bookescapes

October 10th, 2015 by Jan

When in doubt write a book report!

I finished two books on the same day. Both good reads.

I listened to the 22 hour audiobook The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I like long books for walking, but this one held my interested while I was at the sewing machine, as well as doing the dishes. Poor Ken, when I have a book in my ear, he has to first get my attention, wait for me to turn off the story, and then can finally tell me what’s on his mind. Usually by the time all this has happened, he says, “Never mind!”

The Secret History is written by the same author who wrote The Goldfinch. One of my favourites reads. This book read by Tartt herself, is about a bright young man from California, who goes to college in New England, and gets involved with an odd assortment of bright, and spoiled kids who think the rules do not apply.

So often the first people we meet on a new adventure, become the friends we hang with, not so much because of shared interests or backgrounds, but just because we are in the same place at the same time. This is especially true when we are young. Then add booze, drugs, and perceived privilege, watch the shit happen, and try to keep it secret and trust others to as well.

The author does a good job of reading this book. It’s the type of book where even though I didn’t really like the characters per se, I am left wondering how they are faring as adults! I’m also curious as to who else has gotten away with shit when young, and how well they later participate in life.

The second book was plain fun and easy reading.

And perhaps I have my answer to the above question!

The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules, by Catharina Ingelman Sunberg was written in similar fashion to The 100 Year Old Man Who Crawled Out the Window and Disappeared.

Seventy-nine year old Martha is bored living in a retirement home that is cutting amenities to save money for the owners. She and her band of friends decide to commit crimes as they feel prison would be a better place with better food and such. After turning themselves in after their first crime, they realize prison is not what it’s cracked up to be, but crime sure is. So, upon release, they continue to plan and carry out “harmless” crimes that can provide them enough money to live well enough and out of prison.

They have a ball and because no one is looking for old criminals they do get away with a lot as the authorities bumble along in disbelief.

My father used to say, “Act like you know what you are doing, and you can get away with anything.”

Martha and her cronies would not disagree.

Funny how both books has a band of friends counting on each other as they do “wrong” — one has a fun side to it and we forgive the old, and the other not so much, especially when rich and spoiled kids are involved.

For the next book – I’m open to suggestions.

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