BOOKS I RECOMMEND...
“The Secrets of a Fire King” by Kim Edwards (2007)
I’m on a short story collection/essays binge and I picked up this book for that reason while browsing at BMV. This is a collection of short stories by the author of the bestseller “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter,” which I have yet to read. It has some really memorable stories and it’s beautifully written. My reading experience with this one was the kind where you find yourself sighing at the end because it was either achingly beautiful or heartbreaking.
“My Happy Life” by Lydia Millet (2007)This is absolutely one of my favourite books. I randomly picked up her book “Everyone’s Pretty” at a bookstore last summer and enjoyed her writing so I thought I’d check out her other works. A nameless young female patient left behind, locked and forgotten, in an abandoned psych ward chronicles her life in this moving story. I was hooked the first few lines and could not put it down. Millet created a strange and sad tale of a woman whose life was really anything but happy. It was mesmerizing, brilliantly written, with passages that are unforgettable. This is the kind of hauntingly beautiful story I wish I could come up with.
“Rant” by Chuck Palahniuk (2007)You can’t go wrong with Palahniuk. He comes up with the most bizarre, twisted and interesting stories and “Rant” is no exception. This one was a definite page-turner and had me clawing with suspense and intrigue to get to the next page and closer to figuring out the mysteries behind the life and death of Buster “Rant” Casey.
“When You Are Engulfed in Flames” by David Sedaris (2008)I savoured this book from start to finish. I rationed the stories because I didn’t want the experience to end. Cheesy, I know, but that’s really just how much I love David Sedaris’ books. Sedaris has such a full, vibrant and interesting life, I can’t help but be jealous since I lead such an oh-so-mind-numbingly-boring one. Add to that the fact that I’m also jealous of his amazing writing talent. And his public speaking abilities. And his brilliant comedic timing. And the fact that he lives in France. But I digress. Similar to his other autobiographical books, you’ll find wit, humour, and sentimentality in his stories. I laughed, I sighed, I was engulfed...
“No One Belongs Here More Than You” by Miranda July (2007)A colleague recommended this book to me and now I recommend it to YOU. This is another collection of short stories – stories that are at times creepy, sexy, funny, touching, shocking, and everything else in between and beyond. This was an absolute pleasure to read. After the end of a story, I found myself wishing it was longer – needing and wanting to find out more about the quirky characters July created.
“The Braindead Megaphone” by George Saunders (2007)This was a book recommended by David Sedaris when Melba and I saw him in Toronto early December. I’m easily persuaded so I immediately went and borrowed a copy from the library. To me, this book had its ups and downs. I found the first couple of essays and a few others a bit dull and lacking – and I didn’t really understand where they were going. Others were brilliant and fascinating. What got me through reading this collection was the intelligence and humour that Saunders brought to each essay. I also found the variety in topics a selling point – there’s a report on illegal immigration, a trip to Dubai, and a piece on “Slaughterhouse V.” There’s an essay for everyone to enjoy and I think this is well worth picking up at your local library or bookstore.
AND ONE THAT I DON’T
“Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer (2006)I don’t give in to hype much but I succumbed to it this time. And I went and read this mess of a book. The story is told through Bella, a new girl in town, who falls for Edward, a “teen” vampire. Their romance story is Romeo-and-Juliet-esque. But not really. I can see why it would appeal to teens. Had I been the impressionable, naïve and idealistic 14-year-old I was I think I would’ve enjoyed this book. Unfortunately, I’m not. The book reads like a teen girl’s diary. A teenager who I couldn’t relate to and don’t see very much how other teen girls could. Bella is supposedly wise for her age, serious, pragmatic, independent, and I got the feeling she prefers to be alone. Then she hooks up with Edward, perfect in every way except for the blood sucking thing. Bella becomes border line obsessed; mesmerized by the walking beauty and sheer perfection that is Edward to the point where she’d rather die than not be with him. I couldn’t stand that every other sentence was a testament of Edward’s gorgeous facets – his golden eyes, his muscled forearms, his cool hair, and so on. Edward was not a particularly interesting character and Bella was even less that. Nothing significantly lively really happens until two-thirds into the book. I guess I just didn’t understand how quickly their love escalated in intensity. I just really did not get how theirs was a love story to dream of and admire.
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