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.
Madame Bovary of the Suburbs by Sophie Divry
Why I have it: Enjoyed Susan’s review.
Summary: Modern retelling of Madame Bovary featuring adultery, charity work, esotericism, manic house-cleaning, motherhood and various hobbies.
I’m thinking: Yes – it’s different enough from the original to be original.
The Best of Everything by Rona Jaffe
Why I have it: Because I loved My Salinger Year and they’re kind of similar.
Summary: The story of five young employees of a New York publishing company in the late 1950s.
I’m thinking: Yes (completely won over by Jaffe’s introduction to the 2005 ‘Modern Classic’ edition).
A Field Guide to the North American Family by Garth Risk Hallberg
Why I have it: I think it has been recently re-released, so I’ve spotted it on a few blogs.
Summary: A portrait of two neighbouring families. Part fiction, part reference work, part photo-essay, readers are invited to consider the state of the family (via a website).
I’m thinking: Yes (I’m curious about the format).
I’d like to get hold of the Jaffe as it’s on The Novel Cure list of books to read in your thirties. My local library is supposed to have a copy, but every time I go to find it on the shelf it’s not there. (I even reported it missing and it still shows up as on shelf.)
The Hallberg definitely has an interesting format, and is short enough that it doesn’t get old.
This challenge makes sense. I’ve downloaded so many samples over the last couple of years. It really is time to decide what I’ll actually buy and what needs to say bye.
I usually sit down for an hour or so once a month and read a bunch of samples – half I discard which makes me glad I didn’t impulse-buy the book!
True. I really will give this a try too.
Thanks for the link, Kate. I like the idea of the Jaffe and that’s such a great jacket.
These all sound good. I’m thinking its good I don’t have Kindle to download samples – I’d never narrow it down!