I've read a lot of books this month, and three of them are standouts. (They also happen to be Book of the Month selections, if you are looking for an affordable option for book purchasing).
I've read some of Fiona Davis' books, but not all of them at this point. I love that each novel is a stand alone, but that she picks a building in New York City as the setting for her books. The novel moves between Charlotte in the 1930s, an archeologist who is in Egypt and has helped discover precious artifacts until her career is derailed. When Charlotte sustains a devastating loss, her life is forever changed. In 1978, Annie is the newly hired assistant to Diana Vreeland, the former editor of Vogue, who is helping Ms. Vreeland organize and plan the Met gala. When a theft occurs during the gala, Charlotte and Annie work together to find the precious artifact. This is yet another quality historical fiction novel of suspense by Davis, and I'm nowhere close to getting tired of her work.
What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange is solid women's fiction about a family that is in turmoil. This novel moves between Then and Now, slowly uncovering pieces of this story. Kyle comes back home when he learns that his dad has suffered a stroke. He's been gone for a few years, but it isn't until later that we realize how he and Casey are connected (if you read the flap you will know this going into it, but I went in entirely blind). As I realized what had caused the heartbreak for both of them, it was impossible for me to put this book down. I ended up finishing it during a car ride home, while I held my phone (with the flashlight on) up to each page. Lange's first two books are also excellent, so if you haven't read anything else by her, there are two others to enjoy.
And, More Or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova is her first novel in several years. Genova, a neuroscientist, has written previous novels on a variety of issues. This one focuses on bipolar disorder. Maddy Banks is a college student who doesn't think her behavior or feelings are out of the norm, but when an event triggers a devastating low, Maddy tries antidepressants. Suddenly she is happier than ever before - in fact, alarmingly energetic, not needing sleep, and has an extravagant spending spree that gets the attention of her family. There are some red flags in Maddy's family that she hadn't been aware of, and when on medication and feeling better, Maddy repeatedly decides she can stop taking her medicine. There's a learning curve for both her and her family as medications are adjusted and Maddy and her family learn to detect warning signs before an episode occurs. Genova's writing of this is so close to reality that it may be too hard for some people to read, but I appreciate her creating a story that will allow people with no experience dealing with mental illness the ins and outs of what it is like.
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