Deanna’s Bookshelf 2011
Click here for my current – 2012 – bookshelf.
Click here to see my [full] 2010 bookshelf, which includes an introduction and my star rating system.
Note to FTC: Unless otherwise specified, all books reviewed here were either borrowed from the library or purchased by me.
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December 31, 2011
Just finished: American Appetites, by Joyce Carol Oates~ Rated 3
Though not one of her best, (it is one of her earlier novels), JCO still gives us an intriguing and thought-provoking read in American Appetites. We do learn a lot about the upper class and how they seem to believe they’re untouchable, (at least the characters in this story). Add it to your reading list, somewhere in the middle.
Also just finished: Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison ~ Rated 5
I am so glad I finally got around to reading Song of Solomon – what a superb book! We follow the unfortunately named Macon “Milkman” Dead as he struggles to fit in with “his people” while having to live under the thumb of his greedy father, and there are several mysteries to contemplate along the way. It isn’t until the very end that we learn, along with Milkman, who Solomon is and what he means to Milkman. And what he learns forever changes who he is. An absolute must read!
Up next: I’m not sure yet. I was going to read Under the Mercy Trees, but my husband bought me a Kindle Fire for Christmas and so I’ve been playing around with it and though I’m trying – really I am – not to spend too much money, I have forewarned the hubby that he just gave me a dangerous toy. :) Whatever I choose to read next, the review will be posted to my new 2012 Bookshelf page (currently being built) – stay tuned!
December 16, 2011
Just finished: Good Graces, by Lesley Kagen~ Rated 4.5
Good Graces, the sequel to Lesley’s Whistling in the Dark, is an absolute outstanding read! Told by smart and loving eleven-year-old Sally O’Malley, Good Graces will crack you up and make you squirm at once. Sally has a bigger job than she realizes in keeping her sister, Troo, safe, but, more than that, she has several of those Big Life Lessons that every preteen experiences coming straight on to smack her right in the face. Don’t miss it!
Also just finished: Family Linen, by Lee Smith ~ Rated 3.5
Lee Smith is one of my all-time favorite authors, but while Family Linen is a good story, I had difficulty keeping up with the many characters. Maybe it’s because this is one of her earlier works and she had not yet reached the stage that keeps readers wanting to turn the page, I don’t know…However, Family Linen is still a good read – the best part being that I thought I had the mystery figured out but…nope! I was wrong, and there’s also a twist at the end that surprised me, which is what makes for a good book.
Currently reading: Under the Mercy Trees, by Heather Newton ~ just now starting this one so I’m not sure if this will be a fast read or not….stay tuned for the review!
December 8, 2011
I have been so busy with work lately that I’ve not been able to concentrate on anything I’m reading. I started three different books that I had to put aside, (not like me at all). But, with a couple weeks of vacation coming up, that is about to change. I’ve started Good Graces, by Lesley Kagen, a sequel to the fabulous story Whistling in the Dark, and I am loving it! Review coming soon!
November 26, 2011
Just finished: The Murderer’s Daughters, by Randy Susan Myers ~ Rated 3.5
Although The Murderer’s Daughters is a good story overall, I was a bit disappointed with the way it was constructed. There had to be flashbacks throughout the book (simply because of the initial tragedy that shaped the entirety of the story) but these flashbacks were somewhat…dull? That’s the best way I can describe it. However, I loved how Ms. Myers got the characters – especially the protagonists, (the two daughters), and how their personalities developed over the course of their lives, down-pat. She obviously knows quite a lot about psychology and that in itself made The Murderer’s Daughters worth the read. So, in summary, not outstanding but definitely very good.
Currently reading: Hocus Pocus, by Kurt Vonnegut~ This is actually the third novel I’ve picked up since finishing The Murderer’s Daughters. Due to the fact that my boss has left (the day job) my responsibilities at work have increased ten-fold and the little time I have to read is proving difficult to concentrate on. Even with Hocus Pocus, which is as bizarre and intriguing as all Vonnegut’s work, is proving a challenge to read. I know none of these books I’m reading, (or trying to read), would feel so challenging if I weren’t so preoccupied with work so I may have to put this one aside too for a while, and it may be some time before I’m able to post a decent review. However, I do have the last two weeks of December off – woohoo! – aside from checking in now and then so I hope to finish at least two books then, as well as write, write, WRITE! Stay tuned….
November 9, 2011
Just finished: Broke Heart Blues, by Joyce Carol Oates ~ Rated 3
Y’all know I’m a big JCO fan. Well, if Broke Heart Blues was the first of her books I’d read, I’d have missed out on some real gems because I most likely wouldn’t have read any more of her work. Although interesting and intriguing, Broke Heart Blues was also quite disappointing, mainly because it was so confusing. The narrator switches continuously and, worse even, I never knew who the narrator was, (except for a couple of instances when it was spelled out). Aside from that, as I said, it’s an interesting story, but certainly not enough to spend so very much time on – the book is close to 300 pages and there are rarely any paragraph breaks! I do, however, greatly appreciate the Big Message in Broke Heart Blues – that gossip and rumors do nothing but harm.
Also just finished: Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction, by Kurt Vonnegut ~ Rated 4
Astoundingly hilarious as always, Vonnegut gives us yet another knock-out-of-the-park with Bagombo Snuff Box. One of the best things about this anthology is how very much story he gets in but a few pages, which, as any writer can tell you, is a True Talent. A must read for sure! I especially enjoyed A Present for Big Saint Nick and This Son of Mine.
Currently reading: Going to the library tomorrow so, though I have my list, I’m not sure which I’ll start with – most likely another Vonnegut. More coming soon!
October 30, 2011
Just finished: Eat, Drink, and Be From Mississippi, by Nanci Kincaid ~ Rated 3.5
A heartwarming story to be sure, Eat, Drink, and Be From Mississippi will leave you wanting to know more about where MC Truely Noonan (I love that name) goes next. That said, I believe this story would’ve been much better had Ms. Kincaid revised it to be a novella rather than a novel. Why? Because the first half of the book, (if not more), is nothing more than back-story. Don’t get me wrong, the back-story is a great history of Truely and his sister Courtney’s lives, but it serves nothing in the climax of the story. Eat, Drink, and Be From Mississippi is a good book that many can relate to and does leave the reader wondering about their own life, so it is worth the read, just maybe but it further down your reading list than others.
Still reading: Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction, by Kurt Vonnegut - It just gets better and better, the more stories I read.
Also currently reading: Broke Heart Blues, by Joyce Carol Oates - I tried reading this once before and got confused early on because there was no hint that the narrator had changed from chapter 1 to chapter 2. Now that I realize that though, I’m sure I’ll enjoy Broke Heart Blues – after all, it is by one of my all-time favorite authors. Review coming soon!
October 27 2011
Just finished: The Clearing, by Tim Gautreaux ~ Rated 5
If you’ve ever wanted to know what life was like for a poor mill town in the bayous of Louisiana in the 1920s, look no further. Tim Gautreaux conducts The Clearing as if he lived there, at this time, himself. It’s like sitting down and listening to an “older generation” man tell the story of his life. And what a life it is! Full of mystery, love and more than enough misery for any community to withstand. The Clearing is one of those you won’t be able to put down, no matter how much sleep you need!
Currently reading: Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction, by Kurt Vonnegut - There are some hilarious stories in this collection – review coming soon!
October 21, 2011
Just finished: The Next Step in the Dance, by Tim Gautreaux ~ Rated 5
The Next Step in the Dance is at once hilarious and heart-wrenching. As a reader, you’re not going to want to miss it. You’ll be cracking up one minute, and crying the next. In The Next Step in the Dance we follow the hard-luck, then high-life, then back to hard-luck story of a young married couple who cannot seem to get it together to save their lives. The wife is a demanding gold digger while the husband is a happy-go-lucky fellow who can’t seem to stay out of the way of rumor mongers to save his soul, (one that you are constantly wanting to say “Lord, bless his heart” about). I don’t want to tell you the whole story of course, but suffice it to say this couple must endure some mighty deep pitfalls to get where they are inevitably led to go. Read it today!
As a writer, you aren’t going to want to miss The Next Step in the Dance – Tim has an incredibly gifted talent for description, with such lines as: “…the only thing she remembered about his talk was his Adam’s apple going up and down like a bony elevator for words.” Another favorite line is: “He opened his eyes and rolled out of bed, hoping that his mind would not come with him, that for one day at least, he could be just a body.” This story is chock full of such unique and original lines! Not only that but the pacing, the emotion, the suspense – everything about it is perfect. If you’re looking for a specific style to study, look no further.
Also just finished: Same Place, Same Things: Stories, by Tim Gautreaux ~ Rated 5
I discovered Tim Gautreaux via the anthology New Stories From the South – he had a story in both the 2000 and 1997 edition, (one published each year). Yes, it pays to read these anthologies! I’ve discovered many a fabulous writer this way. This is why I picked up Same Place, Same Things, a fabulous book of short stories written with the same slice-of-humor, hard-life lessons, and even outstanding suspense, as the novel The Next Step in the Dance. Here is a writer who knows his characters well, and we know that makes all the difference in any fiction.
Currently reading: The Clearing, by Tim Gautreaux ~ Of course now that I’ve discovered an author that I absolutely love I’ll have to read everything he’s written before I move on to someone else. Review coming soon.
October 10, 2011
Just finished: Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes ~ Rated 5
Flowers for Algernon is a fantastically engaging read, told in progress reports from retarded-turned-genius Charlie Gordon’s point of view. We follow along as Charlie learns first to read and write and then, following an operation to cure his retardation, well, I won’t spoil it for you. Suffice it to say that Mr. Keyes knows his stuff and you will be glad you read Flowers for Algernon. That said, I would advise skipping the movie which is a whole different ball game. (I felt I had to watch it after reading the book) – I realize [Charley’s] an older film and of course they didn’t have the technology we have now but even so, it’s truly horrid; the screenplay mutilates the book.
Currently reading: I read about a fourth of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey before putting it down. I plan on trying again as I feel the only problem was my short attention span, and with so many characters to keep up with I kept getting lost. I do believe this one will be worth the read. Meanwhile, I will, as usual, continue reading from the anthologies New Stories of the South, and others. Reviews coming soon.
October 3, 2011
Just finished: Wise Blood, by Flannery O’Conner ~ Rated 5
Excellent story! Click here to read my post about Wise Blood.
Currently reading: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey - Review coming soon!
September 27, 2011
Just finished: The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway ~ Rated 3
The Sun Also Rises is another I read in honor of Banned Books Week. I was surprised I hadn’t already read this one, but if I had started it any earlier in my life, (and maybe I have), I most likely wouldn’t have been interested enough to finish it. The only reason I finished it now is because…well, it is Hemingway. I expected a much better story than this! That’s not to say it was awful – there are a few very suspenseful scenes, especially towards the end – but overall, definitely not worth the time.
Currently reading: Shorts from New Stories From the South ~ I pick one of these anthologies up nearly every time I go to the library, (there’s one published every year), and thoroughly enjoy them. There are stories by such great authors as Lee Smith, Robert Olen Butler, Rick Bass, Nanci Kincaid, James Lee Burke, and many more – loving them!
September 22, 2011
Just finished: Slaughterhouse Five,by Kurt Vonnegut ~ Rated 3.5
I read Slaughterhouse Five (in honor of Banned Book Week), specifically because it has been banned in so many places. I’m still having a difficult time determining if I liked it or not. The writing itself is fantastic, but I can easily understand why it’s been banned and challenged so often: it’s rife with not only violence and “bad” language, but there are many, many passages that can be considered blasphemous, especially in the time it was published – the late ‘60s. If you enjoy crude humor, (which, usually, I hate, but this one is an exception), you’ll love Slaughterhouse Five.
Currently reading: The Sun Also Rises, byErnest Hemingway, (also banned and challenged) – review coming soon.
September 19, 2011
Just finished: I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive, by Steve Earle ~ Rated 4.5
Best thing about this book? The should’ve-been-expected-but-was-never-expected twist ending. Outstanding original story set in the early 60s about a good doctor practicing illegally on the seedy side of town who is haunted by the ghost of Hank Williams, who he just happened to treat while Hank was alive. Intriguing characters, well planned story and superb prose – very much worth the read.
Currently reading: Going to library tomorrow, believe I’ll pick up a few classics.
September 18, 2011
Just finished: Give Me Your Heart: Tales of Mystery and Suspense, by Joyce Carol Oates~ Rated 4
Also just finished: I Am No One You Know: Stories, also by Joyce Carol Oates ~ Rated 4
As always, JCO gives us characters so real we feel as if we could reach out and touch them. Both Give Me Your Heart: Tales of Mystery and Suspense and I Am No One You Know: Stories are full of such characters, all finding themselves in drastic situations that require quick thinking and full resolve. Especially if you enjoy suspense and horror, you don’t want to miss these two incredibly well-written anthologies.
Also just finished: The Red Garden, by Alice Hoffman ~ Rated 3
I was surprised by The Red Garden – although yes, Alice Hoffman does give us magic in the lives of these characters stretching on for a full century, that magic wasn’t nearly so…well, magical, as I’ve come to know her for. A good read, but certainly not her best.
Currently reading: I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive, by Steve Earle - yes, that Steve Earle! I’m almost finished with this one, and am loving it. Review coming soon!
September 7, 2011
Just finished: Blonde: a novel, by Joyce Carol Oates ~ Rated 5+ Click here for full review, (available 09/08/11).
Currently reading: The Red Garden, by Alice Hoffman
P.S. I’ve put aside The Bible Salesman for now because I received the books I ordered; I’ll come back to this and others after I’ve devoured my new ones.
August 25, 2011
Just finished: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers ~ Rated 5
What a story! I can’t believe that I had not read the classic The Heart is a Lonely Hunter until now. How did I miss this one? Well, I’m just glad I didn’t completely miss it, for it is a gem of a story and one everyone should read, but especially writers. Not only were there were twists and turns I didn’t see coming throughout the book, but also things I thought for sure that would happen that never did. That’s what makes a good book a great book. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter is full of intriguing, and downright corny characters, and every human emotion there could possibly be – an outstanding book!
Currently reading: The Bible Salesman, by Clyde Edgerton and New Stories of the South, 2001 edition ~ Reviews coming soon.
August 21, 2011
Just finished: A Widow’s Story, a memoir, by Joyce Carol Oates ~ Rated – 5
As expected, Joyce Carol Oates’s memoir, A Widow’s Story, is an excellent read. While we’re still gifted with her supreme talent for telling a story, we get a truly personal view of JCO as a woman, a widow, rather than as an author, (though she does share memories of her first book acceptance, as well as how she works as a writer, and one very painful situation that she based a short story on, a short story that is among my favorites). I’m glad that I can’t imagine what it’s like to be a widow, and of course I hope never to find out, but I believe, if you are a widow, A Widow’s Story will bring you the comfort of knowing you aren’t alone, even as you fight to make everyone realize you are. This is a must read for everyone, especially women.
I did start Carson McCullers’s unfinished autobiography, Illumination and Night Glare, but had to force myself to stop reading when she started talking about one of her books that I haven’t read, (which surprised me). She went into such detail about the characters that I was afraid I’d learn everything about the story before having a chance to read it, so I’m going to pick this one back up later.
Next up: Undecided – My wonderful husband gave me a BAM gift certificate for my birthday and I’m now waiting for six new (to me) books to be delivered. [Two of the others I ordered are also by JCO, anthologies, surprise, surprise.] Of course I want to read them all at once, but not being able to do that I may have to close my eyes and pick one. That said, however, I’m really excited about Blonde, a fictional account of Marilyn Monroe’s life, by JCO, so….maybe I won’t need to close my eyes after all. In any case, I’m certain, once I receive the books, it won’t take long for me to read the first one, so check back soon for a review.
August 17, 2011
Just finished: Reservation Road, by John Burnham Schwartz ~ Rated 2.5
Though well thought out, Reservation Road is a difficult read. Not only is the story told from three different points-of-view, (which is very hard for any writer to pull off), it’s also written partially in first person, (two of the POVs), and partially in third, (the third POV)….confused yet? Exactly. Not knowing this from the beginning, when I got to the third person’s POV, told in the third person, I felt I was reading a whole different story. I had to reread the first few paragraphs several times before I finally figured it out. Note to writers – do not attempt this at home.
All that said, Reservation Road is, in itself, a good story – not great, just good, and gives us a glimpse into the lives of caring people as opposed to the lives of vengeful people that most of us are used to. However, I was disappointed with the ending; in fact, I was disappointed with the whole book – the sentences are almost all short and choppy, (though there are a couple of gems), and the dialogue is horrible, very unrealistic. If you were thinking of reading Reservation Road, my advice is to save your time for a better read. *See below for some great recommendations!
Currently reading: Illumination and Night Glare, an unfinished autobiography, by Carson McCullers ~ review coming soon!
August 14, 2011
Just finished: Black Cherry Blues, by James Lee Burke ~ Rated 4.5
I am truly surprised that I had not heard of James Lee Burke until just recently as he has been a best-selling author for quite some time. Black Cherry Blues is the first (©1989) in his series of thrillers about former cop and obsessive detective Dave Robicheaux, a man who is haunted by a past that will not let him be while he strives to uncover the truth about a man who holds the key to his freedom; yet the further he investigates and the more he discovers, the more questions there are to answer. Full of shocking twists and turns, Black Cherry Blues is a must read for all you suspense/thriller/crime readers!
Just finished: The Member of the Wedding, by Carson McCullers ~ Rated 5
As a reader, I thoroughly enjoyed The Member of the Wedding, a fairly quick read that shows us how 12-year-old Frankie Addams struggles with the forthcoming marriage of her brother to a kind woman, (incidentally, we rarely see her brother and his fiancée – their story is seen only through the eyes of Frankie). The transformation of Frankie is an astoundingly accurate study of the psychological angst of a child navigating that wrenching turn into adulthood, which makes The Member of the Wedding the perfect read for writers. And the ending will throw you for a heart-wrenching loop. You must read The Member of the Wedding today!
Currently reading: Reservation Road, by John Burnham Schwartz~ review coming soon!
August 5, 2011
Just finished: Self-Consciousness – memoirs by John Updike ~ Rated 3
Whew! This was a difficult read. I can’t recall where the recommendation came from, only that it was amongst a writers’ group. Well, I agree that all writers should read Self-Consciousness, or at least the first, second, fifth and sixth chapters. I only wonder if my reasoning is the same as those who recommended it is. It should definitely NOT be read to study style, for style is what it lacks – greatly. I found myself having to reread several lines because of the way they were written, (unclear); in many instances, Mr. Updike would interrupt a line of thought to explain the “why” of something he didn’t get to until after that interruption. That was quite irritating. If you’re reading Self-Consciousness as a writer, I recommend skipping the third and fourth chapters, (unless you’re interested in politics and then you’ll want to read chapter three), for they are not productive as far as the writer’s view is concerned, (this writer’s view in any case). I was greatly disappointed when I got about four pages into the third chapter, for after the first one and a half chapters I was quite excited. Then – splat! – the book drops like a rock. When I begin a book I am determined to finish it, so I got through the third chapter without too much angst, and went on with the fourth. However, after reading three pages of not much more than an ancestral history, (much like the Bible – he begat and such), I was irritated enough to skip the rest of that chapter – yes, I skipped! – and move on to the last. I can’t imagine I missed much because, as the title of the fourth chapter – “A Letter to My Grandsons” – implies, there is little of interest to the general reader, or even the writer. The good thing is that the chapters are written in such a way that there’s no need to have read them in order, or even to have read the first however many before the next.
So what was good enough to rate Self-Consciousness a 3, (my flat-out average rating)? The fact that it makes you think beyond the everyday norm, philosophically that is. And that is the best thing a writer can do for his or her work – think, and think deeply. Also, the childhood memories Mr. Updike records in the first chapter brought about similar memories of my early life. That reminded me of Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamot, (the best book on writing ever written) – not the content but the reminder that, as writers, we need to dig deep and be truthful. In the case of Bird by Bird, that reminder is stated outright, whereas with Self-Consciousness, it’s merely an urging hint in the back of our minds. An urging hint that became inspirational production for me. So, is Self-Consciousness worth the read? Specifically, yes, chapters 1, 2, 5, and 6 are; the rest – not so much.
Currently reading: It’s back to classic short stories for a little while, an assured love.
August 3, 2011
Just finished: Bastard Out of Carolina, by Dorothy Allison ~ Rated 5
The first thing you should know before reading Bastard Out of Carolina is that domestic violence, including grim details of molestation, runs rampant and without censorship. If you’re sensitive to such issues, then you won’t want to read this one. That said, I believe this is one of the most important works of literature in our time. For a change, we get to feel, if not wholly understand, what the victim, an illegitimate child who wants nothing more than to please her mother, (though she denies that so thoroughly she fools herself into believing she’s a mean girl deserving of the abuse), but who is consistently pushed away. It’s heartbreaking to be sure, but there are also moments of triumph, and her situation leads to an inevitable conclusion; even though that conclusion may not be the one we, the reader, hope for, there is still a light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. And I’d rather read something “real” than “happy” any day. Ms. Allison also has the atmosphere, the pacing, the dialogue, the dialect…everything, down-pat. Bastard Out of Carolina is a must read!
Just finished: By The North Gate, by Joyce Carol Oates ~ Rated 4
Even at an early age JCO knew how to tell a story and tell it well, (By the North Gate was her first anthology). As usual, her characters are compelling, intriguing, and quite odd. An excellent read!
Currently reading: Self-Consciousness – memoirs, by John Updike
I can’t remember where this recommendation came from, but I know it was from a writer’s group, and I can easily understand why it is important for writers to read; it’s also fascinating as a reader. Review coming soon.
July 26, 2011
Just finished: Bloodroot, by Amy Greene ~ Rated 5
It is really difficult to believe that Bloodroot is Amy Greene’s first novel. Told in four parts by six different narrators this story is an outstanding, and astonishingly real, account of the [more than] challenging lives of a family cursed by an ancestor. I love how accurate the [Appalachian] dialect in Bloodroot is. As a writer, I know that dialect is one of the hardest aspects of writing there is, (not to mention speaking in so many different voices) yet Amy accomplishes it with aplomb. She takes us through three generations of heartache and love so fluidly I felt I was right there with the narrators. Bloodroot is one not to miss!
Astonishing revelation: I read about ¾ of Ray Bradbury’s Let’s All Kill Constance….and set it down. I was shocked that I wasn’t enjoying this story from the get go but, because it is Bradbury, I kept on going, thinking surely there would come a point when I began to enjoy it, or, at the very least, understood what was going on. But no, even with only a couple of chapters left I still didn’t get it. That said, the characters are quite extraordinary and there are many great lines throughout the book. Maybe I’ll try again sometime.
Currently reading: By The North Gate, by Joyce Carol Oates – JCO’s first anthology, (published in 1963), is proving to be an intriguing read, I’m loving it!
Currently reading: Bastard Out of Carolina, by Dorothy Allison – I’m only about ¼ of the way into this one but am loving it. Much like Amy Greene, Dorothy Allison has the dialect of “mountain folk” down-pat. Review coming soon!
July 11, 2011
Just finished: The Vintage Ray Bradbury © 1965, by Ray Bradbury ~ Rated 5, (of course!)
Including such classics as Dandelion Wine, (my favorite short so far), The Illustrated Man, and Fever Dream, The Vintage Ray Bradbury is a Must Read! You get everything from slice-of-life, to suspense, to pure horror, it’s just fabulous!
Also just finished: Farewell Summer, by Ray Bradbury~ Rated 5
In a follow-up of sorts of Dandelion Wine, we get to hear more about the main character, Douglas Spalding, and what a tough, but pleasurable experience growing up can be. Doug and his friends are in an all-out war with the town’s elderly folk, and you’re terrified for him and aggravated with him at once. Farewell Summer is a fantastic read!
Also just finished: The Cat’s Pajamas, and Driving Blind, also by Ray Bradbury ~ Rated 5
What can I say? I’m on a Bradbury shorts kick, and I’m loving it!
Currently reading: Let’s All Kill Constance, by Ray Bradbury – admittedly, I’m having a tough time with this one. It’s difficult to follow, but I believe the confusion is purposeful. I’m about halfway through, so we’ll see – review coming soon!
June 25, 2011
Just finished: Fever Dream, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child~ Rated 3.5
It’s been quite some time since I read Preston and Child, but I recall that I loved their mysteries featuring FBI Special Agent Alyosius Pendergrast and Lieutenant Vincent D’Agosta. Fever Dream once again tells a story of this unlikely pair of crime-busters, but not with the verve I remember. I thought this one would be even better because the crime is personal to Special Agent Pendegrast – his wife is killed – but no; while Fever Dream didn’t completely fall flat, it wasn’t nearly as exciting as previous Pendergrast and D’Agosta stories. However, it is a page turner, at least for so far, and I’m sure those who enjoy crime stories, (as opposed to mystery or suspense), would like Fever Dream. I believe what turned me off more than anything was their not-so-small mistake of investigating a pharmaceutical company: having worked for a Clinical Research Organization for more than ten years, I know it is impossible for anyone, even the FBI, even the FDA for that matter, to be allowed access to clinical files without first having contacted the agency, then processing quite a bit of paperwork. I’m sure you see where this is going so I won’t say any more in case you do want to read Fever Dream, I’d hate to completely spoil it for you.
Also just finished: We’ll Always Have Paris: Stories, by Ray Bradbury ~ Rated 5
It’s Bradbury – what more can I say? We’ll Always Have Paris: Stories is just as unique, original, and intriguing as all of his story collections. I especially liked the first story, Massinello Pietro. Read it today! I’m also currently reading Bradbury’s collection The Cat’s Pajamas, which is proving, well, the same.
Currently reading: Because It Is Bitter, and Because It Is My Heart, by Joyce Carol Oates. Just started this one and, (naturally), I’m thoroughly enjoying it. Review coming soon!
I’ve also been reading classic shorts from various collections, such as The Best American Mystery Stories of the Century, The Oxford Book of Twentieth-Century Ghost Stories, and a couple of F. Scott Fitzgerald collections. I’m enjoying these so much I’ve skipped a lot of my writing time – must remedy that. But….gosh, I love reading so much I’m finding it beyond difficult to stop long enough to write! I defend myself by knowing all this reading, (especially so many different styles), can only improve my skills as a writer, (right?), once I get to writing that is!
Have you read any of these books? I’d love to hear what you think of them, and others, so be sure to leave a comment. I hope to see you back soon!
June 16, 2011
Just finished: Mysteries of Winterhurn, by Joyce Carol Oates ~ Rated 3.5
This series of novellas, (three in one book), set in the late 1800s, was quite interesting, and, at times, intriguing, but I didn’t feel the overall excitement I usually do with JCO’s stories, so I’m somewhat disappointed. However, there is, (as usual in her suspense), great twists that I didn’t see coming, and, (it is by now known), that is what makes any book worth reading for me.
I’ve also been rereading classic shorts, mostly by southern authors, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Flannery O’Conner (again), William Faulkner, and the like, (which is what took me so long to get through Mysteries of Winterhurn). I love these so much I [almost] wouldn’t mind reading nothing but for the rest of my life!
Currently reading:More of those shorts, with especial attention to Ray Bradbury, and Fever Dream, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child - I know this will be a fantastic beach read, review coming soon!
June 1, 2011
Just finished: Talking It Over, by Julian Barnes~ Rated 2.5
This one was difficult to rate because the story wasn’t awful, but it certainly wasn’t my cup of tea. Had I known it was chic lit, (or at least it seemed so), I wouldn’t have even started it. In any case, I believe it was more the style than the story that I didn’t enjoy. I think I would’ve liked it if I’d read it say twenty years ago. If you like complicated love triangles, and want nothing more out of the story, then this one you will probably enjoy.
Currently reading: I’ve really no time to read right now but y’all know that’s not going to stop me. However, I will most likely do some short stories until next month, which I tend to enjoy more anyway. Stay tuned!
May 27, 2011
Just finished: What I Lived For by Joyce Carol Oates ~ Rated 4
Corky Corcoran, the MC of What I Lived For is arguably the perfect character – one you love to hate and hate to love in equal measure. That, as any writer can tell you, is no easy feat. Not one of my favorite of JCO’s stories, but definitely very good with loads of suspense throughout. Fair warning – there is a lot of bad language and sex verging on the point of pornography in What I Lived For, which did make it difficult for me to keep reading as I don’t care for that type of story. However, the writing itself, outstanding as usual.
Currently reading: Talking It Over, by Julian Barnes. I started this one a little over a week ago but couldn’t get into it. I’m going to try again though before giving it up.
Meanwhile, vacation is coming up, in three weeks, so I’ll have to force myself not to read so I can make sure everything has been taken care of beforehand. But then? Look out library, here I come!
May 17, 2011
Just finished: The God of Animals, by Aryn Kyle ~ Rated 3
For a debut novel, The God of Animals was pretty good. Granted it isn’t written with much imagery, just straight-up facts from the point of view of 12-year-old girl Alice Winston, whose family is seemingly falling apart around her while she and her dad do their best, whatever that takes, to keep their horse ranch going. Along the way, Alice learns many of the hard life lessons the majority of us do at that age and Aryn shows us her teenage angst, her anger, her frustration, her love, all her emotions, with fervor. Although The God of Animals was not a page-turner for me, it was still worth the read.
Currently reading: Yes, I know, I said I wouldn’t be reading for a while due to the many projects I have going on this month, (not to mention getting the kids to football, karate and band practice), but dang! I just can’t stop reading. In an effort not to get too involved with one particular book, I’m rereading, (or reading for the first time), many classic short stories from The Best American Short Stories of The Century, edited by John Updike and Katrina Kenison. What a treasure! At nearly 800 pages I had planned to read just a few – Joyce Carol Oates (the greatest short story of all time – Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?), Flannery O’Conner, Eudora Welty, William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, EB White….but then, after gobbling up all those favorites I couldn’t stop myself from reading authors I’d somehow not heard of, and I’ve only about ten more stories to go before finishing the whole book! Oh, I could read short stories, especially those masterpieces such as this one holds, over and over and on and on! In fact, though I haven’t finished it, I’m going to go ahead and rate it – Rated 5. Get thee to ordering now!
After that: Talking It Over, by Julian Barnes. Review coming soon!
May 5, 2011
Just finished: A Bloodsmoor Romance by Joyce Carol Oates ~ Rated 4.5
What a fun read A Bloodsmoor Romance is! JCO takes us through the (very trying) young adult lives of five sisters in the late 19th century with so much to learn (both the sisters and the reader). Set in the outskirts of Philadelphia, during that time when nearly every man wanted to, and many did, invent contraption after contraption for the betterment of American lives, A Bloodsmoor Romance gives us one of those inventors, John Quincy Zinn, (the father of the five sisters), who, though in the background through most of the story, is my favorite character. He’s the epitome of the nutty professor, and I’m a sucker for a nutty professor. His father-in-law funds his research, not happily, while the father-in-law’s sister, Great Aunt Edwina, not only lives with the family, but is a great influence on these young ladies’ lives. With all the control their grandfather and his sister command, and not only with the finances, you can bet that, when the girls “come out” in the hopes of marrying, (or at least the parents, grandfather and great aunt are hopeful), mayhem does ensue, and how wonderfully it does! A Bloodsmoor Romance, though quite long at more than 600 pages, is a must read!
Currently reading: Nothing! This month is jam-packed with end-of-school activities, regular work, and studying United Way funding applications, (as well as interviewing the agencies), so I’ve little to no time for reading. But we’ll just have to wait and see how long that lasts – y’all know how I am! I give myself a week, at most, before I pick up a book.
April 23, 2011
Just finished: Alias Grace,by Margaret Atwood ~ Rated 4.5
The last novel by Margaret Atwood I read was Lady Oracle, (review on my 2010 bookshelf here), which I enjoyed very much. Alias Grace is much like Lady Oracle in that it deeply penetrates our sub-consciousness, and our morality. I love these type psychological works, and Alias Grace is no exception. What makes this book that much more intriguing is that it’s based on fact, about a young woman, Grace Marks, who is committed to a penitentiary/asylum in the mid 1800s for her involvement in the murder of her employer, (Grace works as a maid), and his head maid who is likely also his lover. But is Grace innocent or is she simply brilliant enough to make authority believe she’s innocent? That’s what we must find out, and the journey is most entertaining. Alias Grace is an excellent read!
Currently reading: What I Lived For, by Joyce Carol Oates – Review coming soon!
April 20, 2011
Just finished: The Help, by Kathryn Stockett ~ Rated 5
Click here for my full review of this outstanding work of art!
Currently reading: Alias Grace, by Margaret Atwood - review coming soon!
April 8, 2011
Just finished: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, by David Wroblewski ~ Rated 1
Normally I give generous reviews, even for those books that I only barely enjoyed, but The Story of Edgar Sawtelle has me seething! I just finished it and I have never felt so cheated by a book in all my life. The only reason I rated it 1 instead of 0 is because it did hold a good deal of suspense in the third quarter, (it’s 600 pages long), so much suspense in fact that I slept only three hours for two nights in a row because I couldn’t stop reading, leaving me with a headache for three days. And then? A cop-out of an ending, and that’s being generous. The entire first half is nothing more than backstory – that, and the writing style left me tempted, more than once, to stop reading, but I had heard, and read, that it was such a great book, that I forced myself to keep going. And for what? Nothing but wasted time. I definitely do not recommend The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.
Currently reading: Still deciding but rest assured I’m going back to anthologies or novellas for a while, most likely JCO, so I’m certain to enjoy my reading time.
April 4, 2011
Just finished: The Invisible Bridge, by Julie Orringer~ Rated 4
If you’re looking for an epic love story set in war-time, then The Invisible Bridge is for you. This isn’t the type of genre I normally read, but all-in-all, it is very good. What could’ve made it better would be if the protagonist weren’t constantly “finding himself” wherever he was – by the river, in his apartment, in a café, etc. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves of all writing styles, and Ms. Orringer uses it continuously throughout the book. But I also must acknowledge that she did a great job of giving us two twists that I didn’t see coming at all, something which Must happen for a story to be worth my time.
Also, be sure to prepare yourself for long reading sessions – the whole first half is nothing more than back-story. However, I do appreciate that I learned so very much about World War II that I never knew, that I suspect not many know, because these events are not recorded in history books, these people who were thrust into the middle of it all have not been acknowledged as they should have. Although this is fiction, there is a lot of truth in the story, truth that I’m certain was no easy feat to research. And that’s why I believe The Invisible Bridge is an important story for us all to read, setting aside our little irritations about the writing style, (or maybe that’s just me), long enough to absorb the truth of these lives.
Currently reading: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, by David Wroblewski - This is a long one, so the review may be some time away, but it’s coming!
March 30, 2011
Just finished: Solstice, by Joyce Carol Oates ~ Rated – 3.5
Another JCO novel that’s good, but not great. At least though, there is a good twist towards the end, one that I didn’t expect, which of course is what makes any decent book good. Normally that would grant the work a 5 star rating, but this one was just okay, it didn’t have the normal poetic lyricism that most of her books have; however, it was one of her early ones so maybe it was more of a “practice” work than anything. Solstice does at least have vivid, well-written characters!
Currently reading: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, by David Wroblewski
Still reading (well, sort of, scroll down to last date): The Invisible Bridge, by Julie Orringer
March 29, 2011
Just finished: I’ll Take You There, by Joyce Carol Oates ~ Rated – 3
While far from my favorite JCO, I’ll Take You There is still a “good” story, an intriguing ride through the mind of a girl, (interestingly not named), never loved, (or so she believes), who, when she finds “The One”, does everything in her power to extract that love she’s never felt from this man – a man who has built such a solid brick barrier around his heart the girl practically has to chisel emotion from him. But that’s not all – as she takes you through the young adult years of her life, the protagonist makes the reader think, sometimes a bit too hard, about their own life, their own love, their own soul. Definitely worth the time.
Currently reading: The Invisible Bridge, by Julie Orringer~ I’ve read part 1, (of 5 parts, nearly 600 pages), of The Invisible Bridge, but, (and I’m trying to be truthful here), it was somewhat painful. I’m only attempting to finish the book because it is supposedly such a great story, but the writing style? Ugh! So clichéd and predictable, I actually finished three sentences before turning the page, (where a sentence began on one page and finished on the next), and if the protagonist keeps “finding himself” – by the river, in his room, at school, etc, etc. – I’m not so sure I can finish it. This is one of my biggest pet peeves, when a character is constantly “finding themselves” somewhere; I can’t help but wonder: are they so dense they keep losing themselves?! It may take me a while to get through this one, as I’m reading other books at the same time, one of which, (believe it or not), is another JCO, but I’ll eventually post my full review of The Invisible Bridge.
March 24, 2011
Just finished: Middle Age: A Romance, by Joyce Carol Oates ~ Rated 4.5
What an outstanding portrait of the clichéd epitome of middle age! JCO does an incredible job describing not only the corny, snobbish, some downright insane, characters, but also the experience of what is: middle age. And what hilarious, if often poignant, situations she puts these characters in! We learn so much about what’s really going on in these crackpot characters’ hearts, while they try their damndest, usually in vain, to hide those traits from their peers. Going from laugh-out-loud hilarious to shocked silence in a mere few sentences, Middle Age: A Romance will have you sprouting tears left and right, either in humor or melancholy. This is a must read!
Currently reading: The Invisible Bridge, by Julie Orringer ~ Only a few pages in, but this one already seems quite promising. Review coming soon!
March 16, 2011
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