Adults Book Reviews
This is where I review books that are meant for adults - that means anyone over the age of 18. Of course, there are those under 18 years old who may find many of these books to their liking, particularly the classics which include most of my favorites. I've been on a mission to read the Pulitzer fiction winners and I think anyone who can understand these books, and many are also required reading in high school, should enjoy these classics. If you have a suggestion for a book you would like to read that you want my review of, I would be happy to assist you.
- In: Adults
I've been meaning to read the Pulitzer prize winning novel by Jane Smiley, "A Thousand Acres" and I've even started reading the book but for some reason, or some distraction, I haven't gotten very far. But I recently purchased "The Age of Grief" and found myself engrossed in it in no time at all.
- In: Adults
After reading a book of her short stories I thought to really get a taste for Ms. Braun's work I needed to read one of her novels. I did a little research on Ms. Braun and found that she wrote 3 books and then after an 18 year hiatus, she wrote the book that I happened to have in my possession, "The Cat Who Saw Red". I would have preferred to read the first novel she wrote but instead of looking for it at my library I decided to read the book I did have. I've never been a reader of mysteries but since I rediscovered my desire to write I've also opened up my interests to reading to include many more genres than I previously had not read.
I believe the key to writing a good mystery is to keep your reader reading. And that's exactly what I did; over a weekend I had read the entire book. I really did want to keep reading as each chapter ended in a question that made me turn the next page. Witty and with a fine cast of characters, including the protagonist Quilleran and his two Siamese cats (similar to Ms Braun's own cats), Koko and Yum Yum, it really did hold my attention until the very end when, with my suspicions realized, the killer was revealed.
I've recently taken such an interest in this genre that I've begun to develop my own cast of characters for a mystery novel I would like to write. My novel will most likely include a Pomeranian or two and maybe even a Cockatoo!
I rate "The Cat Who Saw Red" 3.5 out of 5 stars.
- In: Adults
Revenge and murder are the main ingredients of a murder mystery. But Camus' "The Stranger" is an unlikely fit for the mystery genre. A known atheist and existentialist, Camus' novel brings us into the inner workings of someone who walks a thin line between sanity and displaying the qualities of a paid assassin.
- In: Adults
I've previously read David Sedaris (Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk) and thoroughly enjoyed his work. For me, his humor ranges from the slightest smile, a smirk almost, to a laugh out loud reaction. And "Naked", as his past writings have done for me, were especially distasteful in their ordinariness.
- In: Adults
Reading an interview on Carolyn Chute, the author of "The Beans of Egypt, Maine", sent me in search of her novel. I was sure I owned the book but after weeding through my extensive library I realized that I did not own the book and borrowed it from my local library.
It took me awhile to get through the book. But it didn't take long before I knew that not only did I not like the book but I also did not like the characters, I didn't want to know anything about them or to read about their lives. The level of ignorance and squalor as described by Ms Chute, I have no doubt, was based at least partly on factual information as witnessed by Ms. Chute. We writers do, after all, write mostly what we know.