Book Reviews

I have read a lot of books this summer. I figured, for a post on the lighter side I could review them for you. Because you may actually decide to read these novels, I will stay away from spoilers.

John Grisham, Calico Joe: The go-to author for a great legal thriller writes a book about a young boy’s admiration for a baseball-player and more importantly, the confusion caused by a damaged father –son relationship. I liked it, read it quickly and underlined a couple of sentences that were particularly well written. Was it Grisham’s best? Not by a long shot, I won’t think of it again after I write this. A Painted House (another deviation from his usual genera) is better; that may be his best. You’ll enjoy Calico Joe, though, it’d be hard not to.

John Grisham, The Litigators: Doing what he typically does, Grisham writes a legal-thriller, and makes it easy to turn pages. It’s fast-paced, entertaining, and has you rooting passionately for the little guy. This a fun book to read, he holds your attention and even adds a little humor. If you have read a lot Grisham though, it is a little predictable by the end.

Chris Cleave, Incendiary: This is the story of an incredibly imperfect, but likable woman who loses her husband and young son when Al Qaeda blows up a soccer stadium in London. She writes an honest, angry letter to the guy she thinks is responsible for her tragedy: Osama Bin Laddin. I was not a huge fan of this one. It was fine; it certainly was better than most could do. However, the plot was so horrific and yet so possible, that this novel really had the chance to resonate with readers, and it did not. At least it did not resonate with me. All the characters were very easy to empathize with, but I just didn’t feel emotionally invested.

Vanessa Diffenbaugh, The Language of Flowers: I absolutely loved this novel about an 18 year-old aging-out of her past, and the US  foster-care system. I was compelled to finish it in two days and posted on both Facebook and Twitter that my friends should read it, and I think you should, too.

Jaime Ford, The Hotel on the On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: A cute, Romeo Juliet-esque story  set during a time when Japanese-Americans were being “relocated” to internment camps. The romance aspect of the novel is fabulously developed. If you’re a love-story person, pick this book up. However, if you’re a history-buff who is knowledgeable about what really went on in Internment camps, you will probably find there is too much sweet and that the plot lacks an appropriate amount of bitter. I liked it well enough. 

E. Annie Proulx, The Shipping News: Proulx won the Pulitzer Prize for this novel, in which she uses a slightly below average, out-of-work but kind-hearted guy, forced to move to the home of his ancestors to write about the human experience. She earned it. It’s not an upper and it’s not a quick read, but it’s worth it. Just beautiful.

Anna Quindlind, Every Last One: I loved it:  I cried. I laughed. I worried. I was distraught. I brought up the book in unrelated conversation. I understand that this novel about a mother dealing with her worst nightmare, is probably either too shocking or not shocking enough for many readers, but I definitely recommend it. 

Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl : This is a very trendy book right now. Recently, many trendy books have been written for second graders, aside from sex. This isn't. It is a dark novel that leaves you wondering who the protagonist and the antagonists are until the last few pages. The author is not a wordsmith, but she can tell a story.   Read it, if thriller mysteries are your thing. 

None of these books are a waste of time, that’s why I chose them to review. The important thing is that everybody read, so regardless of what I said, read whatever sounds good to you. 

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