THE CUCKOO'S CALLING * TIES THAT BIND TIES THAT BREAK

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith - This is the who done it mystery written by J. K. Rowling under a male pseudonym.  It's long, but readable. The main characters are a private detective named Cormoran Strike and his trusty assistant, Robin.  Their stories are as much a part of the plot as the mystery of how a beautiful model really died.  Cormoran and Robin battle against the prevailing wisdom of Scotland Yard to find not only the truth, but to prove the truth completely. This is so much better than the vacant The Casual Vacancy.  There is action, and the characters, locations and events are so much more interesting.  I'd read another Cormoran Strike mystery! 

Ties That Bind, Ties That Break by Lensey Namioka - Thanks to my niece, Lucy, for this recommendation!  I devoured it in two readings.  It's the story of a plucky Chinese girl in the 1920s, a third daughter with very few options growing up in the closed world of her family's compound.  Ailin is willful, but her father is indulgent, so she grows up with a strength of character not very often observed in young women of her era and circumstances.  Although her choices are limited, each one furthers her in a new way, and her life opens up to new possibilities that she never dreamed could occur.   

RODRIGUEZ * JOYLAND

Rodriguez - Since we had just watched Searching for Sugarman a few weeks ago, I was surprised to see that Sixto Rodriguez was going to be in Chicago last Wednesday night.  I really wanted to go, but had no idea who I would talk into going with me, or whether I would go alone and brave the late night El ride home.  For the heck of it, I asked Steve if he'd want to see Rodriguez in concert in a couple of days, and I'm still incredulous that he said yes!  We bought some tickets from another former Detroiter on Craigslist, and arrived at the Chicago theater to find we had fabulous seats.  Then someone tall sat in front of Steve, so we moved over to the center section and up a few rows, and when Rodriguez came out, he was right in front of us!  The concert was wonderful - a fun crowd, a masterful performer, lovely songs and a three song encore.  If you ever get a chance to see him, especially in a smaller venue, it's a special concert.  Joyland by Stephen King -  Stephen King was one of my favorite authors for years, then there were a few too-long books and I lost track of him. With Joyland, he's back.  It's an easy reading coming of age mystery hosted by Devin, a college student who decides to take a summer job at a southern amusement park in 1973.  Devin is conversational and honest and finding himself, and something about the Carny atmosphere of Joyland speaks to him.  There is a little bit of magic, a little bit of sinister, and a lot of heart in this excellent story. 

 

PEOPLE ARE UNAPPEALING * THE OTHER WOMAN * THE HARM IN ASKING

People are Unappealing* True Stories of Our Collective Capacity to Annoy *Even Me  by Sara Barron - At bead group my friend Kathy mentioned that her friend had a daughter who is a comedienne who uses her family for a lot of her material and that the parents are really cool about it considering how personal and unflattering said material often is.  This is the first book by said daughter, and I have to say I find her to be a nut job.  But I like her!  She's got that midwest warmth that comes through even in the most crazy antidotes, and there are no boundaries.  I liked it so much that I read her next book (see below) right away so that I could have a super good dose of funny.  It's kind of about nothing, but it's about people and life.  And the only thing that I'm annoyed by (as I mentioned a few posts ago) is the huge secondary title.  People are Unappealing* would have been fine for me.



The Other Woman - Bead Group didn't meet last Thursday so Sue and I went to Old Orchard to see Neighbors, but it wasn't playing until that night, and the back up plan was The Other Woman.  We were the only ones in the theater until the movie started and someone else walked in.  It's a lot of fun and very funny, and worth seeing at the movies.  We also tried the Carvel ice cream and I tried their donut holes.  Not sure I'll be able to walk by that Carvel ever again without going in for some soft serve.  It is really delicious and chocolatey. 

The Harm In Asking My Clumsy Encounters with the Human Race by Sara Barron - I hope she keeps writing these books!  This girl (woman I know) will say anything about anybody, including herself.  I'm going to miss the laughs.  I still feel the same way about the title.  The Harm In Asking is a great title just like that.