we were the mulvaneys…

I have been reading We Were the Mulvaneys for quite some time.  I have stopped reading this book many times and read several books in between.

Normally, if I set a book aside so many times I discard it for good. That did not happen with this book…  I genuinely wanted to know what happened to the Mulvaney family, so there is something to be said for that.  You can really connect with and understand the characters in this book.

I chose this book because it was an Oprah’s Book Club choice.  Usually, I love her picks — but did not love this one, simply liked it.  Although, I am happy I finished it.

Goodreads describes the book:

In her 26th novel, Joyce Carol Oates has written a rich, complex saga about a seemingly ideal family that is suddenly rocked by the date-rape of 16-year-old Marianne Mulvaney. This shattering event touches off an extraordinary journey into 25 years of shameful secrets and despair, culminating in the unforseen miracles that can bring a family closer together. Making We Were the Mulvaneys her first Oprah’s Book Club™ selection of 2001.

Please view “reading now” for current and past book postings.

just finished…

I’ve been busy reading.

I read three very different types of books recently and enjoyed all of them.

1) The Poisonwood Bible – This is a story about a husband and father who is a Southern Preacher.  He decides to move his wife and four daughters to Africa on mission work.  The book is written from the perspective of the wife and the daughters…  each telling their own view of their life after the preacher moved them to the Congo.  This was a great book.  It was also chosen as part of Oprah’s Book Club.

2) The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry – This was actually a quick read written by a very humorous author from the UK.  I read it in two days.  It’s an odd book, not fictional.   It was very interesting and I now find myself trying to pick out possible psychopaths.  I am armed with a checklist (ha!).  I would recommend this one as well.

3) Basketball Junkie – I bought this book because I saw Chris Herren interviewed on ESPN.  He has a very interesting story.  He was a high school basketball superstar and went on to play basketball in both college and the NBA.  He also turned into a heroin addict along the way.  It’s his story about his life, his addiction and ultimately, his recovery.  He looks like a movie star.  It was intriguing to read about someone you think “had it all” but really didn’t.  This book will not win any literary awards, but it was interesting and I read it quickly.  Chris Herren is a success story in regards to addiction and I am glad I read the book.