Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher

This book should be required reading for anyone in academia.  Or anyone who has ever had to write letters of recommendation for people who you don't really recommend.  Or really this should be read by everyone because it is so darn funny.  The entire book is a series of letters written by an aging, cranky English professor.  It is so hysterical that I had to stop reading it in public because I was embarrassing myself as I laughed out loud.  The professor has an ex-wife, a girlfriend, and a department head also receive his rambling, witty correspondence.  But the best ones are his letters of recommendation.  (I can hear you laughing from here, BT)  -June

The Old Neighborhood by Avery Corman

This book came out in 1980, and I stumbled across it through Book Bub.  Lately I've found several good books that have popped up there, and the price is certainly right.  Some of the selections are pretty lame, but this one was definitely a winner.  It's all about Steve Robbins, a guy from The Bronx who wants to succeed in advertising.  We follow his career as he climbs the corporate ladder and achieves his dreams.  The author creates some wonderful characters and interjects humor throughout the story.  It's a quick read but I loved every page.  Highly recommend.  -June

The People in the Photo by Helene Gestern

This is a quick read written entirely in letter/email form.  It's a story of family secrets, and how they can affect the family members.  Helene's mother died when she was only 3, and she wants to know more about her.  Her father and stepmother wouldn't answer her questions about her mother, and now that they are not around to help her, she is researching on her own.  She begins a correspondence with Stephane who lives in England and who's father knew Helene's mother.  Their letters are a bit formal and stuffy, but as they begin to uncover some of the mysteries of their parents, their relationship changes.  What they uncover is not earth shattering, but it is an interesting, well-written book.  Recommended.  -June

Why Can I Be You by Allie Larkin

I need to stop looking at book reviews from readers.  This novel receives rave reviews, and I just have to assume that they are all written by 18-20 year olds.  Since I am a few years north of that age, I had a hard time relating to the characters in this novel.  It's definitely chick lit - and although well written, it's so far fetched that it is simply silly.  (Although someone somewhere loves it enough to make it into a movie!  Coming soon!)  Basically, it's the story of a young woman who goes on a business trip after being dumped by her boyfriend, and she is mistaken for someone else by a group of friends attending a high school reunion.  Instead of correcting them, she decides to play along and become someone else for a week.  Believable?  No.  I suppose there's a message in there - we should be happy to just be ourselves and not try to someone else - or something like that.  But it was all just too predictable and fluffy for me.  -June

The Pecan Man by Cassie Dandridge Selleck

Thanks, Tillie, for a good recommendation.  This is an interesting book about an elderly Southern white woman who is looking back on her life.  Many years ago, she hired a black, homeless man to work in her yard, much to the horror of friends and neighbors.  After that, there's a murder, a car accident, and a prison sentence - and most of all, lots of secrets.  It's well written, and definitely recommended.  BT, it's coming to you along with another one of Tillie's recs that I just couldn't get into.  See what you think.  -June

The Position by Meg Wolitzer

I had the chance to see Meg Wolitzer at a book reading when The Interestings was being released in paperback.  She was a vibrant and entertaining speaker, and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing her talk about her books.  And I really liked The Interestings.  So when I saw one of her earlier books available through Book Bub for $1.99, I grabbed it.  Besides, the premise sounded very promising.  Four siblings (age 6 to 16) discover that their parents have written a sex "how-to" book complete with drawings of themselves in the act.  Once the children make this discovery, the author moves from one family member to the next about 30 years later.  I suppose it could be said that their parents' book had a profound influence on their lives, and perhaps in some ways it did, but for the most part, the book becomes a character study of each of the grown children and their parents.  I love the way Meg Wolitzer writes.  She develops her characters so you know them and understand them.  I really enjoyed this one and now want to read more from this author.  - June

The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin

Months ago, I tried to listen to the audio version of The Aviator's Wife but found that I was totally frustrated with the author's writing style.  So imagine how excited I was when this book appeared on my Book Club list.  Perhaps, I thought, I'll like it better if I'm reading it rather than listening to it.  And yes, I did.  But only because when the author wrote something that she'd already told the reader 5 other times, I was able to skip forward easily to the next page.  For example, how many times would you think she had to tell us that Charles Lindburgh had a cleft chin?  The answer - 9 times.  Most readers might have picked that up after the first or second time, but just in case you're an idiot, the author makes sure you know about it.  Or how about the number of different types of "grins" that either Anne or Charles gave each other.  Stupid grin, proud grin, surprising grin, carefree grin, earnest grin, toothy grin, tomboyish grin, jaunty grin - and the list goes on and on.  Let's just say there was a lot of grinning going on even though it turns out that Charles Lindburgh was a jerk.  All that being said, I did find that the story told was interesting.  The parts of the book that were based on fact (the flights they took, the kidnapping, the obsession by the press) were fascinating.  Perhaps I would have been better off reading a good biography on Anne or Charles rather than a fictionalized version told as if Anne was writing it herself, grinning and admiring Charles cleft chin. - June

Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen

I love Anna Quindlen.  I love the way she writes and the stories she tells.  And this one was one of her best, although many online reviewers disagree.  When's the last time the main character in a book was a 60-year-old woman who leads a full, productive life?  Generally, books about women of a "certain age" are told in a series of flashbacks where we learn about their life in the rearview mirror.  But as a 60-ish woman myself, I say us geezers still have a little gas in the tank.  And in this novel, Rebecca is still going strong.  She may have a few setbacks in her career and her personal life (who hasn't?), but as we learn about her and the friends and family around her, we feel we are living along side her.  Some say the book is sappy.  OK.  Maybe I was in need of a bit of sap.  But I loved it and highly recommend it.  -June

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

Just before I started this book, the Great8 took a trip to Charleston.  We had a wonderful time, and while we were there, we took two tours.  One was a walking tour led by a knowledgeable and articulate Southern lady who told us all about the Charleston way of life, the visits by George Washington, and the fires and earthquakes and plagues.  She also mentioned two prominent free black men who owned a hotel and started an orphanage.  No mention of slavery.  The second tour was a carriage tour where we had a chatty young man who told stories about the various occupants of the mansions we drove by.  Very entertaining even if the stories were totally fiction.  When we got to the end of the carriage tour, one of the Great8 asked our guide to take our picture.  Realizing his tip depended on it, he jumped from the carriage, grabbed the camera, and instead of the usual "Say Cheese", he said "Say slavery sucks!"  I think we laughed the kind of laugh you do when you know someone is trying to be funny but isn't. 


When I got home, I started reading The Invention of Wings which is a fiction book based upon the Grimke family, a prominent Charleston family from the early 1800's.  The book focuses on Sarah Grimke who ultimately becomes one of the first and only female abolitionists.  We also follow Handful, a Grimke slave who, like Sarah, is bright and ambitious but cannot fulfill her dreams. 


There have been lots of books about the South in the pre-Civil War period, but I really think this one is wonderful.  Maybe it's because I had so recently seen the neighborhood where Sarah and Handful lived, but I highly recommend this one. And I can't help but wonder how Sarah would have responded to the casual prompt of "slavery sucks". -June

The Edge of the Earth by Christina Schwartz

What is it about living in a lighthouse that appeals to me?  I know I'd go mad after a few days of that intense isolation, but there's this romantic-sounding life surviving by the ocean that appeals to me.  There's a historic lighthouse in Door County that has docents who live there for a week at a time and give tours.  No electricity.  No indoor plumbing.  And they have people waiting in line to do this.  I'm not one of them.


Back in the late 1800's, Trudy and her husband are assigned to a lighthouse off the coast of California.  She's a bright, inquisitive young woman and soon she is studying all the creatures who live in and near the water.  There's another family who also live on the island and work at the lighthouse, and so her life becomes entwined with theirs. Yet as bright as Trudy is, she seems blind to the flaws of her husband.  He's a jerk, and although she questions his behavior at times, she somehow rationalizes it to herself.  Enjoyed the book very much but found myself skimming over some of the scientific information.  Again, it seems the author did a ton of research and wanted to be sure to get it all into the book somehow.  But I do recommend it.  -June

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

You can't help but notice the covers of this authors books.  I think she's written several and all the covers have the titles in large letters and her name below - no picture or anything to give you a hint as to what the book is about.  Somehow I thought it was just light romantic stuff, and while it isn't award winning fiction, this book was good.  Yes, it's a tad predictable but still worth reading.  Louisa is a young English woman who takes a job caring for a young man who was injured in an accident and is not a quadriplegic.  They come from very different worlds and backgrounds yet they find a way to get past all of that and connect.  I don't want to tell more, but if you're looking for a quick, light read, this might be it.  -June

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

There are just so many books about World War II out there that I didn't think I wanted to read another one.  So when the first friend recommended it, I filed it away and forgot about it.  But after two or three more recommendations (one person even saying it was the best book she'd read in years), I bought it.  And I'm glad.  The story follows primarily two people; a young, blind French girl, and a young orphaned German boy.  When the book begins, they are just 8 or 9 and it follows them until they are around 16 or 17.  It gives a different slant to the war than most other books, and the writing is quite good.  It's very hard to put down, and I highly recommend it.  -June

The Dinner by Herman Koch

This book has won awards and received praise in many reviews.  Hmmmm.  Not in my review.  I liked the beginning and saw a lot of potential in the first half, but then I realized that these characters are crazy and evil.  And even if the book is to show how parents will do anything to protect their children even if they commit violent crimes - well, I guess this parent thinks that what they are doing is immoral.  So does the author want us to agree with them?  Or are we just supposed to continue yelling at the book?  I'm not sure, but I don't recommend this one.  -June

The Last Policeman by Ben Winters

When I described the plot of this book to a good friend, she said it didn't sound like a book I'd read at all!  And she's right.  But the reviews made it sound so interesting, and frankly, I was looking for something different.  Imagine the typical police detective/murder mystery book.  There's a young, inexperienced detective working hard to solve the mystery of a death that appears to be suicide but just might be murder.  Now add to that the fact that the world will end in six months.  Yes, a huge asteroid is headed right towards earth.  While the murder and the asteroid are not really related, what is fascinating to me is how the people of the world have reacted to the news about the destruction that is headed their way.   Some people continue with their lives, but many quit their jobs, develop their bucket list, or decide to kill themselves rather than stay to the end.  The detective has to solve the murder in a world where most people just don't give a shit about who has died and who might have caused it because we're all going to be dead soon anyway.  This is the first of three in a trilogy, and while I may not jump right into the next one, I liked this one enough to keep it on my list.  Recommend if you're looking for something out of the ordinary.  - June

The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley

This is definitely a candidate for a LifeTime Channel movie.  A beautiful and brilliant young woman falls from a ladder and suffers major brain injuries.  In fact, she is declared brain dead.  Her equally brilliant neurosurgeon husband is devastated because she is the love of his life.  But he's ready to pull the plug until he learns she is pregnant.  Then all hell breaks loose because half the extended family feels it would be her wish to die with dignity and her husband knows she would want the baby to have a chance at life.  Lots of drama and lots of mulling over the same issues numerous times.  In fact, after reading almost half of it, I just skipped to the end even though I was able to guess what it would be. 


My big question is why do books like this get great reviews online.  I can only guess that there is a big audience for this type of book.  It just isn't my type.  -June

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennet

This is one of those rare books that you can fly through in a couple of hours and enjoy every moment.  If you are a reader (and you are, I'm sure) you like to read about other readers.  And this reader is the Queen of England.  Imagine that the Queen is just too busy to read, but then finds a bookmobile close to her castle and gets hooked.  That's the plot.  As she reads, she changes as she's exposed to the world of reading.  Fun.  -June

Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

How about a book that combines erotica with horror?  Kind of a strange combo, and certainly something different from my normal reading.  But once I got into it, even though I could clearly see where it was going, I couldn't put it down. 


The author starts with some short chapters that seem to be unconnected, but then quickly starts alternating chapters from 2004 to 2008 in the life of Catherine, a young woman who has had an abusive relationship with Lee.  We know this almost from the beginning, and we also know that in 2008 she is suffering from the result of this abuse.  But this writing technique if very effective in building the suspense and keeping the book going.  It would have been have very different read if it had been written in chronological order. 


Some of the scenes are tough to read.  The abuse is extremely violent, but being in Catherine's head when it happens, the reader can see how she fought to get through it.  My only criticism is that it's a bit long, but there was no way I would have stopped before the ending. (oh and one more criticism - do people really wink at each other?  There was a lot of winking in this book.) -June

The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

Are some authors paid by the word?  This book had an interesting story with strong characters, but the writing seemed very drawn out and wordy.  Maybe if the book had ended when my Kindle only said 50%, I would have been happier.  If you pick this up expecting Eat, Pray, Love, you'll be disappointed.  This is historical fiction, and I'm sure Gilbert did a ton of research prior to her writing.  And maybe she felt that she needed to weave each fact she learned into the plot somehow.  OK, I'll confess that I did like the first half of the book where we meet Alma and her family. And yes, there was quite a bit of detail about mosses and masturbation.  (Bet those two topics haven't been covered in too many other books.)  But overall it was a long book that didn't need to be that long.  -June

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

I've been trying to decide how I feel about this book for days.  Yes, I was caught up in the mystery of secret, but once it's known, the mystery just becomes how the characters are all going to work their way through the messes their lives have become.  Cecelia (the perfect wife and mother) finds a letter in the attic addressed to her and written by her husband.  It's to be opened when he dies but he's still very much alive.  Her life changes as soon as she reads it.  Another character, Tess, finds out her husband and her cousin are in love.  Rachel is an elderly woman who's teenage daughter, Janie, was murdered 20 years ago.  All these lives are woven around each other and come to a dramatic ending.  And a pretty predictable ending too.  Let's just say it's good chick lit but the writing seemed repetitive and drawn out much of the time.  I'd give a lukewarm recommendation at best.  -June

The Other Side of the Bridge by Mary Lawson

I remember loving the book Crow Lake.  In fact, I remember giving it to several friends and explaining that it was a quiet book but so well written.  So how did Mary Lawson manage to write a book in 2006 and I haven't seen it until now?  I guess I've just been busy with other authors, but I'm so glad I found this one.  Like Crow Lake, the characters are rich and deep.  And like so many books, the time shifts around so we see the characters in different times of their lives.  The main characters are Arthur and Jake, two brothers who could not be more different.  And Ian, a young boy who is struggling with his future and the departure of his mother.  Ian works during the summers on Arthur's farm, and he is there when Jake comes home.  There are so many themes in the book - jealousy, rivalry, duty to family, revenge - it's all there.  I loved it and highly recommend it.- June

Being Esther by Miriam Karmel

I loved Esther.  She's the kind of crusty old lady I want to be (or maybe I already am).  She's outspoken, independent, and desperate to maintain control of her life.  This is a book that has no plot.  Each chapter is just another story about Esther's days, her friends, her relationship with her daughter, and  her everyday life.  This is why I read the first five chapters or so and then skipped to the end - because you know how it's going to end, don't you?  I love character driven books, but I do need some kind of storyline to follow.  So while I loved Esther, I wasn't crazy about her book.  -June

The Accident by Chris Pavone

This is a book you need to read quickly.  What I mean is, this isn't a book that you can read a little every night before you go to bed over a month or so.  Because there are lots of characters and lots going on in every chapter.  The focus of the book switches constantly and it jumps back and forth in time.  So it's very easy to get confused and mix up the characters.  An agent receives a manuscript for a book that could damage the reputation of a media executive.  She shows it to an editor who shows it to his publisher.  The book starts to get passed around and whoever reads it is suddenly killed.  There's a lot of backstory and twists along the way.  A fun book and an inside look at the publishing industry.  Enjoyed it.  -June

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

It's 1969 and I'm sitting in my sorority house safely watching television with a crowd of people.  Several kids have to stand because there are so many in the room.  The draft lottery is on TV, and I remember a feeling of disconnect, as if this really couldn't be happening in my lifetime, could it?  Wars are just something that happened a long time ago and we have to learn about them in classes and books.  Occasionally you'd hear a reaction when a certain birth date was read, but I mostly remember the silence as we all listened to the dates - one after another.  There was talk of going to Canada, methods for getting medical excuses, joining National Guard units.  This was really about as close as I came in my experience with the war in Vietnam. 

Reading The Things They Carried was like seeing a whole new view of this war.  Although it's made up of short stories about Tim's company of men, there are certain themes and characters who cross into all the stories.  I loved it.  It's so well written and I can see why many colleges have required students to read it.  I wish I'd read it sooner.  -June

After Her by Joyce Maynard

I've never read anything by Joyce Maynard, yet I know I've read positive reviews on her books on several occasions.  So I grabbed this one from the library knowing very little about it.  It takes place in the 70's where two pre-teen sisters are spending the summer having adventures in the mountains near their home in California.  I love the relationship between the two girls - they are devoted to one another and are so creative in what they find to do.  The book is told from the point of view of the older girl, Rachel, who is just on the brink of discovering boys and all the teenage drama that goes with it.  Along with that part of the story, there have been young women murdered on the mountain trails, and Rachel's father is the police detective who is in charge of the case.  So I loved the story lines, the relationships, and the touches of mystery.  The only thing that kept me from really loving this book was the occasional writing snafu.  Much of the book is very well written, but for some reason I would read paragraphs that were almost identical to paragraphs earlier in the book.  Perhaps this is more of an editing issue but each time it happened, my thoughts would be more focused on the writing than on the story and it threw me off.  However, I'd still recommend it and I would try another one of her books. - June

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

After reading rave reviews about this book, I came across it in my local library and grabbed it.  I am so very glad I did.  This little book is a gem, and I've heard rumors that it will soon be a movie.  But read it first!!  The story is told in the first person by a character named Don who is a genetics professor.  I'm no expert and it never is completely spelled out, but it appears he has Asperger's.  He's brilliant, organized, handsome, and he's looking for a partner.  He decides to try to find a wife, and the way in which he goes about it..... well, it's sweet and funny and very scientific.  You will love Don and you will cheer for him to find what he's looking for.  BT, you will fly through this in a weekend.  Enjoy it!  -June

The Burgess Brothers by Elizabeth Strout

It would be impossible for me to name my favorite book, but if I had to mention a few possibilities, Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout would be one.  The writing and the creativity are just amazing.  So when I saw that she had written another novel, I knew I had to read it and promptly convinced my book club to add it to the schedule.  And boy, did I want to love it.  The writing is still superb, and Strout has a way of developing characters that makes them really come alive.  But this book is hard to read.  Not only did I not like any of these well-developed characters, but I found I almost didn't care about what happened to them. 


The story is about three siblings: Jim, a successful but pompous attorney who is downright cruel to his brother and sister; Susan, a mother who just doesn't seem to have a clue about much of anything and doesn't like anyone except her brother Jim; and Bob, the sibling who has been told he killed their father by rolling the car over him and now he must have a ruined life as a result.  The storyline is all about what happens when Susan's son, Zach, rolls a pig's head into a mosque. The family tries to pull together but their dysfunction makes it awkward and almost impossible.  If the ending was supposed to be satisfying..... well, I'm just not sure it was.  While it was nice to see Jim get what he deserved, I wasn't ready to forgive him and let him move on with his life.  I don't want to give too much away so I'll stop there.  But while I think this is another exceedingly well written book, I wouldn't recommend other to rush to read it.  -June

The Pecan Man by Cassie Dandridge Selleck

Finished "The Pecan Man" last night.  A 140 page powerhouse.  Oprah or some such would be nuts not to pick-up the options for a movie.

Get it, read it.  - Tillie  

On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry

Why haven't I heard of this author before now?  This book was recommended to me years ago, and so I added it to my Amazon Wish List only to forget all about it.  When I was able to download it from the library, I thought it might be an interesting vacation read.  Written from the point of view of an elderly woman, the story is of her life that started in Ireland and ended up in the Hamptons.  Her story is sad and tragic, but is so well written that I could hardly put it down.  The writing style is stream of consciousness which often is impossible to follow.  But Barry does a masterful job and I really will make an effort to read something else by him.  There are several major themes to the book - loss, war, friendship, and then more loss - and it's definitely worth a read.  -June

Bossypants by Tina Fey

The perfect audiobook for a long road trip!  What more can you ask for than to have Tina tell you the story of her life and career (as only she can) while you're driving along.  She's funny, honest, and so very refreshing.  I especially enjoyed her stories about working at SNL and 30 Rock.  Definitely recommend this one.  -June

This is a Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett

A year or so ago, I had the pleasure of listening to Ann Patchett speak at a local independent bookstore.  At the time, she was promoting State of Wonder, and she entertained a large crowd with stories and a book reading.  She's the kind of speaker who really shows their personality, and her openness and honesty made us all  love her immediately. 


So when her new book, This is a Story of a Happy Marriage, was released, I knew I would have to read it.  But instead, I ended up listening to it and that is even better.  Ann Patchett reads her own book on the audiobook, and it was like listening to her talk to me for the hours I drove/walked/cleaned/whatever as I listened.  This is a book of some of her essays and articles written over years.  Some were for magazines or newspapers, and a few were written just for this book.  Don't let the title fool you; the book isn't just about marriage, although several of the articles do touch on her personal stories and her relationships.  All of them were fascinating, but I have to say my very favorite is the story about Clemson University and the speech she gave there when her book Truth and Beauty was used for their freshman required reading program.  But I think you'll love them all, and I highly recommend finding the audiobook if you can. - June

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robert Sloan

I saved this book for my vacation, and I couldn't wait to start it.  What booklover wouldn't love a book about a bookstore AND the cover said it was also a mystery.  So I loved it before I opened it up.  Yes, there is a mysterious kind of bookstore and there is a puzzle to solve, but the rest was a bit confusing and disappointing for me.  The main character, Clay, works the night shift at a bookstore in San Francisco where strange, quirky people come in to check out books that are written in code.  Clay uses all types of technology to eventually crack the code and figure out what's going on in the store and with the people involved.  Now I think I'm relatively tech-savvy, but some of the tech topics here were way beyond my understanding especially when's Clay's girlfriend (who works for Google) gets involved.  Did I like the book?  Kind of.  Would I recommend it?  Yes, to someone who is in their 20's and loves books.  I really think that's the target audience here and not old ladies like me.  - June

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I cry in movies, but rarely do I cry when reading a book.  But during several scenes in The Fault in Our Stars, I had a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.  And while it certainly is a sad story - what can be more tragic than children dying of cancer or anything for that matter - it also is a story about hope and love and making the most out of your life.  The narrator is Hazel, a 16-year-old girl who is fighting cancer.  She meets Augustus at a cancer support group, and they become friends and then become more than friends.  As a parent, the hardest parts for me to read were the interactions that Hazel has with her parents.  They love her desperately and yet they know what is going to happen.  Their helpless devotion to her is touching.  I believe this is considered Young Adult literature, but I think it would have to be a mature teen to read this.  I highly recommend it.  -June

The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall

You know how sometimes you read a novel and a character is so real to you that he stays with you for days after you finish the book?  Well, Edgar is that character.  In fact, one of the wonderful things about this novel is that all of the characters are so real - not all likeable - but completely described.  Edgar is a young Native American boy who is an orphan.  For the first 15 years of his life, we see how he survives on his own surrounded by a cast of characters.  Despite having a mail truck roll on to his head and several other near-death experiences, he manages to keep going and keep moving.  He moves from his home with his alcoholic mother to the hospital after his accident.  From there he's sent to a school where he lives with a distant relative and then to a foster family.  The writing is fabulous.  (He also wrote The Lonely Polygamist!!)  I love the way he describes his characters.  Here is how he describes Nelson, another student in his school who torments Edgar.


"For one thing, Nelson was old; though he was in the sixth grade, Nelson was fifteen - an adult, any way you cut it.  His real distinguishing feature , however, was his size; he weighted easily over 300 pounds and was as wide as a love seat........ His head was half of a watermelon sitting on his shoulders, his fingers as thick and blunted as saltshakers, his feet so wide there wasn't a pair of shoes that would fit him; even in the midst of the coldest winter months, in ice and snow and mud, he wore flip-flops.  And Nelson was merry.  He had the look of a person prepared and willing to laugh at anything, and when he smiled his eyes would disappear into those creases of his face and his cheekbones would stand out like those on a drugstore Santa Clause."


Can't you just visualize him?  Love this kind of writing.  But the best part of the book is the ending.  And I never saw it coming.  So often, the ending to a book is disappointing or predictable.  Not this book.  Highly recommend it, and I'm sending it your way, BT.  -June

Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford (audiobook)

Although I loved Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, I only give Jamie Ford's second book a C.  The story is interesting and it's obvious that the author has researched the time and location of the novel (Seattle in the 1920's 1930's).  But it's a book where everything terrible that can happen, happens.  The story is told by William, a young Chinese boy living in an orphanage, and by his mother, Liu Song (aka Willow).  Liu Song's story is made up of one tragedy after another, and while it may be a typical one of that time, it is told in such a melodramatic manner that I found it difficult to read.  The author repeated things as if the reader might not have caught them the first five times they were stated.  Plus the author teased the reader with the idea that Liu Song might eventually reveal her secret as to who is William's father, but no - she would think about telling it but always held back.  I wanted to choke her and say "Tell them!!" but she didn't.  This is not one I'd recommend.  -June

The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud

I can't wait to talk about this book in my book group.  There are several members who insist that they can't like a book unless they like the main character, and Nora, the main character in The Woman Upstairs, isn't really very likable.  In fact, at times, she's strange, creepy, and sad.  Mostly, reading about her feelings sometimes made me uncomfortable.  I found I didn't want to pick up the book and read it just because it was like spending time with an acquaintance I'm not that fond of.  And for those people who who like a plot-driven book, they won't like this book either.  There isn't much plot, and the ending, while it has a surprise or two, isn't really very satisfying. 

Nora is a almost-forty schoolteacher in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  She's never been married and has no children.  She's been a dutiful daughter and taken care of her dying mother and elderly father.  But she's one hell of an angry woman.  The book is her story and the one year she spent meeting and loving a family who moves to her town.  Yes, she was in love with the whole family.

And yet the book is beautifully written.  This is one of the few books where I found myself using the "bookmark" and "notes" feature on my Kindle.  Here are a few examples.

As she laments her life she says, "I was suddenly aware, almost in a panic - a joyful panic - of the wealth of possibility of in the world, and also within myself.  My everyday Appleton life, my phone calls to my father, my occasional beers with friends, my Saturday-morning jobs around the reservoir - what was all that but the opiated husk of a life, the treadmill of the ordinary, a cage built of convention and consumerism and obligation and fear, in which I'll lolled for decades, oblivious, like a lotus eater, as my body aged and time advanced?"

Did I mention that there are lots of long, run-on sentences in this book?  Here's another example:

"All the cliches of a city are new to any individual visitor and hence not cliches; just as love, in spite of the paltry means we have to express it, is, each time experienced, completely new: it can be pyrotechnic in its intensity or slow and tender but overwhelming, like a glacier passing over a landscape; or evanescent but glorious like the field of fireflies on Martha's Vineyard in my youth - whatever it is, each time is familiar and new at once, an overturning."

One more thing.... Nora is only in her late 30's.  Yet she describes her life as a spinster - as if her time for love and possibly a family is over.  She talked and acted like someone twice her age, and I'm sure every 30-year-old who read the book will agree. 

So, would I recommend it?  Yes, I would.  Will my book club like it?  Maybe a few will, but I have a feeling the majority will be negative.  -June