All in Fiction
Considering the list of “books I should have read, but somehow never did,” Catch-22 was at the top. Had it not been for my son and his self-generated challenge to read some of the books he had never read, I may never have tackled this one. Oh! And then Hulu recently produced Catch-22 as a six-part series starring George Clooney, which further incentivized me to read the book.
Anathem is almost 1,000 pages long, and way outside my comfort zone of usual genres. It took me almost 200 pages to start enjoying it, but once I was in, I was ALL IN! The book is an incredibly crafted work of what the author himself calls “speculative fiction.” This means it takes place on an imagined planet with an imagined history, vocabulary, political landscape, etc. Having said that, if you can get past the made-up words, and allow yourself to be confused for a little while, the planet Arden begins to resemble Earth in more ways than one.
For those who are confused: no, there is not a new Harry Potter novel out. This is the published script of the play that is currently performing on Broadway and the West End in London, and it is a delight!
When I started this book I knew absolutely nothing about Mt. Everest or any of the people who have climbed it. I had no idea who the first person was to make it to the top. But even if you are someone who knows a lot of Everest history, I think this will still be an extremely enjoyable book, just a bit less suspenseful.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
One good thing about having a long reading list, is sometimes by the time I get around to reading a book, the buzz has subsided and I can’t remember what all the fuss was about. I feel like I came to Go Set A Watchman with almost no preconceived notions except that I remembered that Harper Lee had written To Kill A Mockingbird, which I haven’t read since I was 12.
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.
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.
At the other end of the spectrum of writing, this suspenseful beach read will keep you turning the pages with ease.
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.
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.
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.
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.
