Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper is a story about love and friendship, and what happens in old age when memories begin to slip and merge, it is more a walking meditation than a novel.
At 83 years old, in the first stages of Alzheimer's, Etta takes off alone to walk 3000 miles across Canada to see the ocean. A coyote, who she names James, joins her and becomes her companion. The story is told in the present and in the past, often through letters, when she was just a young schoolteacher and met Otto and Russel, who both fell in love with her, Otto going off to war and later marrying her, Russell staying nearby as their best friend. They are all deeply connected, yet each have their own journey to complete.
A sparse, beautiful, book. Sad, magical, haunting. Hooper lets the reader's imagination fill in the empty spaces. A wonderful debut.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Saturday, March 28, 2015
The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe
The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe by Romain Puertolas is a very funny novel about exactly what the title says. This fakir flies from India to Paris, takes a taxi to Ikea, spends the night, hides in a wardrobe then ends up traveling to England, Spain, Italy and Libya all in a matter of days.
It is a hilarious ride full of wit and charm, and along the way our fakir falls in love, is chased by Gypsies, writes a book and ends up with a lot of cash. Puertolas' novel is full of heart and also brings to light the plight of illegal aliens, and the lengths they will go to, to get to one of the "good countries."
If you are able to suspend your disbelief, then you will find this an intelligent, funny read.
It is a hilarious ride full of wit and charm, and along the way our fakir falls in love, is chased by Gypsies, writes a book and ends up with a lot of cash. Puertolas' novel is full of heart and also brings to light the plight of illegal aliens, and the lengths they will go to, to get to one of the "good countries."
If you are able to suspend your disbelief, then you will find this an intelligent, funny read.
Monday, March 23, 2015
Counting by 7's
Counting by 7's by Holly Goldberg Sloan, is a novel about a very gifted twelve year old girl, Willow Chance, who loses her adopted parents in a car accident and has nowhere to go.
Willow is a genius, and most likely on the aspergers spectrum, although it never says that for sure. She is taken in by a Vietnamese family, who she barely knows. She is also placed in the care of a lazy school counselor, and befriends a Mexican taxi driver. All their lives are changed forever by their friendships with Willow.
This is a beautifully written story, told mostly in the first person through Willow's unique perspective. It is impossible not to fall in love with her, and laugh and cry and hope with her.
A wonderful read, not soon forgotten.
Willow is a genius, and most likely on the aspergers spectrum, although it never says that for sure. She is taken in by a Vietnamese family, who she barely knows. She is also placed in the care of a lazy school counselor, and befriends a Mexican taxi driver. All their lives are changed forever by their friendships with Willow.
This is a beautifully written story, told mostly in the first person through Willow's unique perspective. It is impossible not to fall in love with her, and laugh and cry and hope with her.
A wonderful read, not soon forgotten.
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Small Blessings
Small Blessings, by Martha Woodroof, is a sweet and funny novel about second chances. Set in a small college town in Virginia, four unlikely people come together to form a family.
Woodroof has a gift for creating characters that the reader cares about. I found myself rooting for them all from the beginning.
Funny, witty, charming, Small Blessings is a worthwhile read.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Her Fearful Symmetry
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife is a fascinating book that had me hooked for the first three quarters. Niffenegger is an intelligent writer, who creates unusual charcters that really draw the reader in, and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen.
It is about two 21 year old twins from Chicago who inherit their aunt's flat in London when she dies. They have never met her and can't figure out why she left it to them. There they meet the kind upstairs neighbor with OCD who cant leave his apartment, and the younger lover of their aunt who lives downstairs. The flat borders London's famous Highgate Cemetery.
The book was wonderful until its very weird and disturbing last quarter which left me wishing for a totally different ending. It felt as if Niffenegger got tired and just abandoned all these characters she had worked so hard to create. Very disappointing.
It is about two 21 year old twins from Chicago who inherit their aunt's flat in London when she dies. They have never met her and can't figure out why she left it to them. There they meet the kind upstairs neighbor with OCD who cant leave his apartment, and the younger lover of their aunt who lives downstairs. The flat borders London's famous Highgate Cemetery.
The book was wonderful until its very weird and disturbing last quarter which left me wishing for a totally different ending. It felt as if Niffenegger got tired and just abandoned all these characters she had worked so hard to create. Very disappointing.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Buster Midnight's Cafe
Buster Midnight's Cafe by Sandra Dallas is a story set in Butte, Montana. Dallas is a good storyteller, but I found the character names all a bit distracting, Effa Commander, Whippy Bird, Buster Midnight, to name a few.
The story is about three friends growing up in prohibition era Montana. One of them first becomes a prostitute, then makes it big as a movie star in California. They fall in love, get married, live through the war, and through it all they remain friends.
A charming, yet forgettable read.
The story is about three friends growing up in prohibition era Montana. One of them first becomes a prostitute, then makes it big as a movie star in California. They fall in love, get married, live through the war, and through it all they remain friends.
A charming, yet forgettable read.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Lost Lake
Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen is an enchanting book about family, friendship and second chances, filled with just the right amount of magic.
Addison Allen brings the world of Lost Lake Georgia so vividly to life in these pages, I could almost feel the humidity and sense the presence of alligators. I was longing to visit there.
A wonderful read, that fans of her earlier novels will love, as well as readers new to Addison Allen.
Addison Allen brings the world of Lost Lake Georgia so vividly to life in these pages, I could almost feel the humidity and sense the presence of alligators. I was longing to visit there.
A wonderful read, that fans of her earlier novels will love, as well as readers new to Addison Allen.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
A Wedding in Haiti
Its not often that a book just stops me in my tracks, so much so that I have to keep putting it down and walking away while I let certain passages sink in. A Wedding in Haiti by Julia Alvarez is just that type of book. Julia Alvarez is one of my favorite Latin American writers
Alvarez is from the Dominican Republic. I have always loved her novels and her poetry, but this little book is something much more personal. It is her account of a promise she made to a young Haitian friend to come to his wedding if he ever got married. When she was called upon to keep that promise, she embarked on an unforgettable and life changing journey. We as readers are all the richer because she chose to share it with us.
A rare and beautiful book, a recommended read.
Alvarez is from the Dominican Republic. I have always loved her novels and her poetry, but this little book is something much more personal. It is her account of a promise she made to a young Haitian friend to come to his wedding if he ever got married. When she was called upon to keep that promise, she embarked on an unforgettable and life changing journey. We as readers are all the richer because she chose to share it with us.
A rare and beautiful book, a recommended read.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
That Part Was True
That Part Was True by Deborah McKinlay is a novel about two unlikely friends; one a famous American author and the other a shy English woman, who loves to garden. They find a common interest in their love of food and cooking. Their relationship takes place only through correspondence, yet it quickly becomes the most important relationship in both of their lives.
At first I wasn't drawn in to the characters, it seemed just another story of privileged people whining 'poor me.' However, it quickly rose above that cliche and I found I couldn't put it down 'til the end. I loved reading about all the food, even though I'm a vegetarian and vegetarians are given a bad rap in the book.
A fun, enjoyable read, filled with just enough English charm that is goes perfectly with a cup of tea and cookies (recipe in back of book.)
At first I wasn't drawn in to the characters, it seemed just another story of privileged people whining 'poor me.' However, it quickly rose above that cliche and I found I couldn't put it down 'til the end. I loved reading about all the food, even though I'm a vegetarian and vegetarians are given a bad rap in the book.
A fun, enjoyable read, filled with just enough English charm that is goes perfectly with a cup of tea and cookies (recipe in back of book.)
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