Erin Reads

Reading Buddies: June Pick

Erin — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:00:09 +0000

First, a reminder: we’re reading Moments of Being by Virginia Woolf this month! I’ll be posting about it on May 18 and June 1. Woolf takes me longer to read, so I’m glad to have that extra week. Will you be joining me?

Also, the poll for July is up in the sidebar. Vote for your pick! If you’d like more information about the options, you can find it here: Possession by A.S. Byatt, All the Names by Jose Saramago, and Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev.

Okay! And now, without further ado, the June 2012 Reading Buddies pick will be…Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks!

I’ve never read anything by Brooks before, despite having owned our June pick for quite some time. I’ll post about it on June 15 and 29. Here’s a summary from Goodreads to pique your interest:

“When an infected bolt of cloth carries plague from London to an isolated village, a housemaid named Anna Frith emerges as an unlikely heroine and healer. Through Anna’s eyes we follow the story of the fateful year of 1666, as she and her fellow villagers confront the spread of disease and superstition. As death reaches into every household and villagers turn from prayers to murderous witch-hunting, Anna must find the strength to confront the disintegration of her community and the lure of illicit love. As she struggles to survive and grow, a year of catastrophe becomes instead annus mirabilis, a ‘year of wonders.’

“Inspired by the true story of Eyam, a village in the rugged hill country of England, Year of Wonders is a richly detailed evocation of a singular moment in history.”

Sounds good to me. What do you think? Sound interesting?

Reading Buddies Wrap-Up: “The House of Mirth” by Edith Wharton

Erin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:00:27 +0000

One week left to vote for June’s book! Be sure to pick your favorite from the poll in the sidebar.

Warning: spoilers ahead!

I just finished listening to The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, our April book, yesterday. I have mixed feelings. I think Wharton is a wonderful writer. She excels at creating characters and building their lives, and she clearly has a keen sense of how the society in which she grew up functions. But I never seem to walk away from her books totally satisfied. (Yes, I realize this may be intentional on Wharton’s part, but it doesn’t make her books sit any better with me!)

I understand that Lily is out of options — at least, options she recognizes as such. She has no money, no prospects, no real chances of marriage. She feels she has failed completely. But I’m not sure I believe Lily meant to overdose, at least not consciously. Why, then, did Wharton make that overdose fatal? Is she making a statement about the toxic effects of high society? Is it what she feels Lily deserves for not being able to make anything of herself? Is it the most humane way to end Lily’s suffering? Or is it what Lily herself secretly desires but cannot openly admit?

I remember feeling discontent like this after finishing both Ethan Frome and The Age of Innocence. Wharton never ends her stories the way I want them to end — even if, perhaps, the ending she chooses is the “correct” one. I’m starting to feel like I have to approach her books warily, to guard myself against the courses she follows. I find her stories fascinating and so well written, yet I don’t feel like I can completely abandon myself to them.

Anyway. Back to the story. I said in my discussion post that I liked Selden. Well, that certainly changed. What a wuss. My affection and respect for him just kept dropping as the story moved forward. I don’t want to say “serves him right” that he couldn’t have what he finally realized he wanted…but it sort of does. Rosedale, on the other hand, almost redeemed himself a little. Almost. And I did have to respect Lily for the fact that, even though she was so helpless, she tried her best to stick to her principles and keep a bit of her dignity. After the final chapter, though, I was left feeling like there wasn’t anyone in the book I really, truly liked enough to continue caring about, even though I enjoyed it intellectually.

I thought Wharton did a great job portraying the society in which Lily was raised. The contrast between the beginning of the book and the end was so sharp in part, I think, because of how well Wharton painted the former. I could really understand how plain and lowly Lily’s life had become because I had been so steeped in its former glory. At the same time, though, I’d not want to live among those people for anything! So cold and calculating, never spontaneous, every move plotted in advance to produce a particular effect. So frivolous and devoid of real meaning.

Overall, I still feel like Wharton’s novels are masterfully written and worth reading. I’m happy to have read this third novel by her. I still can’t count her among my favorite authors, though.

If you’ve read The House of Mirth, what did you think? And if you posted about it for Reading Buddies on your own site, please share the link in the comments!

Sunday Salon: Where I’ve Been, What I’ve Been Doing, and Why

Erin — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 11:00:22 +0000

Happy Sunday, everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve participated in Sunday Salon. In fact, if you stop by fairly regularly you might have noticed my posting here on Erin Reads has slowed down quite a bit. If you’re a fellow book blogger, you might also have noticed I’ve not been making the comment rounds lately. I apologize for cutting back without explanation. Better late than never, though, right?

I’ll do my best to explain. The story starts out pretty predictably — new job, no time, etc. — but then it goes somewhere I’d never have predicted three months ago!

The Predictable Part

Toward the end of last year, as I mentioned at the time, I got a job. I’d been planning on part time but couldn’t turn down a full time bookstore job. That, on top of school, left me with little time for reading, much less blogging and commenting. Then I found myself drawn almost exclusively to nonfiction in what little reading time I did have, and that’s a type of book that’s sort of outside my reviewing comfort zone. Hence, the slow trickling away of my book thoughts posts.

The Twist

Then, about a month ago, I happened across a book at work, completely by chance. While deciding which section to shelve it in, I ended up poking through it. I bought it, devoured it, and — yes, I know this sounds a touch nutty — was changed by it. Appropriate, isn’t it, that what I’m about to relate started with a book?

A new path to explore

The book was The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau (and it is not as out-there as it sounds!). It shifted my perspective, snapped me out of the spot where I’d been stuck, and gave me the kick in the pants I needed to…well, get my butt in gear.

I realized: this is it. These tiny moments that make up each day are my life. I don’t want to simply exist as they pass by unnoticed. I don’t want to think “I’ll get to that someday.” How we spend our moments is how we spend our lives, and there is so much I want to do in my life.

Once I started really thinking about them, I realized I have so many interests and goals I want to pursue. When I let myself put them into words instead of half ignoring them, they came pouring out. I was amazed — so many things I hadn’t even realized I wanted.

What’s Next

I’ve learned from running Erin Reads that writing publicly about something both keeps you focused on that thing and makes you highly accountable for keeping up with it. So, I’ve been working hard to set up another set of sites and profiles for this massive, life-changing project of chasing down dreams of all sizes. It’s my space to put myself out there, experiment, reflect, commit, and hopefully inspire and interact with others. It’s a bit scary to be so open, so vulnerable, without the protective shield of books to hide behind. But that’s part of the point.

I’m not shutting down Erin Reads. In fact, Reading Buddies will continue (I love that project!) on its monthly basis, and I very much hope many of you will join me in the months ahead. For now, though, I’m giving myself official permission to let go of regular reviews in order to focus on my new project. I am so, so excited. I’m smiling as I type this. I can hardly wait.

Of course, anyone who would like to join me on my journey is warmly invited to do so. I have found a home in the book blogging community and would love to have a piece of it with me as I set out. But if you’re here for the books, I’ll understand if you prefer to stay here or even part ways. No hard feelings.

Where You’ll Find Me

Okay! So without further ado, I’d like to invite you to my new online home: {re}made by hand! There’s a post up today on the site about how I chose the name, if you’re curious. Here are the links:

The main site (broader reflections, outlines, project cornerstones, and the like): http://remadebyhand.com
Tumblr (day-to-day mini-reflections, photos, and related): http://remadebyhand.tumblr.com
Twitter (typical Twitter chit-chat!): http://twitter.com/remadebyhand
Facebook (a central place for all the updates): http://facebook.com/remadebyhand
Pinterest (still pretty much just personal but to be involved in a future project): http://pinterest.com/remadebyhand

I already have a project going with my husband through the site. We’re calling it Project 365 x 2. Every day for a year, we’re each getting rid of one thing that’s outlived its usefulness in our lives, posting photos on Tumblr and Facebook. There will be many more projects to come.

Also, only somewhat related, who uses Instagram?? I was so excited when they finally launched the Android app, but I feel a little like I’ve been left in the dust. How do I find people? Anyone want to be friends on there (or whatever the Instagram equivalent is)? Come find me! I’m…surprise!…remadebyhand!

So anyway. That’s why I’ve been MIA and what I’ll be up to, at least for the foreseeable future. I wish you a lovely Sunday.

What are your plans for today? And of course…read anything good lately?

Reading Buddies Discussion: “The House of Mirth” by Edith Wharton

Erin — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:00:43 +0000

Welcome, Reading Buddies! Just a reminder: the June poll is up. Make sure you vote for your pick! Also, as announced last week, in May we’ll be reading Moments of Being by Virginia Woolf.

The House of Mirth is the third novel by Edith Wharton that I’ve read, and I think so far I’m enjoying it most. I’m listening to the audiobook version read by Anna Fields, and while I do think I’m missing the subtler points of writing and character development and such that I’d catch in print, overall the audio is working out just fine. At this point, I’m about halfway through.

My version includes an intro that I found rather fascinating. Wharton, it turns out, was a pretty interesting person. Did you know she was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for literature, which she received in 1921 for The Age of Innocence? Or that she was a friend of Henry James, who urged her to turn her literary talents toward New York?

Some other interesting facts, from the intro to my edition and from Wikipedia:

Wharton was born in 1862 in New York City and died in 1937 of a stroke.
Some say the expression “keeping up with the Joneses” referred to her father’s family.
She ended up divorcing her husband, Edward Robbins Wharton, after 23 years of marriage. After the divorce she moved permanently to France.
In addition to being an author, Wharton was a garden and interior designer.
Published in 1905, The House of Mirth was Wharton’s first novel to focus on old New York.
The original title for The House of Mirth was A Moment’s Ornament (taken from one of Wordsworth’s poems), and Wharton’s working title was The Year of the Rose. The House of Mirth refers to Ecclesiastes 7:4: “The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.”

Lily Bart, the novel’s central character, is one of the few people in the novel I find I really like. Actually, my feelings toward her are rather complicated: I like her spunk, am annoyed by her helplessness, and feel uncomfortable for her as she tries to work out the best path through the society of the wealthy. I admire that she tries to fend for herself, since she does not have a mother, for instance, to arrange a marriage for her, but I get frustrated when social norms and her own instilled beliefs get in her way. She can be so coy and flighty that I feel like I should be fed up with her, yet compared to the women around her — meek and resentful, cold and calculating, uptight and scandalized — she is rather endearing. She is like a single bright spot, floundering helplessly in a sea of uncaring and superficial souls.

The other character I find myself drawn to, of course, is Lawrence Selden. Like Lily with her female compatriots, Selden stands out in sharp relief to the timid Gryce, the overbearing Trenor, and the stuffy, annoying Dorset. I don’t know where the story is going, exactly, but I have a feeling Lily and Selden will be forever missing one another.

I think it’s apparent in Wharton’s writing that she both knows the ins and outs of New York high society intimately and that she does not look upon that society favorably. The things with which Lily feels compelled to occupy her time, the problems with which she concerns herself, the tug-of-war between what she subconsciously wants and what she must outwardly appear to desire create an inner turmoil within Lily that does not reflect well on the society that creates it. There is, for instance, the day Selden turns up at Bellomont: by interrupting Selden and Bertha and then spending the day with the former instead of meeting Percy Gryce, Lily has managed to undo the future she’d been (admittedly half-heartedly) working toward. The consequences are irrevocably fixed before Lily even discovers what she’s done.

Finally, there is the matter of Gus Trenor. I feel so bad for Lily, who is clearly in over her naive little head when it comes to him. I’ve only just gotten to the altercation in the Trenor home between Gus and Lily, so I don’t know how that will play out. He strikes me as the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing, circling round and round and slowly closing in on his young prey. And yet at the same time, he’s sort of just a big dumb lout. I marvel at Wharton’s ability to craft these impossibly complex characters.

That’s all for me for today. Over to you: how are you liking The House of Mirth so far?

Reading Buddies: May Pick

Erin — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:00:39 +0000

Okay, Reading Buddies. That was our closest poll to date! We ended up with two books tied for first and the third just a vote behind. I flipped a coin. But before I announce the winner, I’d just like to remind you that our April book, to be discussed on April 13 and 27, is The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton!

And now, without further ado…our May read will be…

Moments of Being by Virginia Woolf! I’ve meant to read this one for such a long time. I think it’s a perfect book to tackle as a group, since Virginia Woolf can seem a little intimidating, especially if you’ve never read her before. I’ll be posting about May’s book on May 18 and June 1. I’m looking forward to reading Moments of Being with whoever wants to join me!

To tempt you, here’s what Wikipedia has to say about the title, Moments of Being:

“The title for the collection was chosen by its original editor, Jeanne Schulkind, based on a passage from ‘Sketch of the Past’ [one of the essays]. As described by Woolf, ‘moments of being’ are moments in which an individual experiences a sense of reality, in contrast to the states of ‘non-being’ that dominate most of an individual’s conscious life, in which they are separated from reality by a protective covering. Moments of being could be a result of instances of shock, discovery or revelation.”

I know I’m intrigued…and a little nervous!

The other two books — Possession by A.S. Byatt and Tess of the D’urbervilles by Thomas Hardy — will definitely be making another appearance at a later date. So if one of those was your choice, never fear. We’ll get to them!

For June’s choices, I’m bringing back some of the second place finishers from earlier polls. The choices? Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks, If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino, and Black Swan Green by David Mitchell. Which one will get your vote?

Reading Buddies Wrap-Up: “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith

Erin — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:00:48 +0000

Howdy Reading Buddies! How did you like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith? I must admit, I’ve only been reading it at bedtime and am still 50 pages from the end. Hopefully I’ll be able to finish tonight. Feel free to discuss the end, though, if you’d like!

Overall, I’ve enjoyed this reread. As I mentioned in our discussion, I hardly remembered anything from my first time through A Tree Grows in Brooklyn as a young teen, but the general sense I got from the book both times felt the same. I mentioned in my earlier post that at the novel’s start, instead of being closer to Francie’s age I was now closer to Katie’s. It’s funny, but as Francie started to grow up, went out into the so-called real world and started to act less like a kid, I found myself again identifying with her more than with Katie, despite our age gap.

I think one of my favorite parts about A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is how well Smith captured the relationships between the Nolan parents and their children. I think it’s very perceptive of Francie to have figured out that she and Katie are too similar, that Katie loves Neeley differently and perhaps more, for example. These dynamics, along with the inner monologues Smith occasionally provided for her characters (Katie in at the ice cream shop graduation party comes to mind), gave a depth to the Nolans and did much to really bring them to life.

I also enjoyed the series of vignettes that makes up the novel. Instead of following a smooth, linear path, reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is like dropping in on a succession of short scenes separated by temporal jumps of varying lengths. Despite all the hopping, though, I didn’t feel like the narrative was choppy — a feat I found impressive on the part of the author.

I can see why some feel Smith can get a little preachy. In this particular novel, that style didn’t get to me, as it seemed somehow to meld with the characters and their situations. But, I can imagine where it could get out of hand in a different narrative setting. I have Joy in the Morning on my shelf and plan to give it a try at some point.

What were your thoughts on A Tree Grows in Brooklyn? Do tell! If you posted about the book on your own blog, please leave a link in the comments so I can check it out. Oh — and be sure to vote for May’s book if you haven’t done so! It’s our closest poll to date!

Reading Buddies Discussion: “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith

Erin — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:00:08 +0000

Welcome, Reading Buddies! Before we get into A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, please take a moment to vote for your May pick over in the sidebar. The numbers are neck and neck (and neck), so if you haven’t voted, definitely chime in!

It’s been slow going for me this month, not because of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn itself but because of limited reading time. I tried listening to the recording my library had, but the narration was so wooden and clashed so badly with the feel of the novel that I had to stop! I’ve just reached Chapter XIX. Feel free to discuss any part of the book, though.

Let’s start off with a bit about Betty Smith (I typed “Betty White” first…I must be tired!) from lovely Wikipedia. She was born toward the end of 1896 and spent her childhood in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, which is where her inspiration for A Tree Grows in Brooklyn arose. Published in 1943, our current Reading Buddies pick was Smith’s first novel; she went on to publish three more. She married, had two daughters, divorced, and remarried, living to be 75.

Fun fact: did you know A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was adapted to be a musical??? That’s news to me! In fact, Smith had dramatic training and co-authored the book to the 1951 musical adaptation.

When I first started (re)reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn earlier this month, I had a “whoa!” moment. When I read the book the first time as a young teen, I was closer to Francie’s age. This time around, I’m basically Katie’s. I hardly remember a thing about my initial reading, but I’m 100% sure I saw the book differently then than I do now!

I vaguely remember being very wrapped up in Francie during my first reading, probably because she was the character whose time in life most closely matched my own. I find myself savoring the tiny tender and bittersweet moments this time through I’m sure I missed the first time: the way Katie reads the two pages to her kids every day because her mother told her she must, how she cannot bring herself to accompany Francie and Neely to receive their vaccinations, how Johnny cares for Francie’s infected arm. Smith has a glorious knack for infusing humanity into the most basic level of her story.

I really enjoyed the first part of the book, which basically follows Francie through a Saturday’s worth of activities. I loved all the details, from how much each item cost and what each meal involved to the unspoken rules and routines. And when Francie takes up her perch “in” the tree to read — I found myself dreaming I had my own such spot!

I can’t quite put into words Smith’s writing style. It strikes me as straightforward, immediate, and no-nonsense, and yet through it she expresses so much. It took me a few chapters to settle into it, but I think it matches the story and its characters beautifully. I’ve not read anything else by Smith, but I’m curious whether it really is her writing style or just the tone she chose for A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

So, how are you enjoying A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith?

Reading Buddies: April Pick

Erin — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 12:00:32 +0000

The votes are in, and the Reading Buddies book for April will be…The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton! You guys have seriously been on a classics kick lately, and I’m loving it. It’s been years since I read my most recent Wharton novel (Age of Innocence) and I’ve been meaning to read another. I’ll be posting about The House of Mirth on April 13 and 27. Will you be reading along?

Also, a reminder that we’re currently reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. It’s not to late to jump in! Since March has five Fridays, I’ll post about A Tree Grows in Brooklyn on March 16 and 30, which gives us a whole extra week to get through this one.

And finally, it’s voting time! Be sure to pick the book you’d most like to see Reading Buddies tackle in May in the poll on the right. Your choices are (links go to Goodreads summaries): Moments of Being by Virginia Woolf, Possession by A.S. Byatt, and Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. Now go! Vote! I’m looking forward to seeing what you pick!

Reading Buddies Wrap-Up: “The Razor’s Edge” by W. Somerset Maugham

Erin — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:00:21 +0000

Welcome, Reading Buddies! First, a reminder: be sure to vote for April’s book in the poll in the sidebar!

Well! How did you like The Razor’s Edge? When I posted two weeks ago, I’d hardly read enough of the novel to have much of an opinion. I just finished the book yesterday and very much enjoyed it.

I think one of the things I liked best about The Razor’s Edge was how none of the characters was explicitly good or evil and how each of them seemed to represent a particular worldview or way of life without being reduced to stock characters or mere mouthpieces for Maugham’s ideas. They played well against each other without any of them seeming false or underdeveloped, I thought.

I also enjoyed the more philosophical aspects to the novel, mostly introduced by Larry but responded to by the others. I found their conversations and commentaries fascinating and thought Maugham did an admirable job working these sections into his novel without letting them feel disconnected from the narrative.

I’ve spent some time considering whether or not I had a favorite character. I don’t think I actually did. I somehow liked the narrator, even though he revealed next to nothing about himself. There was something endearing about Elliott, even as he snubbed those he felt unworthy. Passionate Isabel and good-natured Gray played their roles admirably. And then, of course, there was Larry. Of all the characters, I think I respected him most. It’s not that he was the only character who went after his dreams — it was just that his dreams required him to take the biggest step away from the norm, I felt. He did what he felt he had to do, regardless of society’s expectations and the reactions of his friends. What began as “loafing” became something much more, and in the end, I do think he found his path.

Speaking of the end, Maugham closes the novel thusly:

“…to my intense surprise it dawned upon me that without in the least intending to I had written nothing ore or less than a success story. For all the persons with whom I have been concerned got what they wanted: Elliott social eminence; Isabel an assured position backed by a substantial fortune in an active and cultured community; Gray a steady and lucrative job, with an office to go to from nine till six every day; Suzanne Rouvier security; Sophie death; and Larry happiness. And however superciliously the highbrows carp, we the public in our heart of hearts all like a success story; so perhaps my ending is not so unsatisfactory after all.” (p. 314)

Do you agree that the characters got what they wanted? I’m not so sure about Sophie, but as for the rest, I’d say they did. Even though some of them — I’m thinking of Isabel here — thought they wanted something else, or something additional, I do think each managed to fulfill his or her top priority. I do think it’s interesting that Larry is the only one Maugham says got happiness; is he implying none of the other characters attained it? Do you agree that “we the public” love a success story? And finally, the author doesn’t mention himself in that list. What did he want, and did he get it?

The verdict? I’ll be reading more of Maugham. Thanks to you for choosing The Razor’s Edge for February’s Reading Buddies book, and for reading it with me! If you posted about this month’s read on your own blog, please leave a link to your post in the comments.

Thoughts on “The Magician’s Assistant” by Ann Patchett (Audiobook)

Erin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

After disliking both Bel Canto and State of Wonder, I’d all but given up on Ann Patchett’s novels. JoAnn suggested I try The Magician’s Assistant as a last chance, and I chose to listen to it.

About the Book:

It isn’t until the charismatic Parsifal, Sabine’s husband and the magician she assisted for years, dies suddenly that Sabine discovers his secret: the family he claimed perished in a car accident long ago is actually alive and well in middle-of-nowhere Nebraska. When Kitty and Dot Fetters, sister and mother, respectively, of Guy Fetters — that’s Parsifal to Sabine — decide to visit Los Angeles to meet Sabine and see where Guy lived, Sabine finds herself drawn into Parsifal’s past, seeking comfort in these women who were so close to her husband and partner so long ago.

Does that (somewhat clumsy) summary make this one sound odd? Don’t get too hung up on it. Patchett manages to make it all work, somehow!

My Thoughts:

My issue with the two other Patchett novels I’ve read has been the ending. I enjoyed both books until the final pages, where the directions in which Patchett took both stories effectively severed my emotional connection to them — a rather disappointing conclusion to any book! I was pleasantly surprised to find that The Magician’s Assistant worked somewhat opposite for me, drawing me further and further inside itself as the story moved forward and (thankfully!) never letting go.

At first, I didn’t think I’d be able to connect much with Sabine, a glamorous magician’s assistant living the a cushy life in Los Angeles with her husband and his gay lover (I’ll let you read the book yourself to learn about that situation). Yet, as Sabine’s story unfolded, I found myself warming to her as she struggled to come to terms with her grief and redefine her suddenly solitary life. Through the Fetters family, Sabine encounters a world so different from her own that it both forces her to face reality and helps her on her journey. Patchett ended The Magician’s Assistant in precisely the right place, in my opinion, which left me feeling both satisfied and relieved this particular ending hadn’t gone the way of the others of Patchett’s I’d read!

The audiobook was read by Karen Ziemba. She’s a new narrator to me, but I liked the way her cool, polished voice matched the way I imagined Sabine. I very much enjoyed the audio production and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.

Has The Magician’s Assistant restored my willingness to try more by Ann Patchett? I’d say it has. I do have Run and The Patron Saint of Liars on my shelf already, so I’m sure I’ll try at least one of those. For readers who have had similarly disappointing experiences with Ann Patchett’s novels, The Magician’s Assistant is different enough that I’d recommend it as a nice change of pace. Thanks to JoAnn for suggesting it to me!

Those are my thoughts. Check out The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett on Goodreads or LibraryThing, read other bloggers’ reviews, or listen to an Audible sample!