You probably already know that I am an avid reader. Lately, I have come across a few interesting observations in some of the books I’ve been delving into.
Firstly, I’ve noticed a particular writing style that seems to be prevalent in several books that I’ve picked up recently – a style characterized by rambling, stream-of-consciousness narratives, numerous characters, and an abundance of intricate details. One such book that comes to mind is The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, which I discussed in a recent post. While I wasn’t a fan of the long-winded sentences, the myriad of characters, and the excessive details, I found the plot and main characters compelling enough to make the read worthwhile. Despite the need to keep track of numerous characters and intricate details, the story itself was engaging and the characters well-developed.
On the other hand, I struggled to get through Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton, which employed a similar detailed writing style but failed to captivate me. Despite its popularity and glowing reviews on Amazon, I found it to be dull and forgettable, unable to recall much about the story even though I barely made it past the beginning.
Another narrative style that has caught my attention lately is the technique of jumping back and forth in time. While many historical fiction books often shift between past and present timelines, some books take it a step further by alternating between weeks or months and different characters, which can sometimes be confusing for my aging brain. Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult is one such example, with its intricate weaving of timelines and characters. Despite my occasional confusion, I found the murder mystery at the core of the story intriguing and would recommend it to fellow readers.
Here are some other books that have crossed my path recently:
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren: A somewhat predictable yet enjoyable romance read.
Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro: A poignant exploration of friendship across generations and the impact of a single event. Highly recommended for its engaging narrative.
The Librarianist by Patrick DeWitt: While I initially expected a story centered around libraries and bookstores, this book surprised me with its focus on a retired librarian and a senior center. Quirky characters and an interesting storyline make it a worthwhile read.
Looking for Jane: A compelling read about a group of women in Canada in the 1980s who provided safe abortions before it was legalized, shedding light on an important chapter in history.
And that wraps up my recent book adventures, excluding some of the offbeat nonfiction titles I’ve delved into!
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