I am not sure where I got the idea to read Funny Girl, but since Nick Hornby is well regarded, I thought I would give it a try even though I haven’t read any of his other books. I started by being glad I did. This was a fun book with the tone of “About a Boy” (the movie version!) and others. Light, simple, but enjoyable. Just what I was looking for. However, it was too long and midway through, I was just waiting to get to the end, which took too long. All in all, not a favorite, though entertaining.

The Kind Worth Killing was another Oprah selection (I really do hate to admit that, but her people are good at choosing books). It’s an interesting thriller. A man chats with a woman at an airport bar about his wife having an affair and the woman basically convinces him that he should kill his wife. The twists and turns from there kept the pages turning. I didn’t realize before reading that Peter Swanson had written The Girl With a Clock for a Heart, which I reviewed here. I might not have read The Kind Worth Killing had I read my own review of his previous book since I didn’t like it very much. But, while I enjoyed The Kind Worth Killing more, it wasn’t anything earth-shattering.

I had no idea that Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast was going to be a graphic novel. I should have known, however, since she is that ubiquitous New Yorker cartoonist. The memoir has gotten such great reviews, that I thought I would give it a try. If nothing else, it had to be a quick read. It certainly was a quick read, but surprisingly moving and sad. At times, I was taken aback by Chast’s almost blase attitude toward the imminent death of her parents, but I admired her honesty as well. This is definitely worth a read (it only took me an hour), but prepare yourself for tears.

I found The Season of Migration on an Oprah booklist. Judging from the cover and the title before reading anything about the book, I thought it was about a totally different subject matter than Van Gogh and his relationship with his brother. So, it was a surprising beginning. And, while I found the book interesting, it didn’t really capture me. I could have taken or left it. This being said, however, I really didn’t know much about Van Gogh and it was news to me that he and his brother had a period of estrangement. So, perhaps, if you had more knowledge about art history and Van Gogh in particular, you might enjoy this small book more than I did.

What’s not to like about Anne Tyler? She’s always been a favorite of mine and A Spool of Blue Thread was no exception. I liked the characters, the story, and the quiet and matter-of-fact way it was told. Kudos to her that she has such a rich compendium of works. It’s like settling in with an old friend every time.

I haven’t read any other Marisa de los Santos books, but thought I would give the new one, The Precious One, a try. It was predictable and a little cheesy, but a good read, nonetheless. Parts of the story weren’t fleshed out enough for my liking (the looking for the history of her dad for example), and I was irritated with the long-lost love storyline and how shallow it all was, but it was a good vacation read and one that I looked forward to each time I picked it up. Light and airy, nothing taxing. Sometimes that’s a nice change.

I didn’t know what to think about Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami. It’s spare style and mysterious storyline drew me right in, though, and, despite it’s thick size, it was a quick and engaging read. However, the ending was a complete letdown. I felt so hopeful about what was to come, yet my questions were left unanswered and I was simply unhappy about my effort and investment. Looking for a positive and wonderful next read. Any suggestions??

I was so excited to find Ruby by Cynthia Bond at the Kill Devil Hills library while we were on Spring Break. It had been on my “to read” list for a long time. I only had a few days to read it, though, so I tried to power through. It is one of the most depressing books I have read in a long time and not at all what I should have been reading on vacation. While I can see why people found this book to be unforgettable and moving, I just found it dark and distressing.

After eagerly anticipating reading The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton and waiting for a long time for it to be available from the library, I was quite disappointed by it. The story was interesting but nothing was fully fleshed out and the characters weren’t deep enough for me to really care about them or what was happening to them. Midway though, I was tempted to abandon the book because the pace became so very slow. While I pushed through, I can honestly say that I am sad I wasted the time on this one.