Spoiled: Stories, by Caitlin Macy

I felt about this one like I felt about I'm Sorry You Feel That Way. People of questionable quality behaving badly and justifying it. Not much growth or change in the characters. This is the kind of short story collection I'm used to not liking, as I mentioned in the In Other Rooms, Other Wonders post.

Macy's written a novel, too, and I think I will read it out of academic curiosity, but my hopes are not high.

My Name Is Will, by Jess Winfield

The subtitle for this one is "A novel of sex, drugs, and Shakespeare," and that pretty much sums it up. I'm not sure how interesting it would be for someone not familiar with or interested in Shakespeare, but since I am both of those things, it was a lot of fun for me. Pretty vivid sex and drug scenes as well, interspersed with quasi-historical re-imaginings of Shakespeare's life and inspiration for his works.

It's fun to spot the re-purposed quotes from Shakespeare, though I'm sure I missed some. This is my next book club book, and I'm interested to see what people say about it.

The Elegance Of The Hedgehog, by Muriel Barberry

I liked this book so much. It was so dense and multilayered, and suffered no ills from translation as far as I can tell. I'll have more to say after I reread it. I don't think I can do it justice on one reading.

Edited to add: It's my turn to pick the books to vote on for September bookclub, and so far this has the most votes...yay!

Fever 1793, by Laurie Halse Anderson

I read this for my online book club, and was kind of disappointed. It's a pretty straightforward book. Not much to discuss, it seems to me. Interesting in light of the current swine flu epidemic, but on its own, just a basic YA story told through the voice of a young girl faced with unusual circumstances.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, by David Wroblewski

I started reading this just before we went to Texas for a long weekend, and by page 13 knew that I would like it, and by halfway through, knew that I would have to leave it home (big, hardcover library books being no good on planes, especially when traveling with a toddler) and that was fairly agonizing.

I was really happy to get back to it, and thrilled that it lived up to my page 13 expectations. Loosely based on the story of Hamet, but not bogged down by it. The parallels were many, but some were very subtle, and wonderful twists, like the Ophelia stand-in. But, and this based on commentary from non-Hamlet readers in my online book club, not knowing Hamlet is in no way an impediment to enjoying this book. The story stands alone really well.

Wroblewski handled writing in the voice of the dogs so incredibly well. He made them legitimate characters, within the confines of what he imagined their mental and emotional capabilities to be. They're not cutesy, nor does he give them human-level intellects. Still some of the best writing I've read in a long time.

I cared so much about what happened to Edgar and his dogs, and even though I knew (based on Hamlet) what was likely to happen in the end, I was still ignoring household chores and whatnot to get there. One of the most compelling books I've read recently.

In Other Rooms, Other Wonders, by Daniyal Mueenuddin

I am not the biggest fan of short story collections. As a rule, they leave me unsatisfied and wanting more. This is a huge exception to that. Despite the different characters in each story (though all connected somehow, Altman-style), this book reads like a complete work. Not exactly beginning-middle-end style, but the book stands as a very satisfying read, and very illuminating. I'll look for more from him.

Pandora's Clock, by John J. Nance

Boring. Dumb suddenly-in-love story in an otherwise unremarkable thriller. Got this off of the thrift store table and it's going right back.

I'm Sorry You Feel That Way, by Diana Joseph

The subtitle of this is "The Astonishing but True Story of a Daughter, Sister, Slut, Wife, Mother, and Friend to Man and Dog." I am always skeptical of titles like this. Why does the author feel the need to say so much? Are they worried that we are too stupid to draw our own conclusions, or that we might draw conclusions about them that are not what they intended? I don't know, but I think the glowing reviews of this book are unwarranted. It wasn't bad, but it falls in the category of books about bad behavior that seem to say "Yes, I am a bad person, and I don't think that's so bad after all, right?" Which I don't agree with. Sure, good people make mistakes, but they don't glorify them. They try to learn from them and move on. There's no growth in this book, and therefore no change, and thus no drama, in the literary sense of the word.

City of Bones, by Michael Connelly

More great Connelly.

Moscow Rules, by Daniel Silva

Good one, but it feels like a set up for a sequel, which I am sure is already being written.

The Genius, by Jesse Kellerman

I liked this a lot! Interesting, unusual narrator: flawed, but made you want to see what he would do. Accompanied by a nice family history parallel that explains the current day mystery. I also thought he wrote really understandably about the art world.

Quiver, by Peter Leonard

Leonard got a good jacket quote from Michael Connelly, so I was expecting more than your basic unmotivated-character-thriller. The bare bones of a good book were there, and this is his first book, so maybe he'll do better next time.

Angels Flight, by Michael Connelly

More of the same great LA thrilling from Connelly.

Portnoy's Complaint, by Philip Roth

Well, now I've read two Roth books and feel like I have the right to say that I don't care for his writing. His style feels very dated, both in the older book and the newer one I read (the title escapes me and I don't care enough to look it up). Whiny. One note. Boring.

The Widows Of Eastwick, by John Updike

It was neat to read about the same characters so many years later, and I while I haven't experience old age, yet, it seems like Updike did a really good job describing how the women experienced the changes to their bodies and temperaments.

The Reader, by Bernhard Schlink

This was a really good book. We saw the movie not so long ago, which was fantastic, and I wanted to see how it read. A very simple book, which in my view is the best kind of book to adapt to film. When I studied the holocaust in college, I was most interested in what led the ordinary folks to perpetrate such terrible things, and this is an excellent dramatization of exactly that.

The Scarecrow, by Michael Connelly

Harry Bosch is my favorite, but the Terry McCaleb novels are good, too. Jack McEvoy is just not enough of a character for a whole book, and does really dumb things that I just don't buy that a savvy reporter would do. This is unusual for Connelly for me. If he writes another McEvoy novel, I'll read it, since I love Connelly so much, but I am guessing I won't care for it much.

Deaf Sentence, by David Lodge

I haven't read any Lodge before, but someone mentioned his name in the same breath as my favorite Richard Russo, so I thought I'd give him a try. It was a great book; really vivid characters and a quirky story. Very much like a British version of Russo. I will read more of his work.

Faithless, by Karin Slaughter

I didn't remember this one and had to look it up to remind myself, which is probably not a great sign, but it was an okay book. Again, characters behave in entirely unbelievable ways, but that's almost always the case in these thriller novels.

Ordinary Heroes, by Scott Turow

I realized I had read this before not too far it, though as usual, didn't remember how it ended. I really like Turow's style. It's a little richer than your average paperback thriller-type novel. I'm a sucker for WWII stories, too, and I liked how the contemporary narrator was mainly a way to tell the story, but I still cared about him without knowing too much about him.

Deep Fire Rising, by Jack Du Brul

Boring. The elements were all there, but people behaved ridiculously. A character can't be suspicious of everyone, but trust anyone. I just don't buy it.

No Great Mischief, by Alistair McLeod

Eh, I didn't care much for this one. One of those books that follows a family over time, but never gives you much information on the current members, or at least does it so late that you just don't care. Reminded me of weak version of Annie Proulx's prose style.

The Lincoln Lawyer, by Michael Connelly

Exactly what you expect from Connelly, with a slightly different main character. I love him.

Triangle, by Katharine Weber

Didn't care for this one. Nice idea to parallel the fire with present day characters, but something was missing in the execution. Too bad, since some of the characters were really interesting. It felt like there were three unexplored seeds for novels here, none of which are the novel she actually wrote. Too bad.

Black Seconds, by Karin Fossum

An odd book. Very simple, but possibly marred by a weak translation from the Norwegian. A classic murder mystery, but with good details.

The Nine, by Jeffrey Toobin

Interesting take on the Supreme Court. Lots of things I didn't know. Author seems to have a liberal bent.

Execution Dock, by Anne Perry

Part of a series about Victorian-era policemen. Or maybe a slightly later era; I don't pretend to know exactly. Entertaining, though.

The 19th Wife, by David Ebershoff

A sprawling, history-parallels-present-day tale of the Mormon religion and progression across the United States. The narrator is unexpected, and creates a nice counterpoint to the Mormon characters. It's a lot of book, and I really enjoyed it.

Gossip of the Starlings, by Nina de Gramont

Sort of a more literary-minded version of Gossip Girl. Soapy, but with a serious undertone.

The Pleasure Of My Company, by Steve Martin

I didn't love Shopgirl all that much (though I have enjoyed Martin's plays) so I was prepared not to like this one. And I kinda did. Not really, but it was engaging and by the end I cared what happened to the main character and his disorder. It makes me want to read more about OCD and the like.

The Unquiet, by John Connolly

I like reading Connolly's creepy, slightly fantastical books, but I confess that by the end I am usually pretty tired of the creepiness.

Damage Control, by Robert Dugoni

Bad. Just a bad book.

Lush Life, by Richard Price

I don't really remember much about this book, which is a bad sign, since it's not just a throw-away thriller.

The Bad Seed, by William March

I read this because Stephen King told me to in his column for Entertainment Weekly. I find he rarely leads me astray, at least as far as books are concerned. Totally creepy and a little bit terrifying.

Lie Down In Darkness, by William Styron

It was really neat to read this just after Sophie's Choice, since the first novel Stingo is working on is clearly inspired by this, Styron's first novel. I didn't enjoy it as much, but it was still a good read. The south is so clear in his writing, and the characters so damaged.

Sophie's Choice, by William Styron

I love this book, and I read it every 5 years or so, probably. Happened to catch the movie, which inspired the re-read, and then my getting some other Styron books out of the library.

Definitely harder to read the parts about her children now that we've got Clara.

The Brass Verdict, by Michael Connelly

A second Mickey Haller book, in which he and Harry Bosch butt heads and discover things. I always love Connelly, but I think I would have liked this more if the perspective had shifted from Haller to Bosch. Haller's just not as compelling a character for me.

The Ruins, by Scott Smith

This is a re-read. I like Smith's books. They're all about how extreme situations reveal us in ways we might not prefer. This one is especially creepy, with an element of fantasy that adds to the tension and gives the story an unpredictability that I enjoyed.

The Gate House, by Nelson De Mille

This is a sort of sequel to The Gold Coast, written and taking place 10 or 15 years later. It's basically the same story, updated for the times and with a few tweaks here and there. Still enjoyed it.

The Gold Coast, by Nelson De Mille

Chris and I both read this, and we do enjoy DeMille, though we both agreed it was a little predictable, and occasionally we don't buy the actions of the main characters. But they're otherwise interesting, engaging characters, and I always want to know what's going to happen with them.

Lady Killer, by Lisa Scottoline

One of the Mary DiNunzio books. I go back and read a Scottoline every now and then when there's not anything else around to read. I don't think she's a very good writer. Her characters are wholly unbelievable and frequently do stupid things that advance the story, but that take you out of it as you consider their stupidity.

Indignation, by Philip Roth

My first Roth, inspired by a Facebook quiz that asked "Roth or Updike?" and I had no answer, having read neither. Didn't love this book, and I'm planning to read some older Roth to see if it's him, or just the book.

Rough Weather, by Robert Parker

More of the same fabulous Parker stuff. Love everything he does.

Two Minute Rule, by Robert Crais

So, I read this ages ago and I remember nothing, so I decided I would just say that, rather than look up a synopsis. It is a basic thriller, I guess. Not super-memorable, though I confess that I don't tend to remember those kinds of books much anyway, unless I really connect to the character, or it's part of a series. The Gabriel Alon books are an example of that.

City Of Thieves, by David Benioff

Liked this one a lot. I read it as part of an online book club, which is fantastic. Each person take a month, picks 3 books, we vote, we read, and we discuss. It's a perfect, no pressure situation, and as much as I think I would enjoy a real life book club, this is much better suited for life right now.

Anyway, this book is a WWII story about unlikely friends, unlikely heroes, served up with a pretty harsh description of what it was like in Russia. You don't hear much about Russia in WWII lit, and it was really interesting.

Word Of Honor, by Nelson De Mille

A book about a My Lai-style massacre in Vietnam, and the "truth" behind it. A little too wordy when it comes to court martial details, but interesting to read, especially since it was written in 1985, much closer to the war.

Under Cover Of Darkness, James Grippando

Eh. Mediocre thriller. Stupid "twist" at the end, led up to by unmotivated, hard-to-believe characters.

Backstory, by Robert Parker

Funny that I used the word "backstory" in my last post. Classic Spenser. Need I say more?

Careless in Red, by Elizabeth George

Love, love, love Elizabeth George. I think it's funny that she's from California. I love what she did with Lynley in his grief, and how a mystery brings her out of it. Love the dense detailing of characters and back stories.

The Innocent, by Harlan Coben

I like Coben's books. This one follows an ex-con in it-could-happen-to-anyone circumstances, and follows him through a sort of ridiculous, but still fun, plot against him and his wife.

Witches of Eastwick, by John Updike

Someone sent me a quiz about books on Facebook, and one of the questions was "Updike or Roth," which made me realize I'd somehow managed never to read either, so I picked this up at the library. I enjoyed it, despite vague memories of a crappy movie. It was interestingly dated, which didn't detract from the enjoyment for me.

Next, gotta get some Roth.

Assassin, by Ted Bell

Huh. I don't remember anything about this book, which probably means it was just an okay thriller, based on the title.

The Lost Van Gogh, by A.J. Zerries

A. J. Zerries is actually a husband and wife team, and it shows in the writing. I'm not aware of ever reading a really good team-written novel. This one is ludicrous, with unmotivated, really stupid characters, and a circuitous story that is nearly impossible to follow and believe in.

Extreme Measures, by Vince Flynn

I don't always love Flynn's writing, but I do love the way he uses his main character to espouse his political views. He kind of says what lots of people are thinking about the direction of the country, stopping terrorism, etc. I enjoyed this one more than the recent ones I've read.

The Seamstress of Hollywood Boulevard, by Erin McGraw

It's hard to read books where mother leave children, even if you sort of understand why. This one is kind of heartbreaking, but there is some redemption in the end. Also kind of neat to read a period piece set in LA. Lots of familiar landmarks.

Echo Park, by Michael Connelly

Reread of an old favorite.

The Third Angel, by Alice Hoffman

I'm posting this well after the fact, and it probably doesn't speak well for the book that I remember next to nothing about it, and don't care to look it up. I like old Alice Hoffman books, but the more recent ones have not done as much for me.

Solve Your Baby's Sleep Problems, by Richard Ferber

Much preferred this book to Weissbluth's book. Ferber seems to allow for different temperaments, different techniques, and he never suggests that by not using his program, your child will grow up to be an Ambien-addicted insomniac with social problems.

Confessions of a Contractor, by Richard Murphy

This is not a particularly good book, but is interesting in that it is chick lit written by a man, which brings to mind a sort of rude term that rhymes with "chick lit." A new style, I guess. Hoping it won't catch on.

Red Rover, by Deirdre McNamer

I liked this book. Didn't love it. Kind of bounced around in time a little too much for me, and without any initial payoff. The end was wrapped up a little too fast, but the characters are interesting, and the setting in Montana is really vivid.

The Fourth Hand, by John Irving

I always like his books, though I find that they frequently have a few too many words in them, you know what I mean? This one is the same: quirky characters, ridiculously singular situations. Fun.

The Forgery of Venus, by Michael Gruber

A fun book. A weird book. I'm still not sure if the narrator was crazy or not, and which of the many alternate realities presented was the real one. But really fun, and full of art and history.

Coraline, by Neil Gaiman

I picked this up randomly off of the kids' rack, knowing that I liked Neil Gaiman's adult books, but totally unaware that it was a movie coming out soon. In one of those fun coincidences, I saw three giant billboards (true LA-style) for Coraline as I was in the midst of reading it.

I've heard raves about the movie, especially in 3D, and if it hews closely to the book, I can imagine. Creepy story, not at all condescending in the way kids' books often are. Also not lesson-heavy, though a thoughtful reader could certainly find several.

After Dark by Haruki Murakami

I read this as part of an online book group, and then missed the conversation about it until it was over. This is not a book I would have picked up, and maybe even not a book I would have finished (though I usually finish books even when I don't like them), so I'm glad I felt some accountability.

It's a very stylized prose that takes some getting used to, and Murakami's technique of telling the reader what they're seeing and thinking is a little off-putting. That said, the "real" part of the story was good, and the characters were interesting, as was the framework of putting the whole story in one night, with hourly chapters.

My favorite part was the monologue toward the end by one of the hotel workers. If I ever act again, it will make a great audition piece.

My least favorite part was the metaphysical/magical realism bit about the main character's sister and the strange room/tv she was locked in. Odd. Unmotivated. Unresolved.

Dark Hollow, by John Connolly

More of the same. Spooky, spooky.

The White Road, by John Connolly

These are creepy thrillers, and I enjoy them, despite their outlandishness. Charlie Parker is a sort-of PI with a gift for seeing dead people -- hijinks ensue.

Finally Sitting Down

All right, part of the reason I've been waiting is that I've been trying to find the list of the books I read in December 2008, but I haven't found it, so I'm just going to go out of order. I'm the only one who cares about the numbers, and I'm managing that with tags, so here we go.

I Know, I Know

2 months with nothing. No posts, nothing. I have been reading. I can only blame the impending holidays, the holidays themselves, and the aftermath of the holidays, in which we have been trying to get back to what passes for normal around here.

I will catch up soon. Hopefully this weekend.