The Weight of Heaven by Thrity Umrigar was without a doubt my favorite book for the year. The story is about a grief stricken Michigan couple that relocate to India for a new beginning when the husband accepts a business assignment. Umrigar writes beautifully about cross-cultural relationships and provides an amazing twist to the end. Readers who loved The Space Between Us would really enjoy this book. I'm looking forward to what she'll write next.
This is one of the better books that I have read in a while, and definitely one that I would suggest to my friends. It follows the lives of two Indian girls being raised as sisters by very protective mothers in Calcutta. Family secrets begin to come out early in the story and continue coming out through the surprising ending. I really loved it, although I found myself frustrated with some unfinished business at the conclusion. For that reason I rated it a 4.5/5. This would be a very good book group choice because there is so much to talk about.
I finished this one, Secrets She Left Behind, tonight. It was a great follow-up to Before the Storm, and I actually liked it a bit more. There was enough backstory given to the reader that this book could stand alone, but I am glad that I read both. The unfinished business from the first book really came together in this one as another mystery was told. I'm becoming a very big fan of this author.
Prior to this book, I read Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb. As always, I love his books. This was an enjoyable holiday book though, not the heavy themes he usually deals with.
I'm looking through my list and see that I've only read a little over 70 books so far this year. Kind of a slow year for me I guess. My favorites for the year (unless something grabs me in the next few weeks) have been The Reader by Bernard Schlink, The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, The Weight of Heaven by Thrity Umrigar, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford, and The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Of course there were other wonderful books, but those stick in my mind tonight. These touched me in an individual way. I'm looking forward to what I find in 2010.
