The Best of Times

After falling off the wagon for way too long, I'm back and hoping to start flying through some books this summer! I promise my love of reading has not diminished; the past few months have just been busy as I settled in at a new job and books unfortunately took a back seat. Skimming through this week's Times, I was really excited to see that Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter finally arriving in bookstores. I first heard about this book a few months ago and am excited it is here in time for summer travel. From Italy in the 1960s to Hollywood in present day, this story stems from the meeting of an American starlet and an inn keeper, and his reappearance several decades later. Apparently the storytelling and cast of characters keeps this out of "fluff" territory while still digging into the ups and downs of Hollywood. Coupled with a rave review from The Times, I cannot wait to get my hands on this novel and settle in for a great read.

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Ruminations on Reading

I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers done.

~Steven Wright

Teen Trauma

Most young adult books these days seem to center on paranormal loves or dystopian adventures. It was refreshing to come across a well-reviewed teen novel that focused on reality, no matter how sad. Prepare yourself to become quickly emotionally involved in this story; you may want tissues ready. It's the story of Hazel, a teen diagnosed with cancer and the relationship she builds with charming Augustus Waters. At times laughing out loud and at others silently crying, I flew through this roller coaster of a read and recommend it to anyone who is up for it.

More about the book & author

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American Fiction

I can only imagine the reaction people would have walking into a room and seeing this iconic bookshelf on the wall. It would be even more fun to pick books about each state or by authors from those states to fill the cubbies!

Down in the Bayou

I resisted reading this book for a while since the material sounded just too random to interest me. The story of a family in the Florida swamplands who own a floundering alligator tourist trap held virtually no appeal for me. The praise heaped on Karen Russell's book convinced me that it was worth picking up and giving it a whirl, and I'm glad I did. Thirteen-year-old Ava Bigtree is an unusual heroine but provides the backbone and heart of the bizarre tale. With a bright brother, a ghost-obsessed sister and a mostly absent father, she takes on the revitalization of their family's theme park by herself. The book is definitely unlike anything I've read before but it is well constructed and an entertaining read.

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