Tenth of December: Stories; George Saunders

 

Title: Tenth of December: Stories

Author: George Saunders
Publication Year:  2013
Publisher: Random House and Books on Tape
Edition: eGalley/audio
Reader:  author read (well done)
Source: NetGalley and library (audio)
Date Completed: July - 2013
Rating: 3.5/5

I don't read a lot of short stories, but I wanted to try this collection as I heard this author was a bit different and worth trying.

There are 10 stories in Tenth of December; some of the stories are very very short, in fact, a few really didn't seem like a story at all.  Other stories are longer, and some had a surreal feel to them.  Most every story has to do with human nature and social mores. Many are written in such a way that made me flinch a bit at what I had just read.  Although some of the stories are satirical in nature, others packed a punch -- sad or ugly, but definitely powerful. Most of the characters were down on their luck or in a crisis situation, others were just pathetic. A welcomed relief to all the darkness was the dark humor and irony, which I enjoyed. It actually provided some much needed relief from the darker moments,

My favorite story was actually the last story and title story "Tenth of December". It is a story about a dying man contemplating suicide. He wanders into the woods prepared to end his life, when an incident with a young boy makes him rethink his situation.  "Puppy" was a story that really bothered me - it is about (2) women who meet by chance and yes, there is a puppy involved - I'll just say that this story left me feeling very sad.  "Victory" is another story  where a woman is being attacked and kidnapped, but the neighbor boy is torn whether to do something or not. In his head, he hears his strict father's voice telling him that what is happening is "none of his business".

Now two weeks after I finished this collection, I must admit that some of Saunder's stories left me as soon as I finished reading it, but a few, like the ones above, stuck.  This is definitely not a collection that will appeal to everyone, but George Saunders is a very good writer, it is just for the most part, most of the were too dark for me. Try it and decide.

Waiting on Wednesday - Mercy Snow; Tiffany Baker

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine.  Bloggers spotlight upcoming releases that they are eagerly anticipating! Want to participate? Post your own WOW entry on your blog, and leave your link at Breaking the Spine. I loved this author's first book (4 years ago) - The Little Giant of Aberdeen County.

  Mercy Snow Tiffany Baker 

Grand Central Publishing - Hachette

January - 2014

 
In the tiny town of Titan Falls, New Hampshire, the paper mill dictates a quiet, steady rhythm of life. But one day a tragic bus accident sets two families on a course toward destruction, irrevocably altering the lives of everyone in their wake. — June McAllister is the wife of the local mill owner and undisputed first lady in town. But the Snow family, a group of itinerant ne'er-do-wells who live on a decrepit and cursed property, have brought her--and the town--nothing but grief.

June will do anything to cover up a dark secret she discovers after the crash, one that threatens to upend her picture-perfect life, even if it means driving the Snow family out of town. But she has never gone up against a force as fierce as the young Mercy Snow. Mercy is determined to protect her rebellious brother, whom the town blames for the accident, despite his innocence. And she has a secret of her own. When an old skeleton is discovered not far from the crash, it beckons Mercy to solve a mystery buried deep within the town's past.

The Woman Upstairs; Claire Messud

Title: The Woman Upstairs
Author: Claire Messud
Publication Year:  2013
Publisher: Knopf
Edition:  print
Source: my shelves
Setting: Massachusetts
Date Completed: July - 2013
Rating: 4/5

Nora Eldridge is "the woman upstairs". She approaching 40, average looking, never married, and she works as a third grade teacher at a school in Boston. Although she has a few friends, she pretty much spends her days at school and her evenings alone in her third floor apartment.  She once had dreamed of becoming an artist, but deep down it seems that Nora lacked the confidence to take a chance as an artist. At one point she had a rather high powered consulting job, and she left that job and to become a teacher. She also spent years caring for her mother who died of cancer, and then looking after her aged father.

 

When 8 year old Reza Shahid becomes one of her students, he makes an impression on Nora. Reza clearly stands out both in dress and manner. He last home was in Paris, but now living in Boston, at least temporarily, while his Lebanese father Skandar, is a professor, on a fellowship at Harvard.  As children can often be cruel to other children who seem to stand out from the crowd, Reza becomes the target of bullies.  The post 9/11 incident where other children call him names and refer to him as a terrorist, makes Nora want to protect Reza all the more.  In fact at times, the role she assumes seems more motherly than teacherly. 

 

When Nora meets Sirena, Reza's beautiful, Italian mother, she learns that she is an up and coming "artist", just like Nora always wanted to be.  Nora is immediately drawn to her, and she begins to spend time in a shared studio with Sirena  after she encourages Nora to pursue her interest in art.  Nora is also drawn to the intelligent and handsome Skandar, Reza's father, and is crazy about their special little boy Reza, who she even offers to babysit for.  Deep down Nora resents the seemingly perfect family, their cosmopolitan flair, and the more time she spends with them, the more envious and angry she becomes.

 

The story is told from Nora's perspective and it is clear that she sees herself stuck in the role of "good daughter", and her life is the product of choices she has made.  Yes, she has friends and a decent job, but the arrival of the Shahid's only serves to reinforce what Nora has missed out on.  I saw Nora as a woman who was often smiling on the outside, but crying and about to explode on the inside. This was further evidenced in her artwork, where she focused on the rooms inhabited by suicidal and depressed women like Virginia Woolf and Emily Dickinson.

 

Overall, I really liked this book, but it was not a quick and easy read for me.  The characters are extremely well crafted and believable, and although similar stories have been written in the past, of the ones that I've read, none have been as cleverly plotted as, The Woman Upstairs.  I do think that readers who enjoy a lot of action and surprises in what they read might be a bit frustrated or disappointed this novel.

 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - Inferno; Dan Brown

Every Tuesday I host First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where I share the first paragraph or (a few) of a book I am reading or thinking about reading soon. Care to join us?

This week I'm featuring an intro from a book that was recently released:

 Inferno; Dan Brown

Chapter 1

"The memories materialized slowly...like bubbles surfacing from the darkness of a bottomless well.

A veiled woman.

Robert Langdon gazed at her across a river whose churning waters ran red with blood.  On the far bank, the woman stood facing him, motionless, solemn, her face hidden by a shroud.  In her hand she gripped a blue tainia cloth, which she now raised in honor of the sea of corpses at her feet.  The smell of death hung everywhere. 

Seek, the woman whispered, And, ye shall find."

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What do you think? Would you keep reading?  Feel free to join us by linking your First Chapter post below. 

Sunday Salon Catch Up Edition

This is my last day of vacation after being off since July 3rd.  I loved me time off, but the weather was not very good....hot and humid, thunderstorms and rain.  Despite that we had some fun. We caught up with friends for lunch, they are friends we only see 3-4 time a year, but when we do, it's always wonderful.  This get-together over lunch was no exception. I also got to see my granddaughter twice (always special), but no beach time as planned as I can't stand being outdoors long when the weather is hot and humid,(never mind rain and thunderstorms:) 

About Books:

I did get to finish (4) books: (2) were kids books that I enjoyed. I also read, After Her; Joyce Maynard (good) and The Woman Upstairs; Claire Messud (also good). No reviews yet --

One book I really was disliking, ended up being a DNF, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail; C. Strayed. I thought I might like this one as my mom died quickly from cancer when i was in my early 30s, much like the author's own mother.  so I though perhaps I might find some similar experiences - that never happened, it was the main character and the choices she made that really bugged me.  I actually was happy this was a library book and i hadn't paid $$ for it. It seems I'm in the minority based on reviews. I'd love to hear your thoughts if you read this one.

New Books by Mail: 

•  A Dangerous Fiction; Barbara Rogan
• Five Days at Memorial; Sheri Fink
• Lighthouse Island; Paulette Jiles
• The Women of Braxton County; Jess McConkey
• The Lavender Garden; Lucinda Riley
• The Tilted World; Tom Franklin

• Goat Mountain; David Vann
• The Wicked Girls; Alex Marwood
• Light of the World; James Lee Burke
• Henri, le Chat Noir:the Existential Musings of an Angst-Filled Cat; William Braden (purchase)
• The Butterfly Sister; Amy Gail Hansen

 All were gifts of the publisher (thank you) with the exception of Henri, le Chat Noir.

Enjoy Your Day!

.

Saturday Snapshots - July 13, 2013

A big thanks to Alyce of At Home With Books, who has hosted this meme for a number of years. She is taking a summer hiatus at her blog. Our new host is Melinda at West Metro Mommy Reads.

To participate, simply post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post on West Metro Mommy's blog.

Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.
 

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I was tempted to buy one of these adorable birdhouses this week, but then I thought, if I was a bird, I don't think I'd want to nest inside of a cat's mouth! What do you think??

 Freckles guarding the new cat tunnel 

Kids Books from Random House Young Readers - Dog-Gone School; Amy and Ron Schmidt and Penguin Cha-Cha; Kristi Valiant

Dog-Gone School; Amy and Ron Schmidt

July 2013 - Ages 3-7

5/5 stars

Dogs in school alone seems like  a recipe for humor, but this book is more than cute, it is just so well done. Amy Schmidt writer and Ron Schmidt illustrator have covered all aspects of school - dog style.

There are cute puppies and dogs doing math using an abacus, creating music as part of the school band, playing on playground, eating in the lunchroom with other dogs, doing art projects, reading.

The dogs in this book carry back packs, and their bathroom has a yellow fire hydrant on the door.  I loved the section called "Class Superlatives" which was an index of the class stars which included the dog's name, breed, as well as page reference numbers.  They covered it all in this book.

The art work is colorful and as cute as can be as is the text. This book will be one of those keepers for years to come. Kids will love this one....never mind kids: moms, dads and grandparents like me too!  BUY IT!

Penguin Cha-Cha; Kristi Valiant

August 2013 - Ages 2-7
3.5/5 stars

Penguin Cha-Cha features a girl named Julia who loves to watch the animal performances as the Romping Chomping Park and Zoo every weekend.  She notices that the penguins seem to be having way too much fun and she tries to find a way to join their act.  It's not easy though as when she follows them back to Penguin Cove, she finds that when she is around, they are still as mice.  She needs to come up with a creative way to gain their interest. Cha-cha anyone?

This book is very cute. Watercolor illustrations are whimsical and fun, and the placement of the text adds interest, however, I found the size of the text way too small and strained to read this one.  Considering the fact that it is for young children beginning to learn words and reading, the problem with the text size seems like an issue.  Don't get me wrong, it is a cute book, but you may want to check it out at a bookstore or library before purchasing it sight unseen.

Kristi Valiant is both the author and illustrator.  

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Both ebooks were received from Edelweiss