Meltingpot readers,
If you've been following this blog for awhile, then you know how much I love to read. I love books like a Winne the Pooh loves honey. It's serious. I'd almost call it an addiction. But in a good way. You can't take me into a bookstore or a library without my eyes growing my wide, my heartbeat racing and my mouth salivating. Really.
So, last week Saturday I was in a Barnes and Noble and I saw my friend Heidi Durrow's new novel, The Girl Who Fell from the Sky on the New Fiction table. I've known Heidi for three years. When we met, her book was just a manuscript that she hadn't been able to sell. And now I was looking at it prominently displayed at the bookstore. (Not only did Heidi get her book published, she won Barbara Kingsolver's Bellwether Prize for Fiction too!) I was so excited for Heidi, I grabbed the book and bought it on the spot.
Now, sometimes I buy books just because I want to support the author, but in this case, I bought the book because the story sounds soooo good. From the jacket copy:
"This debut novel tells the story of Rachel, the daughter of a Danish mother and a black G.I. who becomes the sole survivor of a family tragedy.
With her strict African American grandmother as her new guardian, Rachel moves to a mostly black community, where her light brown skin, blue eyes, and beauty bring mixed attention her way. Growing up in the 1980s, she learns to swallow her overwhelming grief and confronts her identity as a biracial young woman in a world that wants to see her as either black or white.
Meanwhile, a mystery unfolds, revealing the terrible truth about Rachel's last morning on a Chicago rooftop."
Don't you want to read it too? So, I bought the book last Saturday, and wouldn't let myself crack it open until I finished the novel I was currently plowing through. But The Girl Who Fell from the Sky kept taunting me with her pretty blue cover and enticing storyline. Finally, I gave up and started the book last night. I'm going to try to pace myself, but I'm not making any promises. The fact that we're snowed in again thanks to Noreaster #2, makes me think I'll be posting a review of the book on Monday!
I can feel the anticipation of a good read taking over. I'll probably let the kids watch ungodly amounts of television today so that I can curl up with The Girl Who Fell from the Sky. (blissful sigh)
Enjoy the weekend. What are you going to read?
6 comments:
I read this book last week and loved it. I'm working this weekend, but I hope to finish Toni Morrison's A Mercy and start on Uptown by Grant & DeBerry.
I read this novel last weekend and absolutely adored it. This weekend I'm going to dive into Marlon James' The Book of the Night Women.
So, are you a Kindle person?
Toni,
Sounds delicious.
JN,
I'm so glad you liked it. Tell me about The Night Women.
PP,
Not a Kindle person. Very much a luddite.
I've been reading Heidi's blog for while and cannot wait to read this book. The reviews have been outstanding.
I don't have a Kindle either. I like holding a book in my hands. Not sure why I'm resisting the Kindle. I do have a Macbook, iPod etc.
I had mixed emotions about The Book of Night Women. I finally finished it last night. Normally, I can plow through a book in a few hours, but this one took me a few days. Dunno if you're familiar w/ the story, but it's basically about a group of slaves at a plantation in Jamaica and their exploits. Since I am unfamiliar with the Jamaican dialect, it was difficult for me to read. I found myself rereading passages in order to completely understand what's going on. Overall though, I really enjoyed the story & would recommend a read.
Post a Comment