Falling to Earth by Kate Southwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I'm a born and raised Midwesterner, so I've heard many tales of tornadoes and the seemingly random destruction they wreak upon towns and cities alike. This masterful tale brilliantly portrays one such tornado, with it's senseless movements and terrible wrath upon a small town in the 1920's. The characters feel so real that it is easy for the reader to ride the rise and swell of emotions, and the devastating ending left me hopelessly crying (and I"m not the emotional sort generally).
This is a fantastic book and one I highly recommend - but keep a box of tissues handy!!
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Children of Paradise: A Novel by Fred D'Aguiar
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I both loved and hated this book, which I received an Advance Copy of prior to final editing. I loved the inside look of a "Koolaid Cult", for lack of a better description, and the religious obedience ingrained into every single act. It was masterfully scary, terrifyingly realistic and yet so unbelievable that you knew it could happen anywhere at any time. However, the story did have some bits and pieces that felt disjointed and confused the overall plot, and some of the characters felt forced. I also found the ending to be a bit confusing, jumping between two alternates with no clear conclusion as to which was real.
Overall, this was a solid read but could use a little more clarity for my tastes.
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The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
I wanted to love this book, with such an interesting title - but I couldn't even make it past the first few chapters before I gave up in frustration.
Perhaps it's because this is a book translated into English, or perhaps it's just not my style, but I found the perambulating phrasing and perhaps slightly insane characters too much to handle. I couldn't find the hook that would keep me involved and wanting to know more, and instead found myself flipping to the end just to be done with it.
Just not my cup of tea.
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The Good Luck of Right Now by Matthew Quick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow. What can I say about this book other than it is a remarkable story of faith, family, and friends as told by the lovable Autistic narrator to his movie star idol Richard Gere through a series of letters that are often funny, sometimes poignant, and always downright interesting.
Those in the mental health field may appreciate the portrayals of autism, Tourette's, a little bit of OCD, and bipolar disorder. Those in the midst of a faith struggle may appreciate the complexity of what it means to believe, and how certain beliefs are chosen for us and by us. Others may appreciate the numerous interesting tidbits about Richard Gere woven into the story.
Regardless, I think almost every reader could appreciate this incredible book!
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