THE LAST ANNIVERSARY

The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty - I really enjoyed this quirky story about the quirky residents of quirky Scribbly Gum Island.  It involves a bit of a mystery but cleverly and seamlessly weaves a number of different themes and stories together.  There is something optimistic and cheerful about Liane Moriarty's writing style, even when she writes about something rather sad.  It might be the Australian turn of phrase, or it might just be her way, but it's quite nice and relaxing.  There is always a feeling that things will work out in the end, even if the worst comes to pass.  I love it when authors provide a map of the place, and this is the map of Scribbly Gum Island.  There is only one description of the Scribbly Gum Tree in the book, so here's a picture of the tree as well.

SHARP OBJECTS

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn - I like Gillian Flynn's voice and her first person characters.  They are real and accept their flaws, although they don't always understand how those flaws keep them from the truth.  In this case, Camille is our flawed heroine, soft and tough at the same time.  She confides in her reader in such a way that you know she is doing her best, but you also know there is something that she's missing.  It's not always pretty, and I suppose some people will be put off by Camille because they won't be able to deal with her weakness.  However, like any good murder mystery, clues abound, and a surprise awaits.  Gillian Flynn is the author of Gone Girl, so beloved that everyone wants to read her first two novels.  No one else I know has enjoyed Sharp Objects, and a couple of friends have even put it down without finishing. It was worth the read for me, and might also be for you, especially if you like mysteries.   

GUTS

Guts the Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster by Kristen Johnston - Kristen writes about what happened when her addiction to wine and pain-killers caught up with her one night in London.  Basically her guts exploded, and it wasn't pretty.  She tells the story with honesty, sarcasm, humor and humility.  She spent her life hiding truths, so it was a big step to write this book.  She writes about being a "functional addict" which is tough, because as long as the person is functioning, what's the problem, right?  The functional addict is scary because of the secrecy that pervades not only the addict's life, but the lives of family and friends who help the addict maintain cover.  One of the things she says is that "everyone is an addict", and I agree.  TV or books, anyone?  The thing is, not everyone's addiction has the power to destroy and possibly end their lives. I like Kristen's voice - she's smart and perceptive, and she writes a good book. 

THE WAY FORWARD IS WITH A BROKEN HEART

The Way Forward Is with a Broken Heart by Alice Walker - I'm always inspired by Alice Walker's direct and confident writing.  Here's a woman who knows who she is and what she wants although when she doesn't, she's candid in the musing about what is unknown.  These are fictional short stories that honor her marriage and subsequent divorce.  I think also, she wrote these stories to highlight the questions surrounding the attractions of one to another.  It's very much a story about women and for women and for those who love women. People are connected to each other through experience and family and when broken, connections must be explored.  Alice Walker takes on the task with elegance and thoughtfulness.  These are good, pure, excellent stories.  They flow with an honest voice.  


  

THE SHOEMAKER'S WIFE

The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani - This love story follows a pair of immigrants from Italy to America in the early years of the 20th century.  Ciro is a hard working fellow who embarks on his journey under stress, while Enza is a young woman who crosses the ocean for different reasons.  It's a story about love, about families, about friendship and loyalty, about opportunities missed and realized, and at my favorite parts, it's about a seamstress.  Beautifully written and very readable.   I loved it and recommend it.Last week I spent a couple of nights with my friends Jenny and Sue at Jenny's house on a lake in Wisconsin.  We laughed and laughed and played games and spent an afternoon on our iPads.  I launched a Facebook page called herheartonhersleeve where I am listing favorite books.   On Pinterest, it turns out that I have two accounts.  One at the website and one on the app.  I can original pin on the app, so I have a couple of book folders there as well.  Social networking is all fine and good, but there is nothing like face to face time actually spent with good friends.  It's definitely one of my favorite things.  

GIRL READING

Girl Reading by Katie Ward -  The title and cover art held such promise!  The concept is delicious!  But the book.  Eh.  Girl Reading is a group of stories ascending through time.  Each story is about artists and subjects and their relationships.  A couple of the stories are magical, and a couple of them are so good that I am glad that I read the book.  What didn't work for me was the author's style.  She writes in the present tense with a sparseness that I found to be impersonal considering how personal the stories were.  She's also spare with punctuation, which makes the reader work even harder when conversations occur between the characters.  One gets used to the style, but it interferes with the stories.  So, yes, read it, and let me know what you think.  And if you're so inclined, Google Image search the words girl reading and enjoy a beautiful experience of art and reading coming together all over the world and throughout time. 

Bronze Sculpture by Dennis Smith