Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday! This is a space where I share something I'm thinking about and invite you to link up and do the same. On the first Thursday of the month, I reflect on the books I read the previous month. So let's jump in and see what I read last month ~
March was a bit of a lighter reading month for me—I only finished three books. Even so, it was a bit of a mixed bag. Two of them were definitely worth the time and are easy recommendations from me, while the third… not so much. That one just didn’t hit the mark, and I’d honestly say it’s not worth adding to your reading list.
Chronicle in Stone by Ismail Kadare
Our library book club selected Chronicle in Stone as our March read, and I’ll admit it wasn’t a favorite of mine. From the very beginning, I struggled to connect with it, though I kept reading in hopes that something would click as the story unfolded. Unfortunately, that moment never really came for me. I tried to stay open-minded and give it a fair chance, but by the end, my opinion hadn’t changed. It turns out I wasn’t alone—only a few people in our group truly loved it, while most of us found it difficult to fully enjoy.
Our library book club selected Chronicle in Stone as our March read, and I’ll admit it wasn’t a favorite of mine. From the very beginning, I struggled to connect with it, though I kept reading in hopes that something would click as the story unfolded. Unfortunately, that moment never really came for me. I tried to stay open-minded and give it a fair chance, but by the end, my opinion hadn’t changed. It turns out I wasn’t alone—only a few people in our group truly loved it, while most of us found it difficult to fully enjoy.
Masterful in its simplicity, Chronicle in Stone is a touching coming-of-age story and a testament to the perseverance of the human spirit. Surrounded by the magic of beautiful women and literature, a boy must endure the deprivations of war as he suffers the hardships of growing up. His sleepy country has just thrown off centuries of tyranny, but new waves of domination inundate his city. Through the boy’s eyes, we see the terrors of World War II as he witnesses fascist invasions, allied bombings, partisan infighting, and the many faces of human cruelty—as well as the simple pleasures of life.
Evacuating to the countryside, he expects to find an ideal world full of extraordinary things, but discovers instead an archaic backwater where a severed arm becomes a talisman and deflowered girls mysteriously vanish. Woven between the chapters of the boy’s story are tantalizing fragments of the city’s history. As the devastation mounts, the fragments lose coherence, and we perceive firsthand how the violence of war destroys more than just buildings and bridges.
Someone Else's Shoes by JoJo Moyes
I’ve long been a fan of Jojo Moyes, so I was thrilled to see she had a new book out. As expected, it did not disappoint. Just like her previous novels, this one completely drew me in—I found myself devouring page after page, not wanting to put it down. The story was charming and heartfelt, with just the right balance of light moments and deeper emotional layers. It made me smile, tugged at my heart, and left me thinking about the characters long after I finished.
Nisha Cantor lives the globetrotting life of the seriously wealthy, until her husband announces a divorce and cuts her off. Nisha is determined to hang onto her glamorous life. But in the meantime, she must scramble to cope--she doesn’t even have the shoes she was, until a moment ago, standing in.
That’s because Sam Kemp – in the bleakest point of her life – has accidentally taken Nisha’s gym bag. But Sam hardly has time to worry about a lost gym bag--she’s struggling to keep herself and her family afloat. When she tries on Nisha’s six-inch high Christian Louboutin red crocodile shoes, the resulting jolt of confidence that makes her realize something must change—and that thing is herself.
Full of Jojo Moyes’ signature humor, brilliant storytelling, and warmth, Someone Else’s Shoes is a story about how just one little thing can suddenly change everything.
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
This book had been sitting on my TBR list for quite a while, and I’m so glad it finally made its way to the top! From the very beginning, I was completely drawn in, and it quickly became one of those reads I couldn’t stop thinking about. I absolutely loved it and will be recommending it to just about everyone I talk to—it’s that good. The story, the characters, and the overall feel of the book all came together in such a memorable way.
I think it would make an excellent book club selection, too, with plenty to discuss and reflect on. I actually listened to the audiobook version, which I really enjoyed, but I already know I’m going to need a physical copy for my shelf. It’s definitely one I’d love to revisit and have on hand to lend out or flip through again in the future.
One spring morning, a stranger named Theo arrives in the small Southern city of Golden. He doesn't explain much about where he came from or why he's there—but when he visits the local coffeehouse, where pencil portraits of the people of Golden hang on the walls, he begins purchasing them, one at a time, and giving each portrait to the person depicted. In exchange, he asks only for the person's story. And so portrait by portrait, person by person, secrets are revealed, regrets are shared, and ordinary lives are profoundly altered.
A story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is an unforgettable novel about the power of generosity, the importance of connection, and the quiet miracles that happen when we choose kindness and wonder.
