Starvation Lake by Bryan Gruley

Debut Novel

I can't say I was overly impressed with this debut mystery novel.  Nothing against Mr. Gruley, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at a book signing in Salem, MA., but I felt the book was often times repetitive (facts repeated even though I read them just 10 pages ago) and simplistic.  It took a while for the plot to unfold, even though I had figured out quite a bit of it early on, and then some loose ends where quickly tied together at the end (i.e. Detroit court order).

On a positive side, I did like the small town feel of the story and it's not too often you find hockey so central in a book - I'm not a HUGE fan, but can figure my way through an NHL game, so I found some of the hockey parts interesting.

Not sure I feel compelled to read the next two (2) books in the series though.

March by Geraldine Brooks

Historical Fiction

A fantastic book.  Could be because I'm biased toward historical fiction, biased towards "Little Women" or biased towards Civil War themes!!

Brooks does a fantastic job of bringing Mr. March to life in his imagined place in the reality of the Civil War.  I'm drawn to books about the War, possibly because I have the opportunity to visit the places mentioned, but I think more because I value the stories of the strength and fortitude of the slaves themselves and the abolitionists who fought for their freedom.  This book had that and more!  Plus Brooks has a beautiful style of writing and prose.

Quotes: "I've always imagined paradise as something like a library"

"...so there is a union at last, a united states of pain."

"I had learned the meteorology of Marmee's temper:  the plunging air pressure as a black cloud gathered, blotting out the radiance of her true nature; the noisy thunder of her rage; and finally the relief of a wild and heavy rain - tears, as copious cataracts, followed by a slew of resolutions to reform.  But the dark cast of her expression told me we were still within the thunderhead..."

The Dinner by Herman Koch

New Author

I don't want to say too much about this book because part of the reading enjoyment is wondering what happened and the anticipation of what they are going to do about it.  While I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, at times I couldn't put it down (dare I say I "devoured" it), I am disturbed by the characters.

It is not a book that you can put down and walk away from for days at a time, as there are a lot of flash backs to tell the complete story.

I didn't mark any notable quotes, but the book makes you think about what a parent's role is to their child/children.  You are their protector, but to what extent?  Isn't your role also to instill morals and values into your child/children, to teach them responsibility for their actions, to foresee, understand and accept the consequences of their actions?  Or does a parent protect their child/children, at any cost, forever?