Cloud Cuckoo Land - Anthony Doerr ------------------ 2 Stars

I think I had forgotten how much I disliked Doerr's first book, All the Light We Cannot See, when I decided to pick up his newest novel, Cloud Cuckoo Land. I had incorrectly remembered that I enjoyed his first book (should have read by my blog first!), so I thought his newest novel might be a great read too. Well, deja vu all over again!

I don't what it is about Doerr's books, but I would imagine this is the last I will read. And, like his last book, Cloud Cuckoo Land is well regarded and positively reviewed by many readers. In fact, as I checked out people's thoughts about the book after finishing, I was shocked that people enjoyed the novel as much as they did. It was as if they were reading a different novel. While I do appreciate the book slightly more after finishing, I really can't come around to saying I enjoyed it.

Quick premise - the book is about five main characters who live in three different timelines but all interconnected by a story more than two millennia old that reaches them in their different lives. While all distinct and unique people, there are commonalities between them (outsiders who are facing significant adversity and challenge) that make their connections noteworthy. While it's a cumbersome and confusing structure, ultimately, it didn't take away from the story. Rather, it did add depth to the novel and kept me interested in learning more about the varying storylines. 

So, why not a better rating? Well, at the end of most days reading, it just wasn't entertaining to me. The book was monotonous and the individual stories told were just not exciting. I kept waiting and hoping things would improve but it just never got traction for me,
and I found myself rarely being interested in what was going to next happen in the story. During the final few chapters and ending it did get slightly more interesting as it was the first time it was clear how the stories connected, and while it was the most interested I was during my entire read, I couldn't get over the previous hundreds of pages that were much less engaging.

Certainly I would not recommend this book to others but it feels like this author and I just don't get along. This novel, along with his first, are highly regarded by many, and like many things in life, people have different tastes. So, perhaps it is worth giving it a try, but just remember if you don't enjoy it, I tried to warn you :). 

Daniel Silva - First Four Books of Gabriel Allon Series ------------ 4 Stars

About two months ago I began reading The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva. It was gifted to me along with the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th books of a series of spy novels about Gabriel Allon. At the time, I figured I would read one and blog about them as I have done with all my other reads over the years. After flying through the first book and beginning the second, I realized how addicting these books were and also how similar the stories. Realizing it would be four very similar blog posts, I decided to read them all and then review the lot of them; so here we are.

While all four novels are slightly different, they all revolve around an Israeli spy, Gabriel Allon, who is posing (and is) one of the greatest art restorers in the world. Through the different stories he gets torn out of his pedestrian life to help Israel and their CIA type organization go after or kill bad people. While his Jewishness is at the core of the books, the last few novels have a much stronger focus on bringing people to justice who supported or were Nazi's in the 40's. And, while these books are fiction, based on the acknowledgements and endnotes, it's clear that much of the story is based in fact and there are many, many people who never faced justice for their hand in supporting the deaths of 12 million people during the Holocaust. This includes those in a number of non-German countries and some non-Jewish religious organizations.

While Silva, the author, clearly attempts to make the reader aware of certain parts of history swept under the proverbial rug, these novels captivate the reader mostly due to the great storytelling. From the moment I started the first book, I was pretty hooked as the author has a knack for making the reader stays engaged while also layering enough background to really keep the reader interested in the characters. While there are some memorable actions sequences, much of the novel is most interesting because of the spycraft and details included. Understanding the preparation, strategy, and implementation of plans are often the most satisfying parts of the story.

As the link above noted, there are 22 books in the Gabriel Allon series. I read the first four. While I think the first two or three were my favorite (the fourth wasn't quite as strong in my opinion), I am going to give it a break for a while before taking on the other 18. While I think I probably would enjoy them and continue to be entertained and they are fairly quick reads, there are so many great books out there and want to keep moving on. Gabriel Allon - really enjoyed getting to know you! ☺️

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson -------------------- 2.5 Stars

On my list for many years, I finally got around to reading Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter Thompson's, classic 1971 book that started the idea of "gonzo journalism." While a famous book that shocked readers at the time (and led to a mediocre movie decades letter), I struggled to enjoy the book as much as I hoped.

I'm not sure if I've read a book quiet like this; though I am not sure it's a compliment. As I did some digging after finished, I learned that this story included a mix of fact and fiction. Shared from the first person narrative of the author, the story is a mix of real life events and fictional additions. And while this would sound like an engaging read, I struggled with the content of the story. To be frank, the book is incredibly explicit as it has atrocious language, constant and detailed drug references, and many examples of violence and sexual exploits. The plot in the book is quite limited and vaguely about a journalist needing to be in Vegas to report on a racing event (though, in part 2, hanging around to join an anti-drug conference).

Unlike my previous review which piqued my interest and made me want to watch the film based on the novel, I had no such interest here. While it was made into a major motion picture in 1998, between the content of the story and the poor reviews of the movie, I had no interest in watching. Ultimately, I think my dislike is based on my inability to feel connected or even care about the characters. While the story is somewhat interesting, this book is really detailing how to take drugs and how people feel on drugs. Further, it covers many drugs I was not even aware of. I literally had to Google many of the drugs referenced. In addition, there was a monotony about how the characters dealt with their drug use that became boring quickly into the story. On occasion, I would find myself somewhat interested in the characters escapades, but the author could rarely keep an interesting storyline going without defaulting back to details about a drug trip.

With all that being said, I can appreciate the novel for what it is. I understand that it was a commentary about the '60s and parts of that generation. I get that Thompson was trying to offer viewpoints about a multitude of issues. His hate of Nixon, the misunderstanding from many about the ills of using drugs, the problems with capitalism, what is the real goal of the "American Dream", etc. And even though I understand those items, I simply didn't find myself enjoying the book. And while I am happy I read it (and it was short), I am not confident I can endorse it strongly to others.

The World According to Garp - John Irving -------------------- 3.5 Stars

I am not sure why or how The World According to Garp made my "to read" list. I know it's been on there a long time (like 5 years) and I only picked it up as I was seeking a book in paper form and saw it in the library (perhaps a blog later about the digital vs. paper divide). Although I finished it a week ago, I've been struggling to figure out if: a) I liked it, b) why I did/did not like it, c) what it's really about.

I ended up landing with 3.5 stars as I really couldn't figure out how much I enjoyed the book. There were parts I couldn't put down and read quickly, while other times I had wished I didn't pick it up. And, even with the parts that were highly entertaining, I wasn't sure often what to make of the content. The book has been out over four decades so it's been around a while and there was (I think) a pretty popular movie based on the book that starred Robin Williams and Glenn Close that I watched after in hopes that it would give me more insights into the book (it really didn't).

The book is mostly a story about the character Garp - literally from when he was born to his death. His experiences growing up, turning into a writer, raising a family, and having marital issues. And while the book is fairly straightforward, I would classify the book is weird. I was trying to figure out what it reminded me of and I think the closest comparison I could make connections with was David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest (review here). That book, unlike this, is a masterpiece and beloved but there is a similar oddness to it. Both have a make believe quality (that seems based in reality but not really) that makes you question what you are reading and the connections to the book's themes as a whole. I did Google parts of this book to see if the references were real or unreal (almost all were fictional). The book also has many explicit parts that I was surprised to see in this book - partly because of its age and partly because I just figured it would be more wholesome.

So all of this leads to the final part - what was this book about? Usually, I don't get too focused on that part. Mostly because it's usually easy to tell and I'm mostly reading for entertainment. But when I finished and didn't know, it bothered me. Ironically, the edition I read was the 20th anniversary and Irving, the author, attempted to answer this question himself. And he too struggled! While he waxed thoughtfully about whether this was a coming of age story, a feminist focused novel, or about the power of lust, he too was not able to fully answer the question.

Which, upon review, is probably why the book is well regarded. While not the most entertaining story, it did pull on many of my emotions (humor, sadness, etc.) and did make me think. I guess a book could do a lot worst.  

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage - Alfred Lansing --------------- 4 Stars

Oh, how I do love summer. So much time to read! This is the last book I finished prior to the summer coming to a close for me, and it was a good one. It also put me at over 2,500 pages in the past few months. No other time during the year do I get to enjoy so much uninterrupted reading time. So, back to this current review; Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage was a superb way to finish the summer.

Written by Alfred Lansing in 1959, this book tells the amazing story of the polar explorer Ernest Shackleton's adventure in Antarctica in 1914. The book is about how these explorers' boat was trapped, crushed, and their amazing journey to safety.  Interestingly, this book was not well received when it was released in the early 1960s to the point that hardly anyone was aware of it. Thankfully, the book was discovered and reviewed by the NY times many year later and became a bestselling novel well after Lansing's death. 

Upon looking back at my reviews, I clearly have a strong interest in these type of adventure stories. Here is my review of Alive from '09, which mentions my enjoyment of both Touching the Void and Into Thin Air previously (all books are tremendous and highly recommended). Likes those other books, this also tells the story of near death experiences for these amazing men. 

On a positive, the book is really well told and the author does an amazing job of explaining, in detail, the most critical parts of this nearly 24 month journey. This includes details of the 1,000 mile journey from start until finish. How you might ask? Well, many of these explorers kept copious journals. That, coupled with in-person interviews with many aboard, allowed him to recreate the experience that these men went through during those horrid two years.

Not too many downsides of this book. Some might find it to narrow in scope and repetitive. As I mentioned, the author was very detailed in his storytelling and there are parts that can bore from time to time. Similarly, while there was much adventure and danger during this incredible story, much of the two years was spent sitting and waiting or slowly moving from place to place. However, the fact that the author makes this story as exciting as it is, is a true testament to his strong writing. Finally, and this may be more a personal challenge, even by the end I was confused with some of the vocabulary. Much of the descriptions of parts of an early 20th century boat, odd foods, or types of ice were lost on me (examples - grog, pemmican, floes, ballast, forecastle, mizzen, keel, etc.). 

The adventure is beyond astounding. While the crew of the Endurance quickly realized they were not going to be able to carry out their mission, their strong faith in themselves and one another, makes for one of the greatest real-life adventure stories of all time.

PS - If you do happen to read this book or have any interest in it at all, check out the recent discovery made of the original Endurance boat earlier this year.

PPS - Also, watch this incredible documentary from 1919 with real footage from the adventure. Although a non-speaking movie, it's a fantastic viewing.

The Lincoln Highway - Amor Towles ------------------- 3 Stars

A few years ago I read the well reviewed and mildly entertaining A Gentleman in Moscow (review here), by this same author. I had seen The Lincoln Highway getting similar positive buzz, so I thought I'd give it a try. While a more accessible book, I did not find it nearly as enjoyable.

Set in the 1950s, the story is a coming of age novel for a set of brothers and two other teenagers that go on a number of adventures in search of different things. Unlike A Gentleman in Moscow, the book is set in American (both the midwest and New York City) and was an easier read to follow and engage with. 

Unfortunately, I found the story less strong and characters not nearly as easy to root for. While I would never call the story boring, it did move at a pedestrian pace and the "cuteness" and likeability of characters that is now becoming a hallmark of Towles storytelling was simply less apparent with this read.

My other main complaint was with the logistics of his storytelling. While the book is a written in the third person, the author would change the focus, and perspective of the story, by chapter to focus upon a different main character. While this was a welcome technique in the early chapters, I found it frustrating by the end. Although it did give the reader varying perspectives about occurrences, I also found it retold actions multiple times to ensure the reader was clear about a different characters placement for a previously told part of the story. By the end, it felt like I was basically re-reading passages when it shifted to a new chapter.

On a positive, it's still a pretty engaging story. While not as good as his previous book, the author is still a good storyteller, and it's hard to not root for certain characters or feel the nostalgia of the 1950s and many pop references was over you. In addition, in the final pages you could finally understand more about certain characters motivations and more was illuminated about previous choices made in the story. 

You could do a lot worse than The Lincoln Highway; it's an easy read and enjoyable in many parts. Just be aware that for many it'll feel like a runner up to his previous work.

City of Thieves - David Benioff ------------------- 4 Stars

I heard about City of Thieves on a recent podcast, and the individual shared it was one of his favorite books. As I dug deeper, it was really difficult to find anyone who had a bad thing to say about this book. Those positive impressions combined with it's short length made it an obvious book to give it a try, and I'm pretty happy I did.

As I had not heard of this book before and others might also not have awareness, a quick synopsis - this book tells the story of two Russians during the siege of Leningrad during World War 2. After some surprising circumstances, these two strangers end up being close friends as they work to secure a dozen eggs for a colonel's daughter's wedding. 

As I mentioned earlier, this book is a quick read, coming in at only 280 pages (it reads even faster). More importantly, it's a highly engaging and entertaining read that is delivered enjoyably by this strong author (learned after I finished the book that Benioff is a co-creator of Game of Thrones). While a serious subject matter filled with many violent passages and war heavy themes, this book seems to never lose its way as a playful story. Much of this is due to the sharp storytelling, funny dialogue, and a rich main character who never lets the seriousness of the war overtake the joy that exists as part of life. As I've written many times before, I love good dialogue, and this book offers some of the best back and forths and retorts between characters. As you may also assume from the unlikely plot, the search for the eggs is an intriguing centerpiece as the reader is constantly reminded of the heartaches of war.

While I found this a great read and difficult to put down, a few things held it back. First, the themes are mature and can be difficult to get through at some parts. Death is a constant part of the book and some chapters were difficult to read as the author had a way of making the reader feel the anxiety and tenseness of situations. Sex was also a constant theme (and often funny distraction) of the story. Second, I found it difficult to give a much higher rating with the shortness of the story. While I don't know if a longer book would have actually made the story better, it's hard to feel the "fullness" of a story or it's characters when you only get to know them over a short period of time (in this case, literally only 5 days).

As a whole, it's hard to not recommend this book. What a great return on investment for the little time needed to read! It's hard to read this book and not feel interested in the characters and engaged in the story developing. That's really the magic of the book - a great story!

Hawaii - James Michener ---------------- 3 Stars

It's a bit difficult to try to give a rating to James Michener's Hawaii. There are parts of it that are exhilarating and difficult to put down; while, coming at nearly 1,000 pages, it often it drags and struggled to keep me engaged. So, let's split the difference with 3 stars. 

James Michener was a prolific author of over 40 novels, most of them large, sprawling fictional sagas about families living in disparate geographic areas. I had never read one of his books before, and this one caught my eye as reviewers shared that the first chunk of the book had no characters. Instead, it was a detailed description of the literal creation of the Hawaiian island manys years ago. Following that introduction, Michener details different immigrant groups that come to the islands, beginning with the Polynesians from Tahiti over a millennium. The book finishes not long after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the melting pot of persons from China, Japan, the Philippines, native Hawaiians, and ancestors of 19th century missionaries.

This book is really a book of stories. Michener, at his essence, is a storyteller. While the connection to Hawaii hooked me into the book and provided me motivation to begin, his layered and well told stories are what kept me going and are the the heart of this book. Based on the long length noted, much of these stories had great depth. This includes rounding out all of the main characters and going into great detail about the various elements that are part of the story.

The other side, of course, is that there can be too much or it turns boring or repetitive. Take, for example, his retelling of the creation and detailing of the Kalaupapa leper colony on Molokai. First, I was happy he included this footnote of history as it was a fascinating part of Hawaiian history that I remembered well learning about as I grew up there. In the novel, he retells about an outbreak of leprosy in a Chinese labor camp and the eventual necessity for one of the main characters to go with her husband, who contracts leprosy, to Kalaupapa. Unfortunately, like he does often in the book, there is an excessive number of details and stories about the leper colony. And, while I presume they are mostly accurate (I believe he thoroughly researched the novel), they are also disturbing and extravagant.

As a whole, I did enjoy many parts of the book. And, like any good long family saga, I appreciated seeing the lives of the main characters change and learn about all the developments. I do think it's likely that this book would be too slow for many or would not offer the same level of comfort if you don't have a strong connection to Hawaii. Learning about the development of the land, people and culture was my favorite parts of the book (though, when done well, the strong storytelling is a close second).

Moss - Joe Pace ---------------- 4 Stars

This is a special post, as I believe it's the only book I have reviewed which I know the author. The author is Joe Pace, a former colleague, and excellent writer of the impressive Moss. I know he would only want a genuine critique and no favoritism, so here you go:

I think his first couple of books were science fiction, but Moss is about a man who is fledlging author, teacher, and son of, perhaps, the most famous author of modern American novels - Isaiah Moss (a Hemingway type). The novel begins with his father dying and follows his story walking in the footprints off his father (literally in a lake cabin) and meeting an intriguing woman.

Unlike many other books that get high ratings based on explosive actions or intriguing plot developments, Moss is more of a slow burn. Pace is in no hurry as he carefully and thoughtfully develops the main characters. While it is a bit of a slow start, it's worth the payoff later, as it's clear for the reader the motivations and choices of these fully formed characters. Other
than one shocking development later in the book, the novel is not going to wow the big actions scenes. Instead, the subtlety of the writing and dialogue is where the magic is. As noted above, the writing is exquisite and there are many passages where the words come to life. 

Other than the lack of scene stealing activity, it's hard to offer many negative critiques. There a few parts where it does drawl on for a while, with the plot slowing down for more expository writing. There are also a few passages with curses that feel a little off with the classic writing style he offers (though, it also makes the book more relatable, so perhaps a wash). 

As a whole, it's a real engaging read. The story is told at such a smooth pace, and the characters are developed so fully. The book also makes you think about one's own mortality and how one wants to live. Exposing the challenges of trauma, parental expectations, and finding one's way in the world, it's difficult to finish Moss and not think more about how you look at life. I definitely feel like this book could be enjoyed by many - and I'm not just saying that because it's a friend who wrote it.  Congrats Joe!

Yearbook - Seth Rogen ------------- 3.5 Stars

Yearbook is the first book I've ready by Seth Rogen (and likely only). The book is short and funny and this blog post will be similar (except for the funny!).

This book is a collection of essays and stories about Seth Rogen's life. I am presuming you all know the very funny Seth Rogen but may not know as much about his time growing up in Canada or his early journeys through Hollywood. This book mostly covers those areas by relling many funny stories that have occurred to him over the years. 

It's a genuinely entertaining read thanks to his humorous writing style and variety of playful stories. Like most books that are attempts to be funny, I would imagine one's level of appreciation is highly correlated to how much one finds that person funny. I happen to enjoy Seth Rogen so I found most of this book interesting (like any comedian, some jokes don't land quite as well). If you are not a fan of his, I would not recommend this book. 

I do think the cover is pretty cool....

 

1Q84 - Haruki Murakami ----------------- 4 Stars

I've read a few other Murakami books over the last few years (reviews here) with the hope that I would build up and eventually be able to take on 1Q84. Well, I finally felt I had the time and energy to take on his behemoth of a novel. Unfortunately, like the last couple of books of his, the read didn't quite live up to my expectations.

Some regard 1Q84 as one the best sciencey ficitiony books of the last 25 years (I say "sciency fictiony" as it's certainly not pure science fiction; rather, it's much more magical realism or surrealism but is labelled otherwise). As a whole, it's a pretty solid read with some fantastic parts. There were times when I was so enthralled I could not put the book down and felt this may be one of the best books I'd ever read. There were other times where I was falling asleep as Murakami repetitively offered the same parts over and again.

To describe it briefly - its about two main characters who, eventually, become a love interest. Set in 1984 and a deritivate universe called 1Q84, the book is part mystery, action adventure, religious/cult focused, and an existential quest. Really, the whole thing is a lot to grasp and share, while at the same time, in the span of the 6 months of 1984 this book encompasses, not that much actually takes place (at least for the 928 pages it offers).

What I loved - the characters are amazing and fascinating. I loved to learn about their uniqueness an couldn't want to find out what some would do next. I also deeply enjoyed how entertaining Murakami can make mundane tasks. Pages and pages can go by with truly nothing happening but, because of his superb narrative skills, I would continue to be engaged. The story is told in 3 parts and the first two are really strong. As I read the last 50 to 100 pages of the second part, I truly couldn't put the book down.

What I disliked - the length. It's hard to get past the 900+ pages, especially as the third part slowed the narrative down notably. Relatedly, the ending had a lot to be desired as, after the large investment to get there, it was a bit of a let down. I also struggled with understanding what was real and what was magical. While that is part of the allure and joy of the novel (the mixing of reality and fiction), it could also lead to frustrations. Besides not being clear on occasion of what was happening, it did seem to leave the author too easy of a reason to move the plot in any possible direction.

I was really hoping this book might be better than it was. This continues to be a frustration that my style and interest don't jive as closely with Murakami's books as I would like. In general, it's hard to fully recommend this book; especially if it's your first foray into Murakami. Besides the length, it can be a tough style to get used to. However, it's really quite a story and there are tremendous highs. I certainly don't regret reading it but I did know what I was getting into before giving it a go. I hope this might help some of you if your thinking about taking it on. Good luck!

Sooley: A Novel - John Grisham ------------------------ 4 Stars

I can't remember the last time I read a John Grisham book. As an adolescent I was religious in reading all of his early books... The Firm, The Client, Pelican Brief... I probably read the first 8 to 10 novels that he released. They were exhilarating. At some point my addiction fell off; I can't remember if the books got worst or I grew out of them.

A few months ago my son read a few of his books that were young adult fiction (we actually read parts of some together), and they were excellent. I forgot how much I enjoyed his entertaining storytelling style. So, when someone dropped of Sooley, and I realized that it had been given some positive reviews and was about basketball, I figured I had to give it a try. As usual, Grisham did not disappoint.

A departure from his typical novels, this book had nothing to do with lawyers or the judicial system. Rather, this book was about basketball. Well, mostly basketball, it also focused on immigration and tribal warfare in South Sudan. Nicknamed Sooley, the book's main character is an engaging and lovable individual who you can't help but root for. Raw, athletic, young, and still learning the game of basketball, his story of coming from a dirt court in Sudan to being one of the best players in college, is a wonderful story.

As a whole, the book is well told, has strong pacing, engaging characters and a memorable ending. Really, many of Grisham's trademarks. As a basketball fan, the book reads realistically and the details about his play, the games, coaches, etc., all resonated with me as a basketball aficionado. While the ending seemed a bit unrealistic, I think I understand more clearly why he chose to go in that direction after thinking more about the book in the past few days.

There's no major drawbacks; it's a strong book and good story. At time it seemed a tad unrealistic and on a few occasions I felt like I wanted to know more about certain characters and their motivations. However, I like the length as told so not sure how that could have been accomplished.

Overall, the book is an entertaining and enjoyable read that likely would be enjoyed by all audiences. If you are a Grisham or basketball fan (like me), the book is a must read.

American Tabloid - James Ellroy --------------- 4 Stars

In my teens, I had a pretty strong obsession about the JFK assassination. It wasn't long after Oliver Stone's JFK was released which lead to a multi-year focus learning as much as I could about this supposed conspiracy. Late last year was the 30th anniversary of this dynamic, crazed, and fascinating movie. I was listening to a podcast last week which was reminiscing about the JFK movie and one of the guests mentioned that American Tabloid was a great read in connection with the movie. While I had heard of James Ellroy, I had not read any of his books, so I gave it a shot.

For the most part, the book was well worth the read. As I don't think it's the most popular book (I had to use inter-library loan to actually get from the library!). The book is a fictional account of the five years leading up to the JFK assassination and is based on many real events and real people (though the three main characters are fictional and an amalgamation of two or three people). While the book ends with the assassination, it's an engaging read that is hard to put down. Not for the faint of heart, the book is violent, sexual in nature, and includes a LOT of cussing and adult situations. However, it's a pretty fascinating read, especially if you have any interest in the odd bedfellows of the CIA and mafia during time time after Fidel Castro took over in Cuba.

Like the movie JFK, it's hard to not to think that much of it is real. As, much of what was described, did take place. The challenge, of course, is to know where reality ends and fictions begins. When do real things stop taking place and Ellroy (or Stone's) imagination begins? Of course, it's very hard to tell but that's part of what makes it so interesting. If you ever want to get the backstory about Jack and Robert Kennedy, Howard Hughes, J. Edgar Hoover, and some other favorites from last century, this book will put you there.

A few things I didn't like. It is a crazy writing style. I'm not sure how to quite describe it. It's very fast, almost a staccato style. Incredibly short sentences and you can almost "hear" the noises of the many action sequences with the words/sounds he uses. The book is over 500 pages, and on some occasions, feels longer. While the pace is usually strong, there are some parts where it slows too much or, what seems like the same scene,
occurs over and over. Finally, and this is more a personal issue with the text I read, but the book I borrowed had some of the smallest font. It must have been like 8 point; made for some tough reading and headaches!

I highly recommend this book for any JFK conspirators of JFK movie lovers. If you like a good old gangster story from the 1950s/1960s, you might like this as well. If you are not in one of those groups, I have far less confidence you'll enjoy. 

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott --------------------------- 2.5 Stars

Not really a book that was on my list to read, I happened to view the most recent movie iteration of this classic novel and wouldn't you know, I loved it! Books about mid-19th century adolescent girls are not usually my first area of interest, but I found the stories captivating and well-acted scenes engaging and felt I had to take a chance on the famous Little Women. And, frankly, I should have stuck with the movie!

Based on the popularity of this story, I won't share a summary of the plot. It's one of the most famous novels of all time and numerous film productions have been created. I'm still struggling to understand why the joy I received from the movie did not parallel my reading experience. With many books/movies, it's the opposite; the movie is cool but the book is so much richer and more detailed. While that may be true, I think the book just didn't pique my interest in the same way as the movie. It's also possible that, since I knew what was coming, that took away from the read. Though, I find this less likely as it's not really a mystery with a lot of twists and turns. In fact, the most recent film version (directed by Greta Gerwig) told the story in a non-chronological order; which I enjoyed more.

To be clear, the book is still an interesting read, and I do regret not reading at some point earlier in my life. It's hard not enjoy getting more detail and richer character development of the four sisters and learning more about their various plights growing up in the March house. 

Perhaps what was most challenging about the novel was how dated it read. Nearly all the books I read tend to be from the last few decades so reading something written over 150 years ago did not stack up from an entertainment perspective. While the novel does move at a nice pace and the varying storylines keep the readers interest, there were times when pages (and pages) would go by without an interesting episode or anecdote. 

Of course, I recommend reading the book, as it's a classic, if you have not done so. Alternatively, I really enjoyed the most recent movie version if you prefer to save yourself a bunch of hours!