A Book Worth Reading

Earlier in the week, I visited our local library in search of a book about Sensory Processing Disorder, but when they didn't have it, I went searching for something else. Anything else.  It's against my personal beliefs to leave a library empty-handed.

2 years ago I picked up a copy of "She's Come Undone" at the Salvation Army.  I wasn't sure I'd like it, but I took it with me on a camping trip and by the time the 3 day weekend was over, I had finished it.  It was amazing.
Intense, no holds barred realism.
So, when I saw "I Know This Much is True" on the library shelf, I knew it was a book for me.Wally Lamb doesn't paint a pretty picture of his characters. They are flawed and not all of their imperfections are endearing.  But that's what I like about his books. People in real life are not perfect. We are more often jealous & antagonistic than we are altruist.
Yet, his characters do find some redemption in the end.
They don't all end up with flawless white picket fence lives but they end up with what they need, and isn't that the way it should be?  I'd rather have the things I need over the things I want.
"I Know This Much is True" is centered around the life of Dominick, a twin who's other half is a paranoid schizophrenic. He goes on a journey, both literally and within himself, to find answers to the questions of why he is living this life, and what decisions beyond his own have lead him here. He's not the selfless savior of his brother that one would expect from the hero in any other novel. He's got depth, and the story is sometimes almost too intense.  
Wally Lamb can get a little wordy, but I like that. I want all the details, I don't care how many paragraphs it takes to explain something- the more I can see it in my head, the better.
If you're looking for some Summer reading that's a bit darker than the usual paperback, this book is probably perfect for you.  It's one of those books that you can't read all at once, you have to stop and think about it for a bit before you're ready to pick it up again.
It's not going to leave your head immediately, it's a book that will stay with you for a long time, and that's the difference between a book you like and a book you love.

Must Reads!

I love books. If you had to know just one thing about me, let it be that I love books.

Lately I've been on a Historical Fiction kick.
I discovered the "Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon a little over a year ago and have since become completely obsessed with all things Scottish Highlander. I even researched my husband's ancestry just to find out what clan he belongs to and lo and behold, the Croxford's weren't even Scottish but the Mexican side of his family had a whole long lineage of Highlanders. Who'da thunk it?
Clan Hume, thank you very much.
No whiny Lowlanders for this family!

Oh but I digress.

Books, we were talking about books!
I've got another 5 months of waiting until the "Outlander" graphic novel "The Exile"comes out and in the meantime I need something else to fill the void.

(I have been known to read a Vampire book or 2- hey, don't hold it against me, and for those that haven't read a single word but hate all over it out of some sense of superiority- get over yourself. There are literary references in the Twilight series that I bet most of the haters wouldn't even understand.)

Again, I am off on a tangent, haha.
Anyhow, as I was saying, I need some books to fill the void so here are my current "To Read" books:

"Her Fearful Symmetry" by Audrey Niffenger (she wrote "The Time Traveler's Wife", which is an amazing book, so well written & gritty. Nothing at all like the movie which was just.....not good.)

"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold (if you've read it, let me know if it's worth it and the same goes for seeing the movie)

"Rabit, Run" by John Updike (because who didn't love "The Witches of Eastwick"?)

Ok, those are mine, now do you have any recommendations for me? Wanna borrow a book or two?
I'd love to do a book swap!