This week’s “What We’re Reading” is more of a “What We Should Be Reading.” Have you ever started a book, and then either gotten really busy, misplaced it, or started another one? I have three of those lying on my desk, begging for some attention. Well, this weekend, they’re getting finished. And since they’re all so wonderful in their own way, here they are, for your reading pleasure.
Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins (the quirky one). You either love him or ya hate him. Tom Robbins, that is. He spins a fantastical, stinky, sexy tale about immortality, beets, and perfume. Following four different story lines, this novel is busting at the seams. Don’t miss the underlying themes of religion (Christianity versus the Greek goat-god Pan, hence the stench), the powers of scent, Transcendentalism – oh, and lots of sex, which seems to be a trend with Robbins’ books. Sometimes Robbins is so quirky that his writing gets lost, but overall, it’s been an enjoyable read.
The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni (the most lovable). I started this one for Books & Bars last month, and I still haven’t had time to finish it. The main character, an extremely sheltered teenager who has grown up with his slightly kooky grandmother in a geodesic dome in Iowa, won my heart. His quirky speech patterns, his curious innocence, and his confusing journey and relationships outside of the dome, along with his fateful introduction to punk music, definitely resonated with the Books & Bars crowd – myself included.
Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich (the true literary one). Everyone should read Louise Erdrich. Or at least that’s what I was told. So when I happened upon this book at a used book sale, I snapped it up. It’s definitely not the same easy read as The House of Tomorrow, but it’s masterfully woven and earns every bit of praise. The complex relationships of the two main Native American families are written with great dialogue, mysticism, and an unflinching eye for life’s complications. The characters are impulsive, intuitive, and at the same time, no-nonsense. This is a novel that will shape up your literary spine.
What books have you neglected lately? Any great ones worth finishing?
