book 47

later, at the bar: a novel in stories, rebecca barry
rating:


this is a group of interrelated stories about the patrons of a small town bar, lucy's tavern, and their fellow citizens. overall i enjoyed it, although sometimes characters would be introduced in one story and would pop up again much later, so it was difficult for me to remember what their previously established relationships to other characters were, etc.

i really need to pick up the pace. i'm way behind last year. i obviously need to start reading more YA again.

book 46

the headmaster ritual, taylor antrim
rating:


those of you who know me know that i deeply love books about high school. i find them mysteriously appealing for reasons that even i don't understand, considering that my own experience in high school was mediocre on good days. so, when salon reviewed the headmaster ritual, i knew i had to read it. and luckily, i live two blocks from the greatest public library in the world, and they happened to have it. the story focuses mainly on three people: dyer, a new history teacher at a prestigious boarding school; ed wolfe, the former SDS-type radical headmaster; and james, wolfe's son. the headmaster is obsessed with north korea, and that drives most of the book, really. i like the parts about james best, as he was the only actual high schooler that got a lot of play. the rest of the book, especially all of the north korea stuff, sort of felt like it was building up to a major climactic moment that either didn't happen, or happened so subtly that it didn't satisfy me. it definitely kept my attention, and i know why the reviews of it are so good, but it felt sort of skeletal at times, especially when i really wanted more meat.

books 30+++

i stopped blogging through the whole moving and settling process and now the prospect is really overwhelming, so i'm going to give a list, with some quick ratings. i read some of these books two months ago, and i'm not even sure that i wrote all of them down.

book 30
love is a mix tape, rob sheffield


he mentions one of my favorite sleater-kinney songs, so he wins. also, if you were alive in the 90s and even remotely interested in music, it's a really nice read.

book 31
in your face, scarlett thomas


book 32
what the dead know, laura lippmann


book 33
one good turn, kate atkinson


too many story lines.


book 34
without a map: a memoir, meredith hall


book 35
eat the document, dana spinotta


book 36
spellman files, lisa lutz


it's a little too quippy at times, but i kept reading as if i were watching a movie, and it flowed better somehow.

book 37
seaside, scarlett thomas


i can't give four 'bots to a book that so prominently features a radiohead song. it's against everything that i believe. this is the final lily pascale mystery, by the way. less enjoyable than the first two, but still fun. plus, it was the first book that i finished in kansas!

book 38
little stalker, jennifer belle


it had a really strong start and then i got a little annoyed.


book 39
ask again later, jill davis


book 40
grave tattoo, val mcdermid


book 41
peony in love, lisa see


book 42
the sonnet lover, carol goodman


book 43
three bags full: a sheep detective story, leonie swann


book 44
christine falls, benjamin black


i really liked about 75% but then it fell off a bit.

book 45
the last summer (of you and me), ann brashares


reminded me a little of judy blume's summer sisters. but really, it's no sisterhood of the traveling pants.