Thursday, June 26, 2008

Another Winner by Chris Bohjalian


Last summer, I read Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian and it is a book that I absolutely enjoyed. It's been a treat to have people at work read it and tell me about the book, since I know that when they get to the end, it's a shocker. You sit there and ask, what did I miss?

This past week, I read Bohjalian's newest book, Skeletons at the Feast. I wanted to read it, because of how much I admire his storytelling skills. The book takes place in Nazi Germany during the last year of the war. I have read so many books about the same time period, that I thought what more could I learn.? Yet once into the book, with the weaving of the lives of different classes of people of different religious backgrounds, I did get involved.

Reading is all about making connections and in this story, each character's development made me think about how I would feel or react in similar situations. Of course there were some sad moments in the book, after all it's about war, Nazis and the treatment of the Jewish people. Deeper into the story, character's initial beliefs are changed by those around them.

This is not a chick lit beach book, but a book that I would recommend for a thoughtful summer read. Chris Bohjalian remains one of my favorite novelists who really knows how to write a great ending. Isn't it always the endings that we remember? (Even when you finish the book at 2 am on a Wednesday night, sssh, don't tell my husband!)

7 comments:

  1. Thanks for the tip. Always looking for a good recommendation. Do you use Library Thing?

    http://www.librarything.com/

    It's a great way to keep track of what you've read.

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  2. Thank you!! I just signed up, I do like to try to remember what I have read. Also, it looks like a good way to get recommendations.

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  3. Anonymous8:25 AM

    I may have to read this book. I am just running down on the stack of books I have accumulated, and as I am about to take off for the summer I doubt the library will look kindly on me stealing a book for 3 months. The problem is of course taking a chance on a new book, but this one sounds good!

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  4. A good book is always worth staying up late/early to finish!

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  5. Jenny McB! You are a winner! Last week you commented on my 80's memories post and I decided today to award 2 prizes and they would go to the 10th and 20th commentors. You were #20 so you win!. Email me your name and address and your prize will be sent off this week. mjchristopher@comcast.net

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  6. This sounds like a book I would enjoy! I am going to jot down the name so I can look for it next time I am out book shopping.

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  7. This is an author I've not heard of and I love to read! In fact, my TT this week is also book oriented. Thanks for telling us about him, I'll have to go to the library because your review is so compelling.

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Any thoughts or musings of your own to add?