The Drop Edge of Yonder- Rudolph Wurlitzer

I don't know what I was expecting when I started reading this book, but it most definitely wasn't this - a story of the domestication of the Wild West through the eyes of a full-on outlaw/ mountain man. It's a story that I practically never think about, or elect to read about, so I was surprised to find it on my list. Despite this, I have to say, I was entertained by all the hijinks and adventures. Although occasionally the description was lacking, the book read like a movie script. It was interesting to see the seedy underside of the gold rush, focusing the corruption through an already corrupt lens that laments the disappearance of the frontier. Characters were very-well established and ran the gamut of personality types - the corrupt lawman, the outlaw whose decision to get out of the lifestyle doesn't stick, the mysterious foreign temptress, etc. With a bit of a mystical element woven in, it highlighted all types of life on the Wild West and how they merge together, without playing on any blatant stereotypes.

3 bookworms

All about Lulu- Jonathan Evison

This book reminded me A LOT of She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb, which is one of my all time favourite books. Instead of having a very insecure female going through horrific growing pains, All About Lulu chronicles the life of a male protagonist who also struggles through puberty and early adulthood entirely due to his crippling love for his stepsister. I was surprised about the plot twist in the last chapters, and it actually made me go back and read a few passages to clarify certain scenes. At times, I did get annoyed with the main character - his whiny, woe-is-me attitude grated my nerves. Personally, I found his brothers and dad much more fascinating and great comedic relief. The dad is a body builder, “Big Bill” that competes among the likes of Governor Ah-nold and eats too much meat. The twin brothers are hilarious, and I’m sad that as the years went by, they became less and less visible in the story. The first-person narration provides the reader with dry humor, the dripping with sarcasm voice of the protagonist, which made me smile a few times at the witty comments.

3 Bookworms.

Shining City- Seth Greenland

What a fun book! Two brothers' lives - one a family man that becomes an aging victim of outsourcing and the recession and the other a pimp that dies right from the get go - merge in the crazy Hadron Collider that is modern day LA with spectacularly amusing results. A dry-cleaner serves as a front of the business which the "good" brother and family pick-up with such aplomb and noble intentions to improve the lifes of their girls. The line between morally right and morally questionable blurs to the point that it is nonexistent as the book, through humor and wit, explains just how far a man will go to take care of his family. A  cast that includes a weed-smoking grandma with glaucoma, bodyguards with entrepreneurial aspirations, a villainous rival pimp and a d-bag of a boss all makes for amusing shenanigans that will have you cheering for the underdog.

4 bookworms.

Holding Pattern- Jeffery Renard Allen

Holding Pattern is actually a collection of short stories, and I have to say the rating I'm giving is a bit harsh. I got through about 3 stories before I gave up on it. It just wasn't for me. While I understand the artistic literary form of blurring the plot and making things intentionally muddled, I can only appreciate it when it is done well. Which I don't think it was done here, I'm sorry to say. Naming the characters mostly the same name and then providing a disclaimer in the beginning of the text that they are all unrelated struck me as laziness rather than an innovative modern lit tactic.  Perhaps it would have all tied together in some profound way in the end.  I just wasn't attached enough to care to find out. Read at your own risk.

1/2 bookworm. 

The Gathering- Anne Enright

This is a serious book. It is not a romantic comedy, it is not chick lit, it is not some thrilling action adventure mystery. It is a book about serious, internal human struggles and triumphs. I rarely read books like these because I turn to books for entertainment and to learn about something I will never experience (like gay strip clubs in DC). However, I could not put this book down. Will I re-read it over and over again? No. But I was fascinated by how tightly wound up the family members and how cracks split open when they convened for their brother's funeral. Family dysfunction affects everyone involved in wildly different ways, and this is shown in abundant clarity here. By weaving in three generations of stories and half-truths, a picture emerges of a family clan that cannot move on from a few seminal events. This is the second book I have read by an Irish author, and I've come to the conclusion that I simply need to read more Irish literature.

3 1/2 bookworms

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo- Stieg Larsson

What has not already been written about this book and series? I can only add to the accolades. It is a full-on page turner with an entire range of characters and stories to immerse yourself in and cheer for (or root against). I have to admit, I figured out the big reveal well before it was announced. That didn't bother me though; I kept devouring the pages as fast as I could to get another morsel of story. Disturbing, appealing, different - this book is all those things and personally, I can't wait to get my hands on the second installment.

5 bookworms

Twenties Girl- Sophie Kinsella

Sophie Kinsella is the author of the fantastic and wildly popular Shopaholic series, and I expected more of the same from Twenties Girl. Which, in a way, I received. And pleasantly, I was surprised - a modern day ghost story with a plot twist that I just did not expect. This book really stood out from the rest of this fluffy, girl always gets the guy genre; like I mentioned, the plot twist (for me, at least) came out of nowhere and I always appreciate a  book that can throw me for a loop.  The writing, of course, was fantastic; light-hearted and effortless,yet every word drove the story forward, described the exact swish of the beads on a flapper dress or conveyed a sense of urgency. Despite the outlandish premise, I was able to relate with some of the characters - I loved that the protagonist put herself in some ridiculous situations, but fully acknowledged how silly her actions were. If you're looking for a fantastic vacation read, here it is!

4 1/2 bookworms.

The Host- Stephenie Meyer

Damn you Stephenie Meyer for writing such addicting novels! I read this massive book over one weekend; I honestly could not put it down. It was a creative story, with plenty of mini-climaxes, surprise plot twists and character changes. Mrs. Meyer writes stories; things that just fascinate and let your imagination run wild. The only reason that this isn't 5 stars is because I'm too devoted to the Twilight series to put this on the same level. If you are not vehemently opposed to Twilight and/ or the author, you must read this book!

4 1/2 bookworms

Glamorous Disasters- Eliot Schrafer

This book is standard summer fluff fare and part of the "exposing the life of the rich and priviledged through the eyes of the staff" genre that exploded onto the literary scene some years ago. I typically enjoy this genre - I find it amusing and kind of fascinating. Unfortunately, I couldn't truly love this one. I felt that story lines were not fleshed out, and while some of the story lines were fully resolved, others were dropped like an unattractive boyfriend. The characters were typical NYC Upper East Side stereotypes, but that is not through any fault of the author's. Maybe my ambivalence twards this book stems from the super-specific subject matter  - SATs and SAT prep - and there just isn't much innovative material there to sustain a full novel.

2 1/2 bookworms.

Assisted Loving- Bob Morris

Assisted Loving was a charming non-fiction story of a middle-aged son coming to terms with his widower father gamely jumping back into the dating pool. Mr. Morris (senior)steals the book and ambles away on a replaced hip every opportunity he gets, firmly becoming the life of the book with his bridge playing, just-wants-to-be-loved ways. My major complaint with the book is that the author spends too much time addressing his own emotional hangups surrounding his dad and his insecurities about his father dating and not enough time focusing on his father's hilarious dating adventures. The best parts were the moments about the women Mr. Morris (senior) meets, his efforts to play the field and the sincere, quiet moments where the author shows his subject's insecurities and hurt feelings when things just don't work out. And as a bonus, the author of Cancer Vixen (along with her husband and family) make a small cameo!

3 1/2 bookworms.