Saturday, September 8, 2012

Vacation by Matthew Costello

This book is scary and good.Here's the synopsis from Amazon: 
In the near future after a global crisis causes crops to fail and species to disappear . . . something even more deadly happens. Groups of humans around the world suddenly become predators, feeding off their own kind. These “Can Heads” grow to such a threat that fences, gated compounds, and SWAT-style police protection become absolutely necessary in order to live.

After one Can Head attack leaves NYPD cop Jack Murphy wounded, Jack takes his wife and kids on a much-needed vacation. Far up north, to a camp where families can still swim and take boats out on a lake, and pretend that the world isn’t going to hell.

But the Can Heads are never far away, and nothing is quite what it seems in Paterville. . . .

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

This is a memoir from a woman who could NOT be more different than me and it was fascinating and I loved it!  Cheryl Strayed has had a rough few years and is failing badly.  She decides to go on a trek through the mountains that run from Mexico to Washington.  She is ill prepared but goes, all alone for months with just a ridiculously large backpack and the hope that her present packages show up on time.  This is a great book.

Honolulu by Alan Brennert

Earlier this year my book club read Moloka'i by the same author and it was fabulous.  This book is about a young Korean woman who travels to Hawaii as a 'picture  bride' to marry a man she has never met.  It then follows her family through the decades.  It was fascinating and informative and really entertaining.  So go read this and then go read Moloka'i!

In Lucia's Eyes by Arthur Japin

This is the book that explains why Cassanova became Cassanova.  Cassanova was a real person and he wrote a book about his life.  This author takes one detail from that book and weaves this story.  It is about Lucia, a young woman who is stricken with smallpox and lives, but is horribly disfigured.  In order to survive, she dons a veil and become a courtesan.  It's a good book and an interesting story.

Defending Jacob by William Landay

 


Now this is a goooood book.  It's a legal thriller/mystery. The book opens with a man being deposed in front of a grand jury.  He is describing the death of a teen boy in his community and how his family came to be wrapped up in the case.  I can't say too much more about it but if you are looking for similar books, I would recommend Serena by Ron Rash, Before I go to Sleep, We have always lived in the Castle, The CountessA Reliable Wife, or An Absolute Gentleman.  Perfect fall spooky books.  Enjoy!