What, really, is the point of a website that gets updated every two months, and then only with the books I'm reading? I'm violating every rule of proper website maintenance. Oh well. The Indian Clerk by David Leavitt I love a good historical novel, and this one is awfully fun, even with the math. Bridges of Sighs by Richard Russo I liked this book until about halfway through. Then I started getting annoyed. I just didn't buy that Sarah would throw her entire life away. I didn't buy that an artist of her presumed talent would bury all that. And then the end of the book, when this whole host of new characters was introduced, I lost all semblance of interest.
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan The first time I read this I left disappointed. I wanted more. But you now what, this time it felt exactly right to me. Perfectly constructed.
When Madeline Was Young by Jane Hamilton Terrific and terrifically creepy premise. The Senator's Wifeby Sue Miller Sue Miller always just nails you, right at the end. I love her. The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit by Lucette Lagnado I wonder how many people even know about all the Jews from Arab and other middle eastern countries who ended up displaced. It's just so heartbreaking.
A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo This book was just downright delightful. Run by Ann Patchett I think I'm just too sour a person for this book. I'm too much of a bitch to like such nice people.
Foreskin's Lament by Shalom Auslander Honestly, if I had a David Rakoff and an Auslander with me at all times, I would never be bored.
Matrimony by Joshua Henkin Despite the fact that this guy so CLEARLY has a chip on his shoulder about my husband, I still enjoyed this novel.
Yellowcake by Ann Cummins Ann is a marvelous writer.
The Whole World Over by Julia Glass You know what? As much as I love my own dog, I really REALLY don't want to read about yours. A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah I avoided this book for the longest time because I figured after the brilliant What is the What that there was no point. But there was something remarkable about the way he told his story. And of course his story was remarkable itself.