BLURBS FROM BLOG READERS





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Twice a month I send out a blog update. Some blog readers may press "delete"( You know who you are!) and others thankfully occasionally respond! 

This week JOANN B from Boston responded and recommended Far From the Tree by Andrew Solomon

JOANN B wrote "No one should pass through life without reading this book. It's wise as it is painful."

The premise in Far From The Tree, written by award winning author, Andrew Solomon is "How do we raise children who are profoundly different than we are?" Solomon began researching
this book twelve years ago when he realized that disabilities are actually "unique gifts."

He focuses on his own personal background as well as including a multitude of moving stories about families faced with raising children different than they expected them to be.



ANDREW SOLOMON



At 700 pages, (that go by very quickly) reviewers called it a "compelling read and a personal examination of the role of parenthood."

For More Information: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/19/books/andrew-solomon-far-from-the-tree-parents-and-children.html?_r=0

       MORE FROM BLOG READERS

             

BEV G along with J.B. of the West Hartford Bookies emailed the following opinions regarding the novel, SWIMMING HOME by Deborah Levy.

Here's a segment of their comments:

J. B.

.....We get intimate (too much so in the opinion of some bookies) portrayals of mental illness, painful Holocaust echoes, the indignities of aging and the bravado of confused adolescence.
Even the minor characters in this theatrical book, though less fully developed, are rendered sympathetically and are funny and sad at the same time.
We all think SWIMMING HOME would make a good movie.

BEV G
We had a fantastic discussion. Several of our members did not like the characters. Others simply didn't understand it and those of us who really appreciated the book, read it twice and felt that it was well worth the effort. It is a great book club selection as it leads to many discussion possibilities........




Here are my comments from (12/23/12)
SWIMMING HOME by Deborah Levy

I felt like a detached observer throughout this small novel. It's a convoluted story of people on holiday when a stranger unexpectedly joins them...complications arise...you can imagine the rest..

Written by British playwright, Deborah Levy, SWIMMING HOME was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. I couldn't wait to read this novel but found it disappointing and predictable in spite of its well written prose. (Yes, it is definetly film-worthy.)

DEBORAH LEVY: http://www.deborahlevy.co.uk/about.html



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THOUGHTS FROM UNDER THE PERGOLA (12/26/2012)

This was my favorite reading spot while on a recent vacation. Even though two of the three books I read were disappointing, it made them tolerable. Why not..in these surroundings?

SWIMMING HOME by Deborah Levy    

I felt like a detached observer throughout this small novel. It's a convoluted story of people on holiday when a stranger unexpectedly joins them...complications arise...you can imagine the rest.. 

Written by British playwright, Deborah Levy, SWIMMING HOME was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. I couldn't wait to read this novel but found it disappointing and predictable in spite of its well written prose.

For more information, type SWIMMING HOME in the Search Box at the top of the blog.

Info for Deborah Levy at: www.deborahlevy.co.uk/about.html

MAY WE BE FORGIVEN by A. M. Homes

This book is not for everyone but definetly for me! It's funny, sexy, political and well written...need I say more? Well, yes..

The not so nice main character, Harold Silver (A Nixon expert) finds his life runs amok after his brother kills three people in an auto accident. Harold becomes involved with his brother's family and all hell breaks loose..dysfunction galore, murder, and lots of black humor. This is high drama mixed with outrageous  fast paced situations and A. M. Homes kept me engaged throughout. 

MAY WE BE FORGIVEN is a mad, sad, clever, blatant, cannot put down, crazy ride...Never a dull moment and I loved every minute.

Info for A.M. Homes at: www.amhomesbooks.com/biography

LIFE AMONG GIANTS by Bill Roorbach

Labeled a mystery, LIFE AMONG GIANTS is slow moving and repetitive. The story is told through a young man's eyes after witnessing the murders of his parents when he's seventeen. It continues through middle age as he and his unstable sister attempt to make sense of their tragedy.

The book moves back and forth over decades revealing secrets and more secrets..characters and more characters.. focusing on a mysterious ballerina who is involved in every sub plot..introducing celebrities and rock stars...Enough already!

I felt no concern for any of the characters and kept hoping it would get better...It didn't.


Info for Bill Roorbach at www.billroorbach.com/bio.html

(Don't tell him I sent you...)



All of these books can be ordered by using the Amazon Search Box on the Sidebar.



WHAT AM I READING? (12/10/2012)



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Because I am traveling soon, I thought I would start a book then continue reading it on the plane. For me a "plane-worthy" book has to be totally engrossing, pleasurable, and completely tune out my surroundings. (I'm not a relaxed flyer as you probably guessed.)



SWIMMING HOME by Deborah Levy was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and sounded like a good "seatmate."

Unfortunately I didn't check the number of pages and probably would finish the book before arrival...not a good thing...  

 A story of unusual and complex characters renting a villa in France that escalates into something else. Yes, they're all depressed and unstable... Sounds like my kind of book!

Too short for my impending flight, SWIMMING HOME is a mesmerizing small novel, but I'll read it later. I'm now looking for my next "in flight book." Keep tuned...


For an earlier review of SWIMMING HOME, type the title in the Search Box at the top of the blog.
Author Deborah Levy can be found at: Http://www.deborahlevy.co.uk



  

SWIMMING HOME... A HEAD'S UP (08/02/2012)

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A friend of mine on Goodreads included SWIMMING HOME by Deborah Levy on his "to be read" list. I'm familiar with this author..she writes fiction and plays and her books receive excellent reviews. I haven't read SWIMMING HOME but it's on my list..

Depression is the culprit in SWIMMING HOME and how it can affect stable, everyday people. The story is set in a villa on the French Riviera, taking place over a single week in which a group of tourists come apart at the seams.

It's a story laced with psychology, humor and a subtle darkness. Reviewers called this book "a short novel that will linger in your memory.

WHAT'S GOODREADS? (Just to refresh your memory...)

See what your friends are reading, organize books into a virtual bookshelf, keep track of every book you've read...that's Goodreads. It's basically a free website for book lovers.