Quick Summaries of 7 Novels to Add to Your Reading List
I started 2024 with a flurry of writing articles, book reviews, and of course, my next novel. That petered off about halfway through the year as I became more involved in reading and painting.
Some of the reading was purposeful. That is either for research (books about sea journeys such as The Wager by David Grant for example) or to increase my general knowledge and reading ability (Plato is hard going but I did it… well, most of it).
The rest of my reading list was compiled for pleasure.
Seven books I haven’t reviewed separately include Jackie: a novel by Dawn Tripp, Georgia by Dawn Trip, March by Geraldine Brooks, The Wildwater Women by Ellie Wood, A Winter Grave by Peter May, James by Percival Everitt, and Matilda by Jackie French.
All good reads and I highly recommend adding them to your reading list.
Quick Summaries of 7 Novels to Add to Your Reading List
1. Jackie: a novel by Dawn Tripp
Of the two Dawn Tripp novels I read this year, I preferred Jackie over Georgia, but I suspect this is because I know more about Jacqueline Bouvier than I do Georgia O’Keeffe. I could relate to Jackie – her life (her married life) has filled countless gossip magazines and newspapers. The scenes after John Kennedy’s assassination were excellently portrayed and the precise detail included (like the blood on Jacqueline’s dress) really brought the depth of feeling and shock home.
2. Georgia by Dawn Tripp
All I knew about Georgia O’Keeffe before reading this novel was that she was an American artist. I enjoyed learning more about her life, art and what drove her creativity. The impact her husband (Alfred Stieglitz) had on her art and in spreading the word on her talent was amazing. I’m so used to hearing that the significant other either took credit, downplayed or flatly denied a woman’s work. The highs and lows of their relationship is an integral part of this story.
Dawn Tripp has produced solidly researched and superbly written historical fiction on both women.
3. March by Geraldine Brooks
Geraldine Brooks has taken Louisa May Alcott's, Little Women, and turned it around with a story inspired by Alcott, her family and their peers from the point of view of Mr March.
March is an in-depth love story with a well-researched backdrop of the American Civil War. As with Brooks’, Horse (read my review), characters and experience are shared across a broad cross-section of society as Mr March leaves his family behind to join the Union troops as a chaplain. While the story is told mostly through Mr March, we learn more about Miss Margaret Mary Day or “Marmee” as she is known to her family, close friends, and readers of Little Women. The story delves into the lives of the March family before “Marmee” married Mr March, throughout their separation during the Civil War, and after when Mr March is deathly ill in hospital. The last few chapters are from the point of view of Mrs March. Themes deal with slavery, bigotry, and the impacts of war on soldiers and their families.
4. James by Percival Everitt
It seems, my reading choices have learned toward American historical fiction this year as I also read Percival Everitt’s, James. This novel looks at Mark Twain’s, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, story from the point of view of Jim. This is an excellent read as it explores the importance of language and education with an interesting twist on the language of the enslaved people. I’ve put Twain at the top of my reading list for 2025. It’s been quite some time since I read Huckleberry Finn and I’m looking forward to reading it with “fresh eyes” and more understanding of the social issues of the time.
5. The Wildwater Women by Ellie Wood
I chose this one as a break between the heavier historical fictions and I wanted to read about women who participated in wild water swimming in the Lakes District. A good light read with interesting themes around why someone would choose to swim in freezing cold water… I did try it myself. Two beach visits in the middle of winter. And then I waited for the weather (and the water) to warm up a little more. There is some romance but it’s not the main theme, rather the story explores community, friendship, and being daring through the coming together of four women who discover the benefits of cold water swimming.
6. A Winter Grave by Peter May
I loved Peter May’s Lewis Trilogy and have read a few of his other novels so grabbing A Winter Grave was a must. For a start, I do seem to gravitate to stories set in Scotland. I also enjoy a meaty murder mystery. Peter May provides both with ample backstory, twists and turns, danger, and secrets revealed. On looking up the website link, I’ve just discovered there’s a new novel out, The Black Loch, which involves characters from the Lewis Trilogy 20-years later. Hang on a second, I need to go book shopping….
7. A Waltz for Matilda by Jackie French
I’ve had this on my “to be read” pile for ages and was in the process of giving it away when I decided to read it (at last). Just as well as it’s book one of seven! The Matilda Saga, I enjoyed this read though I had the feeling that a lot of Australian history was crammed into the life and experiences of one girl.
Matilda is connected to the Australian bush anthem, Waltzing Matilda. French explores the story behind that song, particularly the swaggie (itinerant worker) that threw himself into the billabong rather than be caught for stealing a jumbuck.
Check out the Wikipedia page for Waltzing Matilda for an explanation of the composer(s), meaning and history of Australia’s “unofficial national anthem”.
If you want to learn about Australian history and literature, The Matilda Saga, looks like a good starting point.
The story of our country, and a love song to our land, told by the strong women who forged a nation.
That’s my year in books.
I’m starting 2025 with The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, A Christmas Carol (I’m starting that one now) and The Black Loch.
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