Thursday, November 29, 2018

A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin


  • This short story collection quickly draws the reader into each mini-world created by the author.  I'm thankful a friend recommended this book to me.
  • The short stories in this collection skew toward the shorter end of the short story spectrum.
  • Addiction is a common theme in many of the short stories.

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning


  • This is a thrilling re-telling of The Little Mermaid that will appeal to teen and adult readers.
  • Henning fresh approach to the folk tale brings new perspective.
  • The novel is a quick read with quick action and character development.

The Third Hotel by Laura Van Den Berg


  • This novel centers on the travels of a newly widowed woman.
  • She travels around Cuba in search of her husband, who she kind of finds.
  • This is a chilling novel.

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole




  • I reread this book as an audiobook after having read the print version about give years ago.  The audio version is a great performance!
  • Rereading the book only reminded me how much I wish this would have been made into a movie long ago.
  • The main character is annoying and obtuse in an enrapturing way.

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Heartland by Sarah Smarsh


  • This memoir looks at the impact of class on young adults.
  • Much of the book focuses on the challenges of crossing class lines.
  • The book combines personal narrative with ties to larger political and societal debates.

The Bird and the Blade by Megan Bannen


  • I never knew I would enjoy reading about Mongols and slaves.  I was missing out.  This book combines a rich historical context with action.
  • I blame the author for keeping me up past my bedtime reading.
  • Overall, this is a really compelling story set in a fascinating time.

Monday, October 1, 2018

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue


  • The only other Donoghue book I've read is Room, and this book features similarly messed up characters.
  • I enjoyed Catholic/non-Catholic conflict that is a constant source of tension for the main character throughout the novel.