This book pulled me right in and then didn't leave me alone. It is just a story well-told, no fancy bells and whistles, no crazy plot structure. I lovThis book pulled me right in and then didn't leave me alone. It is just a story well-told, no fancy bells and whistles, no crazy plot structure. I loved Casey's rich backstory and her imagined life. I loved the descriptions of grief and the descriptions of joy and triumph. I really felt that this book was so carefully thought out, and all the details came together at the end to make sense. If only now I would have such a happy ending as Casey....more
The narrator in this book tells us that books that usually make MFA students salivate rarely stir the public, and that is a bit how I feel about this The narrator in this book tells us that books that usually make MFA students salivate rarely stir the public, and that is a bit how I feel about this book. It was interesting and had the kind of tension that pulls you forward, and I was very surprised by the climax of the book. But it was also a bit strange and left me feeling pretty sad. Men are strange creatures....more
A great way to kick off 2020--with Sex and Rage. I love novels about writers, generally, and this one was funny and bright and snarky and all these woA great way to kick off 2020--with Sex and Rage. I love novels about writers, generally, and this one was funny and bright and snarky and all these wonderful things. If this book had just kept going and going and going I would have been so happy....more
I have circled this book a long time and finally read it at the request of the director of the library. And it was great, honestly. It was a fascinatiI have circled this book a long time and finally read it at the request of the director of the library. And it was great, honestly. It was a fascinating story that caused me to go out beyond its walls looking for answers. Now I want to learn everything about Hawaii....more
This book was such a pleasure to read. I laughed; I smirked; I loved. Andrew Sean Greer writes like an essayist but in a novel. I am so glad I read thThis book was such a pleasure to read. I laughed; I smirked; I loved. Andrew Sean Greer writes like an essayist but in a novel. I am so glad I read this....more
Greta was so funny and interesting and she really made this book work. All time travel logistics aside, I loved the changes in different eras. Who wouGreta was so funny and interesting and she really made this book work. All time travel logistics aside, I loved the changes in different eras. Who wouldn't love to know what would have happened in another time, and who you'd be? Who wouldn't want to wake up in a different world sometimes, one where you could see people you love? This was clever and definitely a good story I got caught up in....more
I really enjoyed this book. I was so absorbed in the story that I couldn't wait to come home and read it. It was well-paced. It was maybe a bit seriouI really enjoyed this book. I was so absorbed in the story that I couldn't wait to come home and read it. It was well-paced. It was maybe a bit serious and intense for my taste, but generally I really enjoyed it and I'm glad I read it....more
I can see why so many people like this book. It has the nostalgia of Greek mythology that reminds you of learning about the gods when you were a kid oI can see why so many people like this book. It has the nostalgia of Greek mythology that reminds you of learning about the gods when you were a kid or in high school, and it makes you feel smart. It’s well-written and the story moves quickly even though it covers a lot of time. It’s also incredibly timely and relevant, striking many important chords about feminism. I am eager to hear Madeline Miller speak about it in the fall....more
This book was such a pleasure, and right up my alley. It's just the wandering memoir of a woman who is lonely in winter in the West, away from most evThis book was such a pleasure, and right up my alley. It's just the wandering memoir of a woman who is lonely in winter in the West, away from most everyone she knows. The stories are close to home and especially loved some of the descriptions of food. Funny to think that someone so many decades ago was already thinking of herself as getting "back to the earth" because technology was moving along too quickly. She captures these thoughts with the same sentiments I would use now! So glad I read this....more
Elizabeth McCracken’s writing is excellent. The whole book has such a great pace. Short sentences, perfect little similes. Maybe I became so attached Elizabeth McCracken’s writing is excellent. The whole book has such a great pace. Short sentences, perfect little similes. Maybe I became so attached to the book because I am a displaced New Englander missing the ghosts of home, but this story spoke to me so deeply. I really loved it. There are many other reviewers who didn’t “get” this book, and I hope when it is published it finds the right readers, rather than getting into the hands of people who won’t appreciate it. In any case, I applaud this author and highly recommend this strange yet familiar story of what it’s like to have a family....more
I just spent two days reading Inland basically without coming up for air. It is beautiful on the sentence-level and I wish I spent more time with eachI just spent two days reading Inland basically without coming up for air. It is beautiful on the sentence-level and I wish I spent more time with each sentence, but the truth is the story was so good that I was compelled to rush along to find out what happened. It was one of those where I was resenting everyone and thing in my day that took me out of the world of the book. The first novel I’ve read like that in a while. I am much more for western literature than I am for the actual West, it turns out. But in books, the West sure is beautiful. I loved this book....more
This was an unusual book that gripped me from the first handful of sentences, and its cadence stayed in my head for a long time because the sentences This was an unusual book that gripped me from the first handful of sentences, and its cadence stayed in my head for a long time because the sentences were interestingly written, almost like poetry. It is not a book I would have picked yet I am glad to have read it; after putting it down, I felt very grateful for my life and all that I have. If a book is that powerful, it is worth reading....more
Oh, this book--first of all, I was never expecting to see Annie Dillard mentioned so often, and that, of course, went right to my heart. But it was soOh, this book--first of all, I was never expecting to see Annie Dillard mentioned so often, and that, of course, went right to my heart. But it was so much more than that. These essays are so important and they can almost be read, as the title implies, as a manual for creating. This book isn't just a guide for writing; it's a guide for living a compassionate and examined life. I borrowed it from the library--but I'm on my way now to buy a copy so I can start underlining. What a revelation....more
Intelligent, sharp, comic, layered—a novel that captures all the strangeness of this 21st century. The prose readsIt really is as good as they all say
Intelligent, sharp, comic, layered—a novel that captures all the strangeness of this 21st century. The prose reads so easily, it’s like butter, you just know the author fought a lot of these sentences and won. The “twist” didn’t catch me at all off guard—in fact, if you ask me, the author would probably be surprised by how it’s been portrayed in reviews, because Alice makes her intentions very clear—but it doesn’t matter because it’s all so well done. I am not a rereader, but while reading Asymmetry, I kept thinking, “I can’t wait to go back and reread this part.” Yes. Highly recommend....more
I had been saying lately that there weren't enough strong women farmers in American literature, and I'm so glad to have found Alexandra, the strong woI had been saying lately that there weren't enough strong women farmers in American literature, and I'm so glad to have found Alexandra, the strong woman around whom this story revolves. I loved the passages that described the land and her reaction to it. The edition I read also had a great afterword about the episodic nature of the book, apparently pieced together from other writings by Cather. This was so excellent--all my friends in Colorado should read it....more
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