a collection of tried and true
In the early 1960’s a beautiful American woman arrives on the dock of a tiny island off the coast of Italy and the twenty something Italian owner of the small hotel falls in love at first site. This triggers many overlapping, jumping around stories set in Italy, Hollywood, Florence, Portland and others covering over 50 years. A beautifully written novel that was very hard to put down. Funny, romantic, suspenseful and very moving. Best book I’ve read in a long time.
PJH Rating: Five stars
A nerdy girl’s experience as a freshman at Harvard. Not sure if the novel is 100% tongue in cheek but feel sorry for these kids if just a little bit of this is factual. A kind of annoying book.
PJH rating: ***
In a post apocalyptic world where 99.9% of the population has been wiped out, a man and his dog survives in rural Colarado. Told from his fever damaged brain’s viewpoint, it is frightening yet somehow hopeful. While it did take me awhile to get into it, this very unique novel is one of my favorites in a while and I didn’t want it to end.
PJH Rating: ****1/2
The mother and father of a family with four children both die soon after each other. The children put their mother in a trunk in the basement and pour concrete over so nobody knows that both their parents are dead. Creepy book. (very creepy)
PJH rating ***
14 year old Jewish boy in late 1930’s Germany learns to box as his world caves in. Max Schmeling becomes his coach and ultimate savior.
PJH Rating: ****
Point of view goes back and forth between a husband and wife whose marriage has gone completely wrong and the wife has gone missing. A good fun read with twists and turns everywhere.
PJH Rating: ****
Harold Fry, a recently retired office worker in southern England, receives a letter from a past friend informing him that she is dying of cancer. Harold writes a letter back to her. On the way to the post office to deliver the letter, he decides to walk to visit her instead…500 miles away…a journey that takes months.
PJH rating: ****
A brother and sister in deep rural Georgia leave home, the brother to Korean War, the sister to various jobs ending as a victim of medical experimentation. The war damaged son rescues his sister and they end up back home in their small town. Short, interesting, well written novel.
Set in the mid 1980’s an 11 year old girl’s uncle is dying from AIDS. After his death she meets his lover and learns more about herself, her uncle and her family. Excellent book. Highly recommend.
PJH Rating: ****1/2
Set in 1915ish England, a man moves into a large manor house as the young son’s tutor and schemes and sleeps with everyone. Second half of book has him traveling to south Africa. Awful, trashy book. Not sure why I kept reading it.
Pjh rating: **
Eat On Edgecliff 