After reading the description of this book, I had to break my vow to not read another book with "Girl" in the title - and I'm very glad I did!
As is often the case, truth is stranger than fiction. Kate Warne was a real person and was the first female Pinkerton detective. But not a lot more than that is really known about her. A woman way ahead of her time, she lived and worked in Chicago in the early 1860's. There is documentation of some of the cases she worked on and some of the people she knew; but after all, she was a detective and a spy, so she didn't reveal or record much about herself and her work. The author has convincingly embellished the facts that are known into an engrossing historical novel. At times tense and scary (how she escapes dangerous situations with her skill and wits), at times heartwarming and heartbreaking (she guards her heart from everyone except a very select few), at times a political thriller - this should make a fantastic screenplay!
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Before the Rain Falls by Camille Di Maio
After serving seventy years in prison for the murder of her sister, Eula, Della Lee has finally returned home to the Texas town of Puerto Pesar. She is ready to set the record straight as to what really happened to put her in prison. She gradually reveals her story to a reporter who has come to town to investigate a "miraculous" painting. He crosses paths with Dr. Paloma Vega, who is in town to take care of her ailing grandmother and younger sister. The author realistically conveys the characters' budding relationship and their struggles with their identities and ambitions. She also conveys such a strong sense of place that you can almost feel the hot sun on your neck and the gritty sand in your hair.
Friday, November 24, 2017
To fiction or not fiction
Last January I joined Highland Fitness Center. A couple good things have come of it. Foremost is that I’m exercising regularly again. And, during part of my workout (stationary bike) I read – physical books…with paper pages! Because I didn’t own any myself, I had to make selections from my husband’s bookshelf. I read a number of Michael Connely’s books.
Recently, I decided to order a few for myself. I ordered the first two of William Kent Krueger’s books (Cork O’Connor series). In the last month or so, I’ve finished Iron Lake and Boundary Waters. In Iron Lake, I loved the descriptions of winter and snow, and in Boundary Waters, winter is again on its way. It’s clear Krueger knows and loves this part of the country. I also liked his weaving in of Anishinaabe culture and stories.
What I didn’t like is the number of bodies that had piled up by the end of each book. It seemed unnecessary, excessive. I’ll try one more book by him. If the body count is high, I’m done with the series.
Back to my husband’s bookshelf for Harlan Coben: Tell No One. I like the mystery of this one – complicated and twisty! But that’s it.
The narrator frequently says things like “I’ll spare you the clichés…” and then says them anyway. Or, “I know this sounds cliché, but…” Yes, yes, it does. You’re a prolific writer, come up with something else. It happens WAY too often in the first half of the book. And, by the end of the book….the body count! Crazy!
Obviously, the fiction that I’ve been reading lately has been dissatisfying. So, I downloaded some non-fiction.
Pretty Jane and the Viper of Kidbrooke Lane tells the story of a maid-of-all-work in England who was murdered in 1871. Through police and court bungling and the financial resources of the accused, her assailant was never found. The author, Paul Thomas Murphy, makes a clear case for the son of her employer as the culprit. At about 60% through the book, I was beginning to wonder what else the author could do with this topic and then it ended. The last 34% of the book contains references and notes. Murphy did an amazing amount of research.
Starting with a Ted Talk and ending 19 clicks later, I purchased Why Won’t You Apologize: Healing Big Betrayals and Everyday Hurts by Harriet Lerner. This is a short, fairly common sense book. She discusses the roles of both shame and guilt play in whether someone apologizes or not. She also give a number of concrete examples of non-apologies (e.g., “I’m sorry, but I was only trying to help" – “but” signaling the cancellation of the apology.)
Finally, I’m currently reading Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. Bryan Stevenson, the author is a southern lawyer who has spent many years fighting for children, mentally ill, poor, and minority people sentenced to life or on death row. We know that these are groups disproportionately represented in prisons. It’s one thing to hear the statistics, it’s quite another to have Stevenson tell a few of the stories and bring the people to life.
For now, then, my favorite books have been non-fiction.
Recently, I decided to order a few for myself. I ordered the first two of William Kent Krueger’s books (Cork O’Connor series). In the last month or so, I’ve finished Iron Lake and Boundary Waters. In Iron Lake, I loved the descriptions of winter and snow, and in Boundary Waters, winter is again on its way. It’s clear Krueger knows and loves this part of the country. I also liked his weaving in of Anishinaabe culture and stories.
What I didn’t like is the number of bodies that had piled up by the end of each book. It seemed unnecessary, excessive. I’ll try one more book by him. If the body count is high, I’m done with the series.
Back to my husband’s bookshelf for Harlan Coben: Tell No One. I like the mystery of this one – complicated and twisty! But that’s it.
The narrator frequently says things like “I’ll spare you the clichés…” and then says them anyway. Or, “I know this sounds cliché, but…” Yes, yes, it does. You’re a prolific writer, come up with something else. It happens WAY too often in the first half of the book. And, by the end of the book….the body count! Crazy!
Obviously, the fiction that I’ve been reading lately has been dissatisfying. So, I downloaded some non-fiction.
Pretty Jane and the Viper of Kidbrooke Lane tells the story of a maid-of-all-work in England who was murdered in 1871. Through police and court bungling and the financial resources of the accused, her assailant was never found. The author, Paul Thomas Murphy, makes a clear case for the son of her employer as the culprit. At about 60% through the book, I was beginning to wonder what else the author could do with this topic and then it ended. The last 34% of the book contains references and notes. Murphy did an amazing amount of research.
Starting with a Ted Talk and ending 19 clicks later, I purchased Why Won’t You Apologize: Healing Big Betrayals and Everyday Hurts by Harriet Lerner. This is a short, fairly common sense book. She discusses the roles of both shame and guilt play in whether someone apologizes or not. She also give a number of concrete examples of non-apologies (e.g., “I’m sorry, but I was only trying to help" – “but” signaling the cancellation of the apology.)
Finally, I’m currently reading Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. Bryan Stevenson, the author is a southern lawyer who has spent many years fighting for children, mentally ill, poor, and minority people sentenced to life or on death row. We know that these are groups disproportionately represented in prisons. It’s one thing to hear the statistics, it’s quite another to have Stevenson tell a few of the stories and bring the people to life.
For now, then, my favorite books have been non-fiction.
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Swamplandia
I just finished listening to Swamplandia by Karen Russell. It’s several years old now so some of you may have read it. If not: spoiler alert.
First, It was frustrating listening to the book because the reader of the young girl narrator part mispronounced so many words. The author also had the girl use similes and metaphors that didn’t exactly work. Even if the characterization was.supposed to be reflected in the language choices, it was distracting. Then, there was an unnecessary attempt to raunch up the story of the teen boy. But the worst thing was the rape of the young girl that goes unreported because the girl (13) thinks she was complicit. If the author was looking for a coming-of-age catalyst, she chose one that requires more skill than she possessed at the time she wrote the story. I would not recommend the book.
First, It was frustrating listening to the book because the reader of the young girl narrator part mispronounced so many words. The author also had the girl use similes and metaphors that didn’t exactly work. Even if the characterization was.supposed to be reflected in the language choices, it was distracting. Then, there was an unnecessary attempt to raunch up the story of the teen boy. But the worst thing was the rape of the young girl that goes unreported because the girl (13) thinks she was complicit. If the author was looking for a coming-of-age catalyst, she chose one that requires more skill than she possessed at the time she wrote the story. I would not recommend the book.
Friday, September 22, 2017
Challenge Accepted
Thanks for the challenge, Mary! Here are two that I recently finished:
If you’re on Facebook with me, you know that a few weeks ago it was national book lovers day. I asked everyone what they were reading. From the responses, I added to my Amazon wish list. One of those books was You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me: A Memoir by Sherman Alexie. This book is primarily about his conflicted relationship with his mother, but includes so much more. He talks very plainly about racism and how it has affected him, his family, and the members of his tribe.
I like that he moves between prose and poetry. I like that he doesn’t sugar coat his observations or feelings. It was a very moving book.
Then, I don’t know if it was last year or perhaps the year before, but it was at a December coffee / book swap that I got O Jersualem by Laurie R. King. This is the 5th book in the Sherlock Holmes / Mary Russell series. However, time-wise it takes place right after the 1st book in the series (1918).
I don’t know why I kept this book and I don’t know why I picked it up to read now. But, I’m glad I did.
What can I say about the plot – it’s murder and mystery in the Holy Land. And, it’s typical Sherlock Holmes – making observations no one else sees. I do like Mary Russell, however. I’m not especially fond of the word plucky, but that’s what she is. Mostly what I like is King’s writing and description of the country and people. I think this is a series I will come back to when I want something “good” to read.
If you’re on Facebook with me, you know that a few weeks ago it was national book lovers day. I asked everyone what they were reading. From the responses, I added to my Amazon wish list. One of those books was You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me: A Memoir by Sherman Alexie. This book is primarily about his conflicted relationship with his mother, but includes so much more. He talks very plainly about racism and how it has affected him, his family, and the members of his tribe.
I like that he moves between prose and poetry. I like that he doesn’t sugar coat his observations or feelings. It was a very moving book.
Then, I don’t know if it was last year or perhaps the year before, but it was at a December coffee / book swap that I got O Jersualem by Laurie R. King. This is the 5th book in the Sherlock Holmes / Mary Russell series. However, time-wise it takes place right after the 1st book in the series (1918).
I don’t know why I kept this book and I don’t know why I picked it up to read now. But, I’m glad I did.
What can I say about the plot – it’s murder and mystery in the Holy Land. And, it’s typical Sherlock Holmes – making observations no one else sees. I do like Mary Russell, however. I’m not especially fond of the word plucky, but that’s what she is. Mostly what I like is King’s writing and description of the country and people. I think this is a series I will come back to when I want something “good” to read.
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Sister of Mine and When I'm Gone
I've read quite a few books over the past few months, and there are 2 I'd like to tell you about.
Sister of Mine is a novel set in rural Northern Georgia just before and at the beginning of the Civil War. From the description on Amazon: "Adelaide Mannheim—daughter of Mordecai, the only Jewish planter in the county—was given her own maid, a young slave named Rachel. The two became friends, and soon they discovered a secret: Mordecai was Rachel’s father, too. As the country moved toward war, Adelaide and Rachel struggled to navigate their newfound sisterhood—from love and resentment to betrayal and, ultimately, forgiveness." I liked how the book explored two different characters' attitudes and beliefs as Jewish slave owners. Love story, family saga, history - this author explores and intertwines these themes beautifully.
An interesting note about the author: "Sabra Waldfogel grew up far from the South in Minneapolis. She studied history at Harvard University and received her Ph.D. in American History from the University of Minnesota and since then, has been fascinated by the drama of slavery and freedom in the decades before and after the Civil War."
When I'm Gone is a contemporary novel of the popular, easy/quick read 'you-thought-you-knew-your-spouse-but-boy-you-are-in-for-a-surprise' genre. "Luke Richardson has returned home after burying Natalie, his beloved wife of sixteen years, ready to face the hard job of raising their three children alone. But there’s something he’s not prepared for—a blue envelope with his name scrawled across the front in Natalie’s handwriting, waiting for him on the floor of their suburban Michigan home. The letter inside, written on the first day of Natalie’s cancer treatment a year ago, turns out to be the first of many." There was a lot more to this book than I would have guessed from the description. The sass and poignancy of the letters; the relationships he has with his children, Natalie's best friend and his mother-in-law; the other plot lines that weave together to make for a good mystery. I liked that the vulnerable protagonist was a male for a change.
So, Bookmarkers: I like hearing about what you ladies are reading but we seldom have time for those conversations at our meetings. So please take a couple of minutes to let the rest of us know what keeps you up for 'just one more chapter' before you go to bed!
Sister of Mine is a novel set in rural Northern Georgia just before and at the beginning of the Civil War. From the description on Amazon: "Adelaide Mannheim—daughter of Mordecai, the only Jewish planter in the county—was given her own maid, a young slave named Rachel. The two became friends, and soon they discovered a secret: Mordecai was Rachel’s father, too. As the country moved toward war, Adelaide and Rachel struggled to navigate their newfound sisterhood—from love and resentment to betrayal and, ultimately, forgiveness." I liked how the book explored two different characters' attitudes and beliefs as Jewish slave owners. Love story, family saga, history - this author explores and intertwines these themes beautifully.
An interesting note about the author: "Sabra Waldfogel grew up far from the South in Minneapolis. She studied history at Harvard University and received her Ph.D. in American History from the University of Minnesota and since then, has been fascinated by the drama of slavery and freedom in the decades before and after the Civil War."
When I'm Gone is a contemporary novel of the popular, easy/quick read 'you-thought-you-knew-your-spouse-but-boy-you-are-in-for-a-surprise' genre. "Luke Richardson has returned home after burying Natalie, his beloved wife of sixteen years, ready to face the hard job of raising their three children alone. But there’s something he’s not prepared for—a blue envelope with his name scrawled across the front in Natalie’s handwriting, waiting for him on the floor of their suburban Michigan home. The letter inside, written on the first day of Natalie’s cancer treatment a year ago, turns out to be the first of many." There was a lot more to this book than I would have guessed from the description. The sass and poignancy of the letters; the relationships he has with his children, Natalie's best friend and his mother-in-law; the other plot lines that weave together to make for a good mystery. I liked that the vulnerable protagonist was a male for a change.
So, Bookmarkers: I like hearing about what you ladies are reading but we seldom have time for those conversations at our meetings. So please take a couple of minutes to let the rest of us know what keeps you up for 'just one more chapter' before you go to bed!
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
April meeting recap
Kathy K., Kathy T., Deb, Susan, Patricia, Jackie and I (Mary T.) met at Deb's cafe to discuss Etta & Otto & Russell & James. We are curious to know who recommended the book, as no one in attendance claimed responsibility, and we had fun guessing. We'd really appreciate it if the person who did suggest the book do a short post telling us why you suggested it!
Hoping this won't dissuade you from revealing yourself, the comments leaned to the negative. Accepting the premise that the style was 'magic realism,' many of us were thrown off about 2/3 of the way through the book when Etta "became" Otto. Did she have dementia and imagine the whole story? What drove Etta's urge to get to the ocean? What was the symbolism of her journey, Otto's papier mache menagerie, the reporter who joined Etta briefly on her sojourn, etc.? Why didn't the guinea pig talk? She probably had all the answers! The author admitted she wrote the book "sporadically" and in a stream of consciousness mode, which could explain why it seemed disjointed. (Would love to get the editor's take on it!) Many of us were confused/disappointed with the ending and came to the meeting hoping someone else could explain it!
Maybe we can take a few minutes at the next meeting to get the perspective of the people who weren't at this meeting.
We'll meet on May 15 at the Coffee Grounds to discuss What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank, a collection of short stories by Nathan Englander.
Until then ... happy reading!
Hoping this won't dissuade you from revealing yourself, the comments leaned to the negative. Accepting the premise that the style was 'magic realism,' many of us were thrown off about 2/3 of the way through the book when Etta "became" Otto. Did she have dementia and imagine the whole story? What drove Etta's urge to get to the ocean? What was the symbolism of her journey, Otto's papier mache menagerie, the reporter who joined Etta briefly on her sojourn, etc.? Why didn't the guinea pig talk? She probably had all the answers! The author admitted she wrote the book "sporadically" and in a stream of consciousness mode, which could explain why it seemed disjointed. (Would love to get the editor's take on it!) Many of us were confused/disappointed with the ending and came to the meeting hoping someone else could explain it!
Maybe we can take a few minutes at the next meeting to get the perspective of the people who weren't at this meeting.
We'll meet on May 15 at the Coffee Grounds to discuss What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank, a collection of short stories by Nathan Englander.
Until then ... happy reading!
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
March meeting recap
Kathy K., Kathy T., Deb, Jan, Jeanne, Susan, Jackie and I (Mary T.) met at Deb's (a last-minute change of venue) to discuss Circling the Sun by Paula McLain. Jackie had recommended the book, and conversation lasted almost the whole hour!
The book is a fictionalized account of the true story of Beryl Markham, a woman who was born in England but was raised by her father in Africa. Her mother had traveled to Africa with them but quickly realized it was't her 'cup of tea,' and she fled back to England. Beryl grew up to be a very strong and independent woman, ahead of her time in many ways, but permanently scarred by her mother's abandonment.
Susan had read Beryl's autobiography, West with the Night, (as had Jeri) and a couple of other books about some of the other people in the Happy Valley group of British ex-pats. Several people also brought up the movie Out of Africa, based on the autobiography of Karen Blixner (writing under the pseudonym Isak Dinesen), the other 1/3 of the love triangle with Beryl and Denys Fitch-Something-or-Other. We talked about some of the differences between Circling the Sun and these other works. Jan wondered why the author would attempt to fictionalize an already well-documented life and we discussed the challenges of doing so. I questioned why, if Beryl was primarily known for her aviation accomplishments, was so little of the book devoted to that part of her life? We also psychoanalyzed why Beryl, who grew up as such a strong and independent child and teenager, spent her adult life in serial dysfunctional relationships with men.
We all agreed we liked the book -- the author provided vivid descriptions of the locations in Africa and well-developed characterizations of the many characters (in several senses of the word!) in Beryl's life, and piqued the interest of several of us in reading her autobiography and viewing Out of Africa (which was released in late 1985, starred Robert Redford and Meryl Streep and earned 7 Academy Awards).
April meeting will be at Deb's again (the cafe', not Debbie's home!) on April 17 and we will discuss Etta & Otto & Russell & James by Emma Hooper.
P.S.: I'd like to have a conversation sometime about the pros and cons of reading book reviews before reading a book and how that influences our perceptions and expectations.
The book is a fictionalized account of the true story of Beryl Markham, a woman who was born in England but was raised by her father in Africa. Her mother had traveled to Africa with them but quickly realized it was't her 'cup of tea,' and she fled back to England. Beryl grew up to be a very strong and independent woman, ahead of her time in many ways, but permanently scarred by her mother's abandonment.
Susan had read Beryl's autobiography, West with the Night, (as had Jeri) and a couple of other books about some of the other people in the Happy Valley group of British ex-pats. Several people also brought up the movie Out of Africa, based on the autobiography of Karen Blixner (writing under the pseudonym Isak Dinesen), the other 1/3 of the love triangle with Beryl and Denys Fitch-Something-or-Other. We talked about some of the differences between Circling the Sun and these other works. Jan wondered why the author would attempt to fictionalize an already well-documented life and we discussed the challenges of doing so. I questioned why, if Beryl was primarily known for her aviation accomplishments, was so little of the book devoted to that part of her life? We also psychoanalyzed why Beryl, who grew up as such a strong and independent child and teenager, spent her adult life in serial dysfunctional relationships with men.
We all agreed we liked the book -- the author provided vivid descriptions of the locations in Africa and well-developed characterizations of the many characters (in several senses of the word!) in Beryl's life, and piqued the interest of several of us in reading her autobiography and viewing Out of Africa (which was released in late 1985, starred Robert Redford and Meryl Streep and earned 7 Academy Awards).
April meeting will be at Deb's again (the cafe', not Debbie's home!) on April 17 and we will discuss Etta & Otto & Russell & James by Emma Hooper.
P.S.: I'd like to have a conversation sometime about the pros and cons of reading book reviews before reading a book and how that influences our perceptions and expectations.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
A photo essay in honor of International Women's Day 2017
An interesting compilation
of photos of women at work 100 years ago. Many of the original captions reveal
the biases of the times: a woman driving a tractor is referred to as a
"farmerette" ... one of the best machinists in Maine, and the only
female, is "5 feet, 4 inches in height, 39 bust, 39 hips, 20 waist and can lift 400
pounds” (that's probably the only relevant fact) … and notice the shoes on the woman building an airplane in #12.
(I couldn't get the link to work so you'll need to copy and paste it into your browser.)
(I couldn't get the link to work so you'll need to copy and paste it into your browser.)
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2017/03/women-at-work-in-1917/518964/?utm_source=nl-atlantic-photo-030817
Friday, March 10, 2017
West with the Night
When I went to purchase Circling the Sun (this month’s book club selection) for my Kindle, I read numerous reviews. Many of them were unfavorable (for example, Alexandra Fuller in the New York Times) and a couple of them mentioned West with the Night – Beryl Markham’s memoir.
I read that Ernest Hemingway said the following about her memoir: “This girl, who is to my knowledge very unpleasant and we might even say a high-grade bitch, can write rings around all of us who consider ourselves as writers.” I wonder what a “high-grade bitch” in the 1940s amounted to. Independent? Entreprenuerial? Divorced? Sexually active?
Anyway, I opted to read her memoir instead of our chosen book.
The memoir was published in 1942. In it she talks about her adventures and experiences, but not any of her romances. From her descriptions of the men in the book, you might guess at them. The attitude of the times (mid 1930s) is also evident. For example, she helped scout male elephants for safaris. Of course, those elephants would be killed for their ivory. What really came through for me, though, was the loving descriptions of Kenya, horses, and flying.
So, let me get this straight. She could train horses, fly planes, and write beautifully. Apparently that last bit is in question. I read on Wikipedia (so it has to be true) that it was rumored her third husband actually wrote it. Another version suggests that she wrote it, but her third husband edited the manuscript.
In any event, the writing is a joy to read. I highly recommend it.
I read that Ernest Hemingway said the following about her memoir: “This girl, who is to my knowledge very unpleasant and we might even say a high-grade bitch, can write rings around all of us who consider ourselves as writers.” I wonder what a “high-grade bitch” in the 1940s amounted to. Independent? Entreprenuerial? Divorced? Sexually active?
Anyway, I opted to read her memoir instead of our chosen book.
The memoir was published in 1942. In it she talks about her adventures and experiences, but not any of her romances. From her descriptions of the men in the book, you might guess at them. The attitude of the times (mid 1930s) is also evident. For example, she helped scout male elephants for safaris. Of course, those elephants would be killed for their ivory. What really came through for me, though, was the loving descriptions of Kenya, horses, and flying.
So, let me get this straight. She could train horses, fly planes, and write beautifully. Apparently that last bit is in question. I read on Wikipedia (so it has to be true) that it was rumored her third husband actually wrote it. Another version suggests that she wrote it, but her third husband edited the manuscript.
In any event, the writing is a joy to read. I highly recommend it.
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Lucky me!
As suggested, I am posting a pic of my prize for being "post-ess the most-est" - along with evidence that I have been a passionate reader almost forever!
Thursday, February 23, 2017
The card I received from Debbie
I
got a recipe for what look to be scrumptious cranberry oat bars.
It
was printed on the back of this card featuring an adorable holiday kitten.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
An Invisible Thread: The true story of the bond between a harried sales executive an eleven-year-old panhandler and an unlikely meeting with destiny
I devoured this book in 2 days. Not only was it a nice change of pace from the dark novels I've been reading, but it was an amazing story of 2 people whose 'chance' meeting seems predestined. Although completely different in almost all ways, Laura (a white female 30-something Manhattan executive) & Maurice (a black & nearly homeless boy) develop a friendship that has survived for 30 years. Laura provides Maurice with safety, consistency and nonjudgmental love until he is in his late teens. Then she gets married and moves away, and Maurice is on his own. He has learned street survival skills but also has learned the difference between right and wrong, and despite some poor choices he matures into a good man. She feels remorse for feeling like she abandoned him and he is embarrassed because he thinks he disappointed her, but they do reunite after a few years.
Throughout the book we learn how he overcame growing up in his dysfunctional, criminal, addicted family and his desperate living conditions, and about how Laura survived growing up with her dysfunctional, violent, alcoholic father. "Resilient" is the word I would use to describe these 2 people, and even through their disappointment with each other, the bond of trust and affection was never completely broken.
I don't think it's a spoiler alert to suggest that, if you like having a picture of the characters in your head while you are reading, go to the pictures at the end of the book (they were at the end on Kindle) and see them throughout the years - or just check out a few pictures at a time as the timeline plays out!
Throughout the book we learn how he overcame growing up in his dysfunctional, criminal, addicted family and his desperate living conditions, and about how Laura survived growing up with her dysfunctional, violent, alcoholic father. "Resilient" is the word I would use to describe these 2 people, and even through their disappointment with each other, the bond of trust and affection was never completely broken.
I don't think it's a spoiler alert to suggest that, if you like having a picture of the characters in your head while you are reading, go to the pictures at the end of the book (they were at the end on Kindle) and see them throughout the years - or just check out a few pictures at a time as the timeline plays out!
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
When You’re Not Feeling Well
What better company than a good book and a cute kitty? I’ve been home the last couple of days and have been reading Commonwealth by Ann Patchet. This book made quite a few lists for books to read in 2016.
It is the story of two families connected by divorce – blended families, step siblings – covering almost 60 years. It goes back and forth in time, although I think this is handled pretty well. I’m not sure about that. If I was having to read this in 20-minute installments just before sleep each night, I don’t know if I could keep everything straight. But, I read it in just a couple of days while I was home sick.
Even though I couldn’t relate to the blended family situation, I thought the characters were distinct, well-drawn, and interesting. We get to know the children by observing them, from what their siblings say about them, and from what their siblings say about them once they’re grown. Life takes them in many different directions. The relationships pull apart and come back together.
The only other book by Ann Patchet that I’ve read is State of Wonder, which we read for book club. Although that was fantastical, I remember it as being readable and compelling. In Commonwealth, she takes on ordinary life. I again found her writing enjoyable to read and the book (and this kitty) was good company while I was under the weather.
It is the story of two families connected by divorce – blended families, step siblings – covering almost 60 years. It goes back and forth in time, although I think this is handled pretty well. I’m not sure about that. If I was having to read this in 20-minute installments just before sleep each night, I don’t know if I could keep everything straight. But, I read it in just a couple of days while I was home sick.
Even though I couldn’t relate to the blended family situation, I thought the characters were distinct, well-drawn, and interesting. We get to know the children by observing them, from what their siblings say about them, and from what their siblings say about them once they’re grown. Life takes them in many different directions. The relationships pull apart and come back together.
The only other book by Ann Patchet that I’ve read is State of Wonder, which we read for book club. Although that was fantastical, I remember it as being readable and compelling. In Commonwealth, she takes on ordinary life. I again found her writing enjoyable to read and the book (and this kitty) was good company while I was under the weather.
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Ever Read Someone Else’s Diary?
My husband bought me A Life Discarded: 148 Diaries Found in the Trash by Alexander Masters. It is a biography procedural, if there is such a thing. It’s a true story. The author obtains these diaries, which were rescued from a dumpster (called a skip because it takes place in England). The book is the biography of the unknown diarist.
Masters reads a bit, makes an assumption, then investigates it. Sometimes he completes a bit of his puzzle, sometimes he finds he was way off. Through it all, a picture of the diarist begins to form for us. I can’t tell you how it ends, because that would ruin it for you if you read it. It really is like solving a mystery.
In the first quarter of the book I was a bit bored with a lot of the description. In the next 50% I was pretty sure I didn’t like the person we were coming to know, and I wondered why he even bothered. When I came to the end, I had to admit that I liked the book, liked the technique, and even liked the diarist (flaws and all).
One last comment: You all know that I read almost exclusively on Kindle. This book has many photos and images from the diary. Although I could enlarge them on my Kindle, the resolution and appearance was not satisfying. That was disappointing because I think they certainly add to the book and his descriptions of why and what he was investigating at any given time (e.g., handwriting analysis). You might enjoy a print copy best.
Masters reads a bit, makes an assumption, then investigates it. Sometimes he completes a bit of his puzzle, sometimes he finds he was way off. Through it all, a picture of the diarist begins to form for us. I can’t tell you how it ends, because that would ruin it for you if you read it. It really is like solving a mystery.
In the first quarter of the book I was a bit bored with a lot of the description. In the next 50% I was pretty sure I didn’t like the person we were coming to know, and I wondered why he even bothered. When I came to the end, I had to admit that I liked the book, liked the technique, and even liked the diarist (flaws and all).
One last comment: You all know that I read almost exclusively on Kindle. This book has many photos and images from the diary. Although I could enlarge them on my Kindle, the resolution and appearance was not satisfying. That was disappointing because I think they certainly add to the book and his descriptions of why and what he was investigating at any given time (e.g., handwriting analysis). You might enjoy a print copy best.
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Easy reading & heartwarming but not sappy
I've just finished my third book by Catherine Ryan Hyde and would recommend them (and probably others by this very prolific writer), if you're looking for something uplifting but not too sweet.
The plot lines are different, but I've noticed that in each of these books, strangers are brought together and become closer than family -- then circumstances intervene that separate them. Resolution doesn't come quickly; often years go by before the characters find out what happened to each other.
In Take Me With You, August Shroeder, a burned-out teacher, has been sober since his nineteen-year-old son died. Every year he’s spent the summer on the road with his son, but now August is making the trip with Philip’s ashes instead. An unexpected twist of fate lands August with two extra passengers for his journey, two half-orphans with nowhere else to go.
In When I Found You, childless, middle-aged Nathan McCann finds a newborn abandoned in the woods. Fifteen years later, the widowed Nathan discovers the child abandoned once again—this time at his doorstep. The teenager has grown into a sullen delinquent whose grandmother can no longer tolerate him. Nathan agrees to care for him, and the two engage in a battle of wills that spans years. Still, the older man repeatedly assures the youngster that, unlike the rest of the world, he will never abandon him ...
In Don't Let Me Go, Former Broadway dancer and current agoraphobic Billy Shine has not set foot outside his apartment in almost a decade. He has glimpsed his neighbors—beautiful manicurist Rayleen, lonely old Ms. Hinman, bigoted and angry Mr. Lafferty, kind-hearted Felipe, and 9-year-old Grace and her former addict mother Eileen. But most of them have never seen Billy -- until Grace begins to sit outside on the building’s front stoop for hours every day, inches from Billy’s patio. When Billy makes it far enough out onto his porch to ask Grace why she doesn’t sit inside where it’s safe. Her answer: “If I sit inside, then nobody will know I’m in trouble. And then nobody will help me.”
These have been my "in-between" books recently. Now on to something else. I'm anxious to find out what we'll be reading for Feb.!
The plot lines are different, but I've noticed that in each of these books, strangers are brought together and become closer than family -- then circumstances intervene that separate them. Resolution doesn't come quickly; often years go by before the characters find out what happened to each other.
In Take Me With You, August Shroeder, a burned-out teacher, has been sober since his nineteen-year-old son died. Every year he’s spent the summer on the road with his son, but now August is making the trip with Philip’s ashes instead. An unexpected twist of fate lands August with two extra passengers for his journey, two half-orphans with nowhere else to go.
In When I Found You, childless, middle-aged Nathan McCann finds a newborn abandoned in the woods. Fifteen years later, the widowed Nathan discovers the child abandoned once again—this time at his doorstep. The teenager has grown into a sullen delinquent whose grandmother can no longer tolerate him. Nathan agrees to care for him, and the two engage in a battle of wills that spans years. Still, the older man repeatedly assures the youngster that, unlike the rest of the world, he will never abandon him ...
In Don't Let Me Go, Former Broadway dancer and current agoraphobic Billy Shine has not set foot outside his apartment in almost a decade. He has glimpsed his neighbors—beautiful manicurist Rayleen, lonely old Ms. Hinman, bigoted and angry Mr. Lafferty, kind-hearted Felipe, and 9-year-old Grace and her former addict mother Eileen. But most of them have never seen Billy -- until Grace begins to sit outside on the building’s front stoop for hours every day, inches from Billy’s patio. When Billy makes it far enough out onto his porch to ask Grace why she doesn’t sit inside where it’s safe. Her answer: “If I sit inside, then nobody will know I’m in trouble. And then nobody will help me.”
These have been my "in-between" books recently. Now on to something else. I'm anxious to find out what we'll be reading for Feb.!
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