Half Broke Horses

I picked this up because I absolutely loved Jeanette Walls' The Glass Castle.  I love her easy but beautiful writing style and knew I would most likely love her newer book about her grandmother Lily Casey Smith. And I did - it was a joy to read and I fell in love with Lily and her remarkable life.  It was nothing short of amazing and I totally admired her tenacity and indomitable spirit in such trying times and in such desolate areas of the country.  I have to say it was a little heart-wrenching to read about Lily's daughter knowing how she would ultimately turn out (as the mother in The Glass Castle), but I also felt grateful to know a little more about her as well.  Lily's story was inspiring to me, and the book is a really, really great read.

State of Wonder and Bel Canto

Ratings:  Three Stars

State of Wonder is the second of Ann Patchett's books that have made it under my belt (Bel Canto being the first), and I am glad for it.  Her writing is beautiful.  Gorgeous.  It is what propels me through the slow parts in her novels, and is absolutely what makes her worth reading.  To be fair, her stories are interesting do pick up pace by the end, and her character development is remarkable.  I can't help but love, dislike, and feel like I know them.  With her as my guide, I was more than happy to visit Manaus and the Amazon to hunt for resources, and be among nationalists taken hostage by local South American terrorists (Bel Canto).

P.S.  I am doing two in one because I forgot to write about Bel Canto, which I read in May 2011)