I’ve been trying to read one Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction every month, but I got behind in October. So this month, I finished 5 books: two Pulitzer Prize winners, a Harry Potter book (because I’m two decades behind in life and I’m just now reading through the series for the first time!), a fun book for book club, and a chick lit audiobook.
1. The Sympathizer
This took me longer to get through than I thought it would! The writing style is different than anything I’ve read (there are no quotation marks to show when someone is speaking), and for the first half of the book I was honestly kind of dreading reading it every evening. And then about half way through I got super into it and ended up enjoying it.
It won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and it’s the debut novel from a Vietnamese American author. Can we stop for a moment and imagine what it might feel like to win a Pulitzer for your first novel?
The Sympathizer is narrated by some who’s name is never given. He’s an undercover communist agent in south Vietnam in 1975, and the book follows the events following the fall of Saigon. I’ll be honest (and this is a little embarrassing): I don’t know much about the Vietnam War. Reading The Sympathizer has made me wildly aware of that. Nate just finished watching the Netflix 8 episode documentary on the Vietnam War, and I’m adding it to my list.
Find it on Amazon here.
2. Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone
Two down, five to go! I love how quick and easy these books are, and I liked the second one even better than the first!
I can totally understand how people read the Harry Potter series dozens of times. The characters are so lovable! I’m quite certain that I’ll miss them after I’ve finished all seven books.
Find it on Amazon here.
3. How To Walk Away
This is a chick-lit/rom-com audio book that I listened to throughout the month, and I reeeeaaally really enjoyed it, y’all. It’s kinda cheesy, but in all the best ways. If you’re into any of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novels (One True Loves, After I Do, Maybe in Another Life), which are light and fun and easy with just a hint of sadness, you’ll probably like this one.
Margaret is in a horrendous plane crash, and everything in her life is completely altered. I really can’t say much more without giving it all away. I will say that the audiobook version was so good! I loved the narrator’s voices. This is a super fun one if you have any holiday road trips coming up and need something to entertain you in the car!
Find it on Amazon here.
4. Crazy Rich Asians
I have a book club with a group of girlfriends, and this month we picked Crazy Rich Asians! I watched the movie (LOVED IT!) before reading the book, so I feel like I didn’t enjoy the book quite as much as I would have if I didn’t already know everything that was going to happen.
I was totally into the whole Astrid/Michael affair in the book. There’s a lot that’s left out in the movie! That being said, I’m super pumped to read books two and three in the series and see what happens…
Find it on Amazon here.
5. Less
This is the second Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner that I read this month, and it was much easier (and funnier!) to read than The Sympathizer .
Less is about Arthur Less, a soon-to-be-50-year-old gay writer who is trying to avoid going to his ex boyfriend’s wedding. He has also been invited to a handful of unimpressive literary events around this world, so he decide to say yes to every single one of them and avoid the wedding by traveling to Mexico, Paris, Berlin, Morocco, and India.
I love the satire, the sweet little moments of romance, and the bittersweet sadness. I love books that make me feel all the feels, so I’m ok with a little sadness in my book choices. If you don’t like that, this one probably isn’t for you!
Find it on Amazon here.
Alright friends, that’s what I’ve been reading! I’m already part way through my next Harry Potter book, so my December blog post will probably have several of those on the list. Sorry to bore you, haha!
If you want more book recs, check out all of the 100 books I read in 2016, the 64 books I read 2017, and every book I’ve read thus far in 2018!
I read Crazy Rich Asians this month too and, like you, I saw the movie first. I think I may have liked the movie even better! I do agree that there was a lot left out with the whole Astrid/Michael thing in the movie. But I felt like the book ended so abruptly! I am excited to read the rest, too!
Yes! They skipped Astrid and Michael’s storyline from the first book and progressed it significantly! I think the movie overall has parts from the first and second book. I’m about to start the third. I thought about reading The Sympathizer but it was so long! It’s still on my list though. You make me want to re-read the Harry Potter books. I only got to book four but I bet it would be fun to read through the whole series.
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