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.
Don’t Skip Out On Me by Willy Vlautin
Why I have it: Because Cathy said it made her cry (and I love a good cry over a book).
Summary: A young ranch hand goes on a quest to become a champion boxer .
I’m thinking: Yes.
Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty
Why I have it: Because of Rebecca’s review.
Summary: A retired couple take a long weekend holiday and over the course of four days discover the deep uncertainties that exist between them.
I’m thinking: Maybe.
The Resurrection of Joan Ashby by Cherise Wolas
Why I have it: No idea.
Summary: Joan, an author, and her husband agree to no children. Joan finds herself pregnant. Husband is thrilled. Decades (and two children) later, Joan finally completes her masterpiece novel.
I’m thinking: No (bloated).
I read Midwinter Break because it’s set in Amsterdam. The sense of place is spot on but I wouldn’t say I loved other than that.
I wondered about that (I think the last book I read set in Amsterdam was David Park’s The Light of Amsterdam, which I really enjoyed at the time).
MacLaverty is worth a try — if not this book, then something else by him. Thanks for mentioning my review.
Ditching the Wolas was a good choice. I got halfway through it earlier in the year and then had to resort to skimming — it’s way too long, and padded out with the author character’s work in progress (one of my pet peeves in a book).
The Wolas seemed a bit self-indulgent and then I wondered whether I could make that call after only reading a sample?!
What should I read by McLaverty?
The first two are definitely appealing – I keep meaning to read more MacLaverty. The last one sounds overlong, especially from Rebecca’s comment.
I started skimming the sample of the Wolas, so I guess that speaks volumes…
Midwinter Break was chosen by our book club – I did enjoy it, particularly the portrait of the husband who has a drink problem but thinks he is hiding it well from his wife.
Popular opinion suggesting I change the MacLaverty from a ‘maybe’ to a ‘yes’. Was it a good book group choice?
On the whole yes. Nobody disliked it so we spent a lot of the time talking about the wife and a decision she makes during the novel.
Don’t Skip Out on Me broke my heart. It’s a beautifully written book. I hope you cry and cry 🤣😉
I hope so too. I haven’t had a good cry over a book in a while.
Don’t Skip Out on Me is GOOD.