Arcadia, by Lauren Groff: I’ve read Arcadia a few times now, and I’m sorry to say that every time, I close the cover and almost immediately forget what I’ve just finished. I’ll do my best here: We follow our main character, Bit, the first child born in this community, as he grows up on a commune in upstate New York in the 60’s and 70’s. It’s not that this is a bad book- it holds my attention- but it’s just such an easy and level read that nothing really sticks with me after.
The Mystery of the Fiery Eye, The Mystery of the Silver Spider, The Mystery of the Screaming Clock, and the Mystery of the Talking Skull, by Robert Arthur: I’m not going to go into great detail about these, but suffice it to say I’ve finished the original run of Three Investigators novels. These will remain some of my favorites. I don’t know if it’s the nostalgia, the adventure, or the Southern California setting, but every time I crack any of these, Jupe, Bob, and Pete will feel like friends I haven’t seen in a while.
A Three Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith: I’m not sure how, but over the years, I somehow skipped reading this classic, and somehow, I had a completely misguided idea of the subject matter. Once I got into it, I was slightly depressed and impressed both at the utter resiliency that comes with innocence, and understand why this one is considered a classic, and often assigned reading. If you read it in high school, I’m sure you’re fine to not read again, but if- like me- you somehow read around it, it’s worth opening.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold, by Toshikazu Kawaguchi: This… was a weird one. Broken into several parts, all the stories here revolve around a coffee shop and cafe where one particular seat can serve as a Time Machine, with a very specific set of rules. Once you come to terms with the strange rules of the place, the stories are sweet, interwoven, and packaged nicely, but like anything (movie, book, etc.) dealing with time travel, it takes a minute to digest. Still, a quick read.
The Help, by Kathryn Stockett: I’m not sure how many times I’ve read The Help now, or how many times I’ve watched the movie, but I just love it. I was always impressed with how closely the movie followed Stockett’s novel, and had forgotten how closely aligned they were until reading this one again. Set in 1960’s Mississippi, we watch Skeeter Phelan begin to question race relations in her hometown, where most of her girlfriends have married, had the appropriate 2.5 children, and hired a Black maid. Her observation of the difference in treatment among the races, fueled by the installation of an outdoor toilet, inspires her to partner with the help in her town to write a collection of stories that are sometimes sweet, sometimes embarrassing, and sometimes cruel. It’s a story of fitting in, standing out, and fighting for what’s right, regardless of being labelled an outcast.
** this post is not sponsored in any way. all thoughts and opinions are my own **
