a collection of tried and true
A memoir written by Ann Patchett, one of my favorite authors, about her friendship with Lucy Grealy who also was an author. They meet after college and both struggle but eventually find success as authors. Lucy’s facial disfiguration from a childhood illness is her obsession, her crutch and eventually leads to her tragic downfall. I really liked this short book and couldn’t put it down…just like all of her fiction that I have read.
PJH Rating: ****1/2
The story of Masada as told by four different Jewish women whose history and families intertwine. I think I like the book jacket better than the actual novel, but nevertheless it was a good read.
PJH Rating: Three and 1/2 stars
(I only read 1 book on vacation. Yikes that’s terrible! I need to get out of my rut)
A thirteen year old alligator wrestler who has grown up in a south Florida island faces many changes after her mother dies in. Her eccentric family operates an old amusement park/alligator zoo on their island and face reality as people stop coming. Creative, quirky, interesting book.
PJH Rating: Four Stars
Short british novel that took me forever to read. That must mean something. Main character in his 60s or 70s looks back to group he was going to school with and women who he dated. One of the friends, who ended up dating his ex-girlfriend, kills himself which leads to events decades later. Interesting story and ending…but not too into it though.
PJH rating: three stars
A 22 year old homeless boy lives under an interstate bridge in large Miami-like city because he is a convicted child molester and is not allowed to live close to anywhere where children might be. He meets a hugely obese college professor who is doing research on homelessness and other things. No one is quite who they seem to be and still not sure by the end of the book. I really liked the main character and and you root for him to get out of his hole. A different, very readable book that is hard to shake once you’re finished and hard to put your finger on. I liked it though.
PJH rating: 4 stars.
Set in late 19th century two young magicians are matched together in a competition set in a dream like circus. They eventually fall in love and work to get out of their destiny of doom. I wanted to like this book but it was one of those books I just couldn’t get into. The setting and the circus was interesting, but the plot wasn’t too exciting and I never really got it to tell you the truth. I did finish it though so it wasn’t bad. I just read they are making it into a movie which should be interesting.
PJH rating: three & 1/2 stars
Crazy book that’s hard to explain. I would say it’s mostly a group of short stories that are loosely interconnected by random people that are in the other stories. Goes back to the early 80’s and then out into the future. One chapter is powerpoint slides. crazy. Some of the chapters are excellent. Some are not as much. I usually don’t re-read books but once I finished this one I wanted to re-read as it jumps around so much. Good read though and recommend it for the adventurous.
PJH rating: 4 stars.
A couple in London gets together for the first time on the day they both graduate from college. The book follows them on the same day of the year for the next 20 years or so as they go in and out of relationships and eventually….spoiler alert if anyone is reading this……….get married…gasp…and then eventually she gets hit by a bus. It’s a good read though, but I thought it was very sad on different levels and the main guy character is a douche bag (well in my opinion anyways). I notice the picture I posted is from the movie they made of the novel a few years ago which I remember got very bad reviews. I could understand as their really isn’t much action in the book. But I’m curious to see how they made the book into a movie. I hope it’s on netflix….our new best friend.
PJH rating: three and 1/2 stars
The tale of outcast Oscar Wao told in relation to his mother, his sister and his sister’s boyfriend. Mostly set in the Dominican Republic and later in New York and New Jersey. Lot’s of spanish in book that I didn’t get, but a good story and interesting reading about the craziness of Dominican Republic under Trujillo.
PJH Rating: Four stars
Have read several other books by David Guterson. Snow Falling on Cedars is one of my all time favorites. This one follows Ed King, whose 15 year old mother gave him up on a doorstop and he ended up being a huge technology guy – aka Bill Gates / Steve Jobs. It’s a crazy modern take on Oedipus Rex so you basically know what’s going to happen which is part of the fun. The novel is told from several different points of view, his mother, his father and his. His mother was my favorite. Definitely a good read.
PJH Rating: 4 stars
Eat On Edgecliff 