“Reading is everything. Reading is bliss.”–Nora Ephron

As spring finally arrives, I am reflecting on my recently read books, and have been enjoying the pleasure of reading a couple of favorites for the second time.   I’m always glad when they are as enjoyable, or even better, the second time around.

Just finished The River Swimmer by Jim Harrison–it is classic Harrison style, a collection of two novellas.  I liked the first one, The Land of Unlikeness, best.  It is about a sixty year old academic who returns to the family’s Michigan farmhouse to look after his aging mother.  It is set near Big Rapids, Michigan where I spent my first year of college and not far from a vacation cabin owned by my parents.  The second short novel, The River Swimmer, was a little too imaginative for my taste but full of Harrison’s wit and insight into humanity.

Next was Housekeeping, a well reviewed literary novel written by Marilynne Robinson, and published in 1980.  I had read Gilead and Home by the same author.  Housekeeping can be described as a quirky story of an unusual family.  As it opens, two sisters who had been orphaned upon their mother’s suicide, are being cared for by two elderly aunts who are not up to the task.  They await the arrival of the little girls’  transient sister, Sylvia..  When Aunt Sylvia arrives, she takes over ‘housekeeping’ and caring for the nieces, but is hardly competent.  Robinson paints a vivid portrait of a home, village, and family going through tough times.  Sylvia is mentally ill, and her odd methods of housekeeping have effects on the young girls as they grow up essentially taking care of themselves. It kind of reminded me of Grey Gardens the movie about a reclusive mother and daughter, related to Jackie Kennedy, who lived a reclusive life in a crumbling mansion with numerous cats.

Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O’Nan is a ‘re-reading’ of a favorite short novel by one of my favorite authors.  O’Nan manages to weave an engrossing story into 146 pages.  I was reminded of how much I like this book when I read about it as a favorite of an author who listed favorite books in a recent newspaper interview.  I have found that O’Nan’s books stand up well when reading them a second time, and I have not been disappointed.  This one is the story of the last day in business for a Red Lobster restaurant in New England.  O’Nan who has been called “the bard of the working class”,  made me care about the restaurant manager and his ‘family’ of workers, on this last day of business one December.

Flat Water Tuesday by Ron Irwin is due out in June of this year ( I was send an advance copy).  It’s about a group of students on the rowing team at a prep school in the east, specifically designed to be a rowing school.  Members of the rowing team are deeply affected by the decisions they make.  It is dark, yet hopeful at the same time.  The story told reflects how making a wrong choice can change lives forever, but still some choose to carry on and live anew.  Those who liked Dead Poets Society might want to give this one a try.  The writing is excellent, the plot is intriguing, if a bit depressing.

Overdressed, which is subtitled:  The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, by Elizabeth L. Cline is an expose of the fashion ‘industry’ and gives insight into the world of factory produced clothing which is manufactured around the world in ‘sweatshop’ conditions for low wages.  It causes one to stop and think about what and where clothing is purchased and what overseas, cheap production is doing to our economy.

Since one of my favorite Wisconsin authors–Kathleen Ernst–appeared at the local library, I was tempted into re-reading her latest mystery novel set in Door County, Wisconsin.  The Light Keeper’s Legacy was much better the second time around because I was better able to picture in my mind the setting and details of the lighthouse after seeing Kathleen’s power point presentation.  Kathleen is truly a Wisconsin treasure, and her mysteries set in state parks and historical sites are a great boon to encouraging visitors to the areas.  She also writes books for the American Girl series and has written Meet Caroline which is about the newest doll in the collection.

The other “re-read” is The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure–again prompted by Kathleen Ernst because she mentioned, during her presentation, that she loved the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, and that she and her husband are visiting the ‘Laura’ sites.  I loved McClure’s book as much or more than the first time I read it.  If you’re a ‘Laura’ fan and haven’t read it, you are in for a treat.  It’s an enlightening and entertaining romp through ‘Laura World’ and the Little House sites.

Finally,  I read The Reserve, by Russell Banks.  It is set in the late 1930′s in the Adirondack Mountains at a remote summer enclave which belongs to a wealthy family.  There is a love story, a murder mystery and plenty of interesting characterizations.  The setting of the book allows the reader a glimpse into the 1930′s and the lifestyles of the rich and those associated with them.

When will it be spring???

As February drew to a close, I read these two books back to back:

A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving, is my book club’s selection.  Although I’ve always enjoyed Irving’s work, he is very, very wordy!  I enjoyed re-reading this American classic about the unusual, small boy who makes such a big impact. The narrative deals with many deep issues and is very thought provoking.   Then I watched the delightful movie, Simon Birch, which is based upon the book and stars Ashley Judd as the mother.   Simon is played by the diminutive Ian Michael Smith. He plays the part well–he looks somewhat like I imagined ‘Owen’ to look.  The movie varies from the book, but it is entertaining, and I enjoyed watching it again.

In sharp contrast was Benediction by Kent Haruf.  The prose is sparse and succinct as he writes, like he did in Plainsong and Eventide, about life in the western prairies.  In Benediction, the main character has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and is confronting the end of his life.  With poignant and moving sentences Haruf quietly describes how  Dad Lewis, the owner of the hardware store in Holt, Colorado, interacts with his family and neighbors with  a bold, yet quiet acceptance.  Family and neighborly relationships are touchingly dealt with.  I felt a sense of closure and acceptance at the end–a quiet, yet somehow satisfying, sadness.

Then I continued into March with:

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles is set in New York City in 1938.  It is a kind of love story in which the main characters are trying to reinvent themselves in terms of the changing times.  The descriptions of 25 year old Katey Kontent–her love affairs and work experiences are evocative of the era and the city–think smoking cigarettes and the pouring of a martini on just about every other page!

Shouting Won’t Help by Katherine Bouton is a ‘must read’ for anyone who experiences hearing loss or has a family member who does.  The author was an editor for the New York Times and has profound hearing impairment.  She examines the issue from many aspects.  Bouton describes what is like to live with an invisible disablity and discusses the fact that hearing impairment affects 17% of the population, and that it is not exclusively a product of growing old.  Sometimes it is sudden, and the cause is unknown, which is the case in my situation.  I always find it helpful to have as much information as possible and to know how others are sucessfully coping–a most important tip is to look directly at the person with hearing loss when speaking to him or her!  It facilitates speech reading which is most helpful to the listener.

Other books I recently read:  (mostly “mind candy”, but entertaining)

Jinxed and Fleeced by Carol Higgins Clark–older, but not bad ‘whodunits’

Killing Kelly by Heather Graham

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough by Ruth Pennebaker

Not in Front of the Corgis by Brian Hoey (about the British Royal family)

Last but not least, is Kinsey and Me, by Sue Grafton.  This recently released collection of short stories is a departure from Grafton’s ‘alphabet’ series.  The preface is revelatory in that Grafton talks about the elements of constructing a mystery short story, and in the second section of the book are stories written after her mother’s death and are newly published in this book.  (Most stories in the first section had been previously published in magazines, etc.)  I confess that I did not read all the stories, but I did dip into most of them, because I was hungry for “Kinsey” stories.  It’s a departure for Grafton, and I do look forward to the “W” book.

A reading surprise!

On a recent afternoon  it was my turn to host the meeting for my local bookclub.  I had been sent enough hardcover copies of a book for each member of the group by Reading Group Guides.com. I won a contest–they were sending boxes of books to many bookclubs throughout the country.  I was a bit hesitant because I had never read the author’s work before, and when I saw the cover of the book,    I thought that the members of my group might have a preconception, as did I,  that it would be a ‘fluffy’ romance.  Oh well…we were given the copies and would go ahead with it.  One by one, I started hearing from the members who were still in town (many are snowbirds and spend the winters in the south).  I heard comments ranging from “best book I’ve ever read” to “stories like this make us more aware of how we should be taking better care of soldiers when they return home”,  “I didn’t want the book to end”, and “seeing the war from a female soldier’s eyes was interesting and the story of her experience was compelling”, and “I was moved to tears in many parts of the book”.  When the group got together to discuss the book, we had a most interesting discussion!  We had five members present at the meeting, and two people sent comments.  Our tradition is to rate the book from 1-10, with 10 being the highest.  Very seldom do members give ’10s’, but several gave this one a ’10′!  Guess this illustrates the joy of reading in a group and trying new things.  If we had not ‘tried’ the book, we might have missed out on this experience!  It had a little too much emotional drama for me–reminded me of Jodi Picoult’s ‘gut wrenching’ stories, but it does address a timely topic and provoked a lively discussion.

The Good House by Anne Leary is an engrossing story about a realtor in New England who is forced to confront her alcoholism and other family issues while struggling to maintain her business in a bad economy.  Hildy Good is a likable protagonist who falls victim to circumstances and personal relationships.  There are many secrets and stories to entertain.  It’s obvious from the author’s insights  that she has waged her own personal battle with alcohol.  (I checked this out.)
Anyway, she tells an engaging, and sometimes humorous story!

The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd is a ‘teen’ novel–gothic romance which was sent to me (an advance reader copy) for review.  This genre is said to appeal to young adults even into their 30′s.  It is a romantic thriller based upon the classic Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells, in which a ‘mad’ scientist takes over an island and surgically ‘fashions’ human creatures from animals.  There is a love triangle which tends to make this already unbelievable tale even more fantastic!  This is to be the first of a trilogy, but I won’t be continuing it.  Maybe I’m too old to appreciate it, but it doesn’t seem  like it will be another Twilight.  If Gothic romance is your ‘thing’, you might want to give it a try and let me know what you think!

The Last Telegram by Liz Trenow is another book that was sent to me as an “advance” several months ago.  I waited to write about it until now because it is an April release.  I’ve read promo material recently that says it will appeal to those who enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.  It is set in Britain during WWII where a young woman makes a self serving decision that will  haunt her for years–an absorbing and emotionally evocative novel!  There is a bit of a mystery and an interesting ‘twist’!

More great winter reading…

As winter continues, I continued my reading adventures with a book about yoga…..

I picked up Hell-Bent by Benjamin Lorr out of curiosity when I saw it on the shelf in the local library where I work.  My intention was only to skim it, but I became engrossed as I started reading.  The subtitle reads Obession, Pain, and the Search for Something Like Transcendence in Competititve Yoga.   In essence, the book reveals Bikram Choudhury, the founder of the extremely popular Bikram Yoga (hot yoga–a series of 26 prescribed poses executed in a room heated to 105 degrees), to be a maniacal, narcissistic cult leader.  Although the author attended and completed the Bikram teacher training, took part in yoga competitions, and was a serious ‘student’ of yoga, it is obvious that Lorr views Bikram yoga as an obsessive and possibly dangerous practice.  This is an informative and eye opening look at how what should be a healthy practice can become obsessive.

Next, is Flight Behavior, by Barbara Kingsolver.  I liked this one, but was a bit disappointed in the conclusion.  Kingsolver uses this work of fiction to bring home the reality of global warming in a moving story set in Appalachia where masses of monarch butterflies have been discovered converging in the trees on the ‘hard luck’ Turnbow farm.  Dellarobia Turnbow is the narrator–a stay at home mom living in a tiny house on her inlaw’s land with her two young children and likable, but dull husband, known as ‘Cub’ to his father’s nickname, ‘Bear’!  The family is trying to scratch out a living raising sheep and working as laborers.  Through Dellarobia’s eyes the reader is shown the day to day life of living in poverty which is especially evident when Dr. Ovid Byron, a scientist expert arrives to visit the butterflies and study their habitat, and also perhaps to solve the mystery of the migration to Kentucky.  Although it is a distressing tale of climate in decline, there are bits of humor throughout.  Dellarobia is a tiny dynamo and a force of nature in her own way!  Her kindergarten son Preston is as endearing as he is precocious in his quest to gain knowledge and learn about nature–perhaps evidence of hope for saving the planet.  Kingsolver has once again used fiction to comment on the state of our planet and to encourage us to try to delay it’s inevitable decline.

To sum  it up in one word: “WOW!”  This wonderful book–The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe has been the highlight of February, thanks to two avid reading friends who both heartily recommended it.  Despite it’s somewhat ‘off-putting’ title, the book is a tribute to mothers, sons, families, and the power of books and reading.   After I finished it, I wanted to start all over again.  When dynamo, activist, educator Mary Anne Schwalbe was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, she and her son began a ‘book club’ with informal discussions conducted while in medical waiting rooms and chemo sessions.  Because the main premise sounds depressing, I was reluctant to pick up the book.  My friends said it is an all-consuming read, and I have to agree.  Once I started, I could barely put it down as Will and Mary Anne discuss and dissect numerous books running the gamut from daily meditations, self-help, classics both old and new, and even The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo!   Albeit a poignant story, there is comfort, inspiration, hope and humor throughout.  Will concludes that “books are the most powerful tools in the human arsenal”. He says that his mom taught him that you can make a difference in the world, and that books can be how we get closer to each other, and stay close.

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman is a recently published novel by a first time Australian author.  It had been recommended by a friend as a ‘must read’!  While I found it to be engaging, I also thought it was a bit unbelievable–guess that is the ‘realist’ in me.  The premise involves a childless couple who live in a lighthouse on an isolated island off the coast of Australia in 1926.  One day they hear a baby crying, and discover a boat washed ashore which contains a dead man and a healthy three month old infant!  The husband who is the official lighthouse keeper says he must alert the authorities, but his wife, Isabel, who is recovering from a recent miscarriage,  begs him to let her nurture the infant for awhile…and thus the story begins.  I’ll leave it to those of you who want to be entertained to read the book and see how things turn out.

Katherine Applegate recently received the Newbery Award for The One and Only Ivan.  The author was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and grew up in Grand Rapids.  She now resides in California and based this story on a read gorilla named Ivan who was known as the Shopping Mall Gorilla and lived in a tiny cage for 27 years at a shopping mall before being relocated to a zoo.  This first person narrative in Ivan’s voice makes the story come alive.  It is both thoughtful and inspirational.  Although this book is aimed at 8-10 year olds, readers of any age will be provoked to ponder the plight of wild animals which are captured and placed upon display.

January–A great month with lots of good reading!!

After a kind of dismal month of reading in December, the month of January brought many literary adventures and a table full of books I can’t wait to delve into…

Here are January’s titles:

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder–sometimes when winter seems to be dragging on, and I am feeling cold,  I pull out The Long Winter and reread it for the umpteenth time!  It never fails to make me feel better when I think about the terrible blizzards which Laura and her family managed to live through in the 1800′s!  If they could survive in those terrible conditions with such good humor, I can certainly get through a Wisconsin winter in 2013.

True Believers by Kurt Andersen–Last post, I talked about covers.  Here is an example of one I would never have picked up because of the cover.  It was sent to me as an advance reading copy and had been languishing on my table…then I read a review which enticed me to pick it up.  The backstory is set in the 60′s and 70′s–a young woman growing up in the Chicago area and then attending college in the east during the Vietnam war protest era.  The main character is in her 60′s and remembers her past with three best friends and their obsession with James Bond books and movies.  In the present, Karen is writing a memoir which will shed light on her reason for turning down nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.  Songs, customs, and clothing of the anti war protest era spark memories for anyone who was coming of age during that time.  There is a bit of intrigue, but I think it was weakly developed–an interesting story which could have been told using less words.  The mention of Karen’s uncle’s cabin on Oconomowoc Lake made me smile!  P.S. My husband just finished the book and really liked it–wants to read it again!

Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures by Emma Straub

I picked up this one because I’d read a favorable review by Daniel Goldin, of Boswell Books,  a well known Milwaukee bookseller.  When the story opened in Door County Wisconsin, I had high hopes but was ultimately disappointed as the small town midwestern girl becomes an actress in the golden age of Hollywood, leaves her loser husband, marries a producer, etc. etc.  It wasn’t all that surprising or entertaining to me.Because I Said So by Ken Jennings, the Jeopardy champion who has become a free lance writer, is a great compendium of facts which parents will have fun using to defend, or debunk some of their  parenting pronouncements.  In this humorous, yet informative collection, some of the sayings he talks about are “don’t cross your eyes, they’ll stay like that”, “don’t sniff the magic markers”, and “don’t look in the microwave while it’s running”.

Mrs. Queen Takes the Train by William Kuhn–This delightful and imaginative tale of what happens when the Queen (Elizabeth) decides to go off on adventure by herself was just the ‘ticket’ to entertain on a few winter evenings!   If you’re at all interested in imagining the life of Britain’s monarchy, I think you’ll enjoy this amusing and whimsical story.  I certainly did!  It has a little bit of everything–yoga, Shakespeare, and even a pet badger to amuse the reader.   Fans of Alexander McCall Smith would enjoy it.  This wonderful novel, written by a biographer and historian, is my favorite so far this year!

The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin was, for me, a real page turner.  I approached it with some trepidation because I’ve read extensively about the Lindberghs, and I was afraid that this work of fiction might disappoint the reader if the facts were not followed.  I need not have worried, for I was immediately drawn into the story and could barely put the book down–finished it within a couple of days!  It was well written, and in the author’s note at the end of the book, she talks about the truth versus fiction issue, which is inevitable in historical fiction.  Benjamin says that it is the emotional truths which she imagines, and I thought she did an excellent job of imagining Anne’s thoughts in this book.  If you’ve read anything about  Anne Morrow Lindbergh, or even it you haven’t, this is a great read.

A new year begins…

As a new year has arrived, I’m finally sitting down to write about my recent reading and thoughts on the ‘Books of 2012′.  Last month, I observed many ‘best of’ lists with books being rated and reviewed by well known authors and reviewers.  Once again, I am reminded that any one opinion is only that–an opinion!  What one reader likes, another may not care for at all!

I read quite a few books in the last month or so.  Two of them were listed on almost every best of 2012 list–

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is one of the most highly acclaimed books of 2012.  Because I don’t want to give ‘spoilers’, I will only say that it is full of many twists and turns, keeping the reader guessing–just when you think you have it figured out…struck me as the ‘Fatal Attraction’ of todays times–full of cheap thrills.  It is  suspenseful, but not a ‘can’t miss’ title  in my opinion.

The other book, which was on many ‘best of 2012′ lists, that I want to mention is Arcadia by Lauren Groff.  ( I know I wrote about this in a previous post, but I wanted to show you the two different covers.) It had glowing reviews by many well-known and respected authors.  I tried it twice, and I just couldn’t get into it.  The story of a young boy growing up in a commune just didn’t appeal to me.  Maybe it was the two different covers…

I first started reading the one on the left–reminded me of hippie 60′s and 70′s I gave up about 50 pages in.  Then I read great reviews and saw the cover on the right.  It enticed me into trying it again, but I gave up about 2/3 of the way through the book.  Guess it just goes to show that we all have different tastes in what we enjoy reading.  Anyone out there have ideas about this?  Did you read Arcadia and love it?    Do book covers make a difference to you?  Please comment if you’d like!

Other books I read in the last couple of months…                  

Deaf Sentence  by David Lodge is a novel which involves Desmond, a retired professor, and his effort to come to terms with hearing loss, and with mortality.  Lodge manages to treat the topic with humor, grace, and a sense of hope–an older book which appealed to me because I am coping with hearing loss which came on overnight (Sudden Sensorinueral Hearing Loss).  I enjoyed reading a novel in which the main character was able to make light of his affliction.

The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle–another one that got a lot of press, but not from me–literary horror set in a mental institution in Queens, New York.

I Am Forbidden by Anouk Markovits–way too depressing for me–it is reviewed as a moving Jewish literary family saga emphasizing the importance of intellectual freedom, and it does tell an amazing story, but it was very difficult for me to read.

The Light Keeper’s Legacy by Kathleen Ernst is the third installment of the Chloe Ellefson  series of mysteries set in the state parks of Wisconsin.  This one is set in Rock Island State Park in Door County–an entertaining read!

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton–the author of The Secret Garden returns with an engrossing historical novel of romance and intrigue set against the backdrop of WWII.

The Age of Desire by Jennie Fields–read this for my book club.  Historical fiction about the life of Edith Wharton–a chance to learn about an author and an era while being entertained, as well.

The Life of Pi by Yann Martel–I know that the movie  is coming out soon.  After reading this, I don’t think I’ll bother with the movie.   It was difficult reading for me.  The reader is left with a major dilemma at the conclusion.  Does anyone have comments about this book?  I know some readers rave about it, and it won the Man Booker Prize!

The Unlikely Pilgrimmage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce–read for book club–A delightful account of a recently retired Englishman who sets out on a walking journey to see a long lost friend nearing the end of her life.  In the process of his extraordinary odyssey,  Harold discovers himself and what is truly important.

*******Last, but not least, I just finished The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe, and I truly enjoyed it!!!!

This well written novel involves the Salem witch trials of the 1600′s, but most of the narrative is set in 1991.  (Maybe that’s one of the reasons I liked it so much–lack of reliance on ‘instant’ technology and a connection to the protagonist’s past–she’s living in her grandmother’s house for the summer.)  There is a bit of the mystical in it, as well as romance and a mystery…this is historical fiction imagined by the author, but Howe is descended from one of the women who was tried for witchcraft in the Salem witch trials.  Howe manages to intertwine  facts of the era along with weaving an intriguing tale.  This book is not new, but I’m glad I read it and am happy to recommend it!

Do any of you have reading resolutions for 2013?  I’d like to hear about them!

Happy reading,

Marilyn

How do readers ‘discover’ new books?

Discoverability–a term often used by publishers and marketing agents to define the process by which readers are motivated to choose the next book to read.  In the past decade readers have been bombarded with ads, reviews, and even book trailers–short videos produced to get attention for new books!  Recently, I read statistics which showed that most readers find the books they want to read from visual cues (displays) and from direct recommendations–another affirmation of book blogs!

For what it’s worth–here’s what I’ve been reading (or giving up on), along with some honest comments—–

• The Butterfly’s Daughter
  by Mary Alice Munroe
  An engaging story of a young woman who leaves her home in Milwaukee to carry the ashes of her recently deceased grandmother to the ancestral village in Mexico.  After Luz meets the mother she presumed was deceased, the two make a journey together and witness  the remarkable return of the monarchs.

• Mrs. Kennedy and Me
  by Clint Hill–Written by the Secret Service agent assigned to Jacqueline Kennedy, Hill recalls his close interpersonal relationship with Mrs. Kennedy.  To those of us who remember the presidency and assassination of John F. Kennedy, this account recalls the event in engrossing detail.

• Hidden America by Jeanne Marie Laskas–A reporter goes behind the scenes to learn about the unseen workers who ‘invisibly’ impact our lives.   Most interesting to me were ‘Guns R Us’ about a gun shop in Arizona and ‘This is Paradise’ in which Laskas talks about a landfill in California that is one of the largest in the U.S. and will soon be closed because it is full.  According to Laskas, we produce more garbage, per person, than any country in the world!

• The Forgetting Tree by Tatjana Soli–An interesting story, but I found it incredibly sad that an aging woman on a California ranch was compromised by an opportunistic woman who pretended to be her caretaker.  The writing is good, but I found the theme to be depressing.

•  Death Comes to Pemberley  by P.D. James–I know this was widely acclaimed and was on the bestseller list for a long time, but it served to remind me that English mysteries are not my thing.  If you love Jane Austen, you just might enjoy reading James’ account of the characters from Pride and Prejudice and their involvement in a tale of murder and mayhem.

• Arcadia by Lauren Groff–I read several positive reviews of this.  I tried it for the second time after reading a glowing review in an article about ‘dysfunctional family novels’ in which the reviewer said it was his favorite book in the last year.  It is written in the voice of a young boy born into a commune in the 1960′s.  The hippie commune life, as described , sounded just as unappealing to me as it did in the 60′s.  I couldn’t get into it and gave up halfway through.

Two recommendations for really great reads!!

1)  Visiting Tom by Michael Perry–This account, by Wisconsin native, Michael Perry rings as pure and real as the author himself.  Everyone could benefit from a little of octogenarian, Tom’s, down home common sense. Through his  sharing of Tom’s wry observations, Perry manages to impart wisdom and thought provoking ideas, while at the same time telling a pretty good story.  If you’ve not tried Perry’s previous books, you should–non fiction stories all told with a touch of humor and grace.

2) Buddy How a Rooster Made Me a Family Man by Brian McGrory–This laugh out loud account by a Boston Globe exec and writer who moves to the Mass. suburbs with his new wife, children, and menagerie of pets, is both hilarious and poignant. The story of how a grown man can be undone and conquered by a pet rooster is preposterous and fun.  If you’d like a good laugh, don’t miss it…