Author: John Irving

I’ve read and liked other books by this author but I can’t find any reviews on this website or on any older versions of the website. A few months ago Pat was sorting through some books for donation and this one was in the box. I hate to admit it but I pulled it (and a couple of others) from the donation because I thought I might like to read them.

Jack Burns was raised by a single mother (a tattoo artist) and never knew his father; this book is a memoir of Jack’s life. The first half of the book is Jack narrating his life through school and into the acting business in Hollywood. Among his memories are the stories his mother told him about his father. After his mother’s death stories come to light that cause Jack to question everything his mother told him.

This is a big book (800+ pages) and there was very little in it that amused me. This time the book will definitely be donated.

Goodreads Rating: * *

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

I was looking for an e-book to take with me on a recent trip. Several books that were on my list weren’t available on Libby but when I saw this one I remembered that I had heard of it even if I hadn’t added it to my “To Read” list.

Evelyn Hugo is an aging Hollywood star. She hasn’t granted an interview or been photographed for several years so it is quite an surprise when a popular magazine is asked to send Monique Grant (and no one else) to interview the star. When Monique arrives she finds that she is not being asked to write a single interview; Hugo wants to tell her life story to Monique but it isn’t to be published until after Hugo’s death. It is a very interesting story with a twist at the end.

I dug a little deeper and the author has said Evelyn is loosely based on Elizabeth Taylor, who was married eight times to seven men.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Author: Donal Ryan

This novel outlines the lives of the Aylward women of Tipperary. Nana’s son is married to Eileen. Just days after the birth of his daughter, Saoirse, he is killed in a car accident. Nana and Eileen raise Saoirse on their own; although it doesn’t always seem like it they love each other immensely. Saoirse is just eighteen when she becomes pregnant with Pearl and, after her birth, the four generations continue to live together.

This is a lovely story and although not deep you definitely feel the love between the generations. Each chapter is only two pages long so it isn’t hard to believe that “just one more chapter” can easily lead to many more chapters.

Goodreads Rating: * * *