The Mysteries of Pittsburgh by Michael Chabon

2017 Reading Challenge - Read a book that is set within 100 miles of your location.

Since I live 13 miles from a big city (Pittsburgh), this challenge proved to be fairly easy to find a book, as there are a handful of novels set in Pittsburgh.  I've read The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay and enjoyed that one so I was looking forward to reading another Chabon.  Unfortunately, I cared less for this one, his first novel.

It is a coming of age novel, and while I appreciate the time period in which the novel was first published (1988) and the introduction of a homosexual character, I never really connected to any of the characters and their struggles.

With just shy of 300 pages it was a quick and fairly easy read, and I enjoyed recognizing streets and landmarks mentioned throughout the book, but I can't say that any of the characters will live with me.

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

2017 Reading Challenge - Read a Book You've Read Before

This month's challenge was really hard for me, as I rarely re-read books (I have TOO many books I've not read once!).  I didn't want to pick an all-time favorite (almost any Jodi Picoult, Language of Flowers, Me and Emma), nor an easy read such as Patterson or Clark, but something that I could glean new thoughts, feelings, etc. with a second reading.  I toyed with re-reading a classic, something I'd read in my undergrad years, but nothing was speaking to me.

As I perused my shelves my eyes alighted upon Wicked by Gregory Maguire.  Not only had I read it before and enjoyed it, but I've also met the author, had my books (yes, I own quite a few of his) signed and have seen the musical.  I didn't recall everything about the book, but I did remember it being rather complex, so this seemed a perfect re-read for me!  And my witch bookmark is a perfect accompaniment!!

  I love the humanizing of the "evil" character of the Wicked Witch from the much loved movie "Wizard of Oz" (I never have read the books by L.F.B.), discovering the Wicked Witch of the East and seeing the tarnished crown of Glinda, the "Good" Witch.

And what a time to re-read this novel full of politics, oppression and resistance in the world of a tyrant leader; religious conflicts - too much faith, not enough faith and can you have a soul if you don't believe in an "unnamed god"; the question of what is evil and from where does it come, are some just born bad?  Good or bad - are we truly free to make our own choices in life or are we led to our choices by others?

I'm so thankful for this challenge that took me back to Maguire's complex, at times disturbing, but thought-provoking land of Oz!!

Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark

Guilty Pleasure

After reading quite a few rather heavy books (2 Holocaust books for book club and the 2017 reading challenge), I needed just a quick, who-dun-it murder mystery and Mary Higgins fit the bill.  Short chapters, red herrings, and a neat twist with the rare communication between twins - this was just what I needed.  Took me back to Cape Cod and towns that my mom and I visited on our trip there a couple years ago!

Not too much in-depth thinking and something I could quickly pick-up and put-down, yet still had me reading past midnight to finish it!!

Amberlough by Lara Elena Donnelly

BooklyBox Subscription - March - Historical Fiction

This was my first book from the new monthly book subscription that Book Worm and I started getting.  There was a mix-up in the mailing so I received the historical fiction while Book Worm received the literary fiction.

Though, at first I wasn't sure I had in fact received the historical fiction.  Even after reading it, I feel it is a loose interpretation of "historical fiction".  Typically the author takes either a character, event, or time in history and builds up around it to give the reader a personal connection or investment into that history.  This book created an entirely fictional world (place, political parties, etc.) that was suppose to slightly resemble Germany and the Weimer Republic.

Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this book on many levels, besides the fact that it didn't fit my bill of being historical fiction - the language was difficult - the author using what I can only surmise is a British terminology, the gratuitous sex scenes (I'm not a prude, but if I want that in my reading I will seek out that kind of book) and maybe because of the difficult political climate we are currently living under - I struggled with this central theme.

On a positive note, Donnelly did have some beautifully descriptive language that truly painted a picture.