the third five

Okay, you win. Apparently you do enjoy these book reports, so I'll continue writing them.


11. Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler
My mom has long loved Anne Tyler's books, and has been telling me for years that I should read them, that they were engaging and addicting. I finally decided to follow her advice. And, like mothers so often are, she was right. This one was interesting in that the entire novel is set in just one day. And that day, if you want to know the truth, was not even that eventful. At least not in a dramatic way. And yet, I couldn't put this book down. I especially loved her talent for helping her readers truly get to know her characters.

12. The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler
This one was also very engaging (though, I will admit, I didn't much care for the way it ended). The characters were a lot more eccentric than those in Breathing Lessons, but they were every bit as believable, which is, I'm realizing, a distinct trait of Tyler's writing. That, and also her loving descriptions of Baltimore, where most of her stories are set.

13. One of Our Thursdays Is Missing by Jasper Fforde
This is the just-published latest installment of the Thursday Next series that I fell in love with last year. This one falls right into place with the others. I'm not even going to try to explain anything about the plot because, unless you've read the others, it would completely confuse you. Trust me, though, when I say that it's hilarious and incredibly witty and creative. (Trust me also when I tell you that you should definitely read this series in the order that they were written.)

14. The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith
This is the just-published latest installment of the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series (I played my cards just right at the library last month and was the first person to read their copies of both this book and the Thursday Next book.) I love this series. I love Precious Ramotswe and Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni and Mma Makutsi (whose marriage it is that is celebrated under the big tent), and I love McCall Smith's Botswana. If you haven't picked up this series, I highly recommend that you do.

15. Corduroy Mansions by Alexander McCall Smith
I'd never heard of this book until recently, when I was browsing Alexander McCall Smith's website looking for a U.S. release date for the next in the 44 Scotland Street series. (In case you're curious, it's due out in the U.K. in June, but there's no U.S. release date yet. Maybe early next year?) This one is not part of a series (or not yet, anyway), but it was very reminiscent of 44 Scotland Street, which I absolutely adore. It's written serially and concerns the lives of the tenants of an apartment building known as Corduroy Mansions, only these characters live in London. It's just as funny and charming as 44 Scotland Street, so if you enjoyed that, you'd likely enjoy this one as well.