Blitzkrieg Book Blurbs

Just because I haven't been blogging, does not mean I haven't been reading! In fact, I actually have managed to resuscitate my "book-a-week" ambitions for the month of March--with the help of a few books on tape. Read on for a blitzkrieg book review:

1. Her Fearful Symmetry, Audrey Niffenegger

Okay, so if you are a loyal NovelTease follower, you know how much I loved Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife--equal parts imaginative and dark, poignant and redemptive, it felt like a perfectly balanced novel. So, you can only imagine how excited I was a few weeks ago when cracking the spine of H.F.S. Unfortunately, this time the novel's dark-and-twisty elements completely outweighed its ebullient-and-romantic aspects. Don't get me wrong, I still raced through it, invested enough in Niffengger's well-developed characters to care about their fates, but to be honest, I was a little thrown by the overwhelming Victorian darkness. It kind of reminded me of the difference between Stephanie Kallos' debut, Broken for You--which was light and lovely and meaningful, too--and her equally well-written-but-somehow-a-little-less-at-ease-with-itself follow-up, Sing Them Home. The Mom Squad recently shot me an email asking whether she should read it, and I have to say: Mom, probably not up your alley. However, those of you who are intrigued by the concept of a modern take on Victorian ghost stories should definitely give it a whirl.

2. Beatrice and Virgil, Yann Martel

Alright, this one was also rather dark-and-twisty (probably not a surprise if you've read Life of Pi), but I was thoroughly captivated by Martel's unorthodox story about the Holocaust...perhaps because it also happens to be about taxidermy, donkeys and howler monkeys, pears, and writer's block. I really don't want to spoil this treasure, but if you're hungry for a little more, check out B&V's website.

3. The Faculty Club, Danny Tobey

First things first, a big thanks to my friend Sarah over at TWIMO for lending me the audio version of this book. While I don't think Tobey's Faculty will be making it into the canon anytime soon, this thriller definitely made my two-hour commutes to and from work much more enjoyable, with more than a few plot twists and turns. If you have that magical combination of a high threshold for the fantastical and low demands for authentic characters--or are just looking for a plane ride page-turner--then this one's for you.

4. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Folks, I am reading this little gem now, and I have to say it is mmmmadorable. After all the ghosts and Nazis and kooky VooDoo professors from the previous three books, I needed a little delightful, and so far, so great!