This past month, Senior Book Break read about Family.
Here are the books that were discussed:
Murder Carries a Torch by Ann George // This book is part of the mystery series featuring two sisters who get to the bottom of things. Our reader said she enjoys this cozy mystery series because "there's always a mystery, always laugh, and always family."
ICON by Bodie and Brock Theone // Written by a husband and wife, this political adventure is set in Bakersfield and the surrounds of the Central Coast following a massive water shortage. Our reader said he had to get about halfway through before discovering the plot but recommends the book nonetheless for its great writing.
Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry // This family drama is set in Mumbai, India, where a family squabble and connive among and against one another. Our reader said she despised one of the characters due to how well she was crafted as a selfish monster. Overall, she said the that the writing is really beautiful. She recommends it highly for its complexity. You also get a view of current politics and goings-on in India as you read, she said.
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls // This is the memoir of journalist and novelist Jeannette Walls and tells the disturbing tale of her childhood raised by narcissistic and dysfunctional parents. Many of the events are too terrible to take in, said our reader who admitted to skipping a few pages here and there to "fast forward" through the worst of the traumas described. Overall, she said it was "compelling and disturbing. I couldn't put it down, but I wish I had." If you have a strong stomach and appreciate vivid writing, this book is available at the library.
Watermelon by Marian Keyes // What do you do when your husband leaves? Go live with your large and animated family in Ireland, of course! This novel focuses on how one woman gets through grief and is a fun read filled with humor and family antics, said our reader.
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty // In a beach town in Australia, a new school year is beginning. Several different families with unique issues all have one thing in common: a child starting kindergarten. The narrative follows the issues and drama each family faces. The family stories intersect and wind together. Our reader recommended it, saying that it was a fun read tackling some deep family issues.
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire // This fairy tale retelling takes a serious look at adjusting one's life to a totally new situation and finding the determination to make it on one's own. It's available at the library.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy // Our reader enjoyed this classic as a window into Tolstoy's own life. Many of the family dramas portrayed are borrowed from his own life, such as his desire to free his serfs -- and his wife's staunch opposition to it!
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell // This is an autobiographical work by British naturalist Gerald Durrell. It describes the years of his childhood in which he lived with his siblings and mother on the Greek island of Corfu between 1935 and 1939. Our reader really enjoyed this book, living through the adventures and parties of a family "you love" through the beautiful writing of the author.
~Special Notes~
Don was the lucky winner of a book giveaway this month. He received a copy of Recipe for Storytelling by Senior Book Break facilitator Megan Barnhard. Happy writing, Don!
We chatted about family traditions, which led one reader to share that her family exchanges painted rocks with one another. She brought in the charming specimen below.
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