One Line Book Reviews (Books for the Pandemic)

Looking for something good to read either to escape or provide perspective during the pandemic? Peruse these one line book reviews and you will find a great read in no time:

Sometimes you just need some solitude!

Focusing on the extreme political realities that can emerge during times of crisis and uncertainty, Octavia Butler’s “The Parable of the Talents” shows what can happen to human society in the aftermath of climate destruction and scare resources (which just reading about such a society makes you want to protect the planet!).

This book left me feeling a little sad but the story does offer great hope in the end and provides an interesting perspective on choosing to live the life you’ve got!

Set in a world of recent mass extinctions, this book follows Franny as she seeks to build her life in this new reality where she must also grapple with her past, her own actions, and the past of her fellow humans in order to find new hope and new life.

You’ll love this murder mystery as it whips you through all the possible people and motives as strong as the wind gale on the uninhabited island that serves as the setting.

This masterful mystery gives you a genuine feel for rural Ireland through both the writing as well as the American retired cop who, because of his outsider status, helps reveal the nuances of the locals with one local in particular (which was definitely the best part).

I loved this book! Elkhead Woman is such an amazing character and Lewis and everybody…they all draw you through this story with complete fascination and humanity.

This quick and very entertaining read provides great perspective (like the 50-billion-year perspective) along with witty scientific humor that felt refreshing and reassuring right now.

If you’re looking for a solid introduction to and masterful critique of how social hierarchies operate and negatively influence life in America and elsewhere, this book will not let you down (and neither does Wilkerson’s “The Warmth of Other Suns)!

This book is a good as everyone says: the plot moves you along so effortlessly it’s as if this story has always meant to be, the twin sisters actions are complicated yet understandable, and Jude redeems them all as one of the best characters who manages life and all its annoying aspects with ease.

A virus-themed epic that’s like three books in one (rivaling Stephen King’s “The Stand) with elements of historical fiction, fantasy, horror, and sci-fi—makes for a very engaging book that will happily take over your reading life during the pandemic.

Family secrets, complicated ethics, and the power of identity become central in this wonderful memoir, which I couldn’t put down.

Imaginative, best-selling sci-fi novel about a modern-day descendent being pulled back in time by her slave-owning ancestor for the purpose, she slowly discovers, of ensuring that her family-line continues, a mission she rightfully struggles with as she witnesses (and experiences) the violent world her enslaved ancestors lived through.

An expertly written piece of narrative nonfiction about the kidnapping and disappearing of a mother of ten during the early years of the civil rights and independence struggle in Northern Ireland.

How much are author’s papers valued and who values them the most–this book explores this question and also delves into the changing roles of archivists and librarians as culture gets created digitally.

Learn about a newly discovered, naturally occurring plastic rock in Hawaii, ancient ice built from desert sands, and the great catacombs of Paris in this engaging book.

I finally read “Roots” by Alex Haley and really loved it. I haven’t been certain what to say about it beyond that given the claims surrounding plagiarism and research misconduct/falsification but I guess I would say that the characters are compelling and I wish only that the book’s true authorship could be rectified and that the work would have been billed as historical fiction rather than genealogical research. The book’s impact on popular American culture can’t be denied, however, and, in my opinion, this is a better read than “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”

There might not be face mask politics in this masterpiece, but people have to take a stand for something bigger than themselves so I can see why the book has become one of the most downloaded audio books–complete with great characters, references to hiding information, navigating a brave new world (in the intermountain west, no less), and finding trustworthy leaders.

Delve into the history of racism and its pernicious impacts while also exploring ways to act that uplift yourself and others.

eBook available from Marriott Library

Part nature writing, coming-of-age story, and murder mystery, this bestseller is a satisfying read that leaves you wanting to explore unknown lands and make friends with the gulls.

eBook and audio book available from SLC Library https://slcpl.overdrive.com/media/3707522

This unconventional novel deals with grief, essentially, which we all may be experiencing at this time and a good way to deal with grief is to work through it with others, but from a distance — all possible with this title.

I highly recommend looking for the audio version.
(Audio and eBook versions available from SLC Public Library, SL County Library and Utah’s Online Library)