The Book Thief. Like Gone Girl, I wanted to read this book before I saw the movie. As is normally the case, the book was light years better than the movie. I’ve read books about the Holocaust before and this one is especially unique because the narrator throughout the book is Death himself. Now I’m looking forward to reading his next book, I Am the Messenger.
The Red Garden. I own more Alice Hoffman books than any other author, I think, simply because I like her dreamy, fantastical writing style (and her stories are normally quite unique, too.) I found this book in a $1 bargain bin. (Gotta love it!) The book tells the stories of the residents of Blackwell, Massachusetts over the course of 300 years. Each person’s story is enchanting and lyrical. Recommended.
The Good House. Before I buy a book, any book, I’ll usually read what the story is about, then I’ll read some of the reviews, then I’ll flip to the first page of the book and read a sentence or two. In the case of this book, the main character is a sassy, outspoken woman who is a Boston realtor. I like outspoken women, and I love New England architecture. Check, check. There was a positive review from Jodi Picoult, among others. Check. Then, I read the first sentence of the book: “I can walk through a house once and know more about its occupants than a psychiatrist could after a year of sessions.” (What? Tell me more.) Well, how could I resist?
Ordinary Grace. This is a gritty, sad, joyful, heartfelt, redemptive story of growing up in a small town in the early 60’s. It’s a story of love, guilt, murder, and grief. The story is told from a little boy’s perspective some 40 years later. Starting with the very first sentence, the story hooked me. Literally. That’s how good of a writer he is. Throughout the book, I re-read many sentences just to savor them. I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days afterwards. I absolutely. positively. LOVED. this book. Highlyrecommended.
Hmm. I was disappointed in “The Book Thief.” I also have lots of books by Alice Hoffman. I have been wanting to read “The Good House,” for the same reason you were probably attracted to it. Houses. “Ordinary Grace” sounds great. I will get it!
Hmm. I was disappointed in “The Book Thief.” I also have lots of books by Alice Hoffman. I have been wanting to read “The Good House,” for the same reason you were probably attracted to it. Houses. “Ordinary Grace” sounds great. I will get it!