The Thirteenth Tale

As The Thirteenth Tale opens Margaret, a young reclusive woman, receives a letter from a popular author requesting Margaret to be her biographer. The author, Vida Winter, is very secretive herself and is known for lying to reporters whenever asked about her childhood or past. Margaret is unsure about Miss Winter's motives but agrees to write the book. As Margaret moves in with Vida and begins to unravel the mysteries of the Angelfield family and the odd twins Emmeline and Adeline she also takes a closer look at her own childhood and the secret her parents kept from her. I did not feel especially connected with any of the characters in this book, but the story is intriguing and worth finishing.

Life of Pi

Feeling like the last person in the U.S. to read this book, I actually listened to it. I initially checked out the CD audiobook from the library as a way to spend my 20 minute commute doing something more constructive than singing loudly along to Snow Patrol--which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The man who narrated the book as Pi Patel was very enjoyable to listen to. His voice was a perfect match for what I would have wanted Pi's voice to sound like, Hindi accent and all. If you haven't read this book yet, or you did and would love another perusing, I recommend listening to it. That said, I did enjoy the story, but even more, Pi, the main character who becomes stranded in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger. He is intelligent and sensitive, and any reader with half a heart feels nothing but compassion for him. About 3/4 of the way into the book I became desparate for Pi to be rescued and to move on from the Pacific, but that aside I recommend this book.

A Good Man Is Hard to Find

Ain't it the truth? But seriously....before taking on this classic volume of short stories I had never read anything by Flannery O'Connor. I knew she was popular for her Southern-style classic literature, but that was all I knew. Honestly, I have been disappointed. I really didn't enjoy it. I couldn't find anyone in the stories that I cared about besides the innocent children and the dialogue is so annoyingly mid-century southern that it was hard to read-'n' word included. I am completely open to trying her again if someone has a suggestion of another work. Until then, I am done with her. Too many other good books to get into.