More summer reading!
Book 34: The Weight of
Dreams by Jonis Agee
The Weight of
Dreams told a story of vengeance that I felt could have been told in
half the amount of pages. Set in the West, it gave the reader the impression
that the Plains were still very much like the Wild, Wild West we know from the
days of cowboys and Indians. For whatever reason, I could not get involved with
the characters’ lives and pretty much plodded through this book.
Book 35: Riven Rock by
T.C. Boyle
Riven Rock
was quite a welcome departure from the previous book. I love T.C. Boyle’s
style, and he didn’t disappoint. This was the fictionalized story of the heir
to the McCormick reaper fortune and his sad life as a schizophrenic and sex
maniac, locked up in his mansion and forbidden to see any women – even his own
wife. It was a fascinating look at history, early 20th century
mores, and the rudimentary beginnings of the field of psychiatry.
Book 36: American Psycho
by Bret Easton Ellis
… And then there was American
Psycho … which definitely took abnormal psych to a whole new level. I would
not recommend this book for anyone who is squeamish. I vaguely recall this
being a movie, but I don’t think I saw it. If I did, I would surely remember it
… and not with fondness. Sexual depravity, senseless violence, rampant drug
use, all wrapped up in the guise of an ‘80s New York success story. If that’s
your cup of tea, this is the book for you.
Book 37: River, Cross My Heart by Breena Clarke
A haunting look at the Georgetown section of Washington, DC, in
the early part of the 20th century. Home to a thriving community of
African-Americans, this book tells the story of the accidental drowning of a
young girl and how the effects of her death ripple throughout the lives of the
people who knew her.
Book 38: Chasing Fire by Suzanne Collins
The second in the Hunger Games trilogy, this book has some
predictable moments, but there are enough unexpected twists and turns to make
it just as hard to put down as the first one. Looking forward to what this
author has in store in the final book.
Book 39: The Gathering by Anne Enright
The last of my “summer reading” books, this one tells the story of
an Irish family coming together to mourn the passing of one of their siblings.
Told from the point of view of the sister, it skillfully weaves together the
story of the family’s past and the challenges of the present day as she tries
to cope with grief at the same time she is questioning her marriage and her relationships
with the surviving members of the family. I’ve never been to Ireland, but I
swear I almost felt like I’d just visited by the time this book was done. Well
written and engrossing.
Book 40: A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard
To say that this book is disturbing would be a gross
understatement. Lots of books are disturbing, but this one is more so because
it is true. Jaycee Dugard was kidnapped at age 11 and was not reunited with her
family until she was 29. During those 18 years, she was held prisoner, treated
as a sex slave, bore two daughters and feared for her life if she attempted
escape. Although her captor was a parolee and received regular visits from his parole
officer, no one discovered the girl in the backyard until two astute UC
Berkeley police officers investigated the strange behavior of a local “religious”
fanatic. The thought of this all taking place in an otherwise unremarkable and
well-populated neighborhood is terrifying. The fact that Jaycee Dugard survived
with body and soul intact is a miracle.
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