Fall Literature Review

Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott. Buy it. Very entertaining, heartening story of what seemed to be an impossible convert to the Christian faith. The end of the book gets a little trod down in thematic chapters, but the first half to three-quarters is the fascinating story of her life.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Beware for very outright new-age ("put it out there in the universe and see what it gives you back") themes. I've been meaning to read this for a long time now. It was a good story, but definitely a comfy little couch of worldiness.

Big Fish by Dan Wallace. Movie's better.

Peace Like A River by Lief Enger. Some highly readable storytelling. I couldn't put it down for the first half. The plot gets a little heavy, but definitely a recommendable work. It reads like a river.

Plan B by Anne Lamott. Thought I would love this, but found it a bit too opinionated and the prose a bit too aware of itself.

Holy the Firm by Annie Dillard. Takes herself a little too seriously. That old adage of the writers who live in a solitary cabin overlooking the bay, stare moodily and work on their "craft?" I think we found a live one... I have enjoyed other works by her - The Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and the monumental An American Childhood. Still can't find my socks from that one.

Persuasion by Jane Austen. Chalk it up to a melancholy mood but I read it. It's no P&P but it is tolerable I suppose.


ehh? all this nonrequired reading in the third semester of my graduate career? i just love my library card.