The Crow Road

Iain Banks

Family, love, religion, career, death, and chance are all tackled in this engrossing novel where the characters, family relationships, and the highs and lows of life are brought alive in language and the structure of the novel itself. Banks weaves a lovely tale, moving around in time, changing the voice of the narrator, but never becoming confusing, or overwhelming. Incredibly readable, the novel's first line draws you in, wondering where on earth this story can be going: "It was the day my grandmother exploded."

A boisterous tale focusing on one man's search for himself, but intertwining his family's past, building the characters' histories, enchanting the reader with their lives, this book will draw you in and take you on a most satisfying journey. 

"Nine Parts of Desire"

Geraldine Brooks

Brooks has traveled the world as a corespondent for various news outlets, spending a significant amount of time in the Middle East. She made the effort to get to know women in order to see their inner lives, find out what they believe, and why. 

Her exploration of Islam's view of women and how that has translated into culture, law and tradition is fascinating. I started this book thinking it might be a little dry - not so! She weaves history, personal stories, and her own insights in such a wonderful way. 

I learned much, feel like I have a better understanding of the issues facing Islamic women, and might even know better how to befriend one! A short, very interesting book. Well worth the read. 

"Two-Part Invention"

Madeleine L'Engle

How do two people come together, form one life, and live that life to the fullest? How do we love across the years, the struggles and triumphs, the complications, the joys and sorrows?

L'Engle's story of her own marriage documents just such a journey with tenderness, honesty, and unmistakable love. This book is funny, moving, challenging, and sad. Are you a human? Are you in love, seeking love, already weaving the tapestry of a marriage? Pick up this book and read a remarkable story that will touch you deep inside. 

"I Should Be Extremely Happy In Your Company"

Brian Hall

Step into the amazing adventure of Lewis and Clark as they make their way across the continent, charting their course as they go. Take into your mind their personalities and all that this journey meant to them. Add a most unusual cast of characters: their Shoshone guide - Sacagawea, a young girl whose world is turned upside down, Toussaint Charbonneau, her fur trader husband, the expedition's crew, and the native peoples they meet along their way. Voila! A story fit for the telling!

This compulsively readable novel is told in four voices - Lewis, Clark, Sacagawea, and Charbonneau, each taking their turn, adding to the tapestry of this tale. These lives and their journey - all of which had an effect on our own lives - are filled out as history class never managed. 

Hall tackles a tale whose ending we all know, but it is in the lyrical and precise prose of his telling that the wonder of this story occurs. His use of language is supreme - a unique and creative style that immediately won me over. Written almost in stream of consciousness, the book requires the reader to relax, and just go along for the ride. Let your eyes do the work. A wonderful journey!

It's Getting Hot Out There!

The temperatures outside are heating up, so here are two books to keep you cool...

"One Day the Ice Will Reveal All Its Dead" is a beautiful and poetic book by Clare Dudman that novelizes the true-life tale of German scientist Alfred Wegener whose theory of continental

drift would eventually revolutionize our perception of the world. His tale is one of unbelievable courage, endurance and perseverance against his peers who derided him, the scientific community which doubted him, and Nature herself who fought him every step of the way. One critic described this book: Dudman has clearly done her research, presenting a thorough, as well as a thoroughly intriguing, novel that beautifully portrays one truly fascinating man. Give this strange novel/biography a try. You'll learn something, you'll be transported to one of the coldest places on earth, and you'll feel for this extraordinary man who pursued his goals with great nerve and energy. 

Not in the mood for non-fiction? "The Tenderness of Wolves" by Stef

Penney is a great mystery, set in the frigid isolation of the 19th century Canadian frontier. The characters are finely drawn and Penney pulls you into this world with her amazing story. A young man disappears; that same day his mother discovers the scalped body of her son's friend. The murder draws newcomers to the small settlement, and suspects slowly begin to emerge. A journey takes place through cold and misery, and the truth is illuminated in wondrous prose and beautiful descriptions. Penney's writing is absorbing, convincing and complex. A great, many-layered story.

Recommendations from a Friend

I have this lovely and wonderful friend who has lived an interesting life, albeit not a very long one...yet! ;-)  She has wonderful taste...in clothes, music, men, and literature. I would trust a book recommended by her. Now, that isn't to say that everything she likes I would like, or vice versa, but I would certainly give anything she suggested a good try. 

In light of that, here's a link to her blog, on which she has recently reviewed several books. I, for one, will be checking several of them out - in both senses of the word (exploring and from the library!).

Enjoy!

http://whitesparrow.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/books-worth-your-time/#comment-144

"The Lobster Chronicles"

by Linda Greenlaw

Remember the movie "The Perfect Storm"? Remember what a hard life

those fishermen had? Do you remember the one female swordfish-boat captain who gave a report on seeing the lost ship? Well, that was Linda Greenlaw - a real swordfish-boat captain. My goodness, has she lived a fascinating life!

She decided, after many years of swordfishing, to go back to the small island on which she was raised, and get into lobster catching (fishing? farming?) with her dad. Thus she launches into quite a lovely tale of  hard work, family, crazy neighbors, going back home (can we ever, really?) and love for the life around her. 

This is a fun book to read - easy on the brain, yet stimulating and wonderful. A great balm for a busy and crazy life.