Prime reading

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Really excellent. Written from the prespective of a 15 yo special needs boy, who has decided to investigate an neighborhood crime, this book perfectly balances story with point of view. With direct language, it moves through coping to self discovery, from challenge to personal strengths. An unusual novel, it offers a great change from everything else, a glimpse into a different kind of intelligence.

Summer means travel

Down the Nile: Alone in a Fisherman's Skiff by Rosemary Mahoney

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
An excellent, slow paced journey with one woman as she fulfills her quest to row herself down the Nile. As a single woman acting in mostly Muslim Egypt, she faces resistence and challenges peoples' perpectives. A special delight was her meeting with a group of young women. I loved the reflection on other's writings about the Nile, esp Florence Nightingale.

Thanks Christine for this find.


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Remember high school?

Dedication by Emma McLaughlin

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I was surprised at the layers of story and perspective in what I picked up as a light read. The characters are well developed. Although many parts of the story took place in high school, it managed to not rely on simple stereotypes and victims. Relationships between the characters are realistically developed over time.

In all, I felt the ending(s) didn't quite work for me, it dragged on a little bit, so I didn't give it more stars. But I will read their other book.


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