where'd you go, bernadette by maria semple

Wow!  An emotional roller coaster of characters.  I enjoyed reading Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple.  A thoroughly humorous look at the many facets of Bernadette's life; an artistically successful architect who struggles with her own inner demons while raising her daughter in a city she very much dislikes while her husband basks in his own stardom at Microsoft.   Refreshingly written through a series of letters, emails and memos; I loved how we get to see the story from so many of the characters' points of view.

** Although I wouldn't rate this as a 'must read', it was definitely a book I would recommend.  A fun story that kept you guessing what was next. A little piece of me wants to be a little more like Bernadette.

the light between oceans by m.l. stedman

A deeply moving love story, The Light Between Oceans captures the reader.  Its vivid setting, the Janus Rock in Australia, creates a backdrop for a poignant tale where life's inevitable element of loss & despair fall upon the story's compelling characters, struggling to regain their sense of balance and contentment. 

I spent the last three chapters in tears.  I was invested in the characters' emotional survival; their loves, their losses, and their struggles.  There were many times I found myself holding my breath not sure of the outcome, hanging onto the edge of the precipice, waiting for solid footing to be secured by Tom and Isabel.

*** I would highly recommend this novel.  Very well written.  I loved the attention to detail in explaining the complexities of caring for a lighthouse, and the emotional gravity experienced during great trials no one in this live will ever completely escape.  Just don't forget your box of tissues!