The Magician's Assistant, by Ann Patchett

As in Bel Canto, I was a hundred pages into this novel and still wondering why I hadn't given up. I'll tell you why I kept reading: It wasn't because the plot immediately compelled me. It wasn't because I connected with the characters or even understood them. I kept reading because State of Wonder and Bel Canto changed my life and I had faith that if I kept going, I wouldn't be sorry.

I was right.

Somewhere between the first hundred pages and the last hundred, I came to care so deeply for the characters, that I couldn't stand to be away from them. Even now, I want to jump back into the pages of the novel and say, "Scoot over. Make room for me. I want to spend more time with you."

I feel so sad that the story is over. I wish I would have dragged it out a little longer. The characters become so personable and intimate, and the plot, which seems insignificant in the first half of the story, has a major surprise by the end. How delightful you are, Ann Patchett! I can't wait to read another of your books!

Burning Bright, by Tracy Chevalier

Tracy Chevalier is one of my favorite authors. I've loved every book she's written, except this one. Although she created believable and endearing characters in Jem and Maggie, she failed to make the real star of the book, William Blake, much more than a friendly blur. If A Girl with Pearl Earring gave me insight into Vermeer, Burning Bright only more confused my understanding of Blake. The children's references to opposites, as an underpinning theme to Blake's Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, seemed forced, and most of the recitations of the poetry did as well.

I did enjoy getting to know the children in the story, who were very real and mostly endearing, as well as the English landscape, but the plot was only engaging in a few areas, unlike everything else Chevalier has written. Even my least favorite, Virgin Blue, was better than this one. What a disappointment.

Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett

After reading State of Wonder, I immediately returned to the bookstore to find another novel by Ann Patchett. I must admit, I was disappointed, at first. I had trouble getting into the various points of view. I kept wondering, "THIS was a bestseller?" But I knew the whole world couldn't be wrong in recommending this book, so I plowed onward.

Oh...my...God! I am so glad I read this novel! Patchett shows us the beautiful side of humanity and the love we can have for one another in spite of the violence around us. And the catalyst for the bond between people is the joy of music. This story is a study of the role of music, and by extension all of the arts, in bringing the best out of humanity.

I might have written the ending a little differently, but I was very pleased overall and would highly recommend this novel.

State of Wonder, by Ann Patchett

I was shocked when I read a description of this novel as "a creepy fountain of youth story." Those words are far from the ones I would use to describe this magnificent adventure story. If you want to experience authentic life in the Amazon jungle of South America; if you want to live among a fascinating tribe mostly untouched by modern civilization; if you want to witness the devotion of doctors to the betterment of humanity; and if you want to see this outrageously dangerous and beautiful adventure from the point of view of a lovely woman dedicated to both her work and her friends; then this novel, nothing like a fountain of youth tale, is for you. The characters and the setting, brilliantly crafted, linger in my mind long after closing the book. I can't wait to read it again.

I highly recommend this novel.

Gabriela Lessa's Contest: My Entry

REVISED AUG. 6th. Thanks for your comments! Is this better?

Eva Pohler

The Mystery Box

Commercial Fiction

90,000 words

Peter Lynch

One-sentence Pitch: When a box meant for her eccentric neighbor is delivered to Yvette,  she is lured into a horrifying trap and must pacify the neighbor to save her family.

     Yvette stepped up to her back-fence neighbor’s house and rang the bell. Her kids! She should have brought her kids along! They would want to meet Cruella De Ville. But it was too late; a woman opened the grimy front door and poked her head out.

     She looked younger than Yvette had expected and had rings beneath her beady brown eyes, and her red frizzy hair danced in all sorts of directions, as if it hadn’t seen a brush in a few days. She was shorter than Yvette, even as she slouched on the stoop of her doorstep, and thin—too thin. Her ratty pink robe was secured at the waist, and her hands hid in the front pockets. Her dingy socks hung loose around bony legs and ankles. She wore no shoes.

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

Spoiler Alert: My book club just finished the first book of this trilogy and most of us really enjoyed it. The time in the arena dragged in a few places for me, and although I saw the set up with Rue coming, it still worked! I cried my eyes out, but I do that easily, as the others in my club will tell you. I liked how a new tension is introduced once the games are over, and then again at the very end.

My favorite parts involve the creativity the author puts into the staging and the stylists and the interviews. I liked the costumes. I also liked the irony in the fact that Katniss is forced to please the very people she despises.

Did Anyone else think of PETA as you read Peeta?

Although I didn't like the wolf muttants at all (I kept seeing the werewolves in Twilight), I did enjoy the mockingjays and their songs and the mutant bees.

I do think so much more could have been done with the Peeta relationship, but maybe the author wanted to keep it tame for a PG audience. The violence though makes it PG13, I would think (though I was surprised that one of my friends found the violence too tame). Racier feelings could have gone along with that level of violence. I just didn't feel enough sexual tension in that relationship, but not everyone in my club agreed.

Although I like the new tension at the end of the novel, I would have liked to see Prim and Gale again at the end, Gale's expression especially. Some of the ladies in my club thought the ending was too abrupt.

Overall, I recommend this book.

What did you think? I hear the movie has been cast. Anyone know who's playing whom? I heard rumor that Donald Sutherland might be up for Haymitch.

His Dark Materials Trilogy, by Philip Pullman

I am fascinated by the many worlds and characters Pullman has created, and I enthusiastically recommend this trilogy to everyone--young and old. My book club hasn't read this trilogy yet, which consists of The Golden Compass (or The Northern Lights), The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. But I will encourage them to because it will provoke some interesting conversation.


The following may semi-spoil things. I'll try not to be too specific.

I was curious to see what all the hubbabaloo was about "killing God," and, I have to say, I disagree with the notion that that's what these characters do. I understand the story as showing a tyrannical "authority," who is not the true creator but an angel imposter, who has inspired the religious leaders to oppress its peoples by spreading lies and keeping them in ignorance, and it is Lyra and Will's duty to help Asriel and others overpower this imposter and his minions and establish a new kingdom of heaven that fosters knowledge and tolerance and diversity.

The novel is kind of saying that Lucifer was really the good angel and that some imposter--not the creator--flung him down from heaven, and ever since, things have been wrong. The new uprising overthrows the imposter and all the tyrannical, oppressive followers of that imposter, and then we start again in the garden, and instead of a serpent we have a scientist and other loving creatures who help the new Adam and Eve into truth and understanding and responsibility.

But the new Adam and Eve have to pay a price in order to help their respective worlds to succeed.

And Dust is consciousness--or understanding--which you have as an adult, but which the Church tried to prevent the people from having by severing their daemons from them before they settled. The Church saw Dust as something dangerous, but Asriel and Dr. Malone and so many others realized that without Dust the worlds would wither and die. 


Both The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife were FAST reads full of intrigue and delightful creativity. The Amber Spyglass was equally delightful in the amazingly creative worlds and inhabitants, but much more slowly paced. Over all, I highly recommend the entire trilogy.