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Abigail Carter, Author
Co-Founder of Writer.ly, an online marketplace for writers to find the people they need to self publish; published memoirist, professional board member, widowed mom, writing teacher, Boston Terrier aficionado, and proud owner of 1940s author Betty MacDonald’s (of Miss Piggle Wiggle fame) Vashon house.
Clearly Now, the Rain: A Memoir of Love and Other Trips
This is a beautiful, albeit sad memoir about the power of friendship and the role of love in the midst of addiction. The writing is beautifully poetic and lyrical and the emotional insights are well formed, if a little repititious at times. The story would be beneficial to anyone who is supporting a loved one who is in the throes of addiction.
State of Wonder
This was a good hard to put downer. Aspects I found a little far fetched. Pulling an anaconda onto a boat? But an interesting, colorful story for sure.
A Red Herring Without Mustard
Another fun Flavia adventure. Precocious, yes. Not sure I'd love meeting that kid, but she is spunky. A well woven mystery indeed with lots of wonderful English countryside detail woven in. It's fun having the same agent as Alan Bradley. I get to read all about Falvia in advance.
Why We Love: The Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love
Really interesting insights into brain chemistry and some of the addictive qualities of love. It has been a big source of research material for me as I write my memoir and try to understand my own relationships.
Last Night at the Lobster
More a novella than a novel, this entertaining story recounts the last night before the closing of a Red Lobster restaurant as seen through the eyes of Manny, the restaurant's manager. Through exquisite attention to detail, which brings the place alive, we learn of Manny's past relationship and subsequent heartbreak over one of the waitresses. It is hard not to root for Manny's unrequited love despite his having a pregnant girlfriend.Throughout, the inner workings of this fast food-esque restaurant, its culture, its people are portrayed in a compelling way unique to anything I've read before.
The Lacuna: A Novel
This was such an interesting book that had some really interesting themes... private vs public life, media persecution, socialism to name a few.I enjoyed the imagined life with Diego Rivera and Frida Khalo and their affiliation with Leo Trotsky.
It is a bit of a slog to get through though. It's written in the form of journal entries, newspaper clippings and notes from the fictitious author's secretary/historian so there are very few scenes to keep the reader truly engaged, and in the now. But after seeing her speak, I know that everything she does on the page is for a reason. The Lacuna is no exception.
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
Probably one of my favorite books and one of the best books on writing out there.
The Liars' Club: A Memoir
Amazing detail, an incredible portrait of a young girl's agonizing childhood in the South in the 60s.
Through Black Spruce: A Novel
I just loved this book. An elderly Cree ex-pilot is telling his story from within a coma, while his niece tells her parallel story during visits to his bedside. The stories merge by the end. So skillfully and beautifully written. Highly recommended.
The Art of Racing in the Rain
I really enjoyed this, although there were a few things I found a little far fetched about the story. The characters are so beautifully portrayed, particularly Enzo, the dog that it almost didn't matter.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: A Novel
I enjoyed the historical aspect of this book, and living in Seattle, it was fun to imagine the various places described as they might have been. I did find the period of the 1980s confusing and not really true to the 80s as I remember them. More detail of that era might have helped locate the reader in that time period.Characters were well thought out and described and relationships between them believable.
All in all, a fun book to read.
A Peculiar Grace: A Novel
This was interesting, though a bit of a slog at times. No great aha moments, but a subtle transformation that the main character makes.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: A Novel
I thought this was a fun summer read. It wasn't a literary masterpiece, but the letter format was fun and the premise cute.
The Gargoyle. A Novel
Protaganist is a burn victim who meets a very unusual woman who helps him through his recovery. Somewhat male oriented (who else would write about a woman who carves gargoyles in the nude?), but it clips along.