by Tom Perrotta
Alright, well, after a raving review of Little Children, I have to say that I was somewhat disappointed in this one. I snagged this book years ago, when a favorite former professor was cleaning out her own library (HCW, you know who you are) and had literally piles upon piles of books up for adoption. At the time, I hadn't heard of Tom Perrotta, but the plot sounded somewhat intriguing, so I took it and stuck in on my bookshelf. I admit that I've been a somewhat neglectful adoptive parent, because that's exactly where it has remained since then. Last week, I was digging around looking for something - ANYTHING - to read and found it. Until I saw it, I hadn't put two and two together. Imagine my excitement...and my subsequent disappointment.
So, long story short, not his best work (in my opinion, of course). But, I'm not giving up hope altogether.
12 October 2008
07 October 2008
Forgive Me
by Amanda Eyre Ward
Easily the best of her novels, and that's really saying something. Plot: a journalist from New England travels to far-off places to cover wars/turmoil/strife/human suffering. One of the places she travels is South Africa during apartheid, and she falls in love both with the country and a man she meets there. The story shifts often in place and time, and of course there are wonderful twists and turns along the way. I love this book. I don't know what else to say about it.
Easily the best of her novels, and that's really saying something. Plot: a journalist from New England travels to far-off places to cover wars/turmoil/strife/human suffering. One of the places she travels is South Africa during apartheid, and she falls in love both with the country and a man she meets there. The story shifts often in place and time, and of course there are wonderful twists and turns along the way. I love this book. I don't know what else to say about it.
Sleep Toward Heaven
by Amanda Eyre Ward
A while back, I told all of you about How to Be Lost, also by Ms. Eyre Ward. Since then, I've read everything she's written. What I can tell you after having done so, is that she is a master of weaving multiple storylines together, but in ever new ways! She is never predictable, which is good, because there is no more assured death knell for an author - for me - than predictability. The plot of this book involves a woman awaiting execution on Death Row, another woman who is mourning the loss of her murdered husband, and a doctor who leaves a comfy engagement following the death of her father and moves back to her hometown. It's so sweetly written, and she's so fair to all the characters and their backstories. I highly, highly recommend it.
A while back, I told all of you about How to Be Lost, also by Ms. Eyre Ward. Since then, I've read everything she's written. What I can tell you after having done so, is that she is a master of weaving multiple storylines together, but in ever new ways! She is never predictable, which is good, because there is no more assured death knell for an author - for me - than predictability. The plot of this book involves a woman awaiting execution on Death Row, another woman who is mourning the loss of her murdered husband, and a doctor who leaves a comfy engagement following the death of her father and moves back to her hometown. It's so sweetly written, and she's so fair to all the characters and their backstories. I highly, highly recommend it.
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