New Book from Audrey Niffenegger

I just read today that Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife, is coming out with a new book in late September. It's called Her Fearful Symmetry. My birthday is late September, so maybe it will be her gift to me. Yippeee!

Water Witches

I picked up this book at my library because I had read Chris Bohjalian's novel Midwives and liked it quite a lot. (Reviewed earlier on this blog.) Water Witches does not keep the reader quite on the edge of her seat as Midwives but is its own story of family and community. The story is set in a small ski resort town in Vermont going through a drought. The main character, Scott Winston, works for a large ski resort. He is married to Laura, who is from a family of dowsers, or "water witches". Scott and Laura are somewhat at odds during their community's plight for water. Whether or not one believes dowsing is possible, this novel exposes the reader to an original idea and a warm community of characters.

The Kite Runner

I was very hesitant to read The Kite Runner because I saw it everywhere. I had this feeling that there must be more hype than substance. I don't remember what finally made me give in, but I'm so glad I did. It was beautiful--and harsh, and sad, and inspiring. The descriptions of Kabul, Afghanistan before the Soviet Union invasion make it sound like somewhere I would want to visit. The story is of two best friends who are from completely different backgrounds. One is the servant in the household of the other. If you happen to have not read this yet, do so! (And the movie's not too bad either.)