Jamrach's Menagerie

By Carol Birch

This is the second time I read this book. The first time was back in 2013. All I wrote about it was how surprising it was. Well, this time, I knew what to expect. There was still some surprise, though, as I didn't remember all the details, and perhaps there were things I noticed for the first time. I found myself wishing one part of the book to be over already. I knew what was coming, but was still hoping that wouldn't come. That the part would end sooner and the inevitable won't happen. But that's not how things work. Needless to say, the book is very engrossing and illuminating. [I just learned through Wikipedia that two of the major events in the book are based on true stories.]  It is a beautifully written book. You know, the kind of book you go back to and still get surprised by things. [295pp.]

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Devotion (Why I Write)

 By Patti Smith

An enchanting story of a teenager and her devotion to skating, nestled within a brief memoir of sorts, perhaps a travel journal which in itself exemplify devotion to writing. She has a way of choosing the perfect sequence of words. I specifically remember one toward the end of the book that talks about how inspiration hits and the consequences of that. [95 pp.]

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The Age of Innocence

 By Edith Wharton

This book is mostly a criticism of a place and time in which the author may have experienced as a child. A society that has enclosed itself thinks itself the best that could be, not open to outside ideas and people, even those who were born inside it. The criticism comes through the story of two people who fall in love, but are not allowed to be together because of society's restrictions. But the book also shows the transient nature of societal conventions. 

I could relate to this story more than I did with Ethan Frome. The plot and actions of the main characters here seemed more believable. It could be because I was more aware of context in this book -- thanks to the introduction and afterward-- than I was in Ethan Frome. 

[fiction, 316pp.]

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Hitting A Straight Lick With A Crooked Stick

By Zora Neale Hurston

This book of short stories by a wonderful writer was entertaining and surprising, sometimes sad, sometimes with a happy endings. Not always easy to read, as they are written in dialect. It is neat to see progression in- and experimentation with different writing styles. The writer has a great sense of humor and the introduction provides useful insights. [304 pp. Finished it at least 2 weeks ago...]

Noble Savage (Pere Atzil)

 By Dudu Busi

[Also titled as Noble Brute]

Since we can't simply go to the library and pick a book nowadays, I had to read a book I own while waiting for the book I ordered to become ready for pick-up. I hadn't realized that I read it so long ago -- in 2004. For some reason it seemed a lot more recent. I thought I remembered quite clearly what happened in the book, but was surprised upon re-reading the extremity of some of the events. This book tells the story of a boy who is the son of a divorced drug-addict mother and a crazy artist. He's fat and in love with the most beautiful girl in his school. The book is written from his point view a few years later, when he's 21, and describes the events happening when he was around 15. The language is very casual, which makes is a super fast read. It is funny and shocking. I just learned that it was also adapted to a movie, and I can tell just by viewing the trailer, that they've taken some serious liberties... [Hebrew; 270 pp.]

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Lucy Gayheart

 By Willa Cather

I so love reading Willa Cather's books. They are just beautiful works of art. They are grounded in life and they pull you in. This one was particularly beautiful (though it may be just because it's the last one of hers I've read -- I feel similarly every time I read/finish reading one of her books). 

Lucy, as her name last name suggests, is a joyous young woman, and spreads light and happiness wherever she goes. But that doesn't mean life only gives her roses. Growing up in a little Nebraska town, she studies music in Chicago, where she gets involved with a famous singer. But that's just a simplified summary, the actual story is way more complex. [208 pp.]

I just can't stress enough how much I like reading Willa Cather's books. I want there to be a thousand more of them. 

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Robinson Crusoe (The Life & Adventures of Robinson Crusoe)

By Daniel Defoe

This was an interesting read in terms of how it was written in contemporary, or even earlier English (mid 17th century) and seeing how spelling was different there. A constant reminder that this isn't happening in our time, or even a couple of centuries ago, because otherwise, in terms of the Human Condition, nothing really has changed. Sure, some norms were different (for example, I was quite disappointed that he never even asked what Friday's actual name was!). It was also a little frustrating that there's not much mention of tropical fruits that might have been found in the island - The only fruit he regularly harvested was grapes. I'm not a native fruit expert, but I'm sure there must have been more than that he could have tried. 

Religious sentiments are rampant in this book (another thing that reminds one of the time this book was written), which was a bit excessive. And there were some very long descriptions of minutia that were quite tedious, which made it take me quite a long time to read (though I did finish it about 10 days ago). But overall, it was, as I said, interesting. This edition also included reports on Alexander Selkirk, who was in part the inspiration of this story. [318 pp. including notes]

Link to book  (This is a later print. I read the one from 1972, Penguin English Library)