Recent reads « “Mors ego sum mortis, Vocor Agnus sum leo fortis”

Recent reads

21Jan07

In December, 2006, I read the following:

Fox, Gemma. “Caught in the Act“. London: Harper Collins, 2005.
Pullinger, Kate. “A Little Stranger“. Toronto: McArthur & Co., 2004.
Weiner, Jennifer. “Goodnight Nobody“. New York: Washington Square Press, 2005.

3. Caught in the Act is an amusing, rather whimsical book about a high school reunion. There were aspects of the plot that I found quite contradictory and therefore unbelievable. What I enjoyed most about the novel was how it made me reminisce about high school – old friends, old flames, old interests, old teachers. The Boy didn’t react much when I said I’d been reminiscing about old flames, though I suppose I shouldn’t be complaining. However, I think the book would’ve been much, much better had Fox put more focus on developing the characters: ironically the reader learns way more about the secondary characters than the main one. Instead our protagonist has absolutely no personality! ★ ★ ½

2. A Little Stranger is excellent, compelling and thought-provoking. The controversial subject of a runaway mother is sensitively explored, the characters individuals the reader begins to know and understand intimately, and the story carefully, smoothly constructed. A Little Stranger made me want to make more of every moment, somehow, to think about what I’m doing with my life and whether I’m coming in the direction I want to go. I recommend this book. ★ ★ ★ ★

1. Goodnight Nobody is probably my favourite of these three. As I read it, completely absorbed by the tale, I could tell that Weiner had put a lot of thought and effort into her story of a woman dealing with how she’d become a suburban mom while investigating the murder of another suburban mom. Kate Klein, our heroine, is the slightly screwed up character who is easy to relate to and care for (and want to take care of sometimes). Extremely humourous, with wonderful details and a surprising story. I loved every bit of it, including how the book didn’t end ’til the very last page. It also