ANIMAL DREAMS, by author, BARBARA KINGSOLVER, recommended by writer, Janet Rundquist

Author / Writer / Book Lover - which are you?

JR ~ Book lover, writer, and almost author

Title of Fiction book & year published

Animal Dreams 1990

Author name

Barbara Kingsolver

Type of book 

Women’s Fiction

What is it about this book that pulled you in?

JR ~ The protagonist’s sister travels to Nicaragua to help with crop rejuvenation after (well, during) the civil war in the 1980s. I was living in Nicaragua when I read this book (in 1995) so that probably had a lot to do with it. However, it wasn’t the sister that I could relate to, but the protagonist herself, Codi. I feel so much like Codi and understand her struggle to find her place in her own life story.

Is there a relationship in the story that resonated with you?

JR ~ Though we see the complicated relationship that Codi, the protagonist, has with her sister, her father, and her boyfriend, it is really the relationship she has with the town she grew up in that struck a chord with me.

Do you think that relationship was portrayed realistically?

JR ~ This relationship with the town felt authentic. As Codi grew up in the small town of Grace, Arizona, there were many factors that made her feel an outsider. As she returns to this town, she takes those memories with her and struggles with her own inability to accept that she need not be an outsider anymore.

Anything else you want to tell us about the book?

JR ~ Kingsolver, especially in her more recent works, focuses on themes of nature. This book is probably the birth of those themes with her stories, as well as mixing in a bit of social justice (which is also what pulled me in). At times her situational juxtapositions are a little forced in their metaphorical nature, but even after re-reading again just recently (for the 3^rd or 4^th time), I was able to overlook it. Frankly, I probably only really noticed because since my last read, I’ve written a couple books of my own. Ha.

A friend of mine uses the “did it make you laugh, think, and cry” meausure for good storytelling, and this definitely does all three for me.

Truly, Kingsolver’s prose is beautiful. If you read only one of her books, this should be the one.

  

If author or writer, your social media links:

http://twitter.com/ProfeJMarie

http://jmarierundquist.com

JHA ~ Thanks so much, Janet, for recommending this book! It sounds great, and I've been meaning to pick up one of Barbara's novels. It sounds like this should be the one!

Attention readers ~ Have YOU read this book?  If so, tell us what YOU thought of it!

***To leave a comment - Click the red 'comment' word below photo of book.

To follow this weekly book blog, just click the "Follow by email" link on the right side of this page, or sign up on my website through blogger or google plus.  

Interested in being a contributor? Contact me via email at jilla27@gmail.com. 

You will also find the list of upcoming contributors under the Fridayfictionfriend tab.  I'd love to hear from you if you have a great book to recommend.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE DOG, by author, SUSAN TAYLOR CHEHAK, recommended by author, Elizabeth (Beth) Havey

Author / Writer / Book Lover - which are you?

EH ~ AUTHOR, WRITER and BOOK LOVER    My own collection of short stories, A Mother’s Time Capsule, will be launched on May 1, 2015, just before Mother’s Day.

Title and year published

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE DOG   2015 

Author name

Susan Taylor Chehak

Type of book 

Fiction – collection of short stories

What is it about this book that pulled you in?

EH ~ Susan is always able to find that intimate detail that reveals so much about her characters. Her stories explore lives that we know, like ALL THE TIME, in which a son leaves the facility where his aging mother lives after having a stroke, only to make a wrong turn and get lost. As he struggles to correct his mistake, he realizes that he can’t redo the past. He has made wrong turns that are permanent. 

I have studied under Susan and read all of her novels. This is her most recent publication through her own FORVERLAND PRESS.

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/susan-taylor-chehak/its-not-about-the-dog/

Is there a relationship in the story that resonated with you?

EH ~ The characters in the story are in the 3^rd stage of life, dealing with second marriages, aging relationships. Their problems and cares mirror one’s own worries as life proceeds.

  

Do you think that relationship was portrayed realistically?

EH ~ Yes. In the story, DEAR MR. FANTASY, the main character wants to get rid of her husband’s dog as her husband has just died and that relationship had been a burden to her in his last years. Now the dog is a burden—but she learns that she should cling to the animal and what it stands for, rather than get rid of him. This is real life choice at its best.

Susan can tap into your heart and mind as you identify with the things in the rooms, the glances from one character to another, the gaps in conversation. And there is often a dog somewhere in the story.

Anything else you want to tell us about the book?

EH ~ These are short stories. Each one speaks to the reader on its own level. It is great reading for nighttime when you are tired and a short leap into fiction is all you need.  

  

If author or writer, your social media links:

http://boomerhighway.org/

http://twitter.com/BoomerHighway

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Boomer-Highway/194703633924247?ref=hl

https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.a.havey

http://www.pinterest.com/bethhavey/

JHA ~ Thanks so much, Beth, for recommending this book! I like the idea of short stories.

Attention readers ~ Have YOU read this book?  If so, tell us what YOU thought of it!

***To leave a comment - Click the red 'comment' word below photo of book.

To follow this weekly book blog, just click the "Follow by email" link on the right side of this page, or sign up on my website through blogger or google plus.  

Interested in being a contributor? Contact me via email at jilla27@gmail.com. 

You will also find the list of upcoming contributors under the Fridayfictionfriend tab.  I'd love to hear from you if you have a great book to recommend.

EQUILIBRIUM, by author, LORRIE THOMSON, recommended by writer, Jamie Raintree

Author / Writer / Book Lover - which are you?

JR ~ I’m a writer, hoping to be a published author soon. Definitely a book lover.

Title of Fiction book and year published

Equilibrium, 2013

Author name

Lorrie Thomson

Type of book

Women’s Fiction

What is it about this book that pulled you in?

JR ~ The first thing that pulled me in was Thomson’s beautiful writing. She has such a way with words and painted a vivid picture of the Klein’s life. As difficult as the Klein’s situation is, I still felt so at home in their home and I looked forward to picking up the book and spending time there.

Secondly, I was very intrigued by Laura’s conflicted feelings about her late husband. It gave the story a real-ness that made it hit home for me.

Is there a relationship in the story that resonated with you? 

JR ~ I really loved the relationship between Laura and Aidan, the man who moves into her husband’s old studio behind the house. I don’t want to give too much away, but I always love a character who comes in and encourages the main character to look at life in a different way.

Do you think that relationship was portrayed realistically?

JR ~ I do. I especially loved the way that Thomson made sure the kids were considered every step of the way. In some books where kids are involved, they are often off doing their own thing and not included in the journey that the main character goes through. Thomson did a great job of portraying that to a mother, her kids are the most important part of her life.

Anything else you want to tell us about the book?

JR ~ Equilibrium is told in two points-of-view: Laura’s and her teenage daughter’s, Darcy. Usually when there is more than one point-of-view, I favor one over the other, but in this case, I enjoyed both equally. Darcy’s point-of-view contrasted Laura’s perfectly, portraying two opposite, but equally understandable reactions to grief. I just really loved this book!

If author or writer, your social media links:

Website: http://jamieraintree.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/jamieraintreeauthor

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jamieraintree

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jamieraintree

Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamieraintree

JHA ~ Thanks so much, Jamie, for recommending this book! It has been on my TBR list for a while now and I need to move it up ~ it sounds great!

Attention readers ~ Have YOU read this book?  If so, tell us what YOU thought of it!

***To leave a comment - Click the red 'comment' word below photo of book.

To follow this weekly book blog, just click the "Follow by email" link on the right side of this page, or sign up on my website through blogger or google plus.  

Interested in being a contributor? Contact me via email at jilla27@gmail.com. 

You will also find the list of upcoming contributors under the Fridayfictionfriend tab.  I'd love to hear from you if you have a great book to recommend.