Why I call myself an eclectic reader…

Joe Hill signing copies of NOS42

I don’t often read horror novels, but occasionally make the exception for Stephen King.  This time it was for King’s son who calls himself Joe Hill and wrote  the novel NOS42 which was released in May.  In must be in the genes, because, like his father, Hill is a masterful horror writer.  The story which includes illustrations by Gabriel Rodriguez will keep you on the edge of your seat!  It includes a lot of the fantastic from time travel to vampires and magic.   Underlying it all is a bit of truth and lessons for living.  Hill manages to include his mother (character named Tabitha), love of libraries, and other underlying themes which I’m sure I must have missed!  I’ll leave you to guess about the title…maybe you’re already familiar with the name and won’t have to look it up as I did!  If you do take a chance and read this, I guarantee you’ll never feel the same about gingerbread cookies again!

Wild:  From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, by Cheryl Strayed is a fascinating memoir which reminded me of Into Thin Air (about hiking Mt.Everest).  I was fascinated by Into Thin Air because I was curious about what motivates a person to attempt such a grueling feat.  The same goes for Wild.  It has had an enormous amount of publicity, and was recently recommended to me by avid reader friends.  After the death of her mother and divorcing her husband, Cheryl gives herself a new last name:  Strayed, and sets out to hike 1100 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail in a quest to find herself.  I found it interesting to learn that the actual hike took place many years prior to  the writing of this account.  She seemingly was able to remember in specific detail many events and described scenery as if she saw it yesterday!   I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure writing–a great example of armchair travel at its best!

Laura Bates reading from Shakespeare Saved My Life

Shakespeare Saved My Life:  Ten Years in Solitary With the Bard by Laura Bates is an interesting and insightful look inside the prison system and how literature has the power to transform lives.  Laura Bates was an English professor at Indiana State University with a PhD from the University of Chicago when she became a prison volunteer and started teaching Shakespeare to hardened criminals in the most secure unit of the Cook County Jail and at the Wabash Correctional Facility in Indiana.  This is the story of Larry Newton, a convicted murderer, and how he was transformed, and helped transform others, through the study of the works of Shakespeare.  It is inspirational as well as hopeful.  It is the story of an unlikely friendship while giving an example of the power of reading to change lives and reform the most hardened of criminal.

Time for ‘beach’ reading! Where is the ‘beach’ weather?

The Vintage Caper by Peter Mayle is a wonderful ‘armchair’ travel mystery with lots of info about wine included.  So “what’s not to like”?  The mystery involves the theft of some very expensive wine.  Peter Mayle writes a good tale about the exploits of Sam Levitt, former lawyer and wine connoisseur, who follows leads to Bordeaux and Provence.  It had been awhile since I’d read one of Mayle’s delightful stories.  I am reminded to read more.

The World’s Strongest Librarian is a fantasic book!!  In my mind it ranks right up there with The End of Your Life Book Club.  As a young boy, Josh Hanagarne loved books and reading.  In fact, he was a voracious reader before he started kindergarten.  He also started experiencing rapid eye blinking, facial tics, and other odd behavior which was later identified as Tourette’s Syndrome.  Josh is raised in a loving, Morman home, but as he tries to complete his education, falls in love, and finds a job–in a library, of course, he confronts his confusion and questions about Mormonism.  This is a true story in which the reader gets an education about the Mormon faith, Tourette’s Syndrome, weight lifting, and attempting to overcome severe adversity.  Most of all it is a tribute to the human spirit and the importance of books and how the love of reading can help us all.  My favorite quotes from the book–“Many librarians lament the idea that we might simply be competitors for Netflix or iTunes.  I’m past caring about that.  I want people walking through the doors.  I don’t care what their reasons are.  Once they’re they’re here, we’ll work on why they return.”  In talking about his son, “I’ll never forget the first time I took him in, and he said, ‘And I can take any book, Daddy!’.  He quivers when we walk into the library.  I’m still that kid at heart.”

I had always been fascinated by the stories of the real life so-called ‘orphan trains’ which carried abandoned children from the cities of the eastern coast of the U.S., in the early part of the 20th century, to the farmlands of the Midwest.  I was anxious to read Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline, which knits together the past and the present by juxtaposing an account of Vivian Daly, a young Irish immigrant  orphan, with that of modern day foster child Molly Ayer.  There is an interesting story line, but I found quite a bit of the dialogue to be a bit melodramatic. I also  found it hard to believe that a supposedly indigent foster child had her own cellphone and laptop–complete with internet service!  One part that I really did like was that Molly’s favorite book, which she stole from the library, in order to own it, was Jane Eyre!  It seemed so ‘appropriate’  for the foster child Molly to love the story of the orphan Jane Eyre–which of course led me to re-read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

It was interesting to read this story again.  I think the last time I read it I was about 14!  The telling of the loneliness  of and cruelty to the orphan Jane, did seem to relate to the character of Molly Ayer in Orphan Train.  The misadventures and the  ultimate triumph over adversity by the lowly governess of Thornhill into the arms of Rochester  provide a romantic and mysterious Gothic adventure.  Now on to the movie–the version released in 2011.  I watched it this past weekend.  The Gothic romance is set in the Moors of England providing a bleak and eerie visual setting for the movie drama.  I thought the actress (Mia Wasikowska) who played Jane was very good, as was Judi Dench who played the housekeeper.  However, Michael Fassbender,  as  Mr.Rochester was far too good looking to be the ugly Rochester described in the  book.  There was too much violin music, but overall,  it was a fairly good classic made into a movie.

The final book I’ll write about this time is The Book of Someday by Diane Dixon.  I read an ‘advance’ copy.  The book is due to be released in September 2013.  There is a quote before the preface of the book which is very thought-provoking:  “Traveler there is no road, the way is made by walking”–Antonio Machado.  The beginning of the book is difficult because there are descriptions of abuse.  As the little girl grows up, she writes a Book of Someday in which she imagines what it will be like when she has a ‘normal’ life.  If the reader sticks with it, the story of three women mysteriously connected, is told with enough mystery to keep one engaged and wondering how the story will be resolved.  This was advertised (by the publisher) a lot during the recent BEA (Book Expo America ) convention, so I’m guessing they have high hopes for it.

Happy summer reading to all!!