Deanna’s Bookshelf 2012

Image by Deanna Schrayer

If I were asked the definition of literature, my answer, without doubt, would be: the most important aspect of our children’s education. Imagine where we’d be today without the words of our ancestors, if no one ever recorded what happened on December 7, 1941, July 20, 1969, September 11, 2001. Not only would we be missing vital information about our being, we’d also be without much of the best literature ever written.

I celebrate literature each and every day. I am always reading at least one book, usually no less than two, at once, and I can’t fathom not doing so. Literature is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, gifts bestowed upon us as a free people. I hope you take advantage of that freedom as I do.

This page, and preceding page(s), is dedicated to those wonderful words I get lost in. Here you’ll find a short review of the books I read, along with a rating (see rating system below). [Click here for my 2011 bookshelf, and here for my 2010 bookshelf.]

I hope you’ll join in on the conversation – have you read these books? What did you think of them? What have you read lately that fascinated you, that gave you chills, that had you rolling with laughter? Barring all spoilers, let’s talk about this wonderful blessing: The Written Word.

Deanna’s Star Rating System:

• 0 = So bad I couldn’t even finish it
• 1 = Not very good, but I finished it; won’t read author again
• 2 = Okay, but most likely won’t read the author again
• 3 = Average, will probably read one more by author to determine whether or not to read any further books
• 4 = Very good, will definitely read author again
• 5 = Excellent, will devour everything written by this author 

Note to FTC: Unless otherwise specified, all books reviewed here were either borrowed from the library or purchased by me.

REVIEWS:

May 29, 2012

Just finished: The Barrens,  by Joyce Carol Oates writing as Rosamond Smith ~ Rated 4.5

I admit it took me quite a while, (about ¼ of the book), to “get into” The Barrens, but once I did, oh, what a ride! Most likely the reason it took so long to get into it is because of the mysterious circumstances of the story – in essence, I probably wasn’t paying enough attention. Full of mystery and suspense, (not to mention truly morbid, excellently written description), The Barrens is one every fan of the genre will want to read.

Also Just finished: Numb, by Sean Ferrell  ~ Rated 3.5

Numb is another that took some time to “get into”, in this case probably because of the content and writing style. For those of you who enjoy a lot of action from the get-go, this one is for you. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy action at the start of a story – I do – but I also prefer a more narrative style than Numb offers. Overall it’s a fantastic book with (what I felt) was an unexpected ending, which of course makes it all the better. The only thing I didn’t like about the conclusion was that one [quite large] plot point was never resolved; it could be that Sean wanted us to believe that conclusion was what he was aiming to resolve when in fact he never intended to resolve it….I’m just not so sure I appreciate that, it made me feel cheated. However, as mentioned, the ending is good, and, I believe, inevitable. Numb is certainly worth the time.

Currently reading: Zombie, by Joyce Carol Oates; The Collector of Hearts: New Tales of the Grotesque, by Joyce Carol Oates; Irish Girl: Stories,  by Tim Johnston; Corpus Christi: Stories, by Bret Anthony Johnston

Yes, I’m really reading four books at once. I have just started Zombie (a novel), and am switching back and forth between the anthologies, which are all very good. Reviews coming soon!

May 13, 2012

Just finished: The Woman in Black by Susan Hill ~ Rated 5

Also Just finished: The Dovekeepers, by Alice Hoffman ~ Rated 4.5

Also Just finished: Jack Kerouac’s Book of Dreams ~ Rated 5

Click here to read the reviews of these books as well as an essay on translation of voice.

May 2, 2012

Just finished: A Garden of Earthly Delights, by Joyce Carol Oates   ~ Rated 4.5

Also just finished: Wonderland, by Joyce Carol Oates   ~ Rated 3.75

Although A Garden of Earthly Delights, and Wonderland were very time-consuming reads, I believe they were both worth that time, if for no other reason than to study the classic American landscape of the mid twentieth century. What I find most interesting is that, though I thoroughly enjoyed A Garden of Earthly Delights, I didn’t like the ending, (though it was inevitable), and though I enjoyed the ending of Wonderland, it was sometimes difficult to keep my concentration on the story. Why is this interesting? Because I’ve always appreciated a “real” ending to any story, whether it’s happy or not, so I was surprised at my reaction in this case. I suppose I became so enamored with the main character that I was rooting for him more than I normally would any character of a story. That’s one of the best things about Joyce Carol Oates’s work, (if not the best thing) – the “realness” of her characters, how I always feel like I’ve known them at some time in my life. That makes the long reading time well worth it.

Currently reading: Welcome to the Monkey House, by Kurt Vonnegut  -  I read the short story Welcome to the Monkey House in some anthology that I don’t recall, but knew, after reading it, that I just had to read the other stories in Kurt Vonnegut’s anthology. I’ve read about half of them so far and though none compare to the crazy bizarreness of Welcome to the Monkey House, most are very good, and yes, because they are so bizarre. I’m trying not to read any more than this for the time being so that I’ll get my hind-end in gear and write! Wish me luck!

April 24, 2012

Just finished: The Violent Bear it Away, by Flannery O’Conner ~ Rated 5

“A burning arm slid down his throat, as if the devil were already reaching inside him to finger his soul.” It’s lines like these that make any of Flannery O’Conner’s works of art beyond worth the time to read, (though, because of such descriptions, not much time is required since you want to turn the page fast). The Violent Bear it Away is certainly no exception. Full of not only these wonderfully shown scenes, but also the timeless theme of coming-of-age, yet not nearly told in a conventional way, you will be wrapped up in this story in no time flat. And the best part? Why, the main thing that rates all books I read a 5 – the unexpected ending of course!

Also just finished: Fun With Problems, by Robert Stone ~ Rated 4

Fun With Problems is a well told collection of short stories that, though the voice is clearly that of Stone, run the variety of topics to please all tastes. A great read.

Currently reading: A Garden of Earthly Delights, by Joyce Carol Oates  Review coming soon.

April 20, 2012

Just finished: The Shoemaker’s Wife, by Adriana Trigiani ~ Rated 5

The Shoemaker’s Wife is, quite simply, the best love story you’ll ever read. Inspired by her grandparent’s true love, Adriana gives us not only the scenery of the Italian Alps, New York City and the Iron Range of Minnesota, but the feel of all these places, forever bound with the love that neither Ciro Lazzari nor Enza Ravenelli can escape, even if they wanted to. Fortunately, they didn’t want to, lest we wouldn’t be privileged to read Adri’s work today! This is one you’ll want to curl up by the fire with.

Also just finished: Fork in the Road, by Denis Hammil ~ Rated 5

One of the funniest, heartbreaking, bittersweet stories you’ll ever read, Fork in the Road shows us how young Colin Coyne must travel to Dublin, back home to New York, to Los Angeles, back to Dublin, and finally home to New York again, in order to mature from a carefree bachelor to a responsible father, all the while struggling with whether or not he loves the children’s mother, adorable free-spirited Gina Furey. Chock full of Irish “travelers’” hilarious antics, and heart-tugging love, Fork in the Road is a must read!

Currently reading: The Violent Bear it Away, by Flannery O’Conner – I’m shocked that I’m just now discovering this one, (considering how much I love Flannery O’Conner). Review coming soon!

April 12, 2012

Just finished: Mudwoman, by Joyce Carol Oates ~ Rated 3

Let’s just say, had Mudwoman been the first of JCO’s novels I’d read, I would’ve missed out on many terrific ones, for I wouldn’t have read any more. Although the novel does reflect her voice quite well, much of it reads like an academic journal, almost like a thesis for philosophy in fact. While I am interested in philosophy, I don’t care to read it for entertainment purposes, which is what a novel should be. That said, Mudwoman does come across as a thoughtful introspection into the life of a single woman – what it’s like for her to be the president of an ivy league college while fighting nightmare recollections of being tossed into the mudflats to die [by her mother] at only three-years-old. So, while I do feel the novel was much too long, (in fact, so much is repeated throughout that, had it been properly edited, it could’ve been cut down to novella length), it is worth reading for JCO’s trademark “delicious” horror.

Currently reading: Adriana Trigiani’s The Shoemaker’s Wife    ~ This is a long book too, but I’m halfway through it and don’t even feel that I’ve read more than a couple chapters. I can’t wait to do the review on The Shoemaker’s Wife!

April 9, 2012

Just finished: Ghost on Black Mountain, by Ann Hite  ~ Rated 4

Ghost on Black Mountain is an amazing debut novel with “real people” (I deem characters real people when they seem such to me, and that matters a lot – probably most – in everything I read), whose lives intertwine in such a way that there’s no escaping each other, and there’s no escaping their pasts together. Told from several different character’s viewpoints, (which is one of the most difficult types of creating fiction there is), the book tells the story of how seemingly everyone who comes to Black Mountain can never leave without carrying those ghosts – some created by themselves – with them. An outstanding read!

Currently reading: Mudwoman, by Joyce Carol Oates - I hope to finish this one and write a review for it and the anthologies I’ve been reading shortly, mostly because I’m anxious to finish what is fast becoming another favorite by my favorite author, Adriana Trigiani – The Shoemaker’s Wife,  (I received it in the mail last week and read half of it before I figured I’d better finish the library books first, before they’re due back). Adriana will be here in my town next weekend! I can’t wait! Look for reviews soon.

March 30, 2012

Just finished: The Best American Short Stories of the Eighties~ Rated 3.5

Though some of the stories in this anthology were quite drab, most of them are terrific. One of the best, not only in this book but of all time, is Cynthia Ozick’s The Shawl, (an O. Henry prize winner), but it’s a heart-wrencher, (don’t say I didn’t warn you). Also included are Raymond Carver, Joyce Carol Oates and Tim O’Brien. If there were no other stories, those alone are worth the read.

Also just finished: Fully Loaded, The Complete Collected Stories of Blake Crouch, by Blake Crouch ~ Rated 4.5

If you’re into the morbidly hilarious, or maybe hilariously morbid?, you’ll love Blake Crouch’s anthology Fully Loaded. And that it is – fully loaded with stories that are engrossing and touching. Even those that veer on the side of disgusting, (as often horror stories should be), are worth the stomach churns because the characters are amazingly real. An outstanding read, especially if you’re a writer looking to study characterization.

Also just finished: Forever Odd, by Dean Koontz ~ Rated 4.5

I’m ashamed to admit I’ve had Forever Odd on my ‘to be read’ shelf for a long time and had forgotten all about it. Surprising, as much as I love Odd Thomas, the young man who sees and speaks to the dead just before, or just after, something devastating happens. He is undoubtedly one of my all-time favorite characters, and once again Koontz proves that he was born to give us excellent scary tales!

Currently reading: Fun With Problems, by Robert Stone, The Best of Cemetery Dance, edited by Richard Chizmar, (thank goodness for the library!), and Ghost on Black Mountain, by Ann Hite – reviews coming soon!

March 22, 2012

Just finished: The Leftovers, by Tom Perrotta ~ Rated 2

Simply put, The Leftovers is one of the most disappointing books I’ve ever read. Although the title clearly tells us what the book is about – the people “left over” after a rapture-like event – still, the fact that the premise is a rapture-like event makes us believe something will happen in connection to that event, (or at least that’s what I thought). But no, that is not the case. This book felt, to me, like the author just wanted to write some smutty narrative and needed an excuse to get people to read it, hence the “rapture”. The characters are not only flat as my boobs (hey, there’s a reason you don’t see photos of me from the neck down), but they also never have to face any immediate challenges. It seems that, as soon as it appears they’re about to be in a dire situation, something or someone comes along to save the day and poof! they can go about their way without having to deal with conflict. And that is not a good story, period. The Leftovers is one you’ll want to skip.

Also just finished: Ernie’s Ark, by Monica Wood ~ Rated 4

The only thing I didn’t like about Ernie’s Ark is that the book eventually ended. Monica gives us such rich characters that I could’ve gone on reading about them for days on end. Ernie’s Ark is a series of short stories encompassing the people of a small town who are experiencing the possible shut down of the paper mill that has kept the town going for decades. The stories, and the characters, interact throughout the book to give us a treasure of a collection. Like I said, this one could’ve gone on for some time and I would’ve been quite satisfied with that. Read now!

I’ve also been reading Volume I of A Treasury of Modern Mysteries, published in 1973, with such superb authors as Agatha Christie, (I was shocked to discover I’d never read her novella, included here, Endless Night, which is one of the very best stories I’ve ever read), Joyce Carol Oates, Daphne du Maurier, and many more “greats”. And that’s just what this anthology is – great! You’ll definitely want to read this one.

Currently reading: The Best American Short Stories of the Eighties– another timeless treasure – and Fully Loaded, The Complete Collected Stories of Blake Crouch, by Blake Crouch – I’ve only read the first story of this one and it was fantastic, so I’m certain the rest of the book will be just as great. Review coming soon!

March 14, 2012

Just finished: Balls, by Nanci Kincaid  ~ Rated 4.5

The only thing I didn’t like about Balls was the title – I kept thinking “This should be called The Coach’s Wife,” but maybe that title was already taken? It does sound familiar. In any case, it is an excellent read! If you’re a writer looking to study character-building, you’ll want to read this book. Not only do the characters feel like real people, but Balls feels like a true story – in every sense that is, the book feels more like a memoir than a novel. Told from the point-of-view of several different characters, (which isn’t nearly as confusing as it sounds), Balls is one of the best family dramas I’ve ever read. If you’ve ever wondered what goes on in the lives of football coaches’ families, Balls is the book for you – read it now!

Currently reading: Several different anthologies – reviews coming soon.

March 12, 2012

Just finished: Fair Warning,  by Robert Olen Butler ~ Rated 3

Although Fair Warning has quite beautiful language, as I’m discovering is the norm for Robert Olen Butler, the story itself was not as interesting as I’d hoped it would be. There is one character that, I feel, could’ve and should’ve been cut completely for all he did was lead me to expect more interaction with the main character, but after about a third of the book we don’t hear of him again. Furthermore, the climax at the very end, though somewhat expected, was not nearly as “tragic” as I believe it should’ve been. My take: don’t use your time on Fair Warning.

Now reading: Balls, by Nanci Kincaid    I’m about halfway through this one and am loving it. Nanci has such a way with words, and of course, being southern, those words are just my type. Review coming soon.

March 1, 2012

Just finished: A Small Hotel, by Robert Olen Butler ~ Rated 4.5

I started reading A Small Hotel a couple of weeks ago but after the first quarter or so just could not get into it so I put it aside. However, it had such high recommendations that I decided to try again, and I’m glad I did for the book certainly redeemed itself the further into it I read. This is one that, if you’re a writer, you definitely want to study for pacing. I found myself wondering if the slow start was intentional because the pace picked up with every page, making me want to turn the page more and more. That said, be forewarned if you don’t enjoy long narratives about human emotion, for that makes up about 75% of the book, then this one is not for you, (but truly I don’t know how anyone could not be interested in such, for isn’t that why we read? Or maybe that’s just me…).  In any case, A Small Hotel is definitely worth the read.

Now reading: The Best American Short Stories 2011, edited by Geraldine Brooks and Heidi Pitlor – most of the stories are very good, but the last three or so I’ve read, (and I skip around so that isn’t the last three in the book), have been very boring…review coming soon!

February 28, 2012

Just finished: The Museum of Dr. Moses: Tales of Mystery and Suspense, by Joyce Carol Oates ~ Rated 4

I absolutely love how versatile Joyce Carol Oates is with the genres she writes in, but I believe her horror/mystery/suspense stories are the best. Although there were a few stories in this anthology whose ending I didn’t care too much for, overall The Museum of Dr. Moses: Tales of Mystery and Suspense is a great read. Favorites: Suicide Watch, Bad Habits, and The Museum of Dr. Moses.

Just finished: Welding With Children: Stories, by Tim Gautreaux ~ Rated 5

For certain one of the best anthologies you’ll ever read, Welding With Children: Stories is a classic collection of Tim Gautreaux’s best work. It’s one of those that leave you in tears of joy and tears of heartbreak – at once, and that is a rare find. Favorites: Welding With Children, Easy Pickings (hilarious), Misuse of Light, Sorry Blood, and Dancing With the One-armed Gal.

Now reading: The Best American Short Stories 2011, edited by Geraldine Brooks and Heidi Pitlor – with such great authors as JCO, Jennifer Egan, Claire Keegan, Elizabeth McCracken, and Steven Millhauser, this anthology is, thus far, an outstanding gem – review coming soon!

February 23, 2012

Just finished: Not Comin’ Home to You, by Lawrence Block  ~ Rated 5

This one is not for the faint of heart. Not Comin’ Home to You is a fascinating crime book based on the true story of Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate, who “killed a batch of Nebraskans….in 1958”. Told through the eyes of Jimmie John, (the killer), and his girl, Betty, the inner monologue is more chilling than the criminal acts themselves, (which are described very well), but what’s most interesting – because here it works whereas in most books it doesn’t – is the sprinklings of news reports and dialogue by characters we never really meet after Jimmie John and Betty meet their fate. At first this jarred me because it felt like I was reading a different story entirely but after I realized who it was and the point of it, I enjoyed the remaining interruptions if you will. Any writer will tell you that sort of writing is a near impossible feat. Obviously there are a few out there, including Lawrence Block, who not only know how to do it, but do it well. I will definitely be reading more of Mr. Block’s work!

Now reading: JCO’s The Museum of Dr. Moses: Tales of Mystery and Suspense, which is, (per usual with JCO), outstanding. I’m also waiting for my copy of Tim Gautreaux’s  Welding With Children: Stories. I absolutely love Tim’s work, especially his characters, and I know this one will be no different. Stay tuned for reviews.

February 20, 2012

Just finished: The Butterfly’s Daughter, by Mary Alice Monroe ~ Rated 2

Yes, I said my next read would be The Museum of Dr. Moses: Tales of Mystery and Suspense, by Joyce Carol Oates but I had picked up The Butterfly’s Daughter at the library completely on instinct, simply because it was written my Mary Alice Monroe. Although I don’t normally like “chic-lit”, Mary Alice’s stories I’ve read have been good so I figured The Butterfly’s Daughter would be not only a safe bet but a quick read. I am so sorry, and surprised, to say both were not true.

Although the concept is a good one – a young woman carries her grandmother’s ashes home to Mexico where all the monarch butterflies of the world gather in the fall – while in search of her grandmother’s family that she’d either never met or rarely seen, the writing is horrible, period. First of all, the situations Luz, (the young woman), finds herself in are so unrealistic it’s almost like watching one of those stupid action movies where you know what’s coming next only because it has to be something that could never in real life happen. Yes, I know its fiction, but all fiction, even fantasy, (to me, as a reader), must have that element of realty to impress me. Worse though is how Mary Alice tells us the story instead of showing us the story – a writer’s (as a reader) worst nightmare. It was as if she had no faith that the reader could grasp the significance of what just happened, so in the next sentence, she tells you. Even worse, (if you can believe there’s worse than that), is a major mistake right in the middle of the book. I read a sentence that completely contradicted a sentence I’d read not two chapters before. Being certain I must’ve read the first one incorrectly I turned back to it, but no, I had not read it wrong, it was just a major mistake in the book. At that point I was ready to throw the book down – but it was Mary Alice, whose previous novels I greatly enjoyed, so I kept going. Not only did I predict everything that would happen, (nearly to the minutest of detail), but Mary Alice increasingly told, instead of showed, us the story. And, if you can believe it, Luz “yawned noisily” three times within twenty or so pages. The Butterfly’s Daughter is a great waste of time.

Now reading: JCO’s The Museum of Dr. Moses: Tales of Mystery and Suspense, and I’ve started Lawrence Block’s novel Not Coming Home to You, which is, thus far, very good. Reviews coming soon!

February 14, 2012

Gracious, do I have a lot of catching up to do! I’ve been reading voraciously as usual, but was always in such a hurry to get to the next book I neglected to write the reviews; therefore, the majority of these are short.

Just finished: The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson ~ Rated 3.5

Shirley Jackson knew how to scare her readers, period. Although I was somewhat perturbed by the ending, The Haunting of Hill House is still a good read, and, if you’re a writer looking to learn how to frighten your reader, this story is an excellent source of study. The atmosphere, and her descriptions, (which of course set the atmosphere), are absolutely chilling. A must read for all who write in the paranormal/horror genre.

Also Just finished: The Portable Jack Kerouac, edited by Ann Charters ~ Rated 5

An outstanding collection of Jack Kerouac’s work, The Portable Jack Kerouac is a must have! The book includes not only his poetry, essays and letters, but also – best of all – portions of his best works, e.g., On the Road, The Mexican Girl, Desolation Angels, Big Sur, and many more. I love, love, love the language of Jack Kerouac’s work so this book is definitely a favorite.

Also Just finished: dogs of god, by Pinckney Benedict ~ Rated 3.5

Last year I read Pinckney Benedict’s short story Bounty, and was immediately hooked. Here is a relatively new author who is destined to become one of the greats of our time. His work is intriguing and he knows quite a bit, it seems, about pace. That said, although dogs of god was interesting and well written, there was entirely too much back-story, a lot of which was not needed at all. For instance, the first seven or so chapters is nothing more than introductions to the many characters that make up the story, and several of those characters could’ve easily been “slipped in” much later in the book without our having to know a thing about how they arrived in the climax. However, because of the excellent atmosphere he sets, I will read Pinckney Benedict again, but will most likely stick to anthologies rather than novels.

Currently Reading: Danse Macabre, by Stephen King and The Museum of Dr. Moses: Tales of Mystery and Suspense, by Joyce Carol Oates ~ reviews coming soon!

January 23, 2012

Just finished: Feast Day of Fools, by James Lee Burke’s ~ Rated 5

Well, so far I have been very lucky with the reading this year. Feast Day of Fools is yet another book I’ve rated 5! And yes, it certainly deserves such a high rank. Feast Day of Fools is the third in the Hackberry Holland series, and though I wanted to read the first and second before this one, I just couldn’t help digging in when I received it. But that’s one thing I love about Burkes’s books – although of course it’s always better to read trilogies, or any series, in order, he creates the stories in such a way that each stands on its own and you get some back-story without him giving away the previous ones, so that you can still go back and read them without knowing what happens, (which I will do).

Anyway, on with the review: the 5 rating is due largely in part to the luscious, and often disgusting, descriptions, (we’re talking about Mexican drug cartels here), which Burke is known for. It’s also due to the complexity of the characters, and, even more so, because of the fact that he so brilliantly foreshadows what you’re certain will lead to “this guy” turning out to be the worst of the bunch and then – Bam! – you discover the direct opposite is true. I know I’ve said it a hundred times, but I’ll say it again – that’s what constitutes a 5 rating from me, as both a reader and a writer.

If you can handle often disturbing images of mass slayings – and worse – Feast Day of Fools is definitely a must read. Even if you don’t usually enjoy such though, there’s enough philosophy and humor thrown in…no, not thrown in – weaved in perfectly – to pick this book up today.

Currently Reading: Too many different books at once. I started reading Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen but quickly became bored with it, (although it isn’t a terrible story, just now what I wanted at the time), so I reread Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper, (full text via the link), a quick short classic that, in my opinion, is a must read for everyone. I’ve read it about five times now; it’s simply the epitome of psychological study. Last night I began Edgar Rice Burroughs’s Pellucidar without realizing it is the second in a series. This one, contrary to Feast Day of Fools, I believe should be read in order, so I’ve bookmarked it and will read the first book in the series – At The Earth’s Core – before picking Pellucidar back up. Of course, it is about time to hit the library too…..

January 15, 2011

Just finished: The Monster Men, by Edgar Rice Burroughs ~ Rated 5

Once again I am amazed that I had not heard of this incredibly intriguing classic. I just happened to stumble upon it when searching through Amazon’s free Kindle selections, (check it out if you have a Kindle, you can download tons of classic books for free)! Yes, this is the Edgar Rice Burroughs who wrote Tarzan, The Land That Time Forgot, and many more stories that we writers today do our best to emulate. Not only is The Monster Men a classic pirate tale but it also has soulless beings, incredible imagery of tropical islands, and action, action, action! Best of all though is the craftily foreshadowed shock of an ending. The Monster Men is a must read for everyone!

Currently Reading: Yes, I was supposed to be reading The Age of Innocence, by Edith Wharton, but after discovering The Monster Men I set The Age of Innocence aside. I will pick this one back up in the near future, but for now I’m waiting for my hard cover copy of James Lee Burke’s  Feast Day of Fools, which should be here within a couple of days. As much as I love the atmosphere that Burke weaves throughout all his work I know I will devour this one, so look for the review soon!

January 8, 2012

Just finished: 11/22/63, by Stephen King ~ Rated 4.5

Time is of the essence and there’s a reason for everything. These are the life lessons we learn along with English teacher Jake Epping in King’s terrific novel 11/22/63. Although the book is about time travel and there are horrific elements, 11/22/63 is not your “usual” Stephen King story. Instead of people grotesquely transforming into aliens or telekinetic super-humans, the characters in this book are as normal as you and me – with the exception that we often aren’t sure if they’re truly where (or, more to the point, when) they are or what they’re doing there until the climax towards the end. I love that I was kept in suspense for so long about what was bound to happen to Jake in the effort to stop him from trying to keep President Kennedy from being assassinated, and, even more, I love that the stumbling block was not at all what I expected it to be. Nor was Jake’s efforts to tackle those stumbling blocks what I expected. I don’t believe I could’ve chosen a better story as my first read of 2012.  

Currently Reading: The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton ~ I’m attempting to weave my reading this year with a relatively new release followed by a classic. Of course, thanks to my mile long reading list that could change, but for now it’s working out. Review coming soon!

December 31, 2011

Just finished: American Appetites by Joyce Carol Oates and Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison. Visit my 2011 bookshelf for reviews. and click here for my post on the top reads of 2011. I’m currently enjoying several short stories as I play with my new Kindle Fire and will be choosing the next novel read soon. What’s the best book you’ve read recently?