Notes on Some Books

These are some of the books I've been reading this year...

            
            

THY NEIGHBOR is Norah Vincent's first foray into fiction. Nick narrates. He is living his parents' house; his parents, who were killed. Nick spies on his neighbors and learns much about them...and himself. Dark and twisted. A good read.

THE TWELVE TRIBES OF HATTIE by Ayana Mathis
Chosen as an Oprah pick, Mathis skilfully tells Hattie's story through her children. Not always an easy book to read, it is well done.

THE DEATH OF BEES by Lisa O'Donnell
Two girls live on their own and their parents are nowhere to be found. Where are they? How are the girls going to manage? Is their neighbor someone to be trusted? This, while also a little dark, is a very good read.

CALLING DR. LAURA by Nicole J. Georges
In this graphic memoir, Nicole Georges illustrates some of her life - developing relationships, coming to a (sort of) understanding with her mother about her sexual orientation, and...calling Dr. Laura. Really well done, and I love that she lives in Portland!

11/22/63 by Stephen King
Life turns on a dime. Indeed it does. Jake, a teacher in a small Maine town, is shown a time travel portal to the past by his friend, Al. Can he go back and change history? Should he? I really liked how King spun the idea of time travel and the ramifications of changing the past.

UNSAID by Neil Abramson
"If you have ever loved an animal, this book is for you." This is the blurb I wrote for this book at the bookstore where I work. Yes, it's a novel, and it, more than I think any other book I've read, beautifully expresses the love and connection we have with animals. Really wonderful. Look for a longer review for this book on the blog.

READY PLAYER ONE by Ernest Cline
Set in the future, video games have evolved. OASIS is the name of the game, and Wade, a high school student, has immersed himself in the game. More than just a simulation, the creator of the game has set up a contest. Whoever finds the easter egg in the game by following his clues, wins his entire fortune. This book was really fun, while also recognizing the inherent dangers of immersion in an artificial reality. Lots of great pop culture references!

LIFE AFTER LIFE by Kate Atkinson
I'm in the middle of reading this one. Ursula Todd is born...and dies. And is born, and dies. In Life After Life, we see Ursula's many different lives. I am interested to see how it all plays out!

Clicking on the book cover will take you to Amazon's web page for the book. Clicking on the underlined book title may take you to Barnes and Noble's page for the book. Purchasing through these links helps support the blog. Note: You can use one of these (newly mentioned!) books to enter April's free book giveaway! Thanks for stopping by!