Fabulous Book! The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls

I finished reading The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls last night and was so disappointed that it was all done. I loved this book so much! 

Told from the point of view of a young girl, 12-year-old Bean Holladay, this story set in 1970 was sweet yet had plenty of conflict and excitement. I love Jeannette Walls's writing style. 

She wrote the wonderful memoir The Glass Castle and the novel Half Broke Horses, also super duper books! Have you read her books? So, so good.

Book Read: The Silver Star
Author:  Jeannette Walls

Once Upon a Secret by Mimi Alford

Well, at least this was a quick read. I enjoyed the book Once Upon a Secret: My Affair with President John F. Kennedy and Its Aftermath by Mimi Alford but she was a totally unsympathetic person to try to relate to, in my opinion.

Like other young girls (she was 19 and 20) who have affairs with old men in positions of power (like Presidents), she was young and naive and I guess it's sort of understandable. Why she continued the affair for a year and a half is what baffles me, especially after she met a man she supposedly loved and was engaged to.

And she came across to me like an entitled rich girl who never really had to be accountable. Granted, she was young but many of her decisions made her less than endearing.

Anyhoo, it was interesting in a sick, gossipy kind of way to read about her affair with JFK. Who wouldn't want to read that?

Book Read: Once Upon a Secret: My Affair with President John F. Kennedy and Its Aftermath
Author: Mimi Alford

Dirty Love by Andre Dubus III

I love this writer! I've read The House of Sand and Fog and Townie, and Dirty Love was nearly as good as both of them (but not quite). This book contains three short stories and a novella that are all slightly connected (very slightly).

Being the copy editor that I am, I was disappointed to see a big fat typo on page 202:  Do you know hHow much Exxon paid in taxes last year?

Isn't that sad?


If you love great writing, great storytelling, and honesty that doesn't quit, you might like Dirty Love too.

Book Read:  Dirty Love
Author:  Andre Dubus III

The Forest for the Trees by Betsy Lerner

I have been slowly reading the nonfiction book The Forest for the Trees:  An Editor's Advice to Writers by Betsy Lerner for about a month. I would read it while outside with my cat or just a page or two here and there. This seemed to work really well because it allowed me to digest the book rather than reading an entire chapter or two at once.

Lerner was an editor who is now also an agent so she knows of what she writes giving great advice to novelists and nonfiction writers on the business of publishing. 

I'm in the process of writing a novel and really loved the practical advice, realistic outlook, and encouragement.

Book Read:  The Forest for the Trees:  An Editor's Advice to Writers
Author:  Betsy Lerner

Just One Evil Act by Elizabeth George

Well, I finally finished Just One Evil Act by Elizabeth George this morning. I love her books but dang, they're long! This one was 717 pages, so I just checked, and it took me 3 weeks and a day to read. Whoa! Too long. But like I said, I like her writing, especially the Lynley novels.

What have you been reading that you've really enjoyed? Please let us know!

Book Read:  Just One Evil Act

Author:  Elizabeth George