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Book Review :: Rules of Civility

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Twelve pages from the end of Rules of Civility, Amor Towels, in the voice of Tinker Grey, describes Manhattan as “so improbable, so wonderful, so obviously full of promise – that you wanted to approach it for the rest of your life without ever quite arriving.

This is precisely how I felt while reading Towels’ 2011 debut novel. In fact, after my first sitting, I took to Twitter to try and describe how I already felt:

This will likely be the best book I read in 2017.  I adored A Gentleman in Moscow, and people warned me that Rules of Civility is very different. And while they are right, what makes a book great for me – richly developed characters, their flawed relationships and a perfectly drawn time and place – is served up with precision and expertise. Again.

Rules of Civility begins with Kate and her husband at an art gallery. It’s the premier of a photography exhibit – portraits taken twenty-five years earlier, captured stealthily on a New York subway. Kate recognizes one of the subjects, and further realizes he appears in two photos. But so dissimilar is his appearance in the second, only a close observer would see the redundancy. In the first, he’s gaunt and disheveled, in need of a shave. It’s an accurate portrait of the realities of the City. In the second, he is impeccably dressed, the epitome of promise and an equal truth of what the City can offer. 

The dichotomy of the portraits, and the understanding that they don’t depict a tale of rags to riches but one of opulence to obscurity, ushers in Kate’s story of 1938, when on the eve of the year, she and her boarding house roommate meet a dashing stranger named Tinker Grey. With this chance encounter comes a year of opportunity among the City’s elite and those striving to be so. And the lesson that the difference between the two is often tough to distinguish.

I forced myself to take more than a week to finish it. The story begs to be discussed. To delve into the complexities of the characters and swap favorite quotes that cut poignantly at the human condition or just perfectly capture a common regard.

Balmy breeze, turquoise seas, Caribbean rum, these are well-established aphrodisiacs. But so too are proximity and necessity and the threat of despair. 

Not only did they have manners, they thought them worth preserving.

[I]n moments of high emotion…if the next thing you’re going to say makes you feel better, then it’s probably the wrong thing to say.

Most people have more needs than wants. That’s why they live the lives they do. But the world is run by those whose wants outstrip their needs. 

And while I could go on and on, I would rather you spend the time finding a copy for yourself.


On Reading :: Changing Things Up

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My reading style has changed this year. Not so much what I read, but how I read. I posted a few weeks ago about some of the podcasts that I’ve fallen for and mentioned that listening to podcasts has severely cut into the time I used to spend listening to audio books. A quick glance to compare this year’s reading list to last year’s reading list and the change is obvious.

I’ve pondered this diversion, felt a tinge of guilt about it, and pondered it more. Where I’ve landed is that ultimately, I’m OK with the change. Many of the podcasts I’m listening too, if they aren’t completely focused on books, refer to books often. And in some ways, this is as fulfilling as listening to an audio book. It’s like listening in on a book club discussion, which as most readers agree, adds to the personal experience of reading.

But to be OK with reading fewer books makes want to be more intentional about the books I DO choose to read. My ultimate goal is to spend more time reading quality – books that are really good. Which is what this post is really about.

I have an out of control TBR list. At the same time, the book that I’m typically currently reading tends to be not from that list but a new one that I’ve picked up. So, it feels like the TBR pile grows and grows, and I’m never making progress. (Those bookish podcasts – yeah, they don’t help on this front either.) But when I look at the books on my Goodreads TBR list, I’m reminded about those selections that I really do want to pick up.

     Intentional Reading Stack

So, I’m trying something new. In early September I figured out that I want to read at least 16 more books in 2017. That’s approximately a book a week – very doable. I went through my shelves, my Kindle, my book club’s selections and my Goodreads TBR list and picked out 12 books to commit to reading in the next four months. (Two are re-reads.) That leaves room for four others that just get picked up.

Of the ones I own, I pulled from my shelves and made a stack. I made a list of all twelve on my white board, and when I start a new one, it moves from one side to the other. And I set a daily reading goal to keep me on pace – at least 14% of a book each day.

So far, it is working. I’ve finished five and am nearly half way through two more. I’m hoping that when the end of December comes, even if I haven’t read as much, I’ll feel satisfied with what I’ve accomplished and (perhaps) will feel some semblance of control of that pesky TBR pile.

Book Review :: A Little Life

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Rare is it that I give a book five stars but readily say, this book isn’t for everyone. But I’m saying that with A Little Life. I loved it. Loved it so much. And typically five stars from me means everyone should read it. Not this one.

A Little Life is the story of four men who meet in college and the friendship that grows among them that carries through the next three decades. As the narrative unfolds, the reader understands that Jude, the central figure, is a damaged soul, having endured what are quite literally for him, unspeakable acts of abuse for the first sixteen years of his life. Jude, a “foundling” at birth, adapts into a high-functioning but relationally stunted adult that, perhaps because he is damaged, everyone around him is drawn to.

Hanya Yangihara’s writing is elegant. At more than 800 pages, it is neither extraneous or tedious, which is quite the feat. Beginning with the four friends’ embarking on New York City post graduation, she moves through their individual rises to success in various fields – law, art, theater and architecture – while at the same time moving backward, portioning out Jude’s past in just barely digestible bits.

A Little Life sets in front of us the very best and the very worst of relationships – friends, lovers, parents. It questions how we define peace or joy or wellness. Ultimately, it begs us to consider if it is possible to be beyond hope. Are some people too damaged to be made whole?

This is a book that will wreck you. I was torn with compassion for Jude, finding myself, like the other characters, compelled to try and heal him. I wanted to consume his story, to absorb his pain even as he struggled to find the strength and words to tell it.

When I did finish, I knew I didn’t want to stop thinking about it. I found several podcast interviews of Yanagihara which have been fascinating and helped to even out some of my feelings. I encourage anyone who reads it to do the same. For one, A Little Life is too much to read in solitude. But I’m not sure many book groups will want to tackle its literal and figurative heft. Also, it’s interesting to listen to the author give insight into the fairytale nature of the book, juxtaposed its realism. And, the lack of female characters and how it would be a different novel had the same story been told of four women.

I’ve had A Little Life on my shelf for about a year now. I bought it soon after it was shortlisted for the Man Booker Award in 2016 (it should have won, no question). But because of its size, I’ve just let it sit – knowing I would get immersed when I finally did pick it up. And indeed, this book will keep you up late and force you to get up early.

So pick it up if you dare, but consider yourself warned.

Literary Roundup :: Best Books of 2017

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‘Tis the season for everyone’s “best books” list. Here’s a round-up of the more popular (and maybe some lesser known) lists.

If I’ve missed one, leave it in the comments, and I’ll add it. Disclaimer: When a source creates multiple lists, I will always default to fiction / literary fiction for these lists.

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Bloomberg

Bookriot

Elle

goodreads

The Guardian

GQ

Harper’s Bazzar

Huffington Post

Indigo

Kirkus

NPR

The New York Times

Washington Post

Popsugar

Publishers Weekly

Time

Town and Country

Vulture

Did I miss a list? Let me know if the comments! ⇓

Book Review :: Best of 2017

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I realize this post is two days late, but since I’m still seeing some residual “Best of 2017” on TV, I decided I’d go ahead with it. Plus, since I’ve already reviewed all my favorite books from this year, it will be quite the easy post to write. Mind you, these are the best books I read in 2017 – not the best books I read published in 2017.

Best Book of 2017Rules of Civility

Read my post for more comprehensive thoughts, but I picked this one over the other two runner-ups because of the appeal I think it has (will have) with a broader audience. And, I can’t say enough about the quality of Amor Towels’ writing. I’m looking forward to re-reading this one in early 2018.

First Runner-upA Little Life

Its length and its utter despair in outlook kept this one from topping my list. This book redefines what a dark read is, and that’s saying something coming from me. Again, there’s much more in my full review, but if you’re up for it, this one is well worth the effort. However, if you suffer from seasonal disorder, you’ll want to wait until April or May to try it.

Second Runner-upA Gentleman in Moscow

When I read this book in April, I fully expected it to be the best book of the year. It is exceptional in setting, history, characterization and writing quality. Nailing two or three of those four can earn a book top marks in my opinion, and so I was sure that one that excelled in so many fronts would be tough to be beat. It was a close race.

Best Re-Read of 2017Fates and Furies

I’m not a huge re-reader (though that’s taking a slight turn in my habits) but this is one that I wanted to read again as soon as I finished it. If you liked it the first time, I highly suggest reading it again. There is so much there. Lauren Groff is just brilliant.

Also read in 2017 – Neapolitan Quartet by Elena Ferrante

I’ve thought about doing a review of these, but I doubt I’ll get around to it, so here’s a few thoughts. In short, I really liked these books. I was encouraged to read them by my reader-mom, and having her to discuss them with contributed significantly to my enjoyment. I read them in pretty quick succession, and can’t imagine reading them separately. I’ve listened to a few podcasters who have talked about reading one a year, and for me, the complexity of the character list alone would make stringing them out too difficult.

I was drawn in from the beginning by the friendship between Elena and Lila. Farrante is spot on in her depiction of female friendship – particularly those that grow from elementary through adulthood. But that’s just the beginning – all of the relationships in her quartet ring true.

If you’re plot hungry with novels, these probably aren’t for you. But if a strong string of relationship – friendships, family, lovers – can carry you through a journey, these are worth the time and effort. Like life, some parts are more interesting than others; when you’re done, there’s plenty of intrigue left to fill a great conversation (or two).

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I read a total of 60 books in 2017 which isn’t a spectacular number for me. However, because of my new podcasting habit, the list is far lighter on audiobooks than normal. The full list – as well as all previous years since I’ve been keeping track – is linked from the top menu.

On Reading :: Book Award Winners

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In the last part of 2107, I became much more intentional about what I read. For example, while some would say, “there’s too many good books out there to waste time rereading,” I began to think, “there’s too little time to read bad books, so when in doubt, reread something you know is good.” I think that makes sense.

But I do want to read more new (to me) books that are also good. This is what led to a little exercise putting together a comprehensive list of all the books that had won major book awards – The Man Booker (my personal favorite), National Book Award, Pulitzer and the Bailey’s Award (previously the Orange or Women’s Prize). First, I wanted to see how many of these I had read (not nearly as many as I had hoped), and second, I wanted an easy to reference list that would help me pick a quality book in a pinch.

Since I’m into sharing and many of you may be interested in the same list, I’m making the list available to you. Follow this link to access the spreadsheet on Google Docs. When you see it, you’ll notice there are years where some awards weren’t given. There are other years when more than one book was honored, and in those cases, the year is listed twice. So, know that those aren’t errors.

I plan to make significant progress on this list, probably focusing on the Man Booker since it is celebrating 50 years. I’d love to know if you have a similar goal to read more award winners or if you find the list helpful.

Happy reading!

 

Book Review :: The Ragamuffin Gospel

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This book changed the way I think of God’s love.

For someone who has been a Christian as long as I have, and for someone who clings as heavily as I do to my Reformed theology, that’s saying something. But this book put a big ol’ spotlight on my “doctrine” and showed me just how works-based my faith is. Again, that’s saying something.

I’m not sure why it took me so many years to read it – it is far from a new book. In fact, in just a few more years, it will be celebrating its 30th anniversary. I guess I’ve heard about it a time or two, but it wasn’t until it started popping up quite regularly on one of my favorite bookish podcasts that I made a point of picking it up. I am so very glad I did.

It will be impossible to adequately convey all that my soul gleaned from Manning’s words, but here are a few ideas:

Guilt over sin. The guilt I feel over sin because I think God is disappointed in me, when the truth is, God knows my state and doesn’t expect more of me. Because of His love. In fact, the flip side would mean that when I think I’ve done something good, it earns His favor. It doesn’t. My “good deeds” are filthy rags. They don’t matter. Because of His love. Manning writes as if from God: “I expect more failure from you than you expect from yourself.”

This is His grace – “that he loves us as we are and not as we should be.”

His love transcends understanding. For years I’ve used the “His justice transcends understanding” argument to deflect many things. But I’ve always I thought I “got” His love. Because it’s like my love, right? Wrong. His love is unfathomable, too. I have no idea what perfect love is except as a reflection of God.

I will never read the story of the prodigal son the same again. Probably the most common sermon source in all of Christianity was made new for me. How forgiveness proceeded repentance. “While he was still a long way off…” (Luke 15:30)

Abba just wants us to show up. We don’t have to tarry at the tavern until purity of heart arrives. We don’t have to be shredded with sorrow or crushed with contrition. We don’t have to be perfect or even very good before God will accept us. We don’t have to wallow in guilt, shame, remorse, and self-condemnation. Even if we still nurse a secret nostalgia for the far country, Abba falls on our neck and kisses us.

If all this sounds trite, if it all is truth that you’ve known for years, then be grateful. But something about the way it was framed in this book, something about the season of life that I’m in, made this truth new and real as it never has been to me before:

The secret of the mystery is, God is always greater. No matter how great we think Him to be, His love is always greater. 

Book Favorites :: Top 100

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A few years back, my book club put together its collective Top 100. I remember in that exercise, that I had a hard time selecting just a top 10. Since then, I’ve wondered what my top 100 would be. I recently sat down to figure it out, and it was much harder than I thought. I ended up removing all non-fiction, and perhaps one day I’ll put out a top non-fiction reads. I left a few in that are technically non-fiction, but they read enough like a novel that I felt I should put them in this list. To put these in any sort of order according to taste would have been nearly impossible. So, here they are in alphabetical order by author’s first name.

How many of these have you read? Are any of them also among your favorites?

Title Author
Vinegar Hill A. Manette Ansay
Possession A.S. Byatt
Cutting for Stone Abraham Verghese
Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage: Stories Alice Munro
Runaway Alice Munro
Rules of Civility Amor Towles
A Gentleman in Moscow Amor Towles
House of Sand and Fog Andre Dubus III
Strange Fits of Passion Anita Shreve
Fortune’s Rocks Anita Shreve
Bel Canto Ann Patchett
The Undertaking Audrey Magee
The Fountainhead Ayn Rand
The Poisonwood Bible Barbara Kingsolver
The Reader Bernhard Schlink
Did You Ever Have a Family Bill Clegg
My Name Is Asher Lev Chaim Potok
A Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens
Midwives Chris Bohjalian
Little Bee Chris Cleave
Rebecca Daphne du Maurier
The Secret History Donna Tartt
Ethan Frome Edith Wharton
The Children Edith Wharton
The Lies That Bind: A Novel Edward Deangelo
My Brilliant Friend (The Neapolitan Novels #1) Elena Ferrante
The Signature of All Things Elizabeth Gilbert
Amy and Isabelle Elizabeth Strout
Olive Kitteridge Elizabeth Strout
Wuthering Heights Emily BrontÌÇ
Of Love and Dust Ernest J. Gaines
The Violent Bear It Away Flannery O’Connor
A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories Flannery O’Connor
Godric Frederick Buechner
Britt-Marie Was Here Fredrik Backman
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry Fredrik Backman
Year of Wonders Geraldine Brooks
People of the Book Geraldine Brooks
A Little Life Hanya Yanagihara
To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee
Enduring Love Ian McEwan
The Cement Garden Ian McEwan
Disgrace J.M. Coetzee
The Kept James Scott
The Blue Notebook James A. Levine
Follow the River James Alexander Thom
The Book of Ruth Jane Hamilton
The Glass Castle Jeannette Walls
The Virgin Suicides Jeffrey Eugenides
Middlesex Jeffrey Eugenides
Interpreter of Maladies Jhumpa Lahiri
Stoner John Williams
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil John Berendt
The World According to Garp John Irving
Last Night in Twisted River John Irving
A Prayer for Owen Meany John Irving
The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck
East of Eden John Steinbeck
Rabbit, Run (Rabbit Angstrom #1) John Updike
Gods in Alabama Joshilyn Jackson
Between, Georgia Joshilyn Jackson
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves Karen Joy Fowler
Plainsong (Plainsong, #1) Kent Haruf
Our Souls at Night Kent Haruf
Cane River Lalita Tademy
Fates and Furies Lauren Groff
Saving Grace Lee Smith
Rush Home Road Lori Lansens
Who Will Run the Frog Hospital? Lorrie Moore
The Door Magda SzabÌ
The Handmaid’s Tale Margaret Atwood
Alias Grace Margaret Atwood
The Velveteen Rabbit Margery Williams Bianco
A Spot of Bother Mark Haddon
The Interestings Meg Wolitzer
The Elegance of the Hedgehog Muriel Barbery
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex Nathaniel Philbrick
The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde
The Great Santini Pat Conroy
The Prince of Tides Pat Conroy
Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America’s Heartland Patricia L. Bryan
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer Patrick SÌ_skind
Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury
The Narrow Road to the Deep North Richard Flanagan
Ava’s Man Rick Bragg
Serena Ron Rash
The Outcast Sadie Jones
Sacred Hearts Sarah Dunant
The Birth of Venus Sarah Dunant
Fingersmith Sarah Waters
The Rapture of Canaan Sheri Reynolds
The Bell Jar Sylvia Plath
Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald Therese Anne Fowler
The Space Between Us Thrity Umrigar
In Cold Blood Truman Capote
The Hour I First Believed Wally Lamb
I Know This Much Is True Wally Lamb
She’s Come Undone Wally Lamb
A Land More Kind Than Home Wiley Cash
Lord of the Flies William Golding

Book Clubs :: SOC Sista Long List for 2018-2019

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For the last several years, my book club has followed the same procedure for selecting its books for a whole year. Last year, when our picks were made, we realized we were missing out on discussing some really good books by leaving behind the books that were not selected. (That’s what happens when you take a month to research books you plan to pitch!)

So this year we’re doing something different. Instead of making new book pitches, we took the the books from our 2017 and 2018 Long Lists that weren’t selected and are using those as this year’s Long List – the list from which we’ll choose our books for the upcoming year. The only caveat is that if you were the one who pitched the book & you no longer think it is worthy of the list, you could exchange it for another pick.

With that, I present the SOC Sista’s Long List for 2018-2019.

Marina by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks
The Book Thief by Markus Zysak
The Orphan’s Tale by Pan Jenoff
Ordinary Grace by William Kent
Exit West: A Novel by Mohsin Hamid
The Power by Naomi Alderman
Dimestore: A Writer’s Life by Lee Smith
Mischling by Affinity Konar
Cane River by Lolita Lademer
Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo
Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Stoner by John Williams
The Fact of a Body by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich
The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende
The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson
Truth and Beauty: A Friendship Ann Patchett / Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy
Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance
My Mother’s Ring: A Holocaust Historical Novel by Dana Fitzwater Cornell
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Today Will be Different by Maria Semple
Sing Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward
The Plum Tree by Ellen Marie Wiseman
The Turner House by Angela Flournoy
I am David by Anne Holm
In the President’s Secret Service by Ronald Kessler
Through the Gates of Splendor by Elizabeth Elliot
Irena’s Children by Tilar J. Mazzeo
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
Family Furnishings by Alice Munro
A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin
Umami by Laia Jufersa
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

If you were in our group, which ones would you pick?

Meet the Author :: Amor Towles

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Amor Towles wrote Rules of Civility and A Gentleman in Moscow – two of my favorite books from last year. When I learned that he was speaking in my state, I was thrilled. I was even more excited when I figured out that while it was on the other side of the state in Newnan, Georgia, it did happen to coincide with when I would be traveling back home from being in Columbus, Georgia for work.

It is obvious the fates were conspiring on my behalf.

He was a delight. And while I didn’t think there was room to appreciate his craft anymore, I do. It would be impossible to fully capture the event, but I’ll share a few nuggets.

On the Idea behind A Gentleman in Moscow

While still working for an investment firm – a job he had for 20 years – he found himself living in hotels for a week at a time. On one particular trip to Geneva, realizing he’d been in the same hotel for the same week the previous seven years, he noticed that the people in the lobby were the same who were there the year before. The idea came of a novel about someone who lived in a hotel. He knew they’d have to be forced to be there. He combined this with his interest in Russian history and the revolution as well as some knowledge of the Metropol, and that became the preface for the book. Within 72 hours, he had 7 pages of a sketch for it.

He had the idea for the structure of the book (how time spans forward in a doubling effect and then midway begins to shorten by half) many years before. When the idea for Gentleman came, he knew he’d use that structure for this one.

On Writing

His motivation to write a novel came from the inner knowledge that if he hadn’t produced a novel by the time he was fifty, he’d be a bitter drinker. He managed to preclude the former. 🙂

He has a structured writing habit of, after walking his daughter to school, writing for three hours and then editing or planning the next day’s writing over lunch. In July, his family goes away, he visits them on weekends and writes voraciously while they are gone.

He takes about a year to outline a book in great detail before he writes the draft. Gentleman was 70-80 pages of outline prior to its first draft.

He likes to structure his writing. Both novels have a distinct structure that provide both a challenge and guardrails for his craft. He likened it to the sonnet and referenced the frequency with which poets of all centuries have used the structure of the sonnet to communicate their idea.

On Writing Rules of Civility

He wanted to take exactly a year to write the first draft. He began on New Year’s Day and finished on New Year’s Eve – similar to how the novel is bookended – and with 26 chapters. A week for writing; a week for editing.

On What We Can Expect Next

He’s currently working on a book about three 18-year-olds who are traveling from Kansas to New York City in 1952, and he begins drafting on April 1. That is all. He doesn’t talk about what he’s writing when he’s writing it.

He wrote a chain of six stories called Eve in Hollywood that helped to tell what happened to the character of Eve in Rules of Civility when she left NYC for Los Angeles. It used to be available as an e-book. He thinks it would make a good novel, so it is no longer available.

There was so much more that he shared, but it wouldn’t fit here. I hope that I’ve given you enough of a taste to go see him yourself if there is an event near you or to look up a podcast where he’s made a guest appearance. To get you started, listen to Literary Atlanta Season 1 Episode 29. (A most gracious thank you to @AlisonLaw and her tweet that let me know about this event!) And of course, be sure to follow Towles on Twitter @amortowles.

Book Clubs :: WWII Novels

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-yes, I know that all these aren’t novels-

There is a rash on World War II literature. In our last book club annual selection long list, there were enough books that had we wanted to dedicate a whole year to WWII, we could have. Also, occasionally, I’m asked to recommend a good WWII book, so I thought it might be a fun list to compile – all the WWII books I’ve read (or at least that I can remember!) These are in somewhat backwards order beginning with most recent. And just because I’m that kind of person, you’re getting my goodreads star rating and a link to the review if I’ve reviewed it.

SOC Sistas – If I’ve forgotten one, please remind me!

Schlinder’s Ark (aka Schindler’s List): non-fiction, Europe (5/5)
Most will be familiar with this book due to the movie, but you should know that first, the book won the Man Booker Prize in 1982.

Man’s Search for Meaning: non-fiction, Europe (4/5)
Part memoir, part psychological dissertation, this famous book by Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl’s is where the famous quote was coined: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

We Were the Lucky Ones: historical fiction, Europe (4/5)
Based on her own family’s survival, Georgia Hunter ties together what she knows of their stories into a narrative that is part fiction, part history.

Everyone Brave is Forgive: fiction, London (3/5)
Four friends are caught in the torment of Axis bombing. Inspired by the love letters between the author’s grandparents.

A God in Ruins: fiction, primarily London (4/5)
A carry-over character from another work by the same author, Life after Life, who is a RAF bomber pilot.

Life after Life: fiction, England (2/5)
An experimental book about the different routes your life could take give slight changes of chance or decision, set mostly during WWII.

The Nightingale: fiction, Europe (4/5)
Told in alternating POV between two sisters who each, in their own way, become a part of the Resistance in France.

All the Light We Cannot See: fiction, Europe (4/5)
Told in alternating POV between two children – a blind girl who is French and German boy. Won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2015.

Narrow Road to the Deep North: fiction, Pacific (5/5)
Based on the author’s father’s story, the novel spans a Japanese POW camp to contemporary Australia. Winner of the Man Booker Prize in 2014.

The Undertaking: fiction, Europe (5/5)
A German soldier marries a woman he has never met in hopes of a honeymoon leave and war pension.

Day after Night: fiction, Europe (3/5)
Technically a post-WWII novel, this story begins in Atlit, a holding camp for illegal immigrants in Israel in 1945.

City of Women: fiction, Berlin (3/5)
What happens in war-torn Berlin when it basically becomes a city of women. The wife of a German soldier takes a Jewish lover in his absence.

The Book Thief: fiction, Germany (4/5)
Set in Germany, a young girl is faced with a temptation she can’t resist – stealing books. Death is personified in this frequently assigned YA novel.

Sarah’s Key: fiction, Paris (4/5)
This novel about the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, one orchestrated by French policemen against their fellow citizens. Told in alternating stories between WWII and current day.

Homecoming: fiction, Europe (3/5)
A son follows a few limited fragments in search of his missing war-victim father.

Ordinary Heroes: fiction, Europe (4/5)
A son reconstructs his father’s war-time past.

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption: non-fiction, Pacific (4/5)
The account of Louis Zamperini’s WWII experience. Mostly non-fiction with some license taken to create a moving narrative of a remarkable survival and unfathomable forgiveness.

Skeleton’s at the Feast: fiction, Europe (2/5)
A small entourage is trying to reach the American / British lines in the last months of the war.

Suite Francaise: fiction, Europe (4/5)
The unfinished work of a Parisian half-Jew who was writing the manuscript while trying to escape the Nazi’s. Salvaged by her daughter and published 64 years after her death, a victim of German camps.

Atonement: fiction, Europe (4/5)
Less war and more psychological novel about what is true versus what seems to be true.

The Distant Hours: fiction, England (4/5)
Alternating between war-time and current day, a young girls goes on a quest to find the countryside manor where her mother, as a child, was housed during the war. Excellent contemporary Gothic literature.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: fiction, Europe (4/5)
This is the novel that introduced me to the fact that many Londoners sent their children away during the war to keep them safe from bombing raids.

The Reader: fiction, Europe (5/5)
Actually post-war setting, a young law student comes face to face with a lover from years earlier on trial for her past.

Others: (that I read a million years ago…)

Night by Elie Wiesel
Anne Frank by Anne Frank
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (I had no idea of this book’s connection to WWII until I read Potato Pie Society!)

What WWII have you read that I haven’t? Leave the title and summary in the comments below!

Book Clubs :: End of Year Wrap Up for 2017-18

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Year in Review 2017-18Here’s my end of year (almost) wrap up for our 2017-18 book selections. Because life happens, we weren’t able to meet in April and will be discussing our final book of this year (Radium Girls) at our May.

I’ve got an older post that will give a quick history lesson on how we rate books and how we account for DNF’s or DNR’s here.

Here we go!

Thirteen Ways of Looking – 2.79 (Low: 2.75; High: 3.5)
This is the lowest a book has scored in our group a long time. Basically, the way we select books has almost ensured that books have decent ratings. In general, we felt this collection by an author we like had some bright points but the anchor story (that makes up most of the book) had serious shortcomings.

My Grandmother Told Me to Tell You She’s Sorry – 3.78 (Low: 2; High: 4.75); Britt Marie was Here – 4.11 (Low: 3.25; High: 4.5)
The group opted to select and discuss these Fredrik Backman books together because many members had read one but not the other. We rated each separately, and Britt Marie came out slightly ahead. Feelings on Grandmother were more polarized. While not true in every case, people tended to prefer the book they read first. One comment from the discussion that resonated with me – the quirky voice of precocious Elsa that I loved in Grandmother (the one I read first) wasn’t that different from the quips that made Britt Marie interesting. So that may be more Backman than his characters.

Whisper of the River 3.5 (Low: 2.5; High: 4.75)
The second book in Sams’ trilogy provided an interesting discussion, especially since many of the locations are familiar to us. But the overall sentiment (save the one low score and the one high score) was it was a decent read, but not great. We read the first one, Run with the Horseman, a few years ago. #onemoretogo 

Blood at the Root – 4.41 (Low: 4; High: 4.5)
This is another local book – many of us know the roads, places, families described in Patrick Phillips’ non-fiction book about the 1912 racial conflict in a nearby county. And, we remember the events from the 1980’s when Forsyth County was beginning to be integrated. We thought his research and writing was well-done – better than many who write similar types of investigative non-fiction.

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI – 3.21 (Low: 3.5; High: 4)
Our group had an interesting series of reads that I scheduled intentionally – three consecutive books about racial injustice. Blood at the Root was an appropriate pre-read for Killers of the Flower Moon because Phillips made the point that it had been the racial cleansing of the Indians that set a precedence for the racial cleansing of African Americans in that county. This was interesting because it was a new topic for us, but in the end, the book ended up with a lower score overall because a couple of our members didn’t like it enough to read or finish. (See the post mentioned above on how we rate books.)

We Were the Lucky Ones – 3.93 (Low: 3; High: 4.5)
Everyone did read Georgia Hunter’s book based on her own family’s real life survival of the Holocaust. She alternates points of view and tells the events in the order in which they happened while peppering in some of the overarching details of WWII. Much of the criticism of this book hinged on the fact that it was neither novel nor memoir, and the variation in POV lacked distinction. That said, it is a remarkable story with new insight into how some bravely resisted and survived the impossible.

Anything is Possible – 3.77 (Low: 3.5; High: 4)
This collection of stories from Elizabeth Strout – like most collections – had really strong, amazing parts and others that fell a bit more flat. Overall and in true Strout fashion, she’s got vivid characters that make for a great discussion if someone takes a little bit of time to research discussion questions ahead of the meeting. 

Memoirs of A Geisha – 4.78 (Low: 4.5; High: 5)
The highest ranking book of the year and possibly the highest ranking book ever, this selection is part of our group’s desire to go back and re-read some of our favorites. Personally, this books gets better each time I read it. There are others who have loved it as well from the first as they do now. 

Enduring Love – 3.4 (Low: 3; High: 4.25)
This selection makes an argument that we need two ratings – one for how much we liked the book and a second for the quality of discussion. If your book group values quality of discussion more than what they actually think of the book, this is an excellent choice. There are problems with this book – no doubt – but McEwan is a master writer of psychological intrigue which makes the discussion delicious.  

TBD – Radium Girls! Stay tuned for an update after the May meeting.

Book Review :: An American Marriage

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An American MarriageI’ve been mulling over this review for a while, wanting to write it in a way that does it justice. To say that this is a great book is not enough. It is that, but it is also a book we need.

Before I dive into the novel itself, let’s address some preliminaries. I listened to it as an audio book, and it was one that truly paid off in that format. With multiple narrators, it came to life. A significant portion of the first part of the book is epistolary, and I’m typically not a huge fan. But in this context, it fit well and helped the narrative move as Jones needed. It was perfect.

An American Marriage is the story of Roy and Celestial – a young, “got the world by its tail”, professional couple living in Atlanta. While not perfect, their marriage seems set to endure until on a night when they are out of town, Roy is wrongly accused and then convicted of rape. He is sentenced to twelve years in prison – a lifetime for these still newlyweds.

The years prove too much for Celestial, and over the course of their letters to and from each other, we learn she’s moving on, leaving Roy with a decision to make when he does get out.

In the midst of impossible emotional turmoil, Jones demonstrates adept craft at poignantly revealing truth. While at its core, the narrative is based on reality that only applies to a subset of men, she transcends that aspect to provide insight on love, friendship and loyalty that all can relate to. This is an important read for both elements.

One thing that I’ve started recently is, when I read a book I love, I search for podcasts of either the author being interviewed or the book being discussed. This adds to my reading pleasure. If you’re in the same boat, check out Literary Atlanta podcast Episode 25 to hear an interview with Tayari Jones. I also appreciated this article in The Atlantic where Jones talks at length about her inspiration – both as a writer and for this book. You might want to check them out in advance if you still need convincing to pick this one up.

I will close with a criticism and a warning. There is sub-plot that I thought was just a bit contrived. The story line about who Roy meets in prison seemed overly manipulative. Also, there’s a good bit of fairly strong (though realistic) language. I thought it more than usual, so if you’re one who is easily offended by that, you might want to skip this one.

Otherwise, I think the topic and the themes are beautifully executed and make for wonderful reading and potentially a great discussion. This would be a fantastic book club selection.

Book Review :: Sweet and Low: Stories

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sweet and low by nick whiteNick White’s collection of stories Sweet and Low are best described as evidence of the new South. Ever present are the themes that demonstrate the complexity of the South – the oppressive heat and beauty of our states (in this case, Mississippi); the animals we do life with and in spite of; and the people that are both our charm and disgrace – often in the same soul. Students of the Southern greats will recognize the peculiar, the odd, the disfigured, the freaks – in setting, narrative and character. Since it has been a while since I’ve read what I’d consider pure Southern literature, this read made me feel it was nice to come home.

While I describe this collection as reflective of the new South, it isn’t because there is anything new about the themes in White’s collection, but the acceptance and absorption of them into the natural state is.

Divided into two parts, the first- “Heavenly Bodies” – is a collection of four unrelated stories. Within these four is perhaps the most intense short story I’ve ever read.

In “Cottonmouth, Trapjaw, Water Moccasin” a farmer finds himself pinned to the ground and face to face with the title character. A prolonged stare down between the two induces a reflection by the old man in keeping with what Flannery O’Connor once said, “I have found that violence is strangely capable of returning my characters to reality and preparing them to accept their moment of grace.” This story alone is worth the purchase price of the collection.

The stories in part two “The Exaggerations” have a common character, Forney, who – in the course of six stories – grows from being orphaned by a father’s early death and a mother following her dream in Nashville to a writer/father of boy struggling with a family curse and his own “differentness.” I enjoyed watching Forney grow, and found myself looking forward to each new chapter of his life.

I enjoyed this collection a lot. It has some strong sexual content that won’t be to everyone’s taste, but that aside, a worthy read for anyone who loves the South and our literature. This collection is available June 5, 2018.

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I was provided an advanced readers copy of this book by Penguin Random House’s First to Read program in exchange for an honest review. To learn more, go to firsttoread.com

Literary Roundup :: Summer Reading Guides

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summer reading listsBased on what I’m seeing these days, summer reading guides are almost as popular as year end “best of” lists. With upcoming vacations that could mean hours idle on a plane, beach or in a car, it seems everyone is ready to make sure you’re well equipped to fill the void. If you’re one who is planning on making a list, here’s a round-up of some of the lists I’ve enjoyed pursuing.

The Bitter Southerner: A round up of Southern reads that includes fiction, memoir, a children’s book and a couple of cookbooks. This list includes An American Marriage and The Almost Sisters – both of which I’ve read and support with their place on this list.

Modern Mrs. Darcy: Anne Bogel (aka, Modern Mrs. Darcy) has personally read and vetted all the books on this list. I’ve only read one – again (see above) An American Marriage – but there are several included that had already made their way to my TBR list, which to me is a good sign for the quality of the others.

goodreads: Not all of these are new; some – like The Handmaid’s Tale – are enjoying a resurgence of popularity. Once again, An American Marriage makes the list.

Esquire: Positioned as “wouldn’t you rather impress your fellow sunbathers with some quality reading?” so be ready for some heavy hitters; but, if you like a challenge, this is a great list.

Popsugar: On the other hand, this list is described as the “best books for your beach bag” so if you want something on the other end of the spectrum, this may be for you. However, a lot on this list aren’t out until July 3 or later so this list may be best for later in the summer trips.

Washington Post: This is one of the longest lists I found, so it is bound to have something to please everyone. Each book’s genre is clearly labeled, which makes skimming it easy.

Vanity Fair: This list contained a few I had never heard of but sound so. very. good. The purveyor of what is unknown but sure to be hot is totally on brand.

Indigo: Lots of books here and if you hurry, they are running a sale on many of them.

BONUS! This isn’t a list like the ones above, but Barnes and Noble has a summer reading program where kids can earn a free book! Check it out!

 


Literary Volunteerism :: Books for Africa

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books for africa logo A couple of times a year, my team at work volunteers with a different not-for-profit around Atlanta. Last month, we spent a morning with Books for Africa (BFA) – an amazing organization that does just what it says – sends books to Africa. And, since this is a blog for people who love books, I wanted to share knowledge of this organization with you!

Americans throw away 320 million books a year. For 30 years, Books for Africa has worked to redirect this waste into the eagerly awaiting hands of children, teens and adults on the other side of the globe.

books for africa warehouse

Their first box, delivered to Uganda in 1988, went to 12 year old boys who, due to being born into and under political and social oppression, had likely never seen a child hold a book. According to their website, “we believe that education is the great equalizer in the world, and books are at the foundation of a strong educational system.”

Sadly, what BFA calls “a book famine” is the stark reality for too many people.

“Empty library shelves are a constant reminder of Africa’s desperate need for printed materials. If we are to see the day when African school children are to have the books they need to learn the skills necessary to provide for themselves and others, Books For Africa must continue to send millions of books.” – BFA website

BFA partners with school libraries, orphanages, adult literacy programs, and community resource centers to supply books of all types to children and adults.

As volunteers, we sorted books that had been donated – weeding out books that were damaged or inappropriate (don’t need cook books or latest diet fad!) – and then organizing them by age group and subject. Some of our volunteers also started packing boxes. There’s a number of ways to support Books for Africa, and they have two locations – Atlanta and St. Paul. There is complete information on their website.

Now serving nearly 60 countries, Books for Africa delivers 3-4 million books a year, promoting literacy, instilling critical thinking skills and fostering empathy and democracy in ways only a love for reading can do.

Book Review :: Clock Dance

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Clock Dance by Anne Tyler

Fans of Anne Tyler will recognize all the things they love about her in Tyler’s latest novel, Clock Dance: quirky – but very real – characters, a seemingly ordinary story that is anything but and sometimes poignant and sometimes laugh-out-loud (often both!) insight into what makes us human.

Clock Dance is Willa’s story. It begins with a couple of chapters of back story but the majority is Willa, middle-aged. She’s a women that, despite a sister, two husbands (one died – not talking polygamy) and two sons, is without a family. And for her, that feels like a lack of purpose. (“She was the only women she knew whose prime objective was to be taken for granted.“)

When she accepts a random call and is asked to come care for the young daughter of her oldest son’s former girlfriend who has been hurt in a bizarre accident, Willa jumps at the chance to be needed.

What she walks into is a less-than-desirable neighborhood in Baltimore and a cast of characters who, while it may sound trite, show her that sometimes the best families are the ones we choose rather than the ones we’re given.

I think Tyler is a master at telling the truth in simple but unique ways. For example, “Marriage was often a matter of dexterity.” I speak for all married women when I give this an AMEN.

Reading Clock Dance will provide you with many more examples of true insights into the human experience while being thoroughly entertained.

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I was provided an advanced readers copy of this book by Penguin Random House’s First to Read program in exchange for an honest review. To learn more, go to firsttoread.com

 

Book Review :: 2018 Beach Reads

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My Beach Reads for 2018Last month I wrote about my penchant for the dark when it comes to beach reads. Earlier this month when we headed out for our annual trip to enjoy the salt & sand, I got to load up on my reading, and true to form, most of my selections were not what most people consider beach reading.

Here’s a quick wrap up. (Click on the title to shop for the book.)

The Arrangement by Sarah Dunn – This book was recommended by Knox McCoy from The Popcast Pod who green-lit it on Episode 239. Don’t let the premise put you off, but it is the story of Lucy & Owen, a fairly happy couple who decide that for six months, they’ll have an open marriage. They live in a very small town where everyone knows everything, so drama ensues. This may be the closest thing I’ve ever read at the beach that could be called a “beach read.” It is entertaining for sure, and I’ve already passed off my copy to a fellow reader.

Clock Dance by Anne Tyler – Also on the lighter side, this was an advanced reading copy that I needed to finish in order to write my review for Penguin’s First to Read program. Check out my blogged review here. Clock Dance is available on July 10, 2018. It would be a great read for anyone – at the beach or anywhere!

Devil in the White City by Erik Larson – I know, I know, I can’t believe I hadn’t read this one either. This historical non-fiction tells two parallel stories – the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and the serial killer who used it as his hunting ground – and it has been on my TBR for at least 10 years. I gotta say, I didn’t love it. I liked it a lot, and I found it incredibly interesting. There is so much American culture directly tied to the Chicago World’s Fair. For example, the beverage that topped the beer contest, giving it the nickname during the fair as “Blue Ribbon” stuck to be known as Pabst Blue Ribbon. Abiding my darker tastes, I really enjoyed the story line about H. H. Holmes and his macabre “World’s Fair Hotel.”

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley – Again, another one that I should have read by now. I mostly enjoyed this for the cobwebs it dusted away from my studies and love of the British Romantic period and Gothic literature. This late period Romantic novel is a significant illustration of the darker spectrum of its themes. I downloaded the free version to my Kindle around Halloween of last year when something reminded me that I needed to check off this classic in my personal canon. At less than 300 pages no matter which version you pick up, it pays off big for the little effort it requires.

When Rabbit Howls by Trudi Chase (and the Troup) – While non-fiction, this book may forever be canonized in my library alongside the likes of Perfume and Cement Garden. The central character – mostly referred to as “the woman” – was horrifically abused in every way imaginable by her stepfather from age 3 to 14. This non-fiction account of the beginning of her treatment with a psychologist is actually written by the “Troup” of personalities that live within her and who were born out of her abuse. They’ve helped her cope with her abuse by protecting her from the knowledge of it, and this is the story of the woman’s Troup introducing themselves to her and revealing to her what she’s endured. This is an older book, and the Troup came to their physician with the intent that telling their story would help him – not only treat Trudi – but inform how he teaches his students and treats other patients who were victims of child abuse. After reading it, I can only assume that it has been an important work in understanding multiple personality and dissociative disorder. I’m not sure anyone could claim to “enjoy” it, but it is an excellent read if this is your taste.

 

Book Review :: The Great Alone

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The Great Alone

I had such high hopes. I’ve been reading Kristin Hannah for a long time – or maybe I should say, I’ve been listening to her for a long time. Historically, her books have fallen into the category of books that I’m willing to spend the time listening to (since I have a long commute), but I won’t invest the time to physically read. Lighter fiction, chick-lit sorta, but not literary fiction. With The Nightingale, I felt like Hannah made that leap from contemporary fiction to literary fiction. Her latest – The Great Alone – has received a ton of praise (you’ll be hard pressed to find a review that isn’t glowing), and so I was optimistic. But I think she’s stepped back with this one.

First, a little bit about the book. It is the story of Leni Albright, who’s Vietnam POW father moves her and her mother (Cora) to the Alaskan wilderness. They are completely unprepared, and in addition, as is somewhat tritely stated along the way, the dangers inside the house, by way of her abusive father, become to feel way more risky than those outside. The father character reminded me some of Pat Conroy’s depiction of his own father in The Great Santini, completely without merit. There is some attempt to create sympathy for him due to his undiagnosed or treated PTSD, but for me that didn’t land. (Her allusions to his erratic behavior pre-war in parts with Cora’s parents unwound any progress she made on this front.) Quite frankly, I was about ten percent in before I was rooting for the bear that was touted as the ever-present danger to come and relieve me of Ernt Albright. (Spoiler – it didn’t happen. :-()

On Leni’s first day of school, she meets a boy that is the perfect friend, and it is no great leap that he’s going to be the love interest. And he is. Leni’s father begins a feud with her boyfriend’s father over the idea of “progress” for their off-the-grid community, and so dilemmas and conflict ensue. I’ll stop there to make this a spoiler-free review.

Before you think I hated this book, I didn’t. I liked it. But I only liked it. First, and to some extent I don’t even fault Hannah, this is another example of a contemporary novel that is suffering from bad editing. You may think that using the same metaphor (for example, the some element of the Alaskan wilderness was like a fairy tale) is the fault of the author, but I think that those types of errors should be edited out by someone who is looking out for their client. This particular metaphor is used three times in the first five chapters. Also, the winter scene is described as “white on white” multiple times. The stairs “zig-zag” multiple times. The same dialogue is used by multiple characters, which is fine if it is acknowledged appropriately.

The were two other things that irritated me. First, it had too many narrative lines. Typically, a novel has a primary narrative plot and a handful of others that support and tie in. This one seemed to have at least three equally weighted plots – the one around Leni’s abusive father, one around the Leni and her mother’s relationship  and finally the relationship between Leni and Matthew (the love interest). But none of these go from beginning to end as a main narrative plot should. There is even an argument made for a fourth one – Leni’s relationship with the setting – that in some ways supersedes the other three. Finally, and this is a lesser one, I’m not sure Hannah executed the third person omniscient view point very well. There were times that it was pretty clunky and it got in the way.

All that said, I think Hannah is writing about some important issues, and perhaps this novel will increase those conversations: the incredible need – particularly among veterans – for better mental health support, and, the need for better resources for battered women and their children. If for no other reason than this, it is a worthwhile read that will be entertaining along the way.

Book Review :: This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage

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Ann Patchett Happy MarriageI’m an Ann Patchett fan. So when I traveled to Nashville for a conference earlier this year, I intentionally carved out time to make a pilgrimage to Parnassus Books, the bookstore she co-owns in downtown Nashville. Every good pilgrimage needs a relic and This is the Story of Happy Marriage, Patchett’s collection of non-fiction essays, is mine.

About This is the Story of a Happy Marriage

I loved this collection. I believe I had some vague recollection that Patchett got her start, and funded her way to becoming a full-time novelist, by writing free-lance for the likes of Seventeen, Elle and Gourmet. This is the Story of Happy Marriage is a collection of the best of her best free-lance work.

Because the essays span that part of her life, it is also a somewhat like a memoir, providing updates on her marriage & relationships, her precious grandmother, her Catholic faith and of course, her dog Rose.

My Take

Speaking of Rose, she has the best farewell essay I’ve ever read about a beloved dog. And when I say best, I mean appropriate memorial without leaving me in a puddle of tears. Having a senior dog myself, I don’t do well reading about other senior dogs.

I’ve always enjoyed Patchett’s novels; Bel Canto is on my Top 100 list. But it wasn’t until reading this collection that I realized how darn funny Patchett is. This will definitely have me looking for the humor the next time I pick up her fiction.

Buy it or Bail?

Patchett is a reader’s writer. She’s witty and wise. She’s doesn’t take herself too seriously. This is an enjoyable collection that is easy to read one at a time or all the way through. It is one to buy for sure.

The post Book Review :: This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage appeared first on Lit&leisure.

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