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The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams - 4* - My Review

This is the story about a friendship between seventeen-year-old part-time librarian Aleisha and an older recent widower Mukesh Patel. Neither has ever been an avid reader, but Aleisha discovers a reading list left by a patron and starts referring books on the list to Mukesh. She reads them first to make sure she can discuss them if he wishes. Mukesh had already read one of his deceased wife’s books, and he decides to continue. The narrative portrays the struggles of both Aleisha and Mukesh. Aleisha and her brother are caring for her mother. Her brother has been dealing with his own issues.

We meet various characters in their lives and a few regular visitors to the library. The plot is centered around the list. The characters find different elements in each book that relate to their lives. These books include: To Kill a Mockingbird, Rebecca, The Kite Runner, The Life of Pi, Pride and Prejudice, Little Women, Beloved, and A Suitable Boy. It is not necessary to have read all these books beforehand.

Themes include friendship, found families, and the importance of books in our lives. I tend to enjoy books about friendship, and I particularly enjoyed the gradual way in which a friendship forms between the two main characters, such that they eventually help each other deal with grief and life’s problems. I think it is easy for an avid reader to enjoy a book about libraries and the pleasures of reading.

It is tagged Book Club by 271 people.