Has anyone ever read A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving? I read this book years and years ago in early high school, and I recall loving the book. However, I couldn’t recall much else about it, other than the fact that it really moved me in some way. And now, many years later, I decided it was time to delve into this book again. (PS: Re-reading books is one of my very favorite things to do!) For the second time, A Prayer for Owen Meany did not disappoint – in fact, it kept getting better and better. What a touching, fascinating, and compelling read! If you haven’t read this book already (or if it’s been a decade since you’ve read it), please run to your bookstore or library and read this book. It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read, and you’ll find yourself falling in love with the characters and plot line, like I did.

I had heard rave reviews about The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, one of the hottest books of the year. And one of the longest books! It was a good book that I really couldn’t put down (despite its length), but I’m not so sure I loved the book. It definitely kept me hooked, and I liked the premise of the book… but it got to be a bit long-winded and so many of the characters were just pitiful. I’d encourage you to read it (if you have the time!), and I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one.

As I mentioned above, I adore re-reading books! I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve read over and over my very favorite books – but let’s just say it’s a lot. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is one of THE very best books I have ever read, and it was time to re-read it last week. Again, it affirmed just how much I love that book – every character, the twists and turns, the story, and the underlying morals/themes of this book. I would think everyone’s read this incredible book by now, but if you haven’t… then you must!

A new book I read this month was Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen. I’ve never read much about Edgar Allen Poe, besides his infamous poems, so it was fun to learn so much new information about Poe’s private life – including his wife and his mistress. I’m not sure how much of this book was factual, but it was fascinating to learn about famous authors in New York City during this time period and see why Poe wrote poems like he did. This book was a pretty easy and entertaining read – I liked it!

So, what have you been reading lately? What’s next in your queue? I need some new book recommendations for Spring Break!