I'm actually at a writing and fiction retreat in Valyermo, California this weekend, so I am thinking a LOT about the power of story. Good thing our Good Stuff family has plenty of recommendations to share!
Positive reads
The Ogress and the Orphan by Kelly Barnhill
A children's book for all ages combines fantasy with a powerful tale of kindness.
"It’s uplifting for these dark times we find ourselves in." -- Sally W.
The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
"I have recommended or given this book to more people than I can remember. It is still the most powerful and memorable book I have ever read. It's a coming-of-age story of a young boy in South Africa. He has such a hard time of things! He's picked on as a young boy, then he befriends an older man who teaches him the wonders of life. The book is beautifully written, and the story is extremely compelling." -- Pamela D.
The Magician's Daughter by H.G. Parry.
Hailed as a cozy, nostalgic fantasy classic-in-the-making, this coming-of-age story follows a girl and her quest to find her missing, magical guardian.
"I've read many, many books in the last three years, but this is my current 'just one more chapter' favorite" -- Pamela Y.
The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin
"I was totally immersed in this book. It had me dreaming of laying amongst the wildflowers as the bees flitter above. What a wonderful way to learn about bees! The story is well written, it's uplifting and interesting and educational and exciting and emotional." -- Lynda M.
Other picks:
The Sweet Everlasting by Judson Mitcham
"Mitcham was born and raised in Georgia, and was Poet Laureate of Georgia from 2012 to 2019. Though he is better known for his poetry, he has published two novels as well. The Sweet Everlasting is both a love story and a heart-breaking examination of the cost of racial inequity and bias. The writing is spare and hauntingly beautiful. Mitcham does not waste words; to read his work is to savor the importance of every phrase and sentence." -- Stephanie K.
From Old Hollywood to New Brunswick: Memories of a Wonderful Life by Charles Foster
Follow the unpredictable, wholly satisfying life of Charles Foster, an honorary Maritimer and Hollywood publicist who crossed paths with the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, Jack Kennedy and other legends.
"His life was so unbelievable that I decided to Google the truth . Sure enough, he was real and so was his marvelous life." -- Bob B.
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
"I seldom reread books, but this is an exception. His prose is so descriptive and helps me to imagine Ethiopia, a setting I've never experienced in life. I've learned so much from this novel including medical insights and family dynamics." -- Randi V.