I bought a book that someone recommended. This is not an unusual occurrence for me, except that I usually won't purchase a book unless I know the recommender and his or her tastes really well.
This time I did not.
It was one of my co-workers. He recommended this book so very highly, said it's the best debut novel he's read. Ever. He thinks that everyone should read this book.
(The link to his review is at the bottom of this one.)
Now this person, who I like quite well, is not given to large displays of...well, much of anything. He's fairly quiet, reserved, though does have strong opinions, just generally keeps them to himself. That he is SO enthusiastic about this book...well, it made me take notice. So I bought it. And I'm about to read it.
The book is Broken Glass Park by Alina Bronsky. And it does start well...
Sometimes I think I'm the only one in our neighborhood with any worthwhile dreams. I have two, and there's no reason to be ashamed of either one. I want to killl Vadim. And I want to write a book about my mother. I already have a title: The Story of an Idiotic Redheaded Woman Who Would Still Be Alive If Only She Had Listened to Her Smart Oldest Daughter. Or maybe that's more of a subtitle.
So, I'm not sure this co-worker and I are in sync about books we like. However, his recommendation was so stellar and strong, I'm going to give it a try. I'll let you know how it goes.
(Unfortunately I didn't get much of an update about the Amazing Customer and his wife's birthday surprise. I just heard that it went off without a hitch and it was very cute.)
http://jamesinportland.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/broken-glass-park/
I missed most of the Amazing Race bit myself. Cory said it went well, but I only briefly saw them when they came back that evening.
ReplyDeleteAnd the book is... dark. But funny. And so damn well written that I'm going to try to tell everyone in the world... So, about 100 people down, just under 7 billion to go!