The Slide: A Novel by Kyle Beachy

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I loved most of this book but can't rate it higher than "liked it" because there were some weird parts (talking to a dead brother, for instance). And was it me, but it seemed like there were some error/copy editing errors through the book.



That said: good characters, interesting story line. Perhaps too many characters for this short of a book.


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Catching Genius

Catching Genius by Kristy Kiernan

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book of two sisters and their lives that converge when packing up their mother's beach home. I cared about the characters and I think this would be a great movie.


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Uninspiring essays about cooking and eating alone

Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant by Jenni Ferrari-Adler

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book was okay but just okay. The essays lacked inspiration.


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Book Review: State by State

State by State: A Panoramic Portrait of America by Matt Weiland

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
Someone reviewed this as being written by authors native to each state and that is not the case, which is perhaps the problem. Another problem is that you can't find 50 Dave Eggers or Susan Orleans, so you get some states with less-than-stellar (or lazy) writers. Of the states I read, Ohio and Illinois were lovely...well written, with genuine love for the state as well as facts and information. Iowa's essay (my native state) was written by someone who didn't seem to know anything about Iowa. I think he was just visiting. For instance, how could you be in Iowa and have to LEARN the difference between field corn and sweet corn? That's something Iowans are born knowing! (Just kidding, but really, come on.) Anyone at University of Iowa's writers' school surely could have written something much, much better. Michigan's essay was sweet but written by someone who had only lived there a few years of his life.


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The Story of Forgetting: wonderful book

The Story of Forgetting: A Novel by Stefan Merrill Block

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is an EXCELLENT book. Written so well, I can hardly believe it's from a first-time author who is so young. The voices were authentic and you could see the settings, they were so well described. I flew through this book, just because it was so good I didn't want to stop. After you read it, check out the author's website for insight into why he wrote it, and how.


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Great book review

Downtown Owl: A Novel by Chuck Klosterman

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This story of midwest small-town life in 1983/84 was like walking out of my high school memories (or walking back into them?). He had (almost) everything just right for the period, from fashion to though processes. I loved it. Only 2 things stuck with me that seem like today not then: 1) someone says "whatever" one time -- I don't remember this back then. 2) twice "hook up" is used and that was not a 1980s phrase. I liked the characters and loved the ending.


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Book recommendaton: Paper Bag Princess

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert N. Munsch

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
My new favorite kids book. I highly recommend for any mother of a girl, AND for mothers of boys. Explain to your boy that he can't be the boss. Girl power!


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