Arts & Culture

Martin's Must-Reads

There are one million new books published each year. With so many books and so little time, where do you begin to find your next must-read? There’s the New York Times Bestseller list, the Goodreads app, the Cape Library’s Staff picks shelf and now Martin’s Must-Reads.Every Wednesday at 6:42 and 8:42 a.m., and Sunday at 8:18 a.m., Betty Martin recommends a must read based on her own personal biases for historical fiction, quirky characters and overall well-turned phrases. Her list includes WWII novels, biographies of trailblazers, novels with truly unique individuals and lots more. Reading close to 100 titles a year, Betty has plenty of titles to share.Local support for "Martin's Must Reads" comes from the Cape Girardeau Public Library and the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library.

Martin's Must Reads: 'Nine Perfect Strangers'

KRCU Public Radio | By Betty Martin

Published May 19, 2020 at 2:11 PM CDT

Are you looking for a funny, smart, page-turning novel that will make you laugh and gasp? Then I’ve just the book for you.

I’m Betty Martin with Martin’s Must Reads and that book is the bestseller Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty.

Nine adults, each with their own reasons, converge on a remote Australian health resort for the “10 Day Transformation” package. Some are suffering from the loss of a loved one or a relationship, some need to lose weight, and some just need an outlook adjustment.

Tranquillum House is owned and directed by the strange and charismatic Masha who left the corporate world after suffering a near death experience. Romance author Frances Welty is the first to arrive and after meeting Masha is not sure if she should immerse herself in the experience or make a run for it. It’s not long before the other guests: a divorced mother of four, a retired sports star, a lottery winning couple, a gay attorney, and a family of three, are asking themselves the same question.

The week starts out with yoga lessons and massages and specialty foods. And then the five days of silence ends and they find themselves drugged, locked in a basement yoga room and forced to form an alliance. Just what kind of transformative experience will this be for these nine strangers?

If you have time to lose yourself in a great read, then you must read Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty. And, if you love this book, she has several more bestsellers to dive into.