books 2012: #22-27

The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars.

This is a humorous, autobiographical novel of an aristocratic British family between the two world wars. It's as much about family relationships as it is about romantic love. I enjoyed the girls most when they were in their growing up years.

Uncle Matthew is the funniest character - hunting his children to give the hounds practice, declaring his hatred or adoration for others on a whim, refusing to send his children to school. The family led a very insular, charmed life, and when the children went out into the world, they were unprepared and adrift.

A funny, enjoyable read, but ultimately I don't know that I'm compelled to read the rest of the trilogy.



The Language of Trees by Ilie Ruby

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I would give this somewhere around 3.5 to 4 stars. I liked the characters: they were real, flawed, yet likable human beings. I was rooting for them to find happiness. I also enjoyed the way place had such prominence - it had real atmosphere, I almost felt like I was there with them.




Vaclav and Lena by Haley Tanner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars. I absolutely loved this book.

I loved the writing, I loved the characters, I loved the childlike innocence, the way the author is so tuned in to what it felt like to be a child, to have a best friend, to be excited about things that maybe nobody else understands, to fall in love. I just thought it was beautiful, all of it.



Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table by Ruth Reichl

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Really enjoyable food memoir.





The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fun retelling of a Grimm's fairytale (that I hadn't heard of previously). I liked the writing, the characters were well-developed, the touches of magical realism were intriguing. I especially liked the way the princess used her wits and skills to save herself, with some help from her friends, rather than waiting to be rescued.

I'll definitely pass this one on to Eva when she is a bit older.



Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've been vacillating between 4 and 5 stars on this one, but I'm leaning toward amazing.

This novel is like 6 novels in one; each so different from the others, it could be written by a different author. How Mitchell is able to adopt such completely varied voices is beyond me. And yet, the sum is greater than its parts.

I think I love David Mitchell. His writing is so ambitious, and he is able to deliver.

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