Sample Saturday is when I wade through the eleventy billion samples I have downloaded on my Kindle. I’m slowly chipping away and deciding whether it’s buy or bye.
The North Water by Ian McGuire
Why I have it: Heather at Bits & Books wrote a great review.
Summary: A battle between two men and the battle to capture a whale, all set in the harsh hunting waters of the arctic circle.
I’m thinking: Yes. Although the writing style doesn’t sing to me, the opening chapter lures. Am I starting a whaling story binge? Maybe…
The Light on the Water by Olga Lorenzo
Why I have it: Caught my eye after a few Goodreads friends were all reading it at the same time.
Summary: Mother loses her child on a bushwalk and is then charged with her murder.
I’m thinking: No – feels like one of those stories where the plot is set in the first chapter and you can see exactly where it is heading.
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
Why I have it: Rory included it in her last #6 Degrees chain and now I’m wondering why I’ve never read it.
Summary: A boarding school (in New England, no less) and two friends (both very different), coming of age during the early years of World War II.
I’m thinking: Yes – it’s a modern classic, right? And boarding school. And New England.
I’ve never heard of A Separate Peace, how is that possible? Definitely gets my vote 🙂
Same… feels like a MASSIVE hole in my lifetime of boarding school and New England stories. Perhaps it is a book that only Americans know of?
“A Seperate Peace” is most certainly an American Classic, in the Young Adult literature category. John Knowles was a graduate of the elite Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire (think: America’s version of Eton)…and this novel’s setting is modeled after Knowles experience there in 1943, during the summer. The 1972 film version of “A Seperate Peace” was filmed in-and-around Exeter.
Famous alumni of Exeter include: Mark Zuckerberg, and novelists, John Irving, Gore Vidal, Robert Benchley (journalist), Peter Benchley, James Agee (poet), Booth Tarkington, Dan Brown, George Plimpton (screenwriter), Chang Rae-Lee, and Joyce Maynard.
I’m from Massachusetts and am beginning the book today. I know I read it in high school, but want to read it again. Great American classic.
I’ve only read The Light on the Water and just reviewed it in Goodreads. It was okay but not really riveting.
First, sorry for the million years late comment. Second – thanks for the shout out! I reeeeeaaaalllllly hope I didn’t overhype the book for you! What did you think in the end?
Have added it to the reading list (for next year – I’m not buying books this year!).