I saw an exhibit of Jona Frank's photography a the Bowdoin College of Art, and it hit me in ways that really surprised me. I hadn't been prepared for I saw an exhibit of Jona Frank's photography a the Bowdoin College of Art, and it hit me in ways that really surprised me. I hadn't been prepared for the gut-punch that photos of a suburban childhood would deliver. In this book, which expands on Frank's exhibit, Frank talks about her childhood: her distant mother whom she always wanted to please; the complicated relationships with each of her brothers; her attempts to be what everyone else wanted and expected of her while questioning what--or if--she herself wants. ...more
Read for a book group, though I'd been meaning to read it for literally years, and I'm glad I finally did.
Jane's beloved aunt has recently died, and JRead for a book group, though I'd been meaning to read it for literally years, and I'm glad I finally did.
Jane's beloved aunt has recently died, and Jane is at loose ends. So when a casual friend invites her to their estate, Jane goes, and it's here that Jane's story fractures. In a moment of chaos, Jane makes a decision to follow someone, and who she follows determines the next part of her story. The multiverse sends her far from home and very close to her starting point, exploring and exploding everything she's known and believed.
The story splits into five vignettes, some grounded (more or less) in reality and others pretty far-flung, and one notable instance of body horror.
Much of this is about Jane's self-discovery and self-acceptance. No one story is the "real" ending. No one Jane is the "real" Jane. And that's okay....more
What do you do when you've agreed to nanny an old friend's stepkids for a summer, and then find out that they burst into flame when agitated? With nowWhat do you do when you've agreed to nanny an old friend's stepkids for a summer, and then find out that they burst into flame when agitated? With nowhere else to go, you gulp and teach the kids about meditation, keeping one's temper, and being loved for who they are, even when your dad is a senator and acknowledging your existence wut be political suicide for him.
Lillian really needs this--needs a way out of her dead-end town--a town she had a ticket from, years ago, before she got expelled for a crime that wasn't hers. She also needs to learn about managing emotions and loving and being loved.
This was a quick read, with a lot of humor and depth. A couple of the characters were thinly drawn (looking at you, Senator), but others show unexpected depth (hi Mom)....more
Really promising premise regarding a housemate the family doesn't realize they have, as they're all absorbed in their own issues. But ultimately, the Really promising premise regarding a housemate the family doesn't realize they have, as they're all absorbed in their own issues. But ultimately, the book lived up to its premise in the tedium of sleeping through the days in a crawl-space under the house....more
A mother who knows she does not love her child, and her concerns that this is the reason for his crime. We know from the start that Kevin murdered sevA mother who knows she does not love her child, and her concerns that this is the reason for his crime. We know from the start that Kevin murdered several classmates; the bulk of the story is exploring how it happened, tracing the path from Kevin's birth through the inevitable trajectory. ...more
Marjorie's been acting strangely, and her family has noticed. Her 8-year-old sister Merry tells the story of her sister's descent into either schizophMarjorie's been acting strangely, and her family has noticed. Her 8-year-old sister Merry tells the story of her sister's descent into either schizophrenia or demonic possession, and the reality show that was made about them. Present-day, adult-Merry narrates the story to a reporter who is writing a book about the family. But in some places, the memories don't line up with the filmed evidence, and we are left wondering what really happened vs what Merry believes happened vs what 8yo Merry believed happened.
I had expected this to be a suspenseful thriller, and it did keep me turning pages, but it was mostly sad to see a family in crisis, virtually powerless to stop it....more
Jesus, what a ride this was. The intersection of time and emotions (did you know they intersected?), where time can only be restarted by truly examiniJesus, what a ride this was. The intersection of time and emotions (did you know they intersected?), where time can only be restarted by truly examining one's feelings and listening to and caring about others. How do you sum up an AS King novel, anyway? This one didn't hit me quite as hard as The Year We Fell From Space but I do see this one playing a big role in future therapy sessions....more
Nell and Eva are grieving their mother's death when the power starts flickering. At first, it's a few minutes at time but eventually it stops coming oNell and Eva are grieving their mother's death when the power starts flickering. At first, it's a few minutes at time but eventually it stops coming on at all. They live with their dad 30+ miles from town, so they don't hear much about the shortages. Dad enlists the girls in canning and preserving their summer harvest ft on the garden and orchard, and they buy what few supplies remain at the warehouse-type store, and in that way they plan to ride out whatever is happening. When the girls are left on their own after an accident, they need to use what they've learned, and hope it's enough. Rumors abound: overseas wars, fast-moving pandemics, general social collapse. Nell and Eva are on the cusp of adulthood (17 & 18 respectively), but the world is very different from what they'd expected.
Apocalyptic near-future, written in 1996 and could easily be today's covid headlines and international strife. The book is heavily character-driven; the young women's relationship to each other is the main focus of the story. They want different things, but the things they want are all but inaccessible now. Wants don't matter in the face of survival needs. They want to be the best fiends they've always been. They need each other to survive.
I've read a lot of apocalyptic stories, and this one is high on my list to recommend for adults and upper teens....more
Adrian Montague--the only child of Parliamentarian Henri Montague--is struggling still after his mother's death nearly a year ago. So when a box of hiAdrian Montague--the only child of Parliamentarian Henri Montague--is struggling still after his mother's death nearly a year ago. So when a box of his mother's things is returned and Adrian finds her broken spyglass, he is determined to find out what it was about it that captivated her. His early research brings him to a London shipping company, where he uncovers his first family secret: his eldest sibling. Together Monty and Adrian chase the secrets of the spyglass across the globe, finding answers--and more questions--in each port.
"The plausibility of a worry never stopped me from asking it to dance," Adrian says early on, and that is one of the major ides in the book--Adrian's anxiety and OCD nearly leap off the page, but at the time of the book, neither of those things is recognized as the disorders they are. It's a fascinating lens for the character, watching his every decision be filtered through his anxiety and fear. It casts a shadow on the spyglass's origin--does The Flying Dutchman really exist? Is Adrian actually seeing it?--but the story is more about the relationships and characters....more
I was so eager for this book and now I've read it and it was everything I wanted and more.
Margot has always lived with her mom. No other family. And tI was so eager for this book and now I've read it and it was everything I wanted and more.
Margot has always lived with her mom. No other family. And that's been fine, but then she's trying to do a nice thing for her mom and discovers that she has a grandmother. More specifically, she has a name and a phone number for the grandmother she's never met. Margot finds a way to get there, and then ... that's where things get strange. There's a cornfield on fire, and in the fire there's a girl. By the time Margot and her new companions get the girl out of the fire, she's already dead, and that's not the weird part. The weird part is that the girl is identical to Margot in every way.
So ... who is she? Who is anyone in this town? Why does Gram stay when her farm is in ruins and the locals dislike her so much? What is it that nobody's telling Margot?
Mysterious and haunting with some creepiness that you can only get through exploration of small-town interpersonal politics and long memories. It's no Wilder Girls but it's still a great, compelling story that keeps the reader guessing even long after turning the last page. ...more
Darius and his family take a sudden trip to Iran, finally meeting his grandparents in person. Darius is struggling in a lot of ways--his depression, fDarius and his family take a sudden trip to Iran, finally meeting his grandparents in person. Darius is struggling in a lot of ways--his depression, for one, but also his relationship with his father and his friendlessness. But Iran turns out to change him in a lot of ways: a new friend, new familial relationships, a new understanding of himself.
An honest look at a socially awkward, depressed teen working on (and through) his issues and gaining understanding of his family. ...more
A collection of essays on raising three boys. While it's not something that will stick in my head long-term, it was an enjoyable read and one I'm likeA collection of essays on raising three boys. While it's not something that will stick in my head long-term, it was an enjoyable read and one I'm likely to pass along to other parents. There is some gendering (raising BOYS, with all the implications and connotations that brings along) but mostly it's a pretty balanced collection. I laughed through many of them (some in horror, some in recognition... sigh) and I'd probably follow his blog if I could find one. I'd also pick up another collection from him.
Izzy is a terrible student but a brilliant performer, biding her time in school until the talent show. Brianna is bookish and science-minded, but her Izzy is a terrible student but a brilliant performer, biding her time in school until the talent show. Brianna is bookish and science-minded, but her mom needs her to fill in at the last minute for a school play.
Stories intersect, but only at the very last page.
I can see why my middle-schoolers like this, but I (an adult, not in the target demographic) found it wanting....more
Liberty is 12 years old and reeling from her parents' separation. She's outside working on a star I read this in one sitting.
And then I read it again.
Liberty is 12 years old and reeling from her parents' separation. She's outside working on a star map (on which she creates her own constellations, which help her to focus her mind and process things) when a meteorite comes from the sky. Liberty wants her parents to reconcile, and bargains with the night sky, with the meteorite, to make it happen. It doesn't. She can't find the constellations in the maps from the week her dad moved out. She knows that her dad has depression but doesn't fully get what that means, even though she's struggling with similar, nameless emotions herself. The constellations won't come. The meteorite's advice is a mixed bag.
This hit home for me, square in the chest. As is to be expected with King's books, there's not a single wasted word; the sentences flow smoothly with distinct voice and rhythm. The meteorite adds a surreal element to an otherwise straightforward story. Required reading for middle schoolers, especially the ones who are struggling to understand their emotions and those of their parents....more
I liked this one better than the first, but still didn't thrill me. The 9yo loved it, though.I liked this one better than the first, but still didn't thrill me. The 9yo loved it, though....more
This is the first Sedaris I've read in a while that I've honestly loved. This feels open and honest in a way that he hasn't for me in a long time. ThiThis is the first Sedaris I've read in a while that I've honestly loved. This feels open and honest in a way that he hasn't for me in a long time. This time, he's addressing the death of his mother many years back through the context of his sister's suicide a few years back, and really exploring the role he's played in his family relationships. Here, he's writing about his family, yes, but as a way to write about himself and how he's been experiencing the world and engaging with the people around him--different from when he wrote about his family as a punchline, as a way of deflecting from his own troubles. This makes this collection hold together better but also far more heartbreaking than his other collections....more
I don't know that I want to be the kind of person who reads celebrity memoir, but here I am, so... Like it or not, I guess. I really enjoyed the first I don't know that I want to be the kind of person who reads celebrity memoir, but here I am, so... Like it or not, I guess. I really enjoyed the first half--quirky! Funny! But the second half felt like a chore to finish. Was it actually more boring? Or was I just Over it? We may never know....more
Book 2 slows it down a bit so the characters have a chance to breathe--and readers have a chance to care about them. Also, we introduce Hazel and Cha-Book 2 slows it down a bit so the characters have a chance to breathe--and readers have a chance to care about them. Also, we introduce Hazel and Cha-Cha here, so yay for that....more
Gotta be honest: I loved the show, but found the first volume to be rushed, and only loosely holding a plot together. There's very little sense of whoGotta be honest: I loved the show, but found the first volume to be rushed, and only loosely holding a plot together. There's very little sense of who the characters are or why they do any of what they do. But the show was soooo gooooood!...more