"Little"

One of the more unusual books I've ever read, and I've read plenty of them. "Little" is a tale, told through the eyes of Marie, a young, vertically-challenged girl. She lives in Germany with her mother, who works for a doctor specializing in making models of human organs. After her mother dies, Marie moves to Paris with the doctor and the two of them live with an absolutely wicked widow. There, they become somewhat famous making and displaying life masks of French celebrities. Marie is then hired as a companion for Louis XVI's young sister, whom she resembles. The story is ostensibly about the life of Madame Tussaud. I found the book absolutely riveting and couldn't[t put it down. Not only is it well written, it gives the reader an unvarnished view of what life was like in late 18th century France. I found the book in London, so it might not be as readily available here in the U.S..

"The Light Between Oceans"

Following his experiences fighting in the First World War, a young man Tom finds himself in southwestern Australia. He takes a job as a lighthouse keeper on a remote island and eventually marries a local girl, Isabel. One day, the couple hear the sounds of a baby crying, and discover a newborn aboard a rowboat along with the body of a young man. Isabel, who has lost three babies in childbirth, decides that it's a "sign from God" and keeps the child as her own. This is a beautifully written and superbly crafted first novel by M.L. Stedman. While I couldn't wait to find out what happened, I also didn't want the book to end. I look forward to see what she writes next.