Some unsolicited thoughts and opinions from a mother and daughter who love reading and talking about books!

Categories

All in Fiction

Apr 18

Apr 18 FIERCE KINGDOM

Fiction, Beach Reads

I first heard the term “child peril lit” many years ago when my Jodi Picoult obsession was at its peak. It so perfectly describes the genre that it suggests why someone might be drawn to it. You know: that feeling that reading about it somehow protects you and your family. Now that I have a daughter, I’m not sure that psychology is so useful for me anymore. In fact it seems to lessen my enjoyment of a book, taking me out because I can’t allow myself to get as emotionally involved out of self-protection.

YOU THINK IT, I'LL SAY IT

Apr 18

Apr 18 YOU THINK IT, I'LL SAY IT

Fiction, Short Story Collections

For me to pick up a book of short stories to read -- when it hasn’t been selected by one or another of my book clubs -- is unusual, to say the least. I must have received some sort of silent signal that this collection was going to knock my socks off. Curtis Sittenfeld wrote the books Prep andEligible, both great reads. I share with you now that she also writes great short stories.

AMERICAN PASTORAL

Mar 21

Mar 21 AMERICAN PASTORAL

Fiction, Prize Winners & Finalists

I found it funny how many people, when they saw the cover of American Pastoral over the weeks that I was reading it, stopped me and said, ‘Oh, that is one of my favorite books!’ It sparked a great conversation about other Roth books with my mom, in which I realized I have only read one other,Indignation.

Mar 21

Mar 21 AMERICANAH

I know I am a bit late to the party, but I LOVED this book! Honestly, all this time it’s been on my to-read list, I thought it was non-fiction. So I was thrilled to discover a smart, funny novel so full of love and thoughtfulness.

Feb 21

Feb 21 CLOCK DANCE

Anne Tyler has written more than 20 novels and after reading Clock Dance, I’m wondering why I haven’t read more of them. This is a quick and easy read with a really good story line.

Feb 21

Feb 21 THE ALCHEMIST

Classics, Fiction

For me The Alchemist is the perfect example of that category of books—super famous, oft-quoted but that I only pretend to have read. Embarrassing confession: I actually read a passage from The Alchemist at my brother and sister-in-law’s wedding without having read the book. But now I have and I need hide my ignorance no longer!

THE BEST KIND OF PEOPLE

Jan 17

Jan 17 THE BEST KIND OF PEOPLE

Fiction, Canadian Authors, Prize Winners & Finalists

If you are looking for an absorbing read about lives falling apart, look no further. Set in a small town in Connecticut, the book begins with a beloved teacher and town hero being accused of sexual misconduct by several of his teenage students. He is arrested and held without bail until his trial.

Jan 17

Jan 17 11/22/63

Stephen King is not one of my go-to authors. I read The Shining way back when I was in college and decided that scaring myself silly wasn’t really my idea of a good read. That probably explains why I was totally unaware that King had published a prize-winning novel of a different sort that puts a man in the position to alter history by traveling back to 1963 and trying to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Nov 15

Nov 15 UNSHELTERED

Unsheltered is the best book I’ve read in a very long time! I can’t recommend it highly enough. Barbara Kingsolver is a master storyteller who creates sympathetic characters. Her dialogue is as realistic and believable as any I’ve ever read.

THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW

Nov 15

Nov 15 THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW

Fiction, Mysteries and Thrillers

Psychological thriller is not a genre I gravitate toward with any regularity. So when my Bates Boston Alumna book club selected The Woman in the Windowas one of our reads, I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it. Well, it is a page-turner and a book that you will have a very hard time putting down until you’ve figured out all the story’s twists and turns.

MY HUSBAND'S WIFE

Oct 18

Oct 18 MY HUSBAND'S WIFE

Fiction, Mysteries and Thrillers

At the other end of the spectrum of writing, this suspenseful beach read will keep you turning the pages with ease.

NEWS OF THE WORLD

Oct 18

Oct 18 NEWS OF THE WORLD

Continuing this month’s theme (for me) of books that ended up surprising me, I heartily recommend News of The World. From the opening pages, I loved Jiles’ writing style. In fact, the author description on the jacket lists her first as a poet, second as a memoirist and third as a novelist. Her use of language is gorgeous--very poetic and very cinematic. The pace of the novel was where I had difficulty.

THE STONE CARVERS

Oct 18

Oct 18 THE STONE CARVERS

Fiction, Historical Fiction, Canadian Authors

In my continuing quest to learn more Canadian history without actually picking up a textbook, Jane Urquhart is becoming one of my favorite authors. I absolutely loved her book Away about several generations of Irish women and their family’s immigration to Canada. The Stone Carvers is similarly well written, if slightly less absorbing.

Sep 20

Sep 20 LESS

Fiction, Prize Winners & Finalists

When reading a Pulitzer prize winning novel, I find myself not only enjoying the read, but also wondering what it is about the novel that made it worthy of such distinguished recognition. Less is the absolutely charming story of Arthur Less who is approaching his 50th birthday, realizing his mortality and coming to terms with his less-than-notable writing career.

THE ALICE NETWORK

Sep 20

Sep 20 THE ALICE NETWORK

Fiction, Historical Fiction

Have you noticed how many wonderful novels have been published recently about women and the various interesting roles they played during the World Wars? FromThe Nightengale by Kristen Hannah to The Women In The Castle by Jessica Shattuck toManhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan to Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly to Atomic City Girlsby Janet Beard, we can now experience through historical fiction some of the important ways women contributed to the war efforts. The most recent book I’ve read in this genre and absolutely loved is The Alice Network.

THE ART OF FIELDING

Sep 20

Sep 20 THE ART OF FIELDING

Incredibly popular when it was released in 2011,The Art of Fielding has been sitting on my shelf for quite some time. It’s intimidatingly thick, and although I love baseball, I wasn’t sure I wanted to commit to such a long read on the topic. But boy, was I ever missing out!

Sep 20

Sep 20 SWEETBITTER

Fiction, Popular Books

Another popular read, which I am a bit late getting around to,Sweetbitter was every bit as entertaining as promised. I have not watched the television adaptation, but I can imagine it is also quite fun.

NEVER LET ME GO

Aug 16

Aug 16 NEVER LET ME GO

Fiction, Dystopian, Prize Winners & Finalists

Continuing the dystopian theme, I recently got around to reading this 2005 Pulitzer Prize-winner and completely loved it. Unlike The Girl with all the Gifts, an action packed story where everything goes wrong, in Ishiguro’s dystopia, it is almost hard to distinguish the differences between his world and ours.

THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS

Aug 16

Aug 16 THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS

Dystopian, Fiction

Full disclosure, Dan and I listened to this one on tape, so I can’t technically say that I “read” it, but what I can enthusiastically say, is go read/listen to it! The audiobook is read by Finty Williams, who is an incredible voice over artist (and actress), which certainly increased my enjoyment.