The First Bad Man: A Novel
Cheryl is the most unreliable narrator I've ever met. I say this because is she crazy? Is she lying? If she is lying, is she lying to herself or the reader? Trying to determine this made for a fascinating read. Cheryl is a middle aged woman with a permanent lump in her throat that gets worse with stress. She's tried to have surgery for it, but it's psychosomatic, so she seeks out healing therapy instead. Cheryl has many obsessions. A man who she works with, who she thinks she has been in love with through all the ages. A little boy she once babysat, who she believes is reincarnated in babies everywhere, searching to be with her again. Then, her boss's daughter, Clee, moves in with Cheryl. Clee is loud and young and disrespectful but in her living beneath her roof, she forces Cheryl to face some iota of reality.
I will admit that very few, if any, of the characters in this book are likable. It was hard to follow along with Cheryl because you never knew what was true and what wasn't, but I still loved it. Cheryl was a complex, confusing character and this was a unique read.
West of Sunset
I love the Fitzgeralds. Poor crazy Zelda who may or may not have contributed more to The Great Gatsby than we realized. Troubled F. Scott dealing with his mentally ill wife and struggling to find literary success, not knowing his book would transcend him. This historical fiction tells the last few years of F. Scott's life through his perspective. I enjoyed it because I enjoy this history, but in some ways, I felt the characterization was flat. It was still a read that held my interest, but not the best book I've read about either F. Scott or Zelda.
What are you reading?
8 comments:
Well, thanks to your recommendations, I read Shotgun Lovesongs and Perks of Being a Wallflower this past week, and I enjoyed both of them. I don't have a new book started yet, b/c I am waiting on some library holds (for ebooks). I prefer to read ebooks on my kindle paperwhite, but I will read a real paper copy of the book if I must.
Just finishing up The Rosie Effect. I wasn't sure I'd like it as much as the first book, but I do!
The stack beside my bed:
- The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace
- The Secret Place
- 2 am at the Cat's Pajamas (because Barb said so)
- The Children Act
What do I read first?
Halfway through You Are One of Them - ready to finish it up. It's good and holding my interest - but I've read better. Next up I have:
- Perks
- The Book of Frank
- A Fall of Marigolds
- The Other Sister
- Big Little Lies
- Secrets of a Charmed Life
Several others...but I seriously don't know where to start. Gah!
I'm not currently reading anything but I'm going to need to get a book for my flights to/from Florida in 2 weeks. My stupid ipad mini is completely dead so no movies for me :( Gonna have to go old school and read while I drink.
Just wrapped up Me Before You. Even with the predictable ending, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I need go through my extensive list and put some on hold at the library now.
Read Girl on the Train & Florance Gordan mostly recently. Currently reading The Girl Next door. I had more comments but blogger keeps eating them ;)
Oh Lyndsay - I pick 2 a.m. at the Cat's Pajamas for your next read! I've got the Short & Tragic Life of Robert Peace on my to read list so I'm curious about that one.
What did I read? Shotgun Lovesongs (just like Kelli) and I really enjoyed it.
just finished the all girl filling stations last reunion and liked it. just started the long and faraway gone and like it.
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