I've been having trouble settling into a book lately. Everything I pick up looks good on the shelf, but once I get home and try to get into it, I rapidly lose interest. Fortunately, Miss Havisham came to visit recently, bringing along some literary gifts, the best of which was Ferris Beach by Jill McCorkle. I expected it to be a lazy, casual afternoon read, but was pleasantly surprised to find it was so much more.
Although the cover reads like Judy Blume's Summer Sisters (in fact, a very enjoyable summer read, but definitely fluff) the characters are much more developed. And maybe I was just in a nostalgic mood, but the main character really did speak to a universal adolescent experience. She was real, she was funny, she reminded me of me 20 years ago or so. Some of the family situations border on melodramatic, but although elements of the plot are sometimes unrealistic, the writing never is. A big two thumbs up for anyone looking for a beach read, or a trip down memory lane...
Monday, May 16, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Towner Whitney - Certifiable Madwoman!
Now that I have wrapped up my very last final of my master's program, I am celebrating the luxury of free time - by starting my summer reading, of course! Over the past few months I have collected a grand total of 7 book recommendations, and I'm hoping to get through all of them before the stresses of the 9-5 life start for me. I'm especially looking forward to getting through a book or two on the beach, if only the weather would permit!
The first book on my summer reading list is The Lace Reader, which was recommended to me by another madwomen. It's a true seaside read, as it takes place in the seaside towns of Salem and Marblehead, Massachusetts. For the first 75 pages or so, this tidbit was about the only reason I was interested in the story. I found the protagonist, Towner Whitney, annoying and the storyline slow. I am slightly more than half way through now, and I am MUCH more entertained. The family history is finally beginning to make sense, and is at times horrifying, at times nostalgic and endearing, and overall enthralling! There is a mystery to the plot that isn't too cheesy or predictable, and I have even found myself beginning to cheer for the main character (even though I still don't even like her that much!). She certainly fits the eccentric madwoman characteristics though - she even spends time in McLean Psychiatric facility for a time. This tidbit excited me as well, since I have quite a few classmates who have been working there this year!
Unless the ending totally bombs, I definitely recommend this charming beach read to the other madwomen, but caution them that the beginning fifth of the book is a little hard to get through. I'm looking forward to passing it on to anyone who might be interested!
Miss Havisham
The first book on my summer reading list is The Lace Reader, which was recommended to me by another madwomen. It's a true seaside read, as it takes place in the seaside towns of Salem and Marblehead, Massachusetts. For the first 75 pages or so, this tidbit was about the only reason I was interested in the story. I found the protagonist, Towner Whitney, annoying and the storyline slow. I am slightly more than half way through now, and I am MUCH more entertained. The family history is finally beginning to make sense, and is at times horrifying, at times nostalgic and endearing, and overall enthralling! There is a mystery to the plot that isn't too cheesy or predictable, and I have even found myself beginning to cheer for the main character (even though I still don't even like her that much!). She certainly fits the eccentric madwoman characteristics though - she even spends time in McLean Psychiatric facility for a time. This tidbit excited me as well, since I have quite a few classmates who have been working there this year!
Unless the ending totally bombs, I definitely recommend this charming beach read to the other madwomen, but caution them that the beginning fifth of the book is a little hard to get through. I'm looking forward to passing it on to anyone who might be interested!
Miss Havisham
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)