Saturday, September 24, 2005

Broken for You by Stephanie Kallos


I was amazed by the beauty of this novel. Margaret Hughes is a sweet old woman who lives alone until she is diagnosed with a brain tumor. She takes in a boarder, Wanda, who is looking for an old love and a new life. Together they form a bond through story and art that enriches both of their lives, as well as the lives of countless others who come to Margaret's mansion. The story is moving and Kallos's prose is almost spiritual at times. I wanted to begin rereading it again as soon as I finished.

Monday, September 19, 2005

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon


I had read this book a few years back when it first came out. This time I read it for book club. What a delightful narrative voice. I started reading the book aloud in one of my classes and several students seemed to like it well enough to get a book and finish reading the story.

Thursday, September 15, 2005

The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates


I decided to read another Oates novel. I had read lots of great reviews of The Falls and I did enjoy the historical fiction element of it. It is about a widow who loses two husbands to Niagra Falls - one commits suicide on their wedding night.

Thursday, September 08, 2005

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See




This is a lovely novel about a lifelong relationship between two Chinese women who practiced nu shu - "women's writing".
I really enjoyed learning about a sliver of history that I had never read about in fiction. I can't wait to read other books by Lisa See.