What’s Eating Gilbert Grape by Peter Hedges is a 1991 Simon & Schuster publication.
Not the best way to start off the new year!
This is one of those bWhat’s Eating Gilbert Grape by Peter Hedges is a 1991 Simon & Schuster publication.
Not the best way to start off the new year!
This is one of those books that has now made it into the ‘classics’ category- but I’ve heard more about the movie adaptation than the novel. When I saw the book in the KU program, I decided to check it out on a whim and then, after I read it, I planned on watching the movie -which I found on one of my streaming services.
Well, I must tell you, I didn’t get what everyone else saw in this book. By the time I got to that ghastly conclusion, I knew I’d never watch the movie. I couldn’t get this one in the rearview mirror fast enough- and I’d rather just keep Gilbert Grape as a distant memory instead of tormenting myself with the visual saga of this dysfunctional family on steroids- great acting or no.
Overall, I can’t say the book was a disappointment or letdown because I only read it out of curiosity. That said, I struggled with it from the get-go and was tempted to throw in the towel on numerous occasions. I finished it- but was left scratching my head- wondering what on earth it was about this book that captivated so many people.
I could go into the cons of the story- but I don’t think I’ll spend that much of my time on a book I didn't like. You know it’s bad when I’m willing to take the abuse for my one star review.
A Bridge Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith is a 1943 publication.
This is another book that I’ve long been curious about but never got around to readin A Bridge Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith is a 1943 publication.
This is another book that I’ve long been curious about but never got around to reading. It is a much beloved novel, but with some recent bad experiences with ‘much beloved classics’, I approached this one with some caution.
Thankfully, despite the often-bleak circumstances, I found the book to be an accurate depiction of the time, never flinching from hard themes. Our Francine is a character we root for, hoping her future is more promising.
The love of reading and books plays a big role in Francine’s life, which also gives her a yearning to write. Naturally, this appeals to this voracious reader, as did the family saga, another favorite of mine.
Many, many reviews, doing the book far more justice than I ever could, have been written, so anything I might add has all been said before- and more eloquently, as well.
I will say that I ended up truly loving this novel and can understand why it has appealed to so many people and why it has endured for all these years. For once, a classic novel lived up to its reputation- and then some!!
Overall, if you haven’t read this classic family drama, I hope you’ll squeeze it into your reading schedule someday. You’ll be glad you did!
*Fun fact: I read this book in digital format. This edition has an introduction written by Ann Patchett. Because the novel is rather lengthy, I found the audio version on Hoopla and switched back and forth between both formats. Interestingly, the audio version, recorded many years ago, also came with an introduction by Jacqueline Mitchard. I am glad I was able to enjoy hearing both authors’ comments about this book!...more
Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns is a 1984 Mariner Books publication.
Occasionally, this book will pop up on my radar and I’ve always been curious aCold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns is a 1984 Mariner Books publication.
Occasionally, this book will pop up on my radar and I’ve always been curious about it. It sounds like a sort of folksy southern family drama, which is something I tend to enjoy most of the time. The book generally continues to garner positive ratings, though I had noticed a few more recent reviews mentioned some issues with race and classism in the book.
As with any book published this far back, one is faced with the possibility- if not the probability- of encountering those issues. So, I decided that now was just as good a time as any to see what has given this book the staying power it has, especially as it is the only completed novel by this author.
I ended up with some mixed feelings about the novel. I can't say I agree that it is 'timeless', due to the aforementioned issues some recent reviews mentioned. It was a conflict, that is for sure. I felt pulled in different directions while reading the book.
I can see why many people were pulled in by the drama, and the 'folksy' charm, the coming of age elements, and the shocking revelations that come late in the story. There are some hilarious moments, some poignant moments, and it is ultimately a bittersweet, coming of age tale.
But, for me, personally, it fell flat for the most part. There are some difficult passages of abuse, animal cruelty, and even some of Will's comical shenanigans seemed a little mean spirited- then after all that, the ending wasn't exactly a happy one- but there is a suggestion of hope, so while it is sad, it also points to better times ahead for all concerned.
Overall, I have satisfied my curiosity. The story wasn't exactly what I was expecting, which can be a good thing, but maybe not so much in this instance. The story moves a bit too slow, only to have several huge developments take place all in the last quarter of the book, and the ending left me feeling a bit frustrated after having held on that long. All, that said, I've waffled about the rating. I liked parts of the book, while the rest of it was just okay....
So- 2.5 stars. I'm only rounding it up to 3 because rounding down is a bit too harsh and I'll say that despite arguments against this- there really are times when a book falls inbetween two solid numbers. Sigh.
Notes on Your Sudden Departure by Alison Espach is a 2022 Henry Holt & Co. Publication.
Sally adores her older sister, Kathy, a teenager who is in theNotes on Your Sudden Departure by Alison Espach is a 2022 Henry Holt & Co. Publication.
Sally adores her older sister, Kathy, a teenager who is in the throws of her first romance, with a boy named Billy. But when a horrible tragedy strikes, Sally is left to cope with the aftermath as she grows into young adulthood, refusing to approach grief in the same way as her other family members- who want to place blame, when really there isn't any.
Sally takes the reader on her personal journey through an unimaginable trauma and the effect it had on her life and the surprising irony of grief, life, and love...
Okay, first, this is going to be more of a ‘professional- critical thinking cap’ review and less of a personal one. This book was marked by some people on social media and book sites as a romance or mystery thriller- and so this was not at all what I was expecting.
So, instead of marinading in my frustration at getting a book I was ill prepared for, I’m going to step back and analyze it a different way.
So that no one else makes the same mistake I did, this book is not a romance, nor is it a mystery or a thriller. It could fit in a YA/Coming of Age category, but be warned that it is not a happy book- not once- not ever- it is unrelenting in its dreariness, and if you are in a bad place, feeling depressed, or if gray, overcast days affect your mood, this might not be the book you are looking for at this time.
Okay, that said…
The story is a well-written, and quite effective in describing how a tragic event can utterly upend a person’s life, turn them into someone else entirely, and how that also has a domino effect all its own.
I know I said I wouldn't make this personal- but I knew of someone who had a similar experience and carried so much guilt because of the misplaced blame they placed on themselves, and the blame laid at their feet by others who were struggling with their own grief.
So, in a distant way I could relate to the situation written about here and understand the various emotions described in the book, and how over the years, these feelings linger, ebb and flow with intensity- or morph into other things over time- with forgiveness and acceptance setting in- in the best case scenario.
This story also includes a love story of sorts- not a romance- at least not in the typical or traditional sense, but I'm comfortable calling it a love story. To say it’s complicated is an understatement, but it works spectacularly in the most bittersweet way imaginable.
While I grumbled through much of this story, whining at it's depressing and heavy nature, by the time I turned the final page, I did have a better perspective, and felt a bit of my own gloom begin to lift.
If I had known going in what to expect, I would have been better prepared emotionally and probably would not have struggled so hard with this one.
I wish the circumstances had been different in this instance because this really is a thought-provoking, and powerful drama.
For that reason, I’m giving the book four well-deserved stars!
The Girls in Queens by Christine Kandic Torres is a 2022 HarperVia publication.
This book has been on my TBR list for a little over a year. I waffled The Girls in Queens by Christine Kandic Torres is a 2022 HarperVia publication.
This book has been on my TBR list for a little over a year. I waffled back and forth before deciding to give it a try, mainly due to the YA label attached to it.
Ultimately, though, it wasn’t the category that caused problems for me, but the pacing of the book. There was potential and I think the author was not only trying to examine dangerous attitudes and the examples set for young girls by those who should be teaching them better but was also trying to establish a bit of nostalgia and capture the special friendship bonds forged in our pre-teen years.
Unfortunately, the whole thing fell flat. Nothing very exciting takes place during the first half of the book, but it does start to gel in the second half and the last quarter of the book almost made it worth one’s patience. But honestly, it didn’t make a big enough impact for me to say I’m glad I stuck with it to the end. It was one of those ‘too little, too late’ situations, I’m sorry to say.
Overall, I appreciate what the author was trying to accomplish, but sadly it fell short of the mark.
O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker is a 2022 Scribner publication.
Oh my…
What an unusual story. This book was originally published back in the early 90s, O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker is a 2022 Scribner publication.
Oh my…
What an unusual story. This book was originally published back in the early 90s, I think, but I was unaware of it. This reissue comes with a foreword by Maggie O’Farrell.
Can one really slap a label on this book? It’s historical fiction, it could pass for ‘coming of age’, or YA, and it certainly deserves its place in Gothic literature- but it seems like it is all those things and more…
As the story opens, the reader is immediately made aware that sixteen-year-old Janet has been murdered. From there we are taken back to Janet’s childhood, and we learn she is the oldest of five children, but she’s not a natural conformist- she does not assimilate.
She doesn’t have the natural beauty of her younger sister, she’s a loner, finding stimulation and imagination through reading. Mostly, she’s just misunderstood- but she refuses to be anything or anybody other than herself….
On one hand, this short story is darkly humorous, on the other hand, it is sad and maybe a little depressing, too. Janet, though, is just wonderful. A great character- full of promise, but continuously rebuffed and neglected by the adults in her life, eventually bonding with a bird who becomes her devoted and sole companion.
The writing is lush, and the imagery captures the time and place beautifully. I love books like this one- but they are far and few between. Janet is a character I will not forget anytime soon!! I am so happy I finally discovered this little gem!!...more
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker is a 2021 Henry Holt & Co. Publication.
I added this book to my list late in 2020, because of the overwhelminglyWe Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker is a 2021 Henry Holt & Co. Publication.
I added this book to my list late in 2020, because of the overwhelmingly positive reviews for it. I bumped it back up to the top of the pile because I was afraid it would slide further down the list, and I’d probably regret losing track of it.
I had to wait a while before I could write a review for this book. I read so many beautiful reviews for it, but once I finished reading it, I was so stunned I couldn’t begin to formulate what I wanted to say.
The novel is gritty, and the storytelling is superb. Whitaker certainly does know how to weave a tale. His pacing is precise and the revelations that come hard and fast in the last quarter of the book, is nothing short of breathtaking. It is good stuff, to be sure.
To prevent myself from over analyzing and spending more time on the review than I did on reading the book, I’ll just say, I had some gigantic issues with Duchess. Her characterization was inconsistent. She couldn’t string together an entire sentence without spewing an unnecessary number of expletives, and aimed at adults, no less, (with zero correction by anyone, ever), most of the time- yet, in her assessment of Hal’s shortcomings she is able to articulate in a most eloquent way, her disappointment in Hal, which was far too mature for her age and didn’t fit with the character’s usual vernacular and dialogue.
That said, this is a very compelling drama. It’s an emotional story and one that will stick in my mind for a good while. Despite my misgivings about the acceptance of some actions and the lack of accountability, I did enjoy this story, was impressed by the powerful writing, and was as equally affected by it as many of those who wrote such stellar reviews for this book.
Overall, I agree this is a great novel, though I still have some concerns, the book had an enormous impact, and had my mind racing days after I turned the last page.
Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens is a 2019 Mulholland publication.
An impressive piece of literary crime fiction!
Set in the rural town of JessupNothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens is a 2019 Mulholland publication.
An impressive piece of literary crime fiction!
Set in the rural town of Jessup, Missouri during the 1970s, this novel is a compelling mystery, coupled with a poignant coming of age story, carrying a timely message.
Boady, a fifteen-year-old living with his widowed mother, experiences an awakening after a Black woman named Lida Poe, disappears after allegedly embezzling a tidy sum of money from the local manufacturing plant where she worked as a bookkeeper.
As a result of this development, The Elgins', an African American family, moves into the house across the road from Boady. Mr. Elgin will be the new manager at the plant, and is wife becomes a wonderful influence on Boady's reclusive mother. Although they get off to a bumpy start, he and Thomas Elgin, a boy close to his age, strike up a close friendship.
Meanwhile Boady is under pressure to stab his new friend in the back, forcing him to walk a dangerous tightrope, until a gruesome discovery puts him in a life or death situation that will not only reveal the racist underbelly of his community, it will shape Boady into the man he will eventually become.
While the story has its moments of intense suspense, it is Boady’s effectual journey that sets this book apart, making it far more than your average novel of mystery and suspense.
The book addresses the obvious incidents of hardcore, violent racism, but it also points a searing finger at the more subtle forms of racism and the tone -deaf damage and pain casually inflicted without a second thought.
I loved learning Boady’s backstory, watching how his friendship with Thomas develops, and the very clever plotting in this book. I have grown to really appreciate Eskens’ work and look forward to hearing more from him in the future.
Everything my Mother Taught Me by Alice Hoffman is a 2019 Amazon original collections story- Inheritance Collection #1
First, I would like to thank alEverything my Mother Taught Me by Alice Hoffman is a 2019 Amazon original collections story- Inheritance Collection #1
First, I would like to thank all my Goodreads friends for recommending this story to me. A special shout out to Angela M., whose heartfelt review of this short story first caught my attention.
As noted by many reviewers before me, this is a poignant story, featuring twelve-year-old Adeline, who is at the mercy of her abusive, selfish, and neglectful mother. After her father dies, Adeline deliberately becomes mute, refusing to speak. As her mother manipulates and schemes, Adeline finds an unlikely ally and makes a loyal friend, giving her the courage to break the chain, and carve out a more stable future for herself, despite all the odds.
For such a short story, this one really packs a punch. Strong emotions build quickly, and real feeling of compassion, righteous indignation, and pride for and on behalf of Adeline. She is a truly memorable character and this story is one that will stay with me for a long time to come.
The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson is a 2019 Penguin Books publication.
A stirring and bittersweet coming of age story!
Jake is a bit difThe Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson is a 2019 Penguin Books publication.
A stirring and bittersweet coming of age story!
Jake is a bit different from other kids his age. But, he’s nowhere near as eccentric as his lovable Uncle Calvin. Calvin owns an occult shop and has a hotline for UFO sightings or other paranormal occurrences. Naturally, he knows all about the local ghostly legends. So, when Jake makes a couple of new friends, Calvin invites them to join his ‘Saturday Night Ghost Club”.
Jake feels like he’s a part of a special group and enjoys spending time with Calvin. However, there is an underlying sense of unease as one begins to suspect there is more to Calvin’s ghost stories than a few good thrills and chills.
Jake narrates this story, as an adult, reciting his adventures through the eye lens of his twelve- year old self. Jakes occupation often urges him to ponder the many mysteries of the mind, especially where our memories are concerned.
When it comes to horror or the paranormal, ghost stories, which I hope are making a comeback, are always a favorite of mine. I also love the local legends each town seems to have, and here in my neck of the woods we have one famous enough to make it into a few ghost -story books.
So, I thought this part of the story was fun, because I may have gone on a few paranormal investigations myself in the early eighties- although I was little older than Jake. We usually ended up scaring ourselves to death more than anything else. So, this story does stir up one’s feelings of nostalgia.
Niagara Falls, though I've never been there, seems like an awesome setting for this short story, creating just the right tone and atmosphere for a good ghost story, while exposing a darker, secret part of the location we don’t typically consider.
I think many people can recall that time in our youth when a part of us desperately wanted to hold onto the innocence of our childhood, while simultaneously longing to prove our maturity, to understand the unspoken and still hidden mysteries of adulthood. It’s a wistful feeling, saying goodbye to one’s childhood as we step over the threshold and take our first tentative steps towards adulthood.
Jake, who has already taken a few lumps in life, learns a bit sooner, and in a more personal way, just how dark the world can be. The summer of his twelfth year understandably stands out in Jake's memory- so much so it most assuredly propelled him towards his ultimate career choice, as he devotes his life to learning and correcting the vast mystery and complexities of the human brain.
His recollections are vivid, and his tone is as introspective as it is retrospective. Although sadness and helplessness lie just underneath the surface, Jake's fond sentimentality often creeps into his voice as his recollections surge to life.
Because I was unfamiliar with this author, I had to do a little research to see what else he may have written. I was very surprised to learn the author also writes under the name “Nick Cutter’. Looking at those books, it is obvious this story certainly is not his usual style. Just goes to show how versatile he can be and how far he could take his talent, if he chooses to.
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