Three Short Reviews...

Back in January I posted a review of two novels by Tim Wynne-Jones; hence, this review briefly highlights what I love about his writing.   

Blink & Caution is a YA novel about two teenage runaways appropriate for ages 13+.  It takes place in Ontario, and Wynne-Jones’ knowledge of both the rural areas and Toronto make the settings and description vividly engaging.  In this novel the character of Blink alternates between the rare 2^nd person point of view and limited 3^rd person.  It is done so smoothly I was halfway through the book before I noticed.  Caution’s character remains in the 3^rd person.  The characters and story line are realistic and believable with enough ambiguity to make the happy ending acceptable.  I will definitely be looking for more novels by Tim Wynne-Jones.

Wynne-Jones, Tim. Blink & Caution. Somerville MA: Candlewick Press, 2011        

Another author whose work I will always return to is Ann Patchett.  Bel Canto kept me riveted, so when I saw her first novel available on my Nook, I added it immediately.  The Patron Saint of Liars is about a young pregnant mother and a Kentucky home for unwed mothers.  But Rose is not unwed, and there the story truly begins.

The novel is divided in sections with the first containing the story of Habit; the town that contained a miraculous hot spring.  This section is a history and provides the setting for the center of the story.  The center of the story is Rose.

Rose is not happy in her marriage, and upon discovering her pregnancy, she takes off.  She goes to a home for unwed mothers in Habit, Kentucky.  Rose, despite her closeness to her mother, says nothing to her or her husband:

But learning is easier than forgetting.  The fact that my mother, that Thomas, didn’t know where I had gone or the reason, made my life easier, but I liked to think it made things easier for them as well.  The world is full of things we’re better off not knowing. (37)

            To tell more of the story would break my rule of no spoilers.  But the world of Rose Clinton is thought-provoking, tantalizing, frightening, and convincing…totally convincing.  Now I want to read all of Patchett’s books.

Patchett, Ann. The Patron Saint of Liars. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1992. E-book.

Anyone who has entered my home realizes I probably have enough books to read, but sometimes a book is left behind.  Timmy Failure Mistakes Were Made No. 1 by Stephen Pastis came with a great recommendation – two in fact.  My Godtwins, Leo and Faye Stiffler, had both read it and said it was great.  They are correct.  If you are familiar with the “Pickles” comic strip, you know the work of Stephen Pastis.  This novel was written for elementary school level, but Pastis cannot help dropping a few lines for the adults in a child’s life.  For instance, Timmy explains that the family name used to be Falyeur.  And now I am ready to have a book discussion with the twins.  I hope to see them again soon.

Pastis, Stephen. Timmy Failure Mistakes Were Made No. 1. Somerville, MA; Candlewick Press, 2013. Print.