Could not put this down last night--and I was very sleepy!

I have not read a book in two day in quite some time, but that's how long it took me to read this one. I have been a fan of E.L. Konigsburg since I was a kid and each time I pick up another one of her books, I continue to be amazed. The voices rang true, and I really loved both Conner and Branwell and their friendship. Complex and emotional, this isn't to be missed.

Probably not my favorite Konigsburg, but still darn good.

Read in preparation for a field trip to Thurber--we'll be working with the museum there for an upcoming exhibit.
Written in the 1940s but just recently published, this book tells the story of Thurber--a company town west of Fort Worth that was a center for coal mining and brick mining in Texas. Gentry gives a biography of the community, from labor disputes to housing to social lifes. And of course, how a town goes from a thriving community to nothing. Interesting stuff, but definitely a 1940s history.
My favorite parts--the biography of Gentry at the beginning. She grew up in Thurber and became a history teacher who traveled abroad every chance she got. I think she would have been a fabulous person to chat with.

I had such high hopes for this book. I had heard a review on NPR, I've always loved literary homes, and enjoy irreverence in the historic house world. And it started off great--I giggled, I smirked. It was good.
And then. . . it just wasn't. I think part of the issue is he was going for dark humor (ok by me), but there just wasn't enough humor to make up for the darkness. There were some moments of great writing, and then I would just become annoyed. And yet, I couldn't stop reading.
I am still thinking about the conclusion (in particular, one especially disturbing moment) but it's not one of those good pondering situations. It's more like: Really?? That was how you decided to resolve the book? Seriously?
And it's never a good sign when you think about the basic idea and how you would have done it. Or how someone like David Sedaris would have done it.

It has taken me a long time to get through this book, and it's not entirely the book's fault. But I feel I should say upfront--it is very academic and at time a bit dry.
Sheppard looks at the female artists who used political cartoons to fight for suffrage. She talks extensively about popular imagery associated with the suffrage movement and how these women fought it. Lots and lots of illustrations, though many of them were small. My favorite part was actually the biographies of these artists--some pretty remarkable stories there.
Great to add to the library for suffrage stuff, females in popular culture, etc. But it doesn't have a strong narrative push and certainly drags in places.

For book club
A very sligt book. Growing up, I had read West from Home (which I loved) and was thinking it would be similiar. Laura's journal is brief, but still interesting. The glimpses into the towns they traveled through and her constant commentary on the crops were particularly interesting, especially considering how much they had struggled.
Rose's commentary that begins and ends the book, is well, odd. Though I certainly don't expect all of my beloved childhood authors to be pure happiness and light, Rose seems very bitter about all sorts of things. It's certainly enough for me to want to know more about Rose and what made her tick.

A reread--but first read it a very long time ago. I loved Laura's letters, especially since they're about one of my favorite random historical subject (world's fairs). There are delightful tidbits, especially Laura's worries about Manly on the farm on his own and her struggle to practice writing with Rose.
And Rose (who continues to puzzle me!) seems much more normal in this book.
I do wonder if this book is the reason why I've had that long time interest in World's Fairs. . .

Love, love, love. In a way, it's a coming of age story with a twist--Frankie is far from perfect and is rebelling from people's preconceptions of her. I love her analyzing and being smart whole high school relationship thing, even as she is trapped by the crush. I love this book now (and can think of a few teen girls to give it to) and I would have loved it years ago as well.
It wasn't until I was almost done with the book when I realized that Frankie and Veronica Mars share more than a few personality traits. Perhaps that's part of my instant love for Frankie and her story.

I knew I would like this book--it's written by Rob Thomas, creator of one of my all time favorite shows. But I really, really liked this book. Smart and witty about kids that I knew in high school. Steve is not lovable at first, but I think he's going to be just fine in the long run.
An interesting contrast to some of the glowing conversations about high school occurring on the Maud list right now. . .

No kids in this house yet, but I still found lots to enjoy. Humor, good food, and an honest writer--not everything works, and that's okay! I'm looking forward to trying some recipes in the near future.
I did give the book at a baby shower yesterday, and it was a big hit (with other moms writing down the title).

When will I learn to not start a new book (especially a Persephone book) late at night?

This is one of those books best enjoyed in long, slow drinks. In some ways, a very typical coming of age story, but there is a wit and sparkle and snarkiness to Dickens' descriptions that sets it apart. Mary is far from perfect, another part of the charm. And when she finally meets the man she will marry--well, it was some pretty amazing romance without feeling too constructed. The ending was just right--an excellent example of showing but not telling.

Definitely recommended, especially to fans of other Persephone books. I believe this has now been published in the US, so it should be easier to get ahold of it.