The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson

Here's a funny story about this book. It was a Pulitzer Prize winner, and even though no one had read the book, my book club decided it must be good so we'd read it. The reviews were outstanding, and we determined that although it was a very long book, it would be worth it for us to tackle it. As I was reading along on my Kindle, I realized that I was eager to put it down and the percentage at the bottom just didn't seem to be moving. I was about 20% into the novel when I wrote to the rest of the club asking for motivation. I had read that the book improved in the second half of the book, and I was looking for assurance that it would. Several members replied that they had already given up, but the few who had persevered said it did indeed get better.

And it did! The novel takes place in North Korea, a country that is a mystery to most of us. While the author visited North Korea to research the book, he admits that because he had limited access there, the novel is definitely fiction. The society he created is frightening but probably has some truth in it. I won't (and can't) even begin to summarize this book with all the complex changes and characters. The author uses a number of techniques including writing entire chapters that are announcements made over a loudspeaker to the citizens of North Korea, and his chapters jump around in time.

I will say that this book was a challenge for me. I recommend it with lots of reservations. If you are squeamish at all, beware. There are some detailed graphic stories that made me literally push the book away. But if you are looking for something very different from other books you've read, you might like it. Obviously the judges for the Pulitzer did. - June

A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler

It is a fact: I love Anne Tyler! There's just something about her writing style that captivates me. Her books are primarily focused on families, and they pull you into the lives of characters and let you see the family members with all their warts and wrinkles. The reader KNOWS these characters and has people in their lives who are just like these people. There's the son who just doesn't fit into the family, the daughter who is the overachiever, the mother who just wants everyone to get along.

This is the story of the Whitshank family. We meet one generation but the author also shifts to the previous generation and back again. This might confuse some people, and it did cause me to have to pay attention to the growing cast of characters, but it all works. For those of you who like an exciting plot, you will be disappointed. But if you love to join into a family struggling to make it through good times and messy times, this is for you.

Some people have said that this is Anne Tyler's last book. I sincerely hope that this isn't true. I look forward to each and every one. While this one might not be her best, even an average book by Anne Tyler is for me better than most authors will ever write. Recommend. - June