(I’m afraid these are all adult books).
This is simply in the order I’ve read them, starting around June 25th.
“This is Where I Leave You” by Jonathan Tropper. Oh Lordy, what a funny, funny book. I wish I could write a book like this. For anyone whose family is even mildly dysfunctional (aren’t they all?), this might be a book for you (unless the memories are too painful, in which case you may want to take a pass – although you might wind up thinking, “Hey, at least my family isn’t as screwed up as Judd Foxman’s!”). There were a lot of laugh-out-loud moments in this book, but it also tugged the ol’ heartstrings too, and spoke many truths. Rating: 4.5 out of 5
“Blame” by Michelle Huneven. I liked the ride of the read, if that makes sense, but I’m not sure the characters will stay with me. Still, an interesting story of personal responsibility, guilt, and misplaced guilt. A woman radically changes/overhauls her life after she commits a terrible crime … or did she? Definitely worth picking up, good summer reading. Rating: 3.5 out of 5
“Little Bee” by Chris Cleaver. This is a fascinating book, for more reasons than one. First, the marketing of the book on the back cover – check it out. It makes you want to read the book. Two, for the first half to two-thirds, it was one of the most exciting new voices (new to me) I’d ever read. Two beautifully wrought female characters with very distinct voices – plus just a gripping, gripping story – I won’t even give you a hint because you must read it on your own and discover it. HOWEVER – it felt like, after the first half to two-thirds that the author died, and his publisher hired a lesser writer to finish the job. Another character in the book is dull as dishwater, a cipher (perhaps meant to represent the everyman, or us?). The last portion was a big letdown … maudlin and unconvincing where the first part had been utterly believable and mind-blowing. Still – very very worth reading. Rating: 3.5 out of 5
“Await Your Reply” by Dan Chaon. One of my great joys this summer has been discovering new authors. When I say “new,” I mean new to me – this guy has, I think, written four novels already. I picked this one up (along with “Little Bee”) at Powell Books in Portland, Oregon on our roadtrip this summer. This was a total page-turner, a literary suspense/thriller that starts with the incredible image of a father driving his son to the local hospital – the son’s severed hand sitting in a cooler between them. It’s about identity, loss of identity … Follows three seemingly unconnected stories … it’s truly gripping. A writer with a dark mind. Delicious. Rating: 4 out of 5
“In the Woods” by Tana French. A mass paperback mystery by a new writer. I loved this book – for a short while only. I loved that she gave her detective a cynical sense of humour. This wasn’t typical dour and moody British Isles detective fiction, although it had a good bloody crime and serious issues at heart. BUT. And this is a huge BUT. She (and her editors) committed what I believe is a cardinal sin: A mystery from the detective’s past is brought to the forefront thanks to a recent crime … big passages are spent with him trying to remember what happened in the past (he was the only witness) … lame excuses are made as to why he’s never tried hypnosis (duh – why wouldn’t he, under the circumstances) … and the mystery from the past – in spite of being how they sell the book on the back cover – never gets solved. ????WTF???? Total letdown, and irritating to boot – this is genre writing, after all, and certain rules must be followed. Sure, bend them, but don’t break them – especially if your tale isn’t nearly strong enough to get away with it. I felt ripped off – like I’d wasted my time. Rating: 1 out of 5
“Lit – A Memoir” by Mary Karr. For any of you who’ve read “The Liar’s Club,” you’ll know what an amazing writer Karr is. You can see that she’s a poet as well. And she’s so funny and open about her own flaws. And there are a lot of them in this memoir, especially when she’s in the sauce. This is the story of her road to recovery and, unexpectedly, religion. Great read. Rating: 5 out of 5
Currently I’m reading “When Will There Be Good News?” by Kate Atkinson – it’s a total page-turner so far, but I’ll wait till I’m done reading it. Sitting next to it, waiting, is a Carl Hiassen hardcover that I picked up for a buck at Pender Island’s brilliant “Nu to Yu” store – I look forward to it – it’s called “Skinny Dip.”
Oh, and just to idly name-drop – “Word Nerd” is on a short list along with one of Carl Hiassen’s books, for the 2011 Rhode Island Teen Book Award. My brush with greatness. How cool is that?
