Super fun busy week, with sleepovers, playdates, and did I mention Ragnar yet? Summer, never leave me.
Ill Will was a weird choice for a summer read, but I kind of loved it. This is one of those books where I could see a legitimate case for a one, a two, a three, a four, or a five star rating. It was dark and disturbing and trippy and left some things up in the air, and had a weird device that I liked but was also slightly annoying. I don’t know how strongly I can recommend this one because it’s all over the place, but it worked for me.
Swimming Lessons seemed like something I would just love, but it was a real disappointment. This is the third book I’ve read recently that does a poor execution of a letter writing motif. PSA to would be epistolary novelists: let your readers connect the dots, do not have your characters convey every detail and recount entire conversations in their letters, it will not ring true. The letters are bad but they’re not this book’s only problem. These are two of the most uninteresting, unlikable, irredeemable characters I can think of. I can’t imagine why I would have cared about these people, and I’m baffled why so many people liked this one.
I moved on to Made for Love, and whoa, did I love this. I was laughing out loud from the very beginning. This was incredibly original and funny and weird and poignant and funny some more. I want to dig up some Alissa Nutting interviews because I’m so curious what inspired her to write this. I did not think I’d be interested in this at all so I’m glad I listened to all the authors I follow on Twitter because they’ve been raving about it.
I started Our Little Racket today and haven’t made a ton of progress yet. I thought I’d be sucked right in here, WASPs in crisis are usually a slam dunk for me. It’s kind of a slow starter but I’m still optimistic. This week I also got to take a look at a friend’s manuscript, and I just have to say, I have some talented friends! Keep ’em coming, guys!
