FORGETFUL

I've read 4 books in the past three weeks, but I can only mention 3 of them. My memory files have lost a title. Just lost it. Can't remember it. Is this how it starts....that slippery slope of senior moments that turn into an avalanche of lost memories? I'm working on retrieving the lost title (if I have to, I'll go back to the library and ask for a copy of my records. If they have to give them to Homeland Security, surely they'll give them to me.)

In the meantime, here's a quick rundown.
The Ice Queen, by Alice Hoffman. I enjoy this author's lyrical style of writing, and her touches of fanciful whimsy appeal to me. This was a strange book, all about people who are hurting even before they are struck by lightning.  The theme of this book is the familiar 'Be careful what you wish for...' one, and Hoffman throws in tons of fairy tale references to complement this adage. As a long-ago fairy tale addict (How many times did I read the Red and the Blue and the Green and the Yellow Fairy Tale Books compiled by Andrew Lang? I gave equal opportunity reading to Hans Christian Anderson versions.), I enjoyed this aspect of the story, along with all the fascinating facts about lightning strikes. Are they facts? I don't actually know....on my to-do list is a notation to look up lightning and see what if Hoffman is telling the truth.

I like her books. I'll probably keep reading them as she keeps cranking them out. But this is not one of her better ones.

The Music Lesson by Katharine Weber.
We read this for my Arts book club. It's a mystery/suspense/obsessive romance/Irish revolutionaries/Vermeer paintings kind of book. We were divided....several liked it a lot, several were unimpressed. I was among the unimpressed ones. I didn't mind reading it...parts of it were good...but overall...it was just okay.

Change Baby by June Spence
Loved it. This is an author I want more of. Avie Goss comes home to take care of the mother who gave birth to her at a change of life age. This is a family secrets come to life kind of book. Spence has a solid voice; her characters are fleshed out with the good and the bad traits. This one I solidly recommend.

And then there's the untitled lost one. I don't even remember if I liked it, but I finished it so I must have thought it was at least okay. I had to check the spelling of 3 words in this entry. As a former spelling bee champ in my youth, this business of losing spelling is a bitter pill. My slope is slippery indeed.

Comments

[katharine weber]

So unimpressed you can't even recall the correct title. Oh well.