Wednesday, March 11, 2015

What I Read Wednesday

I didn't read much this week because I haven't felt well. My patience to concentrate on a book has decreased, while my concentration on Friends reruns has greatly increased. Go figure.

Legend of a Suicide: Stories
I am hesitant to recommend this book because it's one of those books that people will either really love or find really stupid. Kind of like a Tim O'Brien book. At any rate, I really loved it. This book is told through a novella and five short stories, all taking a semi-autobiographical stance. The novella takes up a large chunk of the book and involves Roy and his father, a dentist divorced from Roy's mom, in a remote cabin in Alaska. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Roy's father is unprepared for such a trip and also, on the verge of an emotional breakdown. This was a tense, gripping story, one that actually made my jaw drop at a point. Is it a light, easy read? No, but it is one worth reading.

A Spool of Blue Thread: A novel
I always know that Anne Tyler stories are going to make me feel equal parts happy and sad. This one was no exception. A multi-generational story, this book begins with the story of Abby telling how she fell in love with Red. The Whitshanks are like any other family--there is nothing remarkable about them, yet they all have their own familial idiosyncrasies at which they find remarkable. From Abby, the story moves on to her parents-in-law and aspects that were previously unrevealed, then ends with Abby's own children. The time jumps were fairly seamless and made sense. I liked this story. It seemed real, genuine and relatable.

What are you reading?

5 comments:

Lyndsay W said...

I finished The Kitchen House - loved it.

Now I'm reading Adult Onset by Ann-Marie MacDonald and I'm really enjoying it too.

Sorry you feel crappy - glad you have some 'Friends' to keep you company.

Barb Ruess said...

You know... your sick brain still reads more than most people. :)

I read Some Luck by Jane Smiley. I didn't know when I picked this up that it is the first of a coming trilogy. It's a generational saga set in the Midwest and I really enjoyed it.

Then I read The Long and Faraway Gone - a mystery/tragedy. Two parallel story lines that you think might come together but they really just overlap a bit. Good story line and I liked the characters - very entertaining.

Unknown said...

I read Eleanor and Park this past week. It was awesome. Now I'm taking a break from fiction by reading Loved Back to Life by Sheila Walsh.

Theresa Mahoney said...

Sorry you aren't feeling well. Last week was brutal for me too. Something must be going around :(

I finished last weeks book, and am taking a little breather. Being ill put us behind on our basement remodel, so all of my free time has been soaked up on tile, grout and paint. Bleh!

One crazed mommy said...

Last week I got behind on reading due to sick kids, Dr. appts., and meeting for rising middle middle schooler (sob!!) I started The Language of Hoofbeats and I am really enjoying it...just wish I had more time to read. I'm glad you are feeling better this week - we've had all sorts of crud running through our household, and it seems to be something different for every one of us! Yuck!