blue_lotus13 | What I've been reading lately

1. The Believers by Zoe Heller- I didn't like this book half as much as Notes on a Scandal. However, in retrospect, it was a fairly interesting portrait of a dysfunctional family and the kind of secrets that get out when a family member falls into a coma. I also thought there was a fair amount of humour in this book, which I enjoyed.

2. Notes from Nowhere by Nami Mun- This book definitely jumped around a lot and felt more like a series of vignettes than an actual novel. I liked the main character and the details about the street, but didn't think this was particularly amazing.

3. The Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd- This was recommended to me by a fan! It's the true story of how a Christian woman discovered the goddess and the sacred feminine. I'd read a lot of similar literature about this phenomenon when I was in my early 20s. Still, this was a pretty interesting read.

4. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks- I wanted to like this book, and thought the concept was interesting. The basic premise is that an old book restorer finds a rare book. The story then delves into the various people who have had an impact on this particular book. I found the story a bit confusing and it was hard for me to keep the details straight. But I tend to have this problem with historical fiction.

5. Portable Childhoods by Ellen Klages- A collection of fantastic and strange stories, mostly about childhood and the horrors of childhood. An excellent collection, recommended for those who like the bizarre and Neil Gaiman.

6. Seducing the Demon: Writing for my life by Erica Jong- Say what you want about her, I love Erica Jong. This was a bit of a memoir about her experiences as a writer. I love her because she's brazen and unconventional and can write about female sexuality and desire. She's a bit of a pioneer and I love her for it.

7. A raw mix of carelessness and longing by Cecelia Frey- I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. It told the story of a woman who falls in love with her neighbour. They then form a rock band together and go on tour. I couldn't really get as close to the characters as I liked. I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did and felt rather disappointed with it.