Dear Mr. Harding,

I love your book. I love each and every word on each and every page. Reading tinkers was much like being pulled in a lazy river of time and space and memories not of my own.

This was a word puzzle much like George's clock pieces just waiting to be put in their proper order. I. Love. This. Book.

And don't I feel smart? Throughout the entire novel I could not help but be reminded of Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. Read the review and you shall find out why.

Who Doesn't Love a Short Novel?

This one was a bit like eating chips mindlessly from the bag. Really not tasting anything, but compulsively grabbing one chip - or in this case- page after another.

This was a rather complicated story that moved from 1997 to the present and from one crazy, dysfunctional character to another. I truly enjoyed the story line, but this felt like a book where the author was trying a bit too hard. It was if the author had written one too many drafts and submitted the wrong one. A bit like my students who are trying so hard to impress. I have faith that Mr. Somerville's next piece will be better and that his voice will be his and not the one he thinks we need to read.

Glad I Read the Review

So here's the deal with this one - I had to read the review to figure out where the hell the title came from! Last week at book club, Teri and I were discussing that we loved Anne Tyler books as they are not dragged out. I spoke too soon.

Although I could not seem to put this one down, I was feeling disappointed when I hit the last page. Liam is one sad sack of man. And - I was quite upset that I over identified with his mental state - just waking up - and fighting to get your bearings.

Can't say I loved it, but I am glad Liam found a happy ending.

Book Club Night

My monthly book club does not generally double dip on authors so I was surprised when Shanghai Girls was the 'assignment'. I must admit I do agree with a large portion of the linked review, but here are a few thoughts of my own...
...I do not enjoy books that take place over decades
...or that have unsatisfactory endings
...the characters were well developed, yet at times unbelievable
...the history was interesting
...I learned quite a bit about Chinese culture
... even more about Chinese immigration
...the Chinese are the unsung minority of this nation