Summer of Books
By Gabrielle Nguyen
Summer is in full swing now, and with it, comes more time for reading.
The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood
In The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud, the main character, Charlie St. Cloud, and his younger brother Sam are in a car accident that leaves Sam dead. Charlie, racked with grief and guilt knowing he was the one driving, ends up making a connection with his younger brother’s ghost and, as a result, takes a job as a cemetery groundskeeper in order to maintain that connection. Charlie is content with this solitary existence until a girl named Tess with plans to sail around the world enters his life. Charlie is then torn between keeping the promise to his brother of always being there for him and living his own life.
While it reads like a young adult novel at times, The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud is an enjoyable and uplifting novel. Sherwood fashions each character with care, making each one unique and memorable, and paints a believable picture of life in a small New England town. The movie, Charlie St. Cloud, based on this book will be released in theaters this summer.
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
When twins Julia and Valentina discover they have inherited London real estate from their mother’s twin sister Elspeth, a relative they didn’t even know existed, they move from the suburbs of Chicago to the inherited flat to live for a year, a stipulation of the inheritance. In London, they meet their aunt’s quirky neighbors and uncover secrets about their aunt, the estrangement between Elspeth and their mother, and about themselves.
Niffenegger attempts to recapture the magic of her debut novel, The Time Traveler’s Wife, by exploring the bonds of sisterhood and the boundaries of death, but the story falls flat. While trying to be contemplative and evocative, the novel ends up being contrived and forced. The characters begin their journey self-absorbed and selfish and ultimately end their story that way. The promising writer of The Time Traveler’s Wife was, unfortunately, absent for Her Fearful Symmetry.
61 Hours by Lee Child
61 Hours is the most recent installment in Child’s Jack Reacher series. In it, a chance occurrence lands Jack Reacher into thrilling plot revolving around a drug operation and protecting a key witness willing to testify against that operation, all of which unfolds over the course of 61 hours, a little over two and a half days.
Although this is the 14th book in the Jack Reacher series, it stands on its own as a thriller and an action novel. Fans of Lee Child and Jack Reacher will not be disappointed. There is never a dull moment, and you will have a hard time not flipping ahead in the book to find out what happens as you teeter on the edge of your seat.
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
In The Art of Racing in the Rain, Stein follows the story of a race car driver who has yet to make it big and his family, all told through the eyes of the driver’s dog, Enzo. Enzo provides a fresh and funny perspective as he narrates the heartaches and pains along with the joys and the triumphs of his master.
Stein beautifully portrays Enzo’s voice, instilling humanity while at the same time preserving the voice of a dog. Enzo varies from loving to protective, from child-like (or puppy-like) to wise. The Art of Racing in the Rain is a memorable and thoroughly satisfying book.