Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck

 I love Steinbeck. After reading popular fiction I love to go back to reading a Steinbeck just for the quality of the writing, people don't seem to write that well any more.

This book is not typical Steinbeck. It was written in 1962 after he had received the Pulitzer Prize for literature. He felt he didn't really know his own country and so drove from New York to Washington, through California, Texas and Louisiana and back home to Long Island. The book is a collection of his feelings about the United States as well as descriptions of people he met.

I listened to it on CD while traveling. It seemed particularly fitting to listen to Steinbeck's road trip while I was on one of my own. 

Sarah's Key by

 

The Second World War produced a lot of great literature. This book is based on the 1942 round up of the French Jews (which I didn't even know had happened before I read the book), known as the Vel d'Hiv round up. Sarah thinks she is protecting her little brother by locking him in a closet when the French police collect them, intending to come back for him later.

The story is intertwined with the story of a journalist with a failing marriage writing about the Vel d'Hiv round up 60 years later. She discovers the story of Sarah and decides to try and find her.

There is also a movie made from the book, which is very true to the story of the book.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

 

This is one of those books that will stay in my memory for ever. I listened to it on CD and it was very well read.  The story is that of a man in a lifeboat with a tiger, which doesn't sound too interesting, but it was. Somehow, despite the picture of the tiger on the front of the book, I didn't realize what it was about when I started to read it, so the part where Pi (yes that's his name) realized there was a tiger on board was a complete surprise to me. From there the book just got better and better. 

The book recently came out as a movie and, while I don't usually go to the movies very often, I did go and see this one as many people were saying it was a really good movie. Everything about the movie was excellent: the acting, the animals, the story line and the whole production. I heard the criticism that the movie was too long, but I didn't find it so.

I did read Yann Martel's second book, Beatrice and Virgil, and very much disliked it. The reason being that it was the story of an author who had had a very successful book who was struggling to write a second book. I felt it was autobiographical, and not very good in itself. Usually if I like one book from an author, I like all of them, but not in this case. It just didn't have the feel of quality of the Life of Pi. People suggested that the book was an allegory and had a double meaning, but I didn't see it.

The Wives of Henry Oades: A Novel by Johanna Moran

 

The Wives of Henry Oades: A Novel by Johanna Moran

Based on a true story, Henry Oades was living in Australia when his wife and children were kidnapped by Maoris. Henry did all he could to find them and then gave up and moved to California. Many years later his wife and children travel to California, but discover Henry has remarried. He welcomes his first wife into his home, while not rejecting his second wife. The resulting dilemma is the topic of this book. 

Henry is charged with bigamy by the people living near him, and you'll have to read the book to find out what happend next. This is the only book that has led to a discussion of bigamy in our book club, a rare and interesting dilemma, and one which our Henry didn't have an easy solution. 

The Round House by Louise Erdrich

The Round House: A Novel

The story takes place from the point of view of a 14 year old boy, Joe, and it should maybe be labeled as teen fiction as there are, within the book, some things that other teenage boys will relate to. 

The book starts with a crime having been committed against his mother, yet she is silent and won't talk about it - even to the police. So Joe sets out, with his friends, to solve the crime and restore his mother to her previous motherly position. 

The crime takes place on an Indian Reservation and the book is as much about their way of life as it is about solving the crime. 

Not my favorite book, it was a little slow in places as Joe falsely accuses one person and investigates other possibilities. 

Wild (From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail) by Cheryl Strayed

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

The book is called "Wild," but the author is also somewhat wild. She lost her mom when she was in her twenties, and with her mom's death came the breakup of her family and her own marriage. So, partly for healing and partly to do something "wild" the author walks part of the Pacific Crest Trail. However, she had had no training or practice before she embarked on this momentous journey.

Partly the book was interesting because of what she attempted (and achieved) but mainly because I felt a oneness with the author for attempting something out of her comfort zone, also the book kept me reading and wanting more. The story was that of a journey, but with flashbacks to her earlier life, something I don't generally like, but in this case was extremely well done. The writing was so good that on three separate occasions I cried as I read the story.

This book is way up high with my other favorite books of all time. I would recommend it to anyone.

Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue

Room: A Novel

The book is the story of a 5 year old who has spent all his life in one room. The book is written from his perspective. He is with his mom and watches television and vaguely understands that there is a world beyond the Room, but has never been there. Gradually you realize that the two of them are being held captive, but it takes a while before you understand why.

I can't really say more about the book without giving spoilers. But I would rate it 5 out of 5 stars. It was engrossing and I kept wanting more. I listened to the CD and at first found the boy's voice a little grating, but eventually I got used to it and enjoyed listening to the sound of a 5 year old telling of his adventure.

The book really does see life from a 5 year old's point of view. Some things which puzzle the boy are obvious to the reader (or listener). Later in the book his mom takes the dialog and he voice was easier to listen to.

Just to say that I thought the whole story was unbelievable until a few months after I read the book this story played itself out in the news.