Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout

Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2019--Ben Gurion Airport, Israel

I finished reading  Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout.  It is a series of short stories that tie characters together from story to story.  I have previously read her book Olive Kitteridge, and it had a similar format--short stories that are all tied together by having characters that have been referenced in previously read stories.  Her writing makes me really like learning about all these people. And because you hear one reference from someone and then read another story from a different point of view, she does a good job of showing how complex life really is for everyone.  I had trouble deciding whether to give the book a 4 or a 4 ½, but I decided on a 4 out of 5--a book well worth reading.

A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler

Friday, Apr. 19, 2019--Jenin, Palastinian West Bank

A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler is the replacement book I started reading after deciding to quit my previous book.  It was such a relief to pick up this new book. Immediately, it felt more interesting. And it kept that interest level up throughout.  It is the story of mostly two generations of a family (but also includes the children of the third generation as minor characters). It is also a story of a home--a physical house AND those who inhabit it.  It backtracks in time and provides some unexpected surprises. It was a finalist for the Man Booker Prize in 2015. I gave the book 4 stars out of 5.

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

Apr. 15, 2019--Tel Aviv

Last night I did something that I very seldom do. I decided to quit reading a book that I just wasn’t enjoying. One irritant was that the style of the writing was too much like another historical murder series story that I read which I found to be okay but not terribly exciting several years ago: The Devil in the White City by Erik Larsen. The book I quit last night is Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann. Even though it was a finalist for the National Book Award, I just found reading it to be tedious with its frequent quotes from newspapers and other writings, its repetitive information, its pleasure in showing how racist everyone was back then, the choppy pace of the writing, etc. By 25% of the way in, I decided not to waste any more time on it and to give it a rating of 2 out of 5.

Elmet by Fiona Mozley

Friday, Apr. 12, 2019--Tel Aviv

Elmet by Fiona Mozley was a finalist for the Man Booker Prize in 2017. It is beautifully written and a fascinating story of a family trying to live off the grid in a world where it is hard to escape authority, whether legitimate or self-declared. It takes place in modern Yorkshire in England, but it “feels” as if it is taking place in the 1800s. The author seems to be trying to show that even though the days of the manor houses and the lords' control over their tenants has officially passed, a similar situation still exists with the rich still “lording” it over the poor by charging high rents, paying less than required by the law for labor, taking authority on their own while ignoring proper channels, etc. I gave the book 4 ½ stars out of 5

History of Wolves by Emily Fridland

Apr. 8, 2019--Jerasulum

History of Wolves by Emily Fridland.  It is built around the life of an awkward 14-year-old girl who was originally raise in a commune and is mostly ostracized by others her age.  But it also touches on religious beliefs and practices of members of the Church of Christ Scientist and child molestation. It is a truly different coming-of-age novel that is well written.  I gave it 4 stars out of 5.

A Horse Walks Into a Bar by David Grossman

Monday, Apr. 1, 2019--Amman, Jordan

I read the entire book A Horse Walks Into a Bar by David Grossman which won the Man Booker International Prize in 2017 today since the weather was cold and bad and since I had seen everything I had planned to see in Amman in the previous few days.  It’s a wonderful book, but it is one that is difficult to keep reading. As you follow the act of a stand-up comedian who is dwelling on the miseries of his life and the story you learn of it not only through the act but through the memories of one of the only friends he has ever had--a boy he went to math tutoring with for just a few months and spent time visiting with afterward before they had to head to their homes.  The link to the NPR review is more detailed. I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars because it’s a good story, but it just goes on so long that I almost decided to walk out on it like the members of his audience were walking out on his act.