Cam, Charlie, Cruella, Christie
Five books consumed this month, along with turkey, stuffing, and son John’s yummy pot roast. Thanksgiving included book shopping and book reading.
Book 1: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Grandson Cam and I read aloud a chapter or three together whenever we could these past few months.
When he jumped in providing distinctive character voices for Willy Wonka and Grandpa Joe, I wanted to shout: “Theater kid! He’s a theater kid!” Well done, Cam.
His thoughts: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a good book to read. It was pretty original and it got its own movies, that’s how ya know it’s a popular book! My favorite character was Willy Wonka and my favorite Golden Ticket winner was Charlie Bucket.
It was only after we’d finished that he told me he’d read the book a few years ago, but was happy to read it again with me.
Book 2: The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie
Sorry to say, this was not my favorite Christie mystery. The story is more of a thriller than a detective/crime novel. (We had enough questionable thrills this month with the election and all.)
In short: Life’s just not the same without Hercule Poirot nosing around.
Book 3: The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith
Not sure that I’ve ever watched the Disney flick, but I instinctively knew the chapter book would be better. The original was written in 1956 and is close to 200 pages of doggy intrigue.
Either way, Cruella de Vil is an absolute wretch!
Book 4: The Truce by Primo Levi
This is a continuation of Holocaust survivor Primo Levi’s story. His If This Is a Man ends with camp liberation and The Truce picks up as Levi begins the arduous journey back to his home in Turin, Italy.
The book feels like a collection of short stories, with each chapter detailing a town and group of refugees along the way as Levi gradually regains his humanity. (I have the Folio Society edition, so this is the British title. The American title is The Reawakening.)
Book 5: The Informer by Liam O’Flaherty
The title and the cover artwork were irresistible to me. And the author’s name, naturally.
The Informer takes us through 24 hours of friendship, betrayal, drunkenness, and revenge in the 1920 slums of Dublin.
When someone asked me about the book on social media, my immediate response was it is exquisitely written. I usually struggle a bit with a sense of place, but O’Flaherty’s narrative took me right there, to the point I wanted a blanket to keep warm and a couple of aspirins to relieve the rappin’ in me skull.
In December, I’m going to try for all wintery and Christmas-y books. Thanks to Mom and Dad’s book collection, plus our own, I’m halfway there.
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