy she meets on the train. Many other lives are touched in this book because of this one reading list.
The Reading List is a captivating novel that touched my heart and kept me reading all day long. I loved the characters. And the ending totally made me cry. It's a good one...and another book that's perfect for Susan's Bookish Books Reading Challenge.
Happy Reading!
I'm glad you finally made it. I absolutely loved The Reading List, a wonderful novel not just about books but even more about the effect the have on us readers, how much they help us to come to terms with the struggles in our lives.
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned in my review, I have read all of the books except for two (although one of them has made it onto my TBR pile in the meantime) and the same goes for the extra books she recommends. Just a lot of wonderful suggestions.
Thanks for your review. I hope many of your friends will get to enjoy the book.
I've read five of the books on her reading list...and love all of them. And I loved seeing the effect these books had on all the characters in this novel. It's such a great book. :D
DeleteDefinitely. And the books she recommends are all great, as well.
DeleteSembra un ottimo libro, grazie mille per la segnalazione
ReplyDelete:D It is a really good read.
DeleteAw, I love the premise of books and reading providing comfort and healing.
ReplyDeleteI loved that, too...maybe because it's so true in real life, too.
DeleteOh, yay! I'm glad this was such a good read for you. I've had THE READING LIST on my shelf since it came out and just haven't gotten around to it yet. Sounds like I need to push it up on the list.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely worth reading! I loved how all the different characters came together through books. :D
DeleteThis sounds like a lovely read. The way books can help connect people is amazing.
ReplyDeleteIt really is. It's one of the reasons I love blogging about books...the way it connects me with other like-minded readers. :D
DeleteGreat review, Lark!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cindy. It's a really good book.
DeleteThis sounds great. Books really can pull people together, I've met some great people because of books.
ReplyDeleteI've met some great people because of books, too! :D
DeleteThis sounds wonderful. I love books that celebrate the power of books to change lives.
ReplyDeleteHave you read Days at the Morisaki Bookshop? I just finished it recently and it's one of those books also.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is on my list of bookish books that I really want to read this year! :D Did you like it?
DeleteI did really like it. It's short too- perfect for an evening or two.
DeletePerfect. I'm into short reads at the moment. :D
DeleteThis sounds so good! Heartwarming and inspiring, and of course the bookish theme. :)
ReplyDeleteThe book part of it was so fun. But I really fell in love with the characters.
DeleteIt's always satisfying to read story of how books influenced/changed people's lives. I've just read The Lonely Hearts Book Club, which has similar premise, and loved it!
ReplyDeleteNow I need to check this out, hopefully it's available on Scribd! :)
The Lonely Hearts Book Club is such a good book! One of my favorites that I've read this year. :D
DeleteI love books about books and the characters in this story sounds really well developed.
ReplyDeleteThey are very well developed. I got attached to all of them.
DeleteI read this one back in 2021 and gave it five of five stars, a rarity for me. I'm glad you enjoyed it, too.
ReplyDeleteI remember reading your review of this book! Your high rating of it totally made me want to check it out. It just took me two years to finally do it. ;D
DeleteI really liked this one a lot, too. It was both touching and inspirational, one of the better "library/bookstore" books I've read in quite a while.
ReplyDeleteYour review, and the fact that you ended up liking this book so much, was definitely one of the reasons I wanted to read this one, too. :D
DeleteAnother one of my Best Reads! This is such a good book! :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is a really good book. I loved it! :D
DeleteA girl working in a library who doesn't read much? That's a new one! I like the sound of a reading list that brings people together. This sounds wonderful and I need another for my Bookish Challenge too. :)
ReplyDeleteI think you would really like this one. The characters are lovely, and I loved how they connected through books.
DeleteThis sounds like a book I would absolutely love. I love books involving grandparent/grandchild relationships and how wonderful to have that connection through books.
ReplyDeleteAnd Mukesh is such an endearing character! You will love him. :D
DeleteNow I'm curious to know the 8 books on the list. I'll have to read it to find out ... thanks
ReplyDeleteI have them in my link ^^, if you can't wait.
DeleteLet's see if I can remember them all: To Kill a Mockingbird, Life of Pi, Beloved, Rebecca, The Kite Runner, Little Women, Pride and Prejudice, and one other that I can't think of right now. You'll have to check out Marianne's review! ;D
DeleteThat would be A Suitable Boy, a really brilliant book.
DeleteThank you! I totally couldn't remember it. Maybe because I have never read that one.
DeleteI can heartily recommend it. It's a tome but a beautiful one.
DeleteOK, I will have to read this one. I will look for it at the book sale in September. If I don't find it then, I will get a copy somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed you spot a copy of this one at the book sale! It's worth reading.
DeleteThis sounds like it would appeal to all readers! I've had this on my wishlist for a while and really glad to hear you enjoyed it so much.
ReplyDeleteIt was so good. It made me cry, and smile, and kept me reading all day long. :D
Delete