The Wednesday Sisters

My mother-in-law got me this book for Christmas.  I was really impressed that she picked out a book I hadn't read and was interested in reading.  About the only one who buys me books is my husband, unless I give specific requests. 

The book chronicles the friendship of five women who meet in Palo Alto, California, in 1967.  All wives and mothers, they form a writing club and meet weekly at the park while their children play.

Each character has her own story both with her writing and her personal life.  From breast cancer to cheating husbands, the gamut is covered.  The historical climate plays a lot into the story.  I feel like if you were a contemporary to these women, this book would mean so much more.  It caused me to contemplate how much has changed since then, particularly for women.

I enjoyed all of it but the end.  I felt like it just.  Ended.  Kinda like that.  Obviously that's probably intentional but it still bugged me.  I wanted a sounder conclusion.  Other than that, I really liked it.  Enough to stay up an hour past bedtime three nights in a row. 

The Sugar Queen

It was fast and sweet.  Seriously.  I just sat down and read it.  By the same author of Garden Spells.

It has magic, mystery, and a little romance.  Another piece of candy that I totally enjoyed reading.

Josey wakes one morning to find someone is living in her closet.  Her closet full of sweets.  Each chapter is named after a sweet treat.  She has been basically trapped by her mother and at 27 finds that she is a bit tired of it.  She ventures out to find new friends and a new love.  In the process she uncovers some family secrets.

Nom.  Nom.  Nom.

Stacking Up

One of the things that is frustrating about Helena is the lack of a bookstore like Borders or Barnes and Noble.  I love hanging out in those stores.  However, Helena does have Aunt Bonnie's which is always fun.  I can always find a gem there or some weird, obscure book.  And, Hastings can be great for used books.  Which is usually what I limit myself to there.  All of the books below I got from Hastings and their Pass It On program.  The Pass It On Books are usually half price.  And, The Help is brand new, hardcover, but it was on sale for 50% off.  So, I don't feel as guilty.

I've just replenished my book stack:

Garden Spells

Are you in need of a delicious truffle of a book?  Then this is it.

It isn't great literature but it is such a fun story.  Full of magical elements and interesting relationships.  Kinda reminded me of the movie Practical Magic.

But, beware, it was a bit difficult to read in the winter.  It obviously is about a garden and it totally made me miss summer.  Sleeping with the windows open.  The smell of fresh cut grass.  Totally sassy apple trees!

This book was a great break in winter and something almost guilty to look forward to reading.  It doesn't take long to finish.  Complete candy.

Let the Great World Spin

This book has been on my reading list for awhile.  First off, let me say that I love the artwork on the cover!  It is perfect for this book.

McCann does an amazing job of weaving together several separate stories and I love books that do that!  At first, each section seems scattered and disjointed but by the end it has been woven into a seamless story.

The writing is beautiful and poignant without being sentimental or overdone.  He shifts voices without any trouble at all, making the myriad of different characters authentic and believable.

The story centers around the amazing (true!) story of a man who walked a tightrope between the World Trade Center towers in 1974.  That small snippet of truth is turned into a fictional novel.  The characters are all tied somehow to this amazing event and not in the traditional ways one might assume.  The author keeps you guessing until the end and I enjoyed every minute along the way.