Will I love How to Read a Book?

I loved the characters in this novel, both the “ordinary” people and the quirky ones. And the non-human ones.

I loved how each character’s backstory and front story came out over time and sometimes merged and sometimes stayed quiet. I loved how the main and minor plots merged and separated and did not always go where I thought they would go. I loved that the story sometimes seemed predictable, and then, like real life, didn’t go as planned.

Most of all, I love how the author constructed a novel about a tough subject that didn’t drag me down into hopelessness… show more.

This novel opens in a women’s prison in Maine, a setting that suggests one kind of story but delivers another entirely. “How to Read a Book” is really about second chances, guilt’s long shadow, and finding a way back from tragedy through the power of stories.

As Anne Lamott has said, “Plot grows out of character. If you focus on who the people in your story are, something is bound to happen.”

Monica Wood does this as well as anyone. You can almost picture Wood having long conversations with Violet, Harriet and Frank that lead to the twists and turns… show more.

I love this heartwarming novel about three people who have experienced a recent major upheaval. The lives of Harriet, Violet and Frank intertwine as each receives a new lease on life .

After the first chapter, I didn't think I could continue reading it, because it seemed so dark, but, because it was highly-recommended by one of my book clubs, I continued—and am I glad I did!

I loved the hope and grace that ultimately enveloped each character, and how the author brought everything together in a heartwarming conclusion.

The author created characters I would love to share a drink with. She blended their stories together in a magical manner. As a former English teacher, I especially loved the prison book club aspect and the power of love.