And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks by William S. Borroughs and Jack Kerouac

Burroughs and Keroauc? Written in 1945? Sign me up. And then let me down. It should be said that I have never been a big fan of On the Road; it didn't inspire me.

I was expecting to be awed by the exploration these two put forth of New York City and the early culture they experienced at the dawn of the Beats...alas, this was choppy and mundane. "We went here. We did this. Then we walked over here and did some of that." Seriously? Apparently these burgeoning kings of culture literally walked from bar to bar, drank a lot of beer on other peoples' dimes and then staggered from apartment to apartment. All this while being disenchanted with their company and not being impressed by their closest friends.

My biggest disappointment came from the expectations set from the back cover. Touted as a murder mystery (based on real events witnessed by WLB and JK) that questions bigger issues, I found neither very riveting. Especially since the questions posed were so vague they didn't even elicit a second thought, let alone deeper ones. Bah.

My one compliment does speak to the writing. The chapters alternate voices, and the two characters were fully formed with distinct characteristics that also blended seamlessly with one another, flowing from one to the other.

Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell

If you know Sarah Vowell, then you know why I picked this up when I saw it at the thrift store. If you don't, then I'll explain a bit: Vowell is a NPR contributor that is obsessed with historical pop cultural. For this book, she travels all across America exploring virtually every spot associated with the assassinations of three American Presidents. Take away the superlative aspect of this book, and the history is not something that I would normally be drawn to read. I thought Sarah would ease me into the uncomfortable endeavor I'm starting-attempting to read outside of my basic genres.

From the preface: "The egomania required to be president or a presidential assassin makes the two types brothers of sorts. Presidents and presidential assassins are like Las Vegas and Salt Lake City that way. Even though one city is all about sin and the other is all about salvation, they are identical one-dimensional company towns built up out of the desert by the sheer will of true believers." Basically, Vowell's humor and enchantment with the mundane takes her (and the reader) on enough tangents to make 258 pages of history palatable for me.

The assassinations she investigates are those of LIncoln, Garfield and McKinley. Lest you think it's an in-and-out visit to the murder sites, be warned that she travels to the Mutter Museum simply to view a piece of John Wilkes Booth's flesh that has been kept for posterity (along with a piece of LBJ's gallbladder and a cancerous growth from the cheek of Grover Cleveland). She's nuts. But her fascination is fascinating.

And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

Like Williams and Eliot earlier this season, I'm cheating by going to Angelou. Or rather, I'm cheating you by posting a "review" here. Maya Angelou doesn't pop up early on my list of favorites, or sometimes even at all. Which is ridiculous, as I was reminded one night as I grabbed this from the living room.

Whether swallowed whole and digested in one sitting or taken in slowly and ruminated upon for days, this volume has a profound effect on me. Angelou's words point out who I once was, who I am now....and how those two people have grown together and apart over the years. These words quickly revive the brazen fire of my youth, applaud the confidence of my character and encourage the quiet strength that I've let lie dormant for too long.

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

With the buzz about Freedom and nothing but good things being said, I really wanted to pick it up right away. Alas, my book club will probably be reading it soon....and I've had The Corrections in my possession for nearly 9 years, so I thought I'd start there.

First of all, this book is extremely readable, and Franzen is a gifted writer. However, none of his characters are very likeable. I was originally intrigued by the introduction of Alfred and Enid, then drawn in by their younger son Chip. It quickly turned. It's a real tale of a real American family, but perhaps therein lies the problem. A bit too real? When I turn to reading to escape, maybe I want to read about circumstances more removed from my own.

(I'm abandoning this post, for I haven't been able to write anything for nearly 2 months. However, if you've read it, engage in conversation....I actually have lots to say.)

The Blue Star by Tony Earley

The Blue Star returns to the life of Jim Glass, who is now an 18-year-old figuring out life and love during a time of war. The school has electricity, girls are a force to be reckoned with, and his friends have enlisted.

Women are also a big issue for Jim now. He's recently ended a relationship with a girl who had anticipated marriage (as did Jim's mother), and now has a massive crush on a new girl. Who just happens to be in an arranged set-up with one of his recently deployed friends. On top of navigating that, Jim has discovered things about his father, and finally goes to meet his ailing grandfather in the hills.

Life is tough, but still relatively simple. Filled with imagery, the world, the land and the town all become characters as well. These characters are fully drawn and fully satisfying.

Guided by the strong hands and wise advice of his Uncles Coran, Al and Zeno, the boy grows into a man. Gracefully and fearlessly written, Earley easily conveys how once can learn about the poetry of heartbreak.

Jim the Boy by Tony Earley

When I worked for B & N in Chicago, there was a book rep that visited our store often. It was quickly discovered that we had similar tastes in books, and just as quickly random advance copies and galleys would show up (mailed to my house!). Jim the Boy was found as a result. I read it in 2000, loved it, and put a name for a potential child on the list as a result of one of the characters.

When at the Tattered Cover a few months ago, I found the sequel. Being that I rarely remember plot, I reread this in order to catch myself up.

Jim Glass is a 10-year-old growing up in the 1930s, with a widowed mother and 3 uncles as his caretakers. They live on a farm in North Carolina. It's a beautifully written simplistic story about family and discovery. I was glad to return to this simple time of discovery with Jim the Boy.