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.
This week, all three samples have been on my Kindle for eons. No idea where I spotted these books.
Modern Lovers by Emma Straub
Summary: College friends Elizabeth, Andrew and Zoe have watched one another marry, start businesses and have families. Now nearing fifty, and as their children become adults, secrets and revelations are finally let loose.
I’m thinking: No (probably a great beach read but don’t need one of those right now).
The Easy Way Out by Steven Amsterdam
Summary: Evan is a nurse with a very specific job – he’s the last person to tend to patients who have chosen to die. Evan’s friends don’t know what he does, and as he pushes legal and moral boundaries, he discovers that there is no easy way out.
I’m thinking: Yes (it will be challenging).
The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud
Summary: School teacher Nora Eldridge long ago abandoned her ambition to be a successful artist, and instead is the reliable friend and helpful neighbour. New student Reza Shahid changes her world. When Reza is bullied, Nora is drawn into the Shahid family, with unexpected outcomes.
I’m thinking: No (interesting plot but style didn’t appeal).
For what it’s worth, I found The Woman Upstairs interesting. The author, Claire Messud, catalyzed quite a literary sh**storm over the notion of likeable characters in fiction and why women should be allowed to be just as unlikeable as men.
I feel like I heard a female author talk about this very topic (unlikeable characters) recently but can’t think who it was… perhaps Meg Wolitzer, although I didn’t include it in my summary…
Modern Lovers doesn’t appeal at all, but the other two could be interesting. I would want a trusted blogger such as yourself to read them first to tell me if I should go ahead though 😉
You can count on me for The Easy Way Out (once again topical as the state where I live recently introduced assisted dying legislation, and is the only place in Australia where this can happen).
I have yet to try Messud, but I have a copy of The Emperor’s Children. I’ll be interested to see if I like her style.
I’ll await your verdict!
The Woman Upstairs was “all the rage’ a few years ago but I never got around to it…..
I suspect this has ben on my Kindle for a few years!
I thought the Amsterdam was excellent. Such a tricky subject but he handled it so well. I liked the Messud but it’s a very angry book and given the current state of affiars here in the UK I’m not sure I could read it again!
I am very interested in the Amsterdam (particularly as I do some work in palliative care, so I’ll have an opinion!).
As did/does he. I reviewed it – feels like ages ago now – and found it all the more engaging for knowing that. I’llbe interested to know what you think of it.