Sunday, July 22, 2012

21. Blue Nights

By Joan Didion (188 pages)

What was I thinking? I just read post-apocalyptic cotton candy and thought: I should read something a little more challenging. Where's that new Joan Didion?

It's about her daughter who died at 39. The daughter's illness started the same year that Didion's husband died. Here's a woman in her late 70's reflecting on death and aging. 

I started it last night before I went to bed. Then I had insomnia and stared into the dark, trembling with anxiety and sadness. 

So, it's good? It's a slight book, more like a long magazine article between hardcovers. Kinda cheeky to charge $25 for that but it's Joan Didion. I still need to read her earlier stuff. I keep meaning to go dig around in the basement and see what we have.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

20. Angelfall (Penryn & The End of Days)

By Susan Ee (256 pp ebook)

Post-apocalyptic Twilight with angels. I've been loving these fun easy-to-get-into books. Angels have done damage to planet Earth. Penryn is  a scrappy girl just trying to keep her family together. Can't wait for Book 2. Recommend.

Monday, July 16, 2012

19. Olive Kitteridge

By Elizabeth Strout (270 pp.)

I keep calling this book Olive Strout. Kim recommended it to me a long time ago. We saw Ms. Strout at Arts & Lectures in Jan 2011. This book has been sitting here to read forever and you know what? I brought it with me on vacation because it was skinny and easy to stick in the backpack. I'm going to do a post about how I decide what to read next because my system is really a head-scratcher.

This is a book of connected short stories that include the character Olive Kitteridge. Sometimes her part is minor. Sometimes she's the whole story. The stories range through a large part of her life. She's not the nicest lady but she's portrayed with great love and compassion. I recommend.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

18. Anna Dressed in Blood

By Kendare Blake (211 pp. eBook)

Kira reviewed this book and I wanted something fun and easy to get into for my trip. This was perfect. It's scary and unexpected things happen and has great characters. It's about a guy who hunts ghosts. Anna is a ghost with some surprises. I recommend.