The best books about everyday people who refuse to be victims

The first thing that drew me in was the format. The entire book, which is 466 pages long, is a response to a letter written on page one by the main character, Vivian. What a neat way to write a book.

In her letter to Vivian, Angela asks, “Vivian, what were you to my father?” It wasn’t the same old “telling” of a story, but Vivian’s detailed response from a historical perspective involving her experiences over the years in love, lust, glamour, and promiscuity and how these affected her life.

Vivian is in her 90s as she responds, and the story is told from her perspective as an old woman looking back on her life. I found myself rooting for her as she described her many struggles in her attempt to answer Angela’s question.

I love stand-up guys, and the main character, game warden Joe Picket, is drawn into a precarious situation, having to protect his friends and family from evil people and grizzlies alike.

I loved that he’s just an everyday guy, minding his own business and just doing his job, and is called upon to thwart criminals when he’d much rather be protecting elk herds in the mountains of Wyoming. Box’s writing is like listening to a story around the campfire. I stayed up past my bedtime, consistently wanting to keep reading until I fell asleep with the book on my chest.

This book is emblematic of the struggles that are inherent in any marriage. Robin is an accountant, and Paul is an artist eighteen years her senior. When Paul disappears during a trip to Morocco meant to save their marriage, Robin looks for him and discovers things she wishes she hadn’t.

With all the obstacles and secrets she uncovers, Robin has to decide if staying with Paul is worth the pain. As a reader, I found myself fighting along with Robin as she scoured the landscape of Morocco in her search for her husband. She proves to be a survivor, fighting in dangerous situations against people who cheat, lie, and try to exploit her naiveté. If you like flawed characters and crazy turns of events, you’ll like this book.

This book sharply criticizes today’s educational, financial, and immigration systems. It is the story of three law school students who thought a law degree would enable them to repay huge student loans. Wrong. They are loaded with overwhelming debt and team together to form a bogus law firm and practice law without a license.

Their goal is to seek revenge for their worthless education and on the institutions that profit off the student loan program by handing out huge loans like candy. It’s a popular political topic today, making me wonder if a college degree is worth what it used to be. I wondered if I had to do it over again and if I would choose a different path.

First of all, it’s funny. The Stephanie Plum character is the main protagonist in many Janet Evanovich Books. She doesn’t have a brilliant mind or an amazing education. She doesn’t have a slick job or incredible physical skills. She could be any woman anywhere, and this is what makes her an unlikely hero.

Her adventures as a bail bonds enforcement officer are so silly that they make you laugh. She constantly wiggles out of dangerous situations that defy logic or common sense—of which she has none. You know this as a reader, but you must keep reading to see how she will do it. I have read previous Stephanie Plum books and am still amazed at how Evanovich weaves the stories to make them enjoyable.