Summer Reading - Books 34-40

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 20^th 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 20^th 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.

52 Books in 52 Weeks: Books 30-33

Summer Reading List

There’s something about summer and reading that just goes together. And as the days fly by, so do the books. Here then is a brief outline of four books I read over the past month:

Jewel by Bret Lott – A touching, fascinating look back at the struggles of raising a special needs child in post-WWII America. And a compelling reminder that the main ingredient is a mother’s love.

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides – This book proved the adage that you can’t judge a book by its cover. The cover art nearly deterred me from what turned out to be a fun, intelligent read. The fact that it took place in a New England college town in the early 80s made it particularly relevant to me.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – I finally gave in and began the trilogy … and couldn’t put it down. This series is designed for young adult readers, but since in my mind I am still 19, I felt I was the perfect audience. I have now gotten hold of the two remaining books, and will likely plow through those as well.

Sam’s Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson – Trite and way too sugary for my taste. A blessedly quick read.

Vacation is over, but there’s still another four weeks of summer! And the read-a-thon continues!

52 Books in 52 Weeks: Book 29 - The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book that I couldn’t put down, but this was one of them. 

This book gave me a whole new perspective on Afghanistan … a place I was only vaguely aware of before 9/11. At times endearing and at others powerfully disturbing, I was struck first by its depiction of the universality of childhood. And how its innocence – skillfully woven in the symbolism of kite flying – could be snuffed out in a moment.

I had seen the film version of The Kite Runner several years ago, so as the book unfolded, I remembered many of the incidents. But – as usual – I preferred the book to the movie, even though the latter was excellent. The plot twists and character development keep the reader on edge throughout, and deeply involved in the life of the protagonist (Amir) and his people.

For me, one line stands out as a stark reminder of how quickly life changes. Spoken by the mother Amir never knew, it states: “[Profound] happiness is frightening. … They only let you be this happy if they’re preparing to take something from you.” Indeed that was the case for so many of the Afghanis affected by war and inhumanity in this book. Yet we are left with a sliver of hope for the future in the image of the kite flying free.

52 Books in 52 Weeks: Book # 28: In the Woods

In the Woods by Tana French

As you all know by now, I enjoy the True Crime genre, so I figured I would equally enjoy a good fictional murder mystery – especially one that was an Edgar Award Winner. But for some reason I just couldn’t get excited about this book.

It sounded great – psychological suspense, a 20-year-old secret, long-buried memories – but I had a hard time empathizing with the characters most of the time. They seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time drinking, getting drunk and recovering from hangovers. And the jargon they used in conversation (the book took place in Ireland) got to be a bit off-putting. 

Then there was the length … the editor in me felt that the story could have been told in half the number of pages (there were 429 of them). Perhaps a bit of succinctness would have prevented me from falling asleep so many nights while reading. Or maybe if they spent a little less time drinking and a little more time detecting, the mystery could have been solved a lot sooner.

52 Books in 52 Weeks: Book #27: Olive Kitteridge

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

At first I found it hard to get used to the unusual way this book is constructed – more like a series of short stories or vignettes centered (or sometimes not centered) around the main character, Olive Kitteridge. In some stories, she played a prominent role while in others she was merely mentioned as someone in the background. 

But since it was a Pulitzer Prize winner, I knew it must have something to offer, so I plodded on. And in fact, this book grew on me as I read it, and I soon found myself relating to Olive as an older woman facing many of life’s challenges. There are not too many books that focus on women past middle age, so it was refreshing to gain new perspective on this stage of life through her character.

From empty-nest syndrome to health concerns, post-traumatic stress to a spouse’s sudden disability, this book takes the reader through real-life situations as seen through the eyes of Olive and other residents of a small town in Maine. And within these characters I recognized many of my own quirks and personality defects … sometimes with amusement but often with dismay.

Give this one a chance and I think it will grow on you too.

52 Books in 52 Weeks: Books 24, 25 & 26

Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi, Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons, Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen

In honor of summer, I’ve taken a break from my usual literary diet of nonfiction and have begun delving into some of the novels my daughter recommended. It’s been a great diversion, and I am rediscovering the joy of diving into someone else’s life and immersing myself in it.

Stones from the River takes place in Germany, spanning the years that include the rise and fall of the Nazis. The main character is a young woman who is a dwarf, and focuses on her personal struggles to fit in against a larger backdrop of an entire society that no longer “fits in” to Hitler’s worldview. Thoroughly captivating, often heartbreaking, this was one that I hated to finish.

Ellen Foster is a short book, written from the perspective of a simple girl in the rural South who has grown up in an extremely dysfunctional family and has seen way too much. But the real hero is the foster family from whom she appropriates her surname.

Black and Blue is a book it turns out I’ve read before, but it was worth rereading. I always enjoy Anna Quindlen’s novels, and her descriptions of the heroine’s day-to-day life made my palms sweat, knowing that danger lurked right around the corner. To say I was disappointed with the ending is an understatement, but then abuse seldom has a happy ending.

I’m looking forward to some more beach reads this summer!