Mother’s Day can sometimes bring anxiety over what to get the women in your life. Thankfully, my mom is a reader and I know I can always get her a book and she’s happy!
If you’re looking for a book to give your mom, grandmother, aunt, sister or friend – here are some suggestions to hopefully make your searching a little bit easier!
HISTORICAL FICTION
Spain in 1957 was under the oppressive dictatorship of General Franscisco Franco. Tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Madrid under the welcoming promise of sunshine and wine, unaware of the dark secret Spain is hiding. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil tycoon and aspiring photographer. Fate introduces him to Ana. As friendship and love blossoms, the dark side of Madrid comes to light. When Daniel’s evocative photographs put him in danger, he is backed into a corner of difficult decisions to protect those he loves. Inspired by the true postwar struggles of Spain, this novel shines light into one of history’s darkest corners.
(Ruta Sepetys is my absolute favorite historical fiction author. She never disappoints with her novels. If you’re looking for a story about a little-known time in history – this would be an excellent choice!)
Fourteen-year-old Dita is one of the many imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. Displaced, along with her mother and father from their home in Prague, Dita is adjusting to the constant terror that is life in the camp. When Jewish leader Fredy Hirsch asks Dita to take charge of the eight precious volumes the prisoners have managed to sneak past the guards, she agrees, becoming the librarian of Auschwitz. Based on the experiences of real-life Auschwitz prisoner, Dita Kraus, this is the incredible story of a girl who risked her life to keep the magic of books alive during the Holocaust.
(I found this book fascinating! I had no idea there was a family camp at Auschwitz for a small amount of time. The fact that they had a secret school for children – with a brave, young librarian – at a Nazi extermination camp is incredible to me. It’s difficult to write a book filled with hope when talking about such a hopeless time and place in history, but Antonio Iturbe managed to do just that! If you’re looking for a novel for a World War II enthusiast, this is the one for you!)
FICTION
Sophie Whalen is a young Irish immigrant desperate to improve her impoverished life in New York City. She answers a mail-order bride ad and agrees to marry Martin Hocking, a widower living in San Francisco. Sophie quickly bonds with Kat, her new husband’s 5-year-old daughter, but Martin remains aloof and mysterious. When the massive 1906 earthquake rocks San Franscisco, Sophie and Kat’s lives will never be the same.
(This was the first book I’ve read by Susan Meissner and I was pleasantly surprised. If you’re searching for a book with a bit of a mystery and strong female friendships, then this story would be a perfect choice!)
In the perilous days of World War I, the fates of four mortals are being debated by the Gods on Mount Olympus. Hazel, a classical pianist from London. James, a British architect turned soldier. Aubrey, a Harlem-born ragtime piano player in the US Army. And, Colette, a Belgian orphan with a beautiful voice and a tragic past. Their intertwining story, as told by the goddess Aphroditie, is filled with heartbreak, injustice and tragedy. But Aphroditie is determined to prove that none of these are match for the greatest force of all…LOVE!
(I don’t know of any other book narrated by Greek Gods! It was such a fun concept. I was super invested in the lives of the four main characters and equally captivated by the involvement of the Gods in their stories. If you’re looking for an easy-to-read book that combines history with mythology, I highly recommend this one!)
MYSTERY NOVELS
Samuel W. Westing has died. Sixteen people (including a dressmaker, a secretary, an inventor, a doctor, a bookie, a burglar and a bomber) are invited to the reading of his will. They could become millionaires, depending on how they play his game. The Westing game is tricky and dangerous, but the heirs are determined to play on – through blizzards, burglaries and even, bombings. Who will emerge the winner and the heir??
(Yes, I know. This book has been around since the 1970’s. But I didn’t read it until about a year ago. And I’m actually glad I waited until I was an adult to experience it. I don’t know if I would have loved it as much as I did if I had read it as a child. It’s a fun story that kept me guessing right up until the end. If you are looking for a book for a mystery lover, this would be a fun choice!)
Maisie Dobbs started working as a maid in an aristocratic London household when she was thirteen. Maisie was an intelligent, quiet and intuitive young girl. With the help of a wealthy patron, Maisie was admitted to the prestigious Girton College at Cambridge. Unfortunately, the outbreak of World War I changed her plans. Instead, Maisie spent the next few years as an army nurse, where she found – and lost- an important part of herself. Ten years after the Armistice, Maisie opens her own business as a private investigator. Determined to break through both gender and societal barriers, Maisie begins solving cases. One case in particular involving a working farm known as The Retreat, forces Maisie to confront the ghost that has haunted her for over ten years.
(The Maisie Dobbs series is one of my very favorite mystery series. I’m slightly obsessed with Maisie. I was hoping to name my last-born child, Maisie, but then I had a boy! Maisie is such a unique and interestingly written character. Her story has kept me fascinated through all 17 of the books. If you have a mystery lover in your life who would enjoy a prolific series, this would be a great one!)
EPISTOLARY NOVELS
Ella Minnow Pea is a girl living happily on the fictional island of Nollop off the coast of South Carolina. Nollop was named after Nevin Nollop, author of the immortal phrase containing all the letters of the alphabet, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” Now Ella finds herself acting to save her friends, family and fellow citizens from the encroaching totalitarianism of the island’s Council, which has banned the use of certain letters of the alphabet as they fall from a memorial statue of Nevin Nollop. As the letters progressively drop from the statue they also disappear from the novel. This is a hilarious and moving story of one girl’s fight for freedom of expression, as well as a linguistic tour de force sure to delight word lovers everywhere.
(I first read this book years ago and have never been more impressed with an author. As letters fall off the statue in the town and are forbidden by the council – they are also no longer used in the novel. How Mark Dunn continued to write a book with fewer and fewer available letters is mindboggling to me!?! I loved it! If you’re looking for a book for a word lover, this would be a fun choice!)
“When twenty-seven-year-old Joan Bergstrom sends a fan letter – as well as a gift of saffron – to fifty-nine-year-old Imogen Fortier, a life-changing friendship begins. Joan lives in Los Angeles and is just starting out as a writer for the newspaper food pages. Imogen lives on Camano Island outside Seattle, writing a monthly column for a Pacific Northwest magazine. As the two women commune through their letters, they build a closeness that sustains them through the Cuban Missile Crisis, the assassination of President Kennedy, and the unexpected in their own lives.”
(Novels written in letter form aren’t always my favorite. But this one worked for me. It’s a short, easy read that was completely enjoyable! If you’re looking for a story filled with friendship and food, this is the perfect book for you!)
NONFICTION
“J.B. West, chief usher of the White House, directed the operations and maintenance of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue – and coordinated its daily life – at the request of the president and his family. He directed state functions; planned parties, weddings and funerals, gardens and playgrounds, and extensive renovations; and, with a large staff, supervised every activity in the presidential home. For twenty-eight years he interacted daily with six consecutive presidents and first ladies, as well as their parents, children and grandchildren. J.B. West provides an absorbing, one-of-a-kind history of life among the first ladies. Alive with entertaining anecdotes, this fascinating novel is a rich account of a slice of American history that usually remains behind closed doors.”
(Nonfiction is not always my genre of choice. But this book was a delight! If you’re looking for a light-hearted, not too heavy, nonfiction read – this would be your answer!)
Besides being one of the most treasured writers in American history, Mark Twain was also one of the most quotable. This collection contains over 500 of his best quips and remarks.
(I bought this book years ago on a trip with my mom when we visited Mark Twain’s childhood home in Hannibal, MO. I love bringing back books as trip souvenirs! If you have a classic literature lover, this book would make a fun gift!)
BIOGRAPHIES AND MEMOIRS
“In this, Julie Andrew’s second memoir, she begins with her arrival in Hollywood and her phenomenal rise to fame in her earliest films – Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. Andrews describes her years in the film industry – from the incredible highs to the challenging lows. She unveils her personal story of adjusting to a new and often daunting world, dealing with the demands of unimaginable success, being a new mother, the end of her first marriage, embracing two stepchildren, adopting two more children and falling in love with the brilliant, Blake Edwards. Cowritten with her daughter and told with Andrew’s trademark charm and candor, Home Work takes us on a rare and intimate journey into an extraordinary life that is funny, heartrending and inspiring.”
(Full disclosure – I haven’t read this book yet but it comes highly recommended from one of my most trusted book-loving friends. And how can it not be good?? I mean, come on! It’s Julie Andrews!! If you have a Mary Poppins or The Sound of Music lover in your life, this would definitely be the book for them!)
As a child Hyeonseo Lee was one of millions indoctrinated in North Korea by the world’s most secretive and brutal regime. And yet, having survived the chaos, starvation and repression of the Great Famine, she dared to escape to China in 1997 at the young age of seventeen. Knowing both she and her family would be killed if she returned, Lee tried to make a life for herself on the run. She discovered that a life with no identity, no reason to exist, was no easier than life inside North Korea. Now an acclaimed international speaker, her brave and remarkable voice testifies to past horrors, and offers the most truthful account of ordinary life in North Korea.
(Before reading this book, I had very little knowledge of what life was like in North Korea. This was an eye-opening story for me and I’m so glad I read it. It’s not an easy read but I think it’s an important read. If you’re looking for a meaningful, true-life story – look no farther!)
LITTLE BOOKS JUST FOR FUN
Sometimes charming little books make the perfect gifts. If that is what you’re searching for this Mother’s Day, I highly suggest these two books.
This sweet, thoughtful story with beautiful illustrations would be sure to make any recipient smile!
This hilarious, farcical little book is the perfect gift for a mystery lover. Both the illustrations and the writing are sure to make readers laugh out loud!
Hopefully these book suggestions were helpful! If you gift any of these books to a loved one this Mother’s Day, I would love to hear all about it!
Shannon's Library 
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