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Books I Read This Month - September 2012

Enduring Love by Ian McEwan

After a ballooning accident, a delusional young man, Jed Parry, begins stalking scientist Joe Rose, believing Joe is sending him secret signals that he is in love with him. Jed, who never threatens Joe or Joe's wife with violence but instead attempts to convince him to believe in God. Harming Joe and Clarissa's marriage, the stalker begins to drive Joe crazy. At many points in the novel, even the reader begins to question Joe's sanity. This is a beautifully written psychological novel.

In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O’Brien

An psychological novel, in which John Wade, Vietnam war veteran and amateur magician takes his wife on a vacation to Lake of the Woods but wakes up one morning to discover her and the boat missing. Because of John's intense PTSD, hallucinations, and childhood abuse,many people in the town believe he is responsible for his wife's disappearance. In the Lake of the Woods is a fascinating look into reality versus fantasy and the consequences of war and abuse.  

The Infinite Tides by Christian Kiefer

After his teenage daughter's death, astronaut Keith Corcoran returns to earth from the space station, only to find his suburban home empty but the bed and sofa. Like an alien in the city, Keith spends much of his time reading the newspaper at the local Starbucks in order to avoid the empty house, his wife's divorce settlement, and the work required to put the house up for sale. Soon he meets his neighbors: a desperate housewife with a young daughter and a family of Ukrainian immigrants. His unlikely friendships in this atmospheric town teach Keith how to move forward in his life, how to face his daughter's death, and how to live in the moment, because you never know which moment could be your last.



BOOKS I REVIEWED THIS MONTH