What I'm reading ...

I have started Making It So by Patrick Stewart. I always like memoirs/autobiographies and have been a fan of the author for many years [and not just in STTNG]. Here’s the blurb:

From his acclaimed stage triumphs to his legendary onscreen work in the Star Trek and X-Men franchises, Sir Patrick Stewart has captivated audiences around the world and across multiple generations with his indelible command of stage and screen. Now, he presents his long-awaited memoir, MAKING IT SO, a revealing portrait of an artist whose astonishing life—from his humble beginnings in Yorkshire, England to the heights of Hollywood and worldwide acclaim—proves a story as exuberant, definitive, and enduring as the author himself. 

Where There's Smoke - by Jodi Picoult.

I have started and finished this book in quick succession. It is a very short book [a novella?], hence I read it very quickly. Not really my favourite format or genre, but this author is a firm favourite and I enjoyed it. Here’s the blurb:

Even as a child, Serenity Jones knew she possessed unusual psychic gifts. Now, decades later, she's an acclaimed medium and host of her own widely viewed TV show, where she delivers messages to the living from loved ones who have died. Lately, though, her efforts to boost ratings and garner fame have compromised her clairvoyant instincts.

When Serenity books a young war widow to appear as a guest, the episode quickly unravels, stirring up a troubling controversy. And as she tries to undo the damage - to both her reputation and her show - Serenity finds that pride comes at a high price.

Tom Lake - by Ann Patchett

This was a very gentle, enjoyable story, with a few surprises along the way. There are two timelines, but this makes complete sense for the story and there is no confusion - it adds to the dynamic. Again, an author to whom I will return.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. Another author whose work I am pleased to return to. Here’s the blurb:

It's spring and Lara's three grown daughters have returned to the family orchard. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the one story they've always longed to hear – of the film star with whom she shared a stage, and a romance, years before.

Tom Lake is a meditation on youthful love, married love, and the lives parents lead before their children are born. Both hopeful and elegiac, it explores what it means to be happy even when the world is falling apart.

The Outrun - by Amy Liptrot

This is a beautifully written book that was a pleasure to read. Although her accounts of her chaotic London life were harrowing, this is offset by her descriptions of life in the Orkneys. As I always hope when I read an autobiography or memoire, I gained insights into another world.

There are a few details that were “tweaked” for the film. Nothing that detracted far from the story and I can see why the changes were made to drive the dynamic of the film.

The author has another book about her later travels to Berlin; this is a “must read” for me.