The Collected Stories - Lorrie Moore

This is actually a combination of four short story collections by the author; Birds of America, Like Life, Anagrams, Self Help. All American based and covering all walks of life. In every single story there is one theme. Someone is lost in some way.

I really find it hard to write a blurb for collections of short stories. Particularly when there is no one character running through them. I feel as if I am doing Moore an injustice by not coming up with one. However, I shall just have to do my best to make up for it with my review.

I was accurate in saying that each of the characters were lost in some way. Some of them are happy with that state and some of them are just unable to find a notch for themselves. Each of them are unique. That's what makes this collection of collections so good. No two characters are the same. Some have similarities same as any collection of people might but they all have their own voice. Granted these stories were written over different periods of time but still. To come up with so many different voices takes a talent I find admirable. I don't care if that makes me easily impressed.

You would think with a running theme of being lost or not fitting in that you would find yourself depressed reading these stories but that's not the case. Moore was able to put a lot of humour into them and not all the scenarios were sad ones. As I mentioned some of the characters were accepting of who they were. The first story is probably the one that I keep thinking back to because it has one of the funnier moments (funny to me). It probably says a lot about my humour but I'm going to share it anyway. This story is about a writer who has been invited to some bigwig event. He's been invited as a token writer rather than because he is of importance and he knows it. Once there, feeling a little nervous and awkward, he strikes up a conversation with his neighbour and unwittingly manages to offend her by talking about politics. One of the topics his wife had warned him to avoid. One of her other warnings was;

"And unless you see the head crowning, never look at a woman's stomach and ask if she's pregnant"

Funny because my dad has actually made that little social error much to my mother's mortification. Obviously this guy has too. There are lots of little gems of humour through out but this is the one that stood out for me.

The only stories which seemed a little different from the rest was from her collection Anagrams. In fact Wikipedia lists it as a novel (I was too lazy to find the book in order to see the titles of the collections within). I think it's maybe listed as a novel because each of the stories (of which there are only a few) contain the same characters. However, in each story the characters are very different. They have the same names and they are all connected to each other in some way but play a different role in each and the importance of each character changes. I actually quite liked that. Thought it was a little different.

I could go on here and rave about more of the stories but I think everyone should get to read them for themselves. I can see it being a collection that people might want to dip in and out of. For me though I had to keep going. They were to good to set down and possibly forget about.

The Silver Linings Playbook - Matthew Quick

Pat has just gotten out of hospital and is now living with his parents. He doesn't know why he was in hospital. He just knows that he has done something to upset his wife. In order to be reunited with her he believes he has to prove himself to her. The only way he can do that is to keep a diary that details his life since he left hospital and until he reunites with her. Meanwhile he tries his best to get his life in order. He spends the bulk of his time exercising or trying to connect with his father through football. Instead he builds connections with a lot of unexpected people. Including Tiffany, his friends sister in law, who is trying to recover from the death of her husband.

I picked this book up after reading FBT's review over at Kill Me If I Stop. I have to admit I had wanted to see the film but I am glad I didn't as, going by that review, it would have irritated me. As FBT says the book gives nothing away until the end. The film gives everything away at the start. An example of why some people should just leave books alone.

Anyway, back to the book. The language of the book was fairly simple and Pat was an engaging character. You knew there was a reason why he wasn't going to see his wife (and probably wouldn't) but like I said you didn't find that out until the end. That doesn't stop you for routing for him. You want him to have his happy ending so badly. He did everything he could to prove himself. I particularly enjoyed his views on some of the books his wife had tried to get him to read in the past. By the way if you haven't read any of these classics they will be spoiled for you (I'll list them at the end). Luckily I had read most of them and knew the story lines to the ones I hadn't read. What was interesting was that his take on them were skewed by his own belief that life should have a happy ending (or a silver lining).

I should warn you that there is also quite a lot of American football talk in the book. Pat's family are huge football fans and it's the only way Pat can seem to find any connection to his father who otherwise refuses to acknowledge his existence. It's quite heartbreaking to read Pat's attempts being brushed off again and again and yet he doesn't give up. I am far from being a sport fan but I actually enjoyed most of it. I liked the feeling of connection it gave Pat to his brother, old friends and even new friends.

Then there is Tiffany. She's quite a strange character but there is a reason behind her strangeness. It's all linked to her trying to overcome the death of her husband (and failing). She unexpectedly finds herself drawn to Pat to the extent she begins to stalk him whilst he takes his runs.

I loved this book. It was funny and sad and moving and just a good read. I understand that Pat was supposed to be bipolar but it didn't come across as that to me. Instead I have my own theories but alas I can't share without spoiling. I definitely recommend the book and I also recommending reading FBT's review. Oh, and I hate film tie-in covers but it was either that or wait to get the book. Being impatient I chose  to go with this cover.

Book list as promised;
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne
A Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemmingway
The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain

Visit to the Library!

After doing the rounds on the It's Monday meme I decided to take a visit to the library. I had in my head that I wanted to get a copy of one of Kate Morton's books. I have seen over the last few weeks a large number reading her books and I thought it was about time I gave her a go. I see that The Forgotten Garden isn't her first book so I have a question for any Morton fans out there. Do I need to read The House at Riverton first? The library did recommend I read Forgotten Garden before Distant Hours but didn't mention anything about Riverton.

The second book I picked out was Ian McEwan's Amsterdam. Again I went in with the intention of picking out a McEwan. Someone on the meme was reading one of his books and it reminded me that I hadn't read one in a while even though I enjoy his writing. I just picked out the only one that was available which just happened to be Amsterdam. The Cormac McCarthy was a total whim. Looking forward to that. The Road is the only other book I have read by him.

The last book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, is one that I had reserved. I reserved a couple of books over a month ago and my place in the queue didn't seem to be changing. I then spotted one of the books that I was waiting for on the shelf. Although I was still far behind in the queue I was able to get it out because I happened to find it (they were clearly unaware that it was sitting there). I feel a little guilty for skipping ahead but I did read it in a day and have since returned it. So that's someone getting their copy sooner than they would have since it would probably still be sitting there. I'm afraid it will be a while before I review it as I am about five reviews behind.

I may even watch the film so that I can do a comparison.

Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

It's Nick and Amy's fifth wedding anniversary. Although things haven't been good of late Amy still goes ahead and creates one of her elaborate treasure hunts to celebrate. Nick, however, has still to think of something as he heads out to work at the bar he owns with his sister. In that morning Amy disappears leaving an upturned house and the door wide open. It doesn't look like she left voluntarily and fingers start to point straight at Nick. As the cracks in his marriage begin to show the more everyone thinks Nick murdered Amy. Nick is determined to prove his innocence and decides to finally solve one of Amy's treasure hunts to prove it.

As I was starting to get my reading mojo back a friend recommended this book. Glad she did as it was one that I read in two days which made me feel like I was back to my old reading self.

Nick seemed quite likable at first. Just a lovable rogue who doesn't quite live up to his wife's perfect expectations. As we hear from Amy's point of view though you begin to doubt him. I didn't want to at first. I was determined that because I liked him for the most part that I was going to believe him and wanted to believe him. It was hard to relate Amy's version of Nick to actual Nick. In the end what I realised about this book that it is actually about a pair of psychopaths. They are both nuts. Amy isn't quite what she seems either and I believe they were both welcome to each other. I really can't say any more about the characters without revealing it too much. Suffice it to say that the only one I actually liked in the end was Nick's twin sister.

I thought this book was going to be another one of those usual mysteries. It was similar to another book that I had read by Flynn where it alternates between chapters of Nick proving his innocence and chapters from Amy from the start of their marriage/relationship. The big twist happens somewhere near the middle which I wasn't expecting at all and the book continues to build from there. Don't worry, I'm not spoiling it as there is another one at the end.

If you like a mystery and you don't mind that the characters aren't quite what you expected then you should give this a try. It's a little bit different and whilst the characters may be crazy it just makes the book all the harder to put down.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

This is a book meme hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. A great way for readers to share their week.

Another week gone by and I still haven't posted any reviews. I will this week, I promise. I don't want to get too far behind and for the only thing on my blog to be this meme (as fun as it is). Otherwise I had a good week. I did lots of crafting, some baking, lots of reading and of course some study and course work were thrown in there. Oh, and I am now sitting at four books read for this month. I just need to finish one more book and I will have beaten January and February!

Last week I read;

The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler. Not my favourite by Tyler but I still enjoyed it.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. I was having a geek out at almost every page of this book. Another book on my favourites of 2013 list.

Just now I am reading;

Capital by John Lanchester. Not sure about it but as I am only 20 pages in I am trying not to make any judgements.

Next I plan to read;

The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King. This seems to be my year to catch up with the few King books I have missed. Looking forward to this one as I loved the Dark Tower series. Problem is that my memory may not be up to it. I read the Dark Tower when they were first released in hardback so it's been a while.

Has everyone else had a good week?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

This is a book meme hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. A great way for everyone to share their reading week.

A good week for me book wise. Although the end of the month caught me unawares.

Last week I read;

Did You Miss Me by Karen Rose. Wasn't that great to be honest. Think this will be my last Karen Rose book.

The Woman Who Died A Lot by Jasper Fforde. I was a little disappointed when I realised that this one wasn't set in Book World. That disappointment soon fled though as I got lost in the story. If you follow me on instagram I apologise now for all the photo's I posted.

Just now I am reading;

The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler. Only just started this one so it's too soon to tell.

Next I plan to read;

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. I have seen this reviewed so many times and it's always been positive. Can't wait to get started on it. First sci fi of the year.

Last week I bought;

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Okay, I have read this before and I have already shared this book here. However, this cover is too good not to show off more than once.

Like I said a good week. Plus I am only at the start of the month and have read two books. Hopefully that means I will beat the last two months of 4 books each.

How did everyone else get on?

February Overview/ Month Ahead (or where did that last month go)

What do you mean it's now March? Seriously, I know it's a short month but in my head I had weeks to go until it was over. I was determined to read more than January's poxy four books and I thought I had plenty of time. Alas, I was mistaken and I have another month of just four books. Okay, so one of those books was originally published as three or four seperate books but that still does not make me feel better.

Despite the poor showing it was still a good book month in that I loved them all. Here is what I read;

1. Spring Snow - Yukio Mishima
2. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
3. The Silver Linings Playbook - Matthew Quick
4. The Collected Stories - Lorrie Moore

All of them fabulous books and all of them ver different. Although Spring Snow was beautifully written the book that really stands out is The Collected Stories. I don't want to say too much as I haven't reviewed it yet but I bet this would persuade anyone to the short story. Fabulously written with an amazing collection of characters. The fact that each character seemed so different from the last is a tesament to Moore's talent.

I am not going to pick out a least favourite. Simply because I enjoyed them all.

As for the month ahead. I am in the middle of reading a Karen Rose book. It is taking me far longer than it normally would because I don't have the time and it's annoying me. I am fed up with the formula and I think this will be the last of her books for me.

Next I have a the latest Thursday Next book. I also have a sci fi book, an Anne Tyler and a whim buy on the cards. I am waiting still for a couple of books I have reserved at the library. There are umpteen copies of this book and although the queue is getting longer my place in it hasn't changed in a month. A little frustrating but it's the price you pay I guess.

Oh, and that image at the start of this post is of another whim purchase. I already have a copy of Pride and Prejudice but I couldn't walk out the shop without it. It's a pulp publication and there are several classics in the series which have been brought out with a pulp fiction style cover.

I hope everyone else has had a good month.