In Anne Lamott's
Imperfect Birds we catch up with Rosie, former teenage tennis phenom. At 17, Rosie is an A student and an accomplished liar who struggles with addictions of all kinds. Elizabeth, her flawed and recovering addict mother wants desperately to believe Rosie isn't as bad as she is, while her husband unsuccessfully tries to set boundaries (both because of his own limitations and because Rosie is a master manipulator). I love Anne Lamott's work and I found
Imperfect Birds to be gut wrenchingly hopeful.
The Condition by Jennifer Haigh is an intense family drama. Every one of the characters is flawed - from the mother who desperately wants a perfect life to the workaholic husband to the three kids who flee as soon as they get the chance. I laughed, I yelled, I cried.
In Linda Fairstein's
Hell Gate, Alex, Mike and Mercer are back on the job investigating human trafficking. Not a light subject but as usual, thoroughly researched. With Fairstein you get a tightly wound mystery, some New York City history and politics. Good stuff.
The Kids Are All Right, a memoir written in alternating voices by the Welch siblings of Westchester County tells the story of a family devastated by their father's accidental death in a car accident, a mother dying of cancer and their children who struggle unsuccessfully to remain together. It's not easy; it's not pretty. Somehow, though, there is hope.
The Usual Rules, a novel of September 11th by Joyce Maynard is a compelling story of how one blended family deals with the loss of their wife and mother. The last forty pages packed quite a punch.
On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer rips at your heart. Two friends go for a bike ride, a dare goes wrong and only one comes back. At what point should Joel tell the whole story and when he does will forgiveness follow?
The Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute, graphic novel by Jarret Krosoczka is a whole lot of fun. Super hero lunch ladies, spatula helicopters and more. Part of a series that's bound to have many fans.
I finally read Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson. Put simply, it is a gently told story of friendship and acceptance (although I did want to yell at the parents a few times).
MJ Auch's One Handed Catch, a 2011 Nutmeg Book Award nominee is a very enjoyable read. Friendship, family, resilience, and determination are all prominent pieces to this sports story. Times have changed since 1946 - I wonder how an 11 year old boy i 2010 would deal with the adversity of losing his hand to a meat grinder.
