book reviews
I have been watching TV more than I have been reading, but I still finished a few books in the last 6 weeks.
I finally finished reading Island Beneath the Sea, by Isabelle Allende. Once I figured out it was historical fiction rather than a character-driven novel I switched my expectations & it was easier to get through. I'm fascinated by the economics/politics/sociology of the period & places in the novel, but overall I was disappointed. I am unlikely to wander Allende's direction again anytime soon.
It took several months to work up from 96th on the hold list for The Invention of Wings, by Sue Monk Kidd, but eventually the library let me know it was my turn. This is Kidd's 3rd novel. I adore her first novel (The Secret Life of Bees) so my expectations were high. And they were met. Wings doesn't strike home as much for me as Bees, but it's well done and involving.
It wasn't until after I finished The Invention of Wings that I found out it's based on real people. One of the story lines is fictional, included to give the novel more body and depth, but the other story line is a carefully researched (& only partly fictionalized) account of Sarah Moore Grimke. Grimke (or Grimké) was an American abolitionist & a member of the women's suffrage movement. Learning this made me like the book even more. I'd never heard of Grimke & it's nice to learn about a woman who had a profound effect on American politics and sociology. Did you know about her?
Most recently I read The Grimm Legacy, by Polly Shulman, and I'm about to read its follow-up, The Wells Bequest. These are YA novels for tweens/teens. I'm reading them in hopes of finding something that might appeal to my nephew (and, sneakily of me, has a female protagonist) but the first one was surprisingly enjoyable. If you read YA fantasy there's not much in the plot that is particularly innovative, but the characters are appealing & it's a fun & quick read.
Yesterday I checked out two books of poetry, one by Grace Paley, the other by Marge Piercy, so don't be surprised if some of their poems start showing up in my feed. :)
I finally finished reading Island Beneath the Sea, by Isabelle Allende. Once I figured out it was historical fiction rather than a character-driven novel I switched my expectations & it was easier to get through. I'm fascinated by the economics/politics/sociology of the period & places in the novel, but overall I was disappointed. I am unlikely to wander Allende's direction again anytime soon.
It took several months to work up from 96th on the hold list for The Invention of Wings, by Sue Monk Kidd, but eventually the library let me know it was my turn. This is Kidd's 3rd novel. I adore her first novel (The Secret Life of Bees) so my expectations were high. And they were met. Wings doesn't strike home as much for me as Bees, but it's well done and involving.
It wasn't until after I finished The Invention of Wings that I found out it's based on real people. One of the story lines is fictional, included to give the novel more body and depth, but the other story line is a carefully researched (& only partly fictionalized) account of Sarah Moore Grimke. Grimke (or Grimké) was an American abolitionist & a member of the women's suffrage movement. Learning this made me like the book even more. I'd never heard of Grimke & it's nice to learn about a woman who had a profound effect on American politics and sociology. Did you know about her?
Most recently I read The Grimm Legacy, by Polly Shulman, and I'm about to read its follow-up, The Wells Bequest. These are YA novels for tweens/teens. I'm reading them in hopes of finding something that might appeal to my nephew (and, sneakily of me, has a female protagonist) but the first one was surprisingly enjoyable. If you read YA fantasy there's not much in the plot that is particularly innovative, but the characters are appealing & it's a fun & quick read.
Yesterday I checked out two books of poetry, one by Grace Paley, the other by Marge Piercy, so don't be surprised if some of their poems start showing up in my feed. :)