The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett

The Magician's Assistant, Ann Patchett.  New York:  Harcourt, Inc., 1997.  e-book, 252 pps.

http://annpatchett.com/
@Ann_Patchett on twitter [outdated]
@ParnassusBooks1 on twitter [book store she is co-owner of and in use currently].

The magician is dead.  Parsifel is dead.  His grieving widow, who was also his assistant, left behind the rabbit named Rabbit, and a bunch of money.  Some of it was in the form of a structured trust to three women that Sabine had never heard of.  But Parsifel's family was dead.  He was from Connecticut, he had told her, and they had died in a horrific car accident.  An old postcard spoke the truth.  The magician had staged his own disappearing act.  He was not from Connecticut.  And his family was very much alive.  The rest of the book tells the story of what Sabine discovers about Parsifel and his family after his death. 

sapphoq reviews says:  This is the second Ann Patchett book that I've read and I plan to read the rest of them now.  The Magician's Assistant gave me a sense of being there.  I was in the audience at The Magic Hat and at the Johnnie Carson show.  I was at the cemetery outside of Los Angeles.  I was watching the snow twirl and fall outside the window of the little house in Nebraska.  The conversations were realistic, the characters were complex, and Rabbit was a darling.  Highly recommended to intelligent readers who enjoy a sense of place and who enjoy unconventional love stories. 

Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman

Looking for Me, Beth Hoffman.  New York:  Penguin Books, 2013.  e-book, 322 pps.

@wordrunner on twitter

http://bethhoffman.net/


Looking for Me is Beth Hoffman's second novel.  Teddi is from the farmlands of Kentucky where she lived with her mother, father, grandmother, and younger brother.  Josh, the younger brother that Teddi sort of named, is very much into the woods and nature.  He knows all about birds and their feathers.  He collects arrowheads, bones, and fossils.  Teddi taught herself to refinish furniture at a young age.  A chance meeting with an antique furniture dealer from Charleston encourages her toward her dream of owning her own antique furniture shop.

Something happens and Josh disappears into the wilderness.  Teddi survives the death of her dad, her mother, her gram, and the break-up of the family property.  She has her own life, a dog, her shop, and some painful questions that receive partial answers.


sapphoq reviews says:  Beth Hoffman has written an outstanding novel again.  Looking for Me is rich in imagery and emotional tone.  Fans of decent chick lit will love Looking for Me as I did even though Teddi hadn't yet adopted a cat or two by the end of the book.  Highly recommended.

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

Mockingbird, Kathryn Erskine.  New York: Philomel Books/ Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 2010.  e-book, 129 pps.


Caitlin is a fifth grader with diagnosed Asperger's Syndrome.  Her older brother Devon was a great kid who often took the time to explain things to her.  But Devon died suddenly.  Both Caitlin and her dad are drifting and lost.

Caitlin likes to look up words in her dictionary.  She finds the word "closure" and begins hunting for how to do that.  Along the way, she makes a friend.

sapphoq reviews says:  Kathryn Erskine did a fine job portraying the rich inner life of an Aspie girl.  The dialogue [in italics] flows nicely.  The characters are rich and three-dimensional.  Mockingbird was a easy book to love.  Highly recommended.

Swift, Brutal Retaliation by Meghan McCarron

Swift, Brutal Retaliation, Meghan McCarron.  New York: Doherty, Tom Associates, L.L.C., 2011, 2012.  e-book, 58 pps.

Sinead and Brigid are two sisters who are grieving their brother Ian's death.  Dad is a drunk and Mom withdraws from the family.  Ian's classmates bring over a bunch of lasagna.  Sinead and Brigid run into Ian's spirit who actually is not a nice sort of ghostie at all.

sapphoq reviews says: This particular short story would appeal most to Junior High readers.  Although it lacks a bit of sparkle, the description of a family in mourning is quite realistic.  Swift, Brutal Retaliation exhibits some unique twists.  Because of the twists, this short story is recommended for pre-teen readers, especially any who are curious about the craft of writing and different ways to write a story.