A Reading List for a Novel Lover: Sara Nisha Adams' Insightful Story

Robert Heinemann: Those of us who are avid readers have common problems. If we love a book we mourn the idea that it will end. If it ends what do we read next?

The Reading List is a book that combines these ideas with the humanity that is at the center of every reader. It is the story of many inhabitants of a small English town that become joined by a mystery reading list that appears to each of them...in a book, in a bag, In a shelf, even in a shoe rack.
One of the main characters, Mr P. Is mourning the loss of his beloved wife from Cancer. She was a devoted wife and family woman and an avid reader although he is not. When he happens upon the list, he unexpectedly goes to tge local library and begins to read. This joins his life with many others...a young librarian who is trying to care for her mother who suffers from depression and mental illness, old friends through his temple center, and his daughters and especially his granddaughter. Along the way we are exposed to the others as well as several classic novels that all have something to share with these readers. We also join the community as they attempt to save their local library for a tragic closing.

Most of all we are...

United States on Nov 08, 2023

Cathy Thompson: I really enjoyed this book, rich in culture and diverse characters. I loved the references to classic novels and the way the author wove them through her story.

Australia on Nov 07, 2023

Patricia King: This was a popular choice for a book club. It touches on all aspects of life - death, love, aging, mental illness, loneliness, inter-generational conflict, different cultures, and how different people adapt to these life-changing challenges. If you love to read, this is the book for you. A public library is the connection point for the different characters in this book. It starts kind of slow, but by the end, you are really invested in the characters.

United States on Oct 31, 2023

Nowhere woman: Incredibly thought provoking emotional read that is the book equivalent of a warm snuggly blanket.
I fell in love with the characters from the outset and enjoyed the way the author so cleverly fused them and their stories together, all the time using the medium of books.

United Kingdom on Oct 19, 2023

Lyn: An excellent collection of characters and deeply interesting situations. A book with a moral. I so much enjoyed reading this book as an e-book, I bought a paperback copy for my daughter.

United Kingdom on Oct 13, 2023

Amazon Customer: When I first read the blurb I expected this book to be wholesome after a pretty dark book I had read before starting this. I underestimated the hold that this story would have over me. I’m jealous of everyone getting to read it for the first time

United Kingdom on Oct 10, 2023

Deb Brunsberg: This was one of the most delightful books I have read in a long time. The characters were real and human and lonely and shy and every kind of personality. Their finding the reading list and sharing it with others was so precious.

Everyone struggles in life and everyone is wounded and for me, like the people in this book, books provide an escape, but they also impart wisdom. There is always something to be gleaned from every book, no matter its subject matter and it is a gift to have people in your life that you can share books with. Most of mine are gone now. This book was a little treasure for me and opened up so many memories. I read this book because on a book newsletter recommended it. I love how that works!

United States on Oct 08, 2023

Beth Deese: One of the first things I wonder when I pick up a new book is if it will be worth my time, worth the investment of stopping all my other activities to read what this one author wants to say about life.

The Reading List certainly was worth my time and I enjoyed the characters and the taste of both Indian and English modern suburban culture. It’s certainly a unique storyline!

The setup is a bit confusing as the point of view switches between multiple characters. I found that hard to follow, especially at the beginning when you’re trying to get a handle on how to read the book, though it’s explained by the ending so I’ll forgive it.

Different people are finding the same reading list at different points in time. I was trying to track the list as I read but there was no link to how it was passed on. Also, some of those characters weave into the story and some really don’t. I kept expecting them to come back. We do find out the link between them and the lists later so I won’t give it away. But I would have liked more follow through with the minor characters and a better meshing of all of them so they enriched the story.

The 2 main characters,...

United States on Aug 15, 2023

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Spain on Jul 11, 2023