reading recap: march.

Book: The Tiger's Wife

Finished: Early March

I picked this one up on a whim in a bookstore while visiting Seaside this January, and I finally picked it up off my "to read" pile earlier this month. You can read a little bit of my first impressions here, but overall, I just thoroughly enjoyed this book. I've found myself drawn to memoirs a lot lately, so the fact that I read two fiction books this month I'd be satisfied putting in the "loved" category? Well, that's made me a very happy girl indeed. The Tiger's Wife introduces us to Natalia, a young Balkan doctor trying to uncover the mysteries surrounding her beloved grandfather and his recent death. I thought Tea Obreht (who happens, shockingly, to be in her mid-20s) seamlessly and beautifully weaved together a variety of stories and plotlines, but my favorites were the stories told in the grandfather's voice. Those glimpses into the past were, in my opinion, the most effective of the entire book. I read this one feverishly; it's the first fiction book in a while that's captured my attention and made me care about the characters. I wouldn't say Natalia was particularly likeable, but the book really isn't about her. Instead, I think it's about imagination and mystery and storytelling and all the things that make those beautiful. I'd really recommend this one (my copy's already out on loan).

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Book: A Homemade Life

Finished: Early March

I don't know what it is about food memoirs that I enjoy so much. I'm not a huge cook, and I couldn't tell you how to pronounce half the words I come across while reading recipes and skimming through cookbooks. For some reason, though, I'm drawn to books by and about people who love food, and A Homemade Life may be my favorite. Graciously loaned to me by Kari (I promise: it's going back in the mail this week!), the book is written by Molly Wizenberg, author of the blog Orangette. I had no previous experience with Molly's blog, so diving into the book was a pleasant surprise. I loved her voice; so many of her stories were like listening to the words of a good friend. She's a fantastic storyteller, and I often caught myself laughing and tearing up as she described her relationship with her dad and how she met her husband. The book is really well-organized; each three to four page story is followed by a brief and doable recipe. Sometimes I read these food memoirs knowing I'll never be able to complete any of the recipes. They're fun, but they're just not attainable for someone like me. A Homemade Life was different, and the day I finished it, I went out and bought the ingredients to make her delicious chocolate cake. (Compliments all the way around, by the way.) I really loved this book, and I've found myself especially recommending it to my friends who are new moms finding it difficult to read much of anything right now. Because of the book's organization into digestible but still well-written chunks, this one is an easy read to pick up and put down. Highly recommend, even for those who aren't drawn to books about food.

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Book: Trout

Finished: Mid-March

From time to time, through my work as a writer and editor for a legal publication, a book will come across my desk that I need to review. It doesn't happen too often -- most books I just write a blurb about and stick back on the shelf -- but occasionally I'll find one that really catches my attention. Trout, written by Orlando Sentintel journalist Jeff Kunerth, was one of those exceptions. A true account of a 1991 Pensacola, Florida, murder, Trout explores the details of a gruesome crime while also tackling the issue of juveniles and the death penalty. Trout might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I found the subject matter fascinating and the issues handled with respect. I appreciated that Kunerth explored the ins and outs of a teenager's mind and how vastly it differs from an adult's -- even an adult who might commit a similar crime. I read a lot of true crime stories, particularly online through the New York Times and the Tampa Bay Times. Journalists -- the ones who have perfected and mastered their craft -- have such a unique way of looking at the world, and I love when that comes out through a powerfully-written series or, in this case, a book. I'd recommend Trout for fans of true crime, or for those familiar with the panhandle area of Florida and Florida law.

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Book: Crossing to Safety
Finished: Mid-March

You already know how I felt about Crossing to Safety when I finished it, and a couple of weeks later, I feel the same way. Wallace Stegner is a new-to-me author, but I found his story of Larry and Sally Morgan and their decades-long friendship with the Langs wonderful and compelling, despite its lack of controversy or striking climax. It's a quiet novel, and when the time came for our book club discussion, only two of us had bothered to read it. It's a number I found a little depressing, until I realized the other reader in our group had loved it as much as I had, and I think we were both content with keeping the book to ourselves. It's just special; I'm not sure I know any other way to explain it. My friend and I agreed we felt like we were reading literature, not fluff, yet the entire story is so incredibly readable. I became deeply attached to the characters, despite the fact that I couldn't relate or find myself in any one in particular. Stegner managed -- without being preachy -- to stuff the book chock-full of wisdom on friendships and marriage; it's one of those books that I finished, then just had to sit for a moment and soak it all in. It's been a while, but I might compare Crossing to Safety with Gilead and Home in terms of style and substance. If you find yourself aching for something different and simple and classic, I'd urge you to pick up Crossing to Safety. I truly think you'll be glad you did. I cannot stop talking about it.

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Book: Before I Go to Sleep
Finished: Late March

I've been reading An Altar in the World, but as with Barbara Brown Taylor's Leaving Church, I need time to sit and process and soak in the words, so I supplemented my reading toward the end of last month with our April book club pick, Before I Go to Sleep. One of the things I love about book club is how we jump from genre to genre; it really gets me out of my comfort zone, and I get a kick out of the fact that in the past three months, we will have read MWF Seeking BFF, Crossing to Safety, and Before I Go to Sleep. They're all so different! That being said, I thought Before I Go to Sleep was appropriately suspenseful; it's a definite page-turner. The novel tells the story of Christine, who -- thanks to the result of a tragic accident -- loses her memory each night when she goes to sleep. You know something's just a bit off from the moment the novel begins, but the story is told through Christine's eyes and mind. Since she's essentially living a life like that girl in 50 First Dates, details and stories become muddled, and I found myself both wanting to knock some sense into Christine and to jump into the story to try to help figure things out with her. Before I Go to Sleep probably isn't something I'd have picked up on my own, but I thought it was an entirely acceptable suspense story, and it'd be perfect to pack along on your spring break or summer vacation.