By Jennifer

One of the joys I’m looking forward to on this trip is reading. I’m imagining that I will have the luxury of time to not only keep pace with my book club selections, but also to get through a small stack of books I’ve been meaning to get to. In the few weeks leading up to our departure, here’s what I’ve read so far:

(Personally rated on a scale up to five stars, five stars being the best)

The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht. ** My August book club’s selection. This book I’ve seen on many book club lists, so I had high expectations. Unfortunately, the book fell well flat of those expecations. I struggled to get to page 100 and went around town begging anyone I knew if they’d read the book and if it would get any better. No one had. Anyway, I slogged through it. I won’t spoil it, but here’s my two cents. The author is a good writer, but she’s like 12 years old if you judge the picture on the back cover. The text is weighed down by too much description. There are too many tangential characters with more really lengthy descriptions. What I found interesting were the stories of the tiger and the deathless man. (Read Aug. 2012.)

wild by Cheryl Strayed. ***** BEST. BOOK. I. EVER. READ. This inspiring memoir can change the trajectory of your life. (Read Aug. 2012.)