Lolita

Lolita is Nabokov's most famous and controversial novel, which tells the story of the aging Humbert Humbert's obsessive, devouring, and doomed passion for the nymphet Dolores Haze.  This is a book that I thought of as one I should read.  In being vaguely aware of what the book was about, it wasn't one that I would have read on my own, but reading for a book group is something that I would do.  Although I knew it was about a relationship of a much older man with a very young girl, it was not as difficult to read as I imagined.  It is truly a classic and I am embarrassed to say it's the first Nabokov book I read.  Thank you book group for the inspiration to read this classic.

The Orphan's Tale

Our Library book club read this book for our June discussion.  My preconception was another WWII Holocaust book--why are there so many?  After reading the book, my view changed and I was amazed as I usually am about how I can learn something new about the Holocaust.  For me, I didn't know that the circus went on during the war.  I wouldn't have thought was so, but I did look it up and it's true that the cirrus was used to boost morale and keep things normal looking.  Not only that, but the circus helped to hide and protect Jews.  Pam Jenoff, the author is new to me and I enjoyed the book very much.

Georgia Bottoms

Georgia Bottoms by Mark Childress is a book that reminds me of Fannie Flagg's writing--lighthearted with a serious undertone.  Georgia's clothes, personality and all around beautiful person make her the highlight of the book.  Childress's descriptions make you feel as though you are a character in the book.  Georgia's business which she keeps under wraps very well considering the town she lives is her source of income which helps to maintain the family home for which she is solely responsible.  The people in her life are out of a comedy show--her alcoholic brother and mother with dementia are the family she supports.  Her business is entertaining married men who live in town.  These parts are written with finesse.  Georgia has a best friend and a son who comes back into her life 20 years later.  What a delightful book.  A sure winner without heavy drama.

Andorra

I read Andorra because Peter Cameron ,the author, lived in the town where I work, Pompton Plains and he will be visiting our Library in September.  I enjoyed the book which has a very simple plot.  I liked the setting and the characters.  Alexander Fox is the narrator and he relocates to Andorra and discovers many characters.  I am excited to meet Peter and have several questions for him.  On to Coral Glynn.

Americanah

My daughter Samantha was assigned this book as her Freshman read going to Rowan University.  I sort of read it along with her.  She started before me, but I finished shortly after her.  I really enjoyed this book and think it would be a great book group book.  There are so many topics that I want to talk about from this.  It was a pleasant read and I enjoyed it even without discussing it with anyone except Samantha.  She didn't like the book and wasn't up for talking about it!  I plan on reading another book by this Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who has so much to say about race. 

Modern Romance

Aziz Ansari narrated the book and I would not have finished listening to it if it wasn't narrated by him.  He ridicules the listener and calls us lazy by making him read to us.  It's pretty funny.  Modern Romance is about how dating has changed with "online dating", it gives a history of dating (so to say) and researches current dating customs in other countries.  It's interesting and well--frank.  Parental advisory:  do not listen with young ones or those you might feel uncomfortable with, by hearing words like masturbation and talking about a new sex toy that Aziz says he tried.  That was something I never heard of.

The Wives of Los Alamos

A well written book about the wives of Manhattan Project husbands.  These wives were in the Los Alamos location of the Manhattan Project. Written in the collective voice, the reader does not get to know the characters.  The details are written in more of generality.  Everything was a secret and the wives were able to talk to one another, but not their families--their mothers, brothers, sisters.  No one else could know what was going on, especially what their husbands were doing.  They called it the gadget, as did their husbands.  They knew Oppenheimer, the director.  Most lived in housing without bathtubs.  That was a big deal.