I've recently finished off two books:
Saints at the River by Ron Rash
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Follow the thoughts of Maggie, a photographer from a Columbia, SC newspaper, as she returns to her home county of Oconee to help cover the story of a town's dilemma surrounding the recovery of a young girl's body from the Tamassee River. Saints at the River presents the moral struggles of a Southern woman who, despite her Christian upbringing, has allowed the scars of her past to dictate her conscious. This isn't a story of salvation, but one of letting go in order to hold onto what is important. It's a secular piece of Southern fiction, that reveals many truths about small town South Carolina--both complimentary and rudimentary. (Suggested reading age: college+)
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Suzanne Collins concludes her popular trilogy (preceded by The Hunger Games and Catching Fire) with a radically different flow. Where the first two books feature Katniss Everdeen as the unwitting heroine who will do anything to protect those she cares about, the final book, throws Katniss into a game with countless players that include everyone she cares about. It is perhaps the most tragic of the series, yet most revealing into Katniss' true nature. While the end may not be the most fantastic or romantic conclusion, it is the most realistic way for this tale to end. This book is best read after the first two, as it could be rather confusing without the proper background knowledge. (Suggested reading age: 16 to 25).
