Category: Contemporary Novels
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The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud
“How angry am I?” The Woman Upstairs is quite a remarkable book, but I am finding it very hard to write about. Many of its themes and subjects hit much too close to home. I will do my best, though, to give you my thoughts though I’m afraid they are a ramble. Nora Eldridge is…
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The Secret History + The Blush
The Secret History by Donna Tartt – I don’t know how to describe my experience of The Secret History. It is about an elite group of college students who primarily study Classics under a dynamic mentor named Julian. They have special status at their college and are seen by the other students as odd and…
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Mini Thoughts on Major Books
The following two books have already received lots of attention, publicity and accolades (or criticism) so I am just going to give my very brief thoughts on each title. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson – Ursula Todd is born in the harsh winter of 1910 and thereafter experiences re-birth and a circular life cycle…
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State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
At the first meeting of my new book club a few weeks ago, we had a riveting and lively discussion about State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. Most of us liked it, one person didn’t very much, but I think we all agreed that it was beautifully written and completely absorbing. Marina Singh is a…
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Mini Thoughts on Recent Reads #3
The Innocents by Francesca Segal – I was reluctant to read this novel because it is an updated version of The Age of Innocence, one of my very favorite books. This contemporary version of Edith Wharton’s classic Pulitzer Prize winning book takes place in northwest London in a tight knit and loyal Jewish community. Adam…
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Mini Thoughts on Recent Reads #2
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green – I listened to this blockbuster teen novel on audio and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It is read by Kate Rudd, who does an excellent job of rendering the voice of Hazel, the main character, who is 16 and has had terminal cancer for several years. When…
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Beautiful Lies by Clare Clark
There are few things better than a good neo-Victorian novel, so I was really looking forward to this book set in London in the 1880’s. I’d never read Clare Clark before, but I’d heard from patrons at the library that her novels are full of rich historical details. Beautiful Lies definitely had that, but I…
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Mini Book Thoughts
Since I can’t seem to gather enough thoughts together these days to write about books in any lengthy fashion, I am going to give you three brief thoughts on books I’ve finished lately: A Far Cry From Kensington by Muriel Spark -Set in 1950’s Kensington, this darkly humorous novel is told in the first…
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The Shooting Party by Isabel Colegate
The Shooting Party takes place in 1913, over three days in October, at a shooting party at Nettleby Park, the home of Sir Randolph Nettleby and his wife Minnie. At first glance it seems like nothing much happens in this novel, but it is one of those books that, despite a slight plot, reveals heaps…
A Certain Fondness 