Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

“The dead are never far from us. They're in our hearts and on our minds and in the end all that separates us from them is a single breath, one final puff of air.” 

This is one of the most beautiful lines in the book, Ordinary Grace.  Ordinary Grace marks one of my favorite reads for this year, and it is right up there for one of the best books I have ever read (listened to).  This book was recommended by a friend, and the only copy I could find from my local library was an audio version.  

The audio version is fantastic, and the reader, Rich Orlow, is amazing in his narration.  Within a few minutes of listening to the first chapter, I was drawn in.  

Frank is a thirteen year old boy who lives in New Bremen, Minnesota.  He is entering a fateful summer where his family, friends, and the community will encounter great despair, loss, betrayal, and the loss of innocence.  

As we grow up and become adults, we realize that sometimes adults keep secrets.  Once we realize what those secrets might be, do we keep those to ourselves, or do we tell?  

This book reminds me very much of my all time favorite book, To Kill A Mockingbird. This book, like Mockingbird, has a thought- provoking message, and is uplifting - even in the face of extreme tragedy. Sometimes, a child a greater wisdom than adults.

Read this book when you have the opportunity.  I hope it will be on your list of favorites as well as it is on mine. 

“The miracle is this: that you will rise in the morning and be able to see again the startling beauty of the day.”

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo

How many lives were changed on September 11, 2001?  Many lives were lost that day, but for those of us who were survivors, did we cherish our families more?  Did we decide to push away our fears and take chances that we wouldn't have before?  Were we drawn to certain people because we were together the moment that first plane hit the tower?

Lucy and Gabe meet on the morning of September 11, 2001.  They are seniors at Columbia University, and sit together on the roof of the dormitory to watch the towers collapse.  They are drawn together by the tragedy, and though they don't date each other, they are linked in spirit. 

Fast forward two years, and Lucy bumps into Gabe at a bar in New York City.  Their attraction is immediate, and they spend the next year together in Gabe's apartment.  But 9/11 weighs heavily on Gabe, and he feels he needs to do more to help humanity.  He goes to school to learn photography, and decides to travel to the Middle East to find his dream job. 

Meanwhile, Lucy is brokenhearted, and she decides to stay in her job of writing scripts for a children's television show.  Gabe is never far from her thoughts, but she knows he will never be entirely hers ever again.

This book is a very easy read for those who don't have much time to read long chapters. The content held my attention, and I usually read longer than I intended.  The Light We Lost also makes one think about the love we leave behind because the timing might not have been right, or the distance was too great, or a myriad of other instances. The question remains:   What if?