The Ten-Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer

The Ten-Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer is the first of her books I'd read, and I was pleasantly surprised. This story is of a four friends, women who live close together and some of whose sons attend the same private school in New York City.

The back and forth from woman to woman and from the 1960s or present day or the 1970s is seamless and provides just enough background on the women's mothers and what made them who they are.

Like I often do when I read a new author (new to me, any way), I looked up Meg Wolitzer. I knew I'd never read any of her novels, but I was surprised to see that I'd seen two movies based on books she wrote:  This Is Your Life, about a stand up comedian, and Surrender, Dorothy. Both were excellent. I may have to read the books.

Book Read:  The Ten-Year Nap
Author:  Meg Wolitzer
ISBN:  978-1-59448-978-5

A Perfectly Good Family by Lionel Shriver

The family in A Perfectly Good Family is anything but. This book by Lionel Shriver holds up to her over-the-top scenarios she puts always seems to put her characters in. This McCrea family should be a good Southern family. The father was a judge, the mother a proper liberal, penny-pinching beauty but then there are the children.

Mordecai, the oldest, left home at 14, and as an adult is just plain gross. The only girl, Corlis, the middle child, escaped to London to live for years but has returned home since both parents are now dead and her two London flatmates found out she was sleeping with both of them. And the baby, Truman, stuck close to home (he never left), taking care of the monstrosity of a house and his mother, sort of.

For a novel full of sharp wit and smart writing, A Perfectly Good Family is a safe bet. The surprising ending is actually a relief.

Book Read:  A Perfectly Good Family
Author:  Lionel Shriver
ISBN:  978-0-6-123949-6

The Lake of Dreams by Kim Edwards

The Lake of Dreams is Kim Edwards's second novel. Her first was the hugely popular The Memory Keeper's Daughter. The Lake of Dreams, like many second novels, wasn't as good as the her first novel, but it was still good, mind you.

The story centers around Lucy Jarrett, who is living in Japan with her boyfriend, and returns home to upstate New York. After finding some old family papers in a window seat, Lucy sets out to solve a mystery and figure out her life.

Book Read:  The Lake of Dreams
Author:  Kim Edwards
ISBN:  978-0-670-02217-5

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

Well, if you haven't read Freedom, I'd highly recommend it. I read Jonathan Franzen's other super duper popular book The Corrections and loved it too. He has nailed down family and all it encompasses so well.

I stayed up last night till almost 2 to finish Freedom. I was surprised and not surprised at the ending. And at least it was not sappy and not totally predictable, which is always a good thing. And I have to admit I found myself chuckling out loud several times. Franzen's writing is reminiscent of John Irving's, always a good thing.

I may have to check out his other books too.


Book Read:  Freedom
Author:  Jonathan Franzen
ISBN:  978-0-312-60084-6

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

I saw this novel on a list of books from 2010 to read and then saw it at the library. I'm so glad I did! How this book, "Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter," got its name is explained in the book:

M, I, crooked letter, crooked letter, I, crooked letter, crooked letter, I humpback, humpback, I.

-  How southern children are taught to spell Mississippi


This is one of the best books I've read in a good long time. The dialogue alone is priceless! For instance, take the way Larry Ott's father teaches his son to thank his mother for supper: 

"Enjoyed it."

This who dun it is literature and a good story, all wrapped up in one nice neat package. Franklin has written three other books. For sure I'll read them too.

Book Read:  Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter
Author:  Tom Franklin
ISBN:  978-0-06-059466-4

Till You Hear From Me by Pearl Cleage

Well, I had read What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day by Pearl Cleage years ago. It was great. Funny, insightful. This book, Till You Hear From Me, her latest, did not live up to Cleage's first novel. Oh well.

Merry Christmas and read something good!

Book Read:  Till You Hear From Me
Author:  Pearl Cleage

In Harm's Way is the first of Ridley Pearson's books I've read, and I was pleasantly surprised. It was suspenseful and a who-dun-it that I didn't figure out. Not that I ever do!

This book is one in a series featuring Sheriff Walt Fleming.  I may just have to go back and read the earlier Sheriff Fleming books, Killer Weekend, Killer View, and Killer Summer.

Book Read:  In Harm's Way
Author:  Ridley Pearson
ISBN:  978-0-399-15654-0