Book #2 is mid-edit/mid-design right now for Rozlyn Press, which explains the lack of postings happening on ye old Leaf. The Galveston Chronicles is going to be amazing, though, and my absence here will make up for itself when you read Audra Martin D’Aroma’s debut. Trust me, you will love it. (Visit TGC’s page at Rozlyn Press)
I haven’t been not-reading though, I mean seriously, when would I ever stop? In the last few months the most recent books I’ve read were The Magicians by Lev Grossman and The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri,
The Magicians is The Chronicles of Narnia meets Harry Potter with some adult content sprinkled in. Really fun, really speedy. The lack of complete detail makes the book seem to fly by. In just over 200 pages Quentin had been accepted into a magical school, gone through all four years, and graduated. And although Grossman clearly borrows from other magically themed books, his additional plot points and characters are original enough for me to forgive his obvious references to Narnia, the White Witch, the Pevensie children, and all things Hogwarts. If you like those, you’ll like this. I’m very much hoping I receive the sequel for Christmas. (4 stars)
The N
amesake is a coming-of-age story about the Ganguli family and their transition from a traditional Indian family to a more-Americanized version of themselves. Gogol Ganguli is born and raised in America but his parents stick with their home’s traditions. As he grows, Gogol fights the expectations of his parents and rebels to create a modern version of himself, away from his Indian heritage. It is a beautiful and at time tragic story of a boy growing into a man, struggling to find himself. The writing is smooth and fluid, and we really come to empathize with Gogol, understanding the reasons for the paths he chooses, but knowing it will not end happily for him we must wait and watch Lahiri’s plot unfold. Definitely recommended. (4 stars)
And for fun, these are the books on my 2011 Christmas List:
Hoping Santa brings me at least a couple of these readable goodies!
P.S. Who’s the cool kid now, y’all. My quirkily-unique name is all the rage in Book 3 of the Game of Thrones series. Yeah, yeah! Alayne in the house!
