Two Trains Running By: August Wilson

Set in a restaurant on a block that's about to be destroyed by the city, we get the low down on the denizens of this neighborhood.  With Wilson's inimitable blunt style, this play puts you in the restaurant and into the lives of it's inhabitants, the town, and the world. August Wilson's African-American play cycle is the most astonishing collective piece of work out there.  Each play stands on it's own as brilliant writing, drama/comedy, and together they form a history of America that is beautifully rendered, with all of it's love, ugliness, truth and beauty. (March 2020)

Re-read this one in honor of it's 30th Anniversary.  My original reviews sums it up beautifully.  The really sad thing is that EVERY statement and observation in this play, set in 1967, is unfortunately, still true today.  It's a sad statement that nothing has changed in 55 years!  (May 2022)

Fences By: August Wilson

Oof!  A brilliant piece by a brilliant playwright!  I thought I'd read this previously, but I hadn't.  August Wilson is stupendous at writing real people-not characters.  Just stunning!

Skeleton Crew By: Dominique Morisseau

This is such a hauntingly and beautifully sad and hopeful play.  Pulling no punches Morisseau's no holds-barred writing and real people are hard to turn away from, and the raw emotions are a sucker punch in the gut.  Morisseau is such a stunningly important writing in the same vain as August Wilson and Lynn Nottage.

The Shirley Temple Story By: Lester David and Irene David

I was never really a huge Shirley Temple fan, however this is a great little book!  It's a biography of the Shirley temple phenomenon as opposed to a straight forward biography, which is such  fascinating way to tell her story.

A Strange Loop By: Michael R. Jackson

Holy Crap this is brilliance! Pure, brilliant genius! Ostensibly about a gay, Black man trying to write a musical, the true through line is that what Usher deals with is universal to us all.  And my rave is just from reading it-I haven't even heard the songs! It's no wonder this is getting heaped with praise-it deserves it!!

How I Learned To Drive By: Paula Vogel

 

As much as I adore Paula Vogel's work, I found this piece to be incredibly disturbing and very uncomfortable-which I'm assuming is the point, but I was so uncomfortable that I couldn't enjoy and or appreciate the piece.

Plaza Suite By: Neil Simon

 I can't believe I've never read this before!  This suite of plays is an absolute riot, but Act II will have you rolling with laughter!!

 

The Egg and I By: Betty MacDonald

 

Originally published 77 years ago, this slice of life on a farm still holds up as a charming, hilarious look at one woman's life on a remote farm in the Pacific Northwest. This is also the book that was the impetus for the Ma & Pa Kettle movies! Keeping in mind that this was written in the early part of the 1900's, I'd still advise skipping over chapter 16 and it's virulent ant-Native American stance.

Just Kids By: Patti Smith

I only knew of Patti Smith because of Robert Mapplethorpe's photos-so it was wonderful to read this beautifully crafted story of their relationship, their growth as artists and their devotion to each other. The writing is gorgeous.  A fascinating read.

 

Chasing the Bear By: Robert B. Parker

 What a wonderful surprise!  I loved the structure of this novel, and it was surprisingly moving! 

Mrs. Fletcher By: Tom Perrotta

Not what I expected.  For some reason I had it in my head that this was supposed to be funny, but I didn't find much in it to laugh about or at, or with.  I found this this lovely story to be profoundly moving, a touch sad in places, and extremely hopeful.  A lovely read!

 

Fade to Black By: Paul Donnelley

 

This was great fun.  I love old Hollywood and the bonus of this tome is that it is more full of British stars (not surprising since the author is British).  Chock full of interesting facts, some that I knew, some that I didn't, it is perfect for any film or biography buff!

Haroun and he Sea of Stories By: Salman Rushdie

A story about stories!  A lovely, charming, sweet, funny story about the importance of stories and storytelling.  It's the perfect story!

 

Jurassic Park By: Michael Crichton

Oh, I'm so glad I picked this up!  SO fascinating and the characterizations are impeccable!  Ian Malcom is such a brilliant character, and Hammond is such an annoying putz!  Great melding of info and action, without dragging the story down.  I feel the need to read Crichton's other books now!

The Crow Trap By: Ann Cleeves

As a HUGE fan of the TV series based on Cleeves' books it was such a treat to finally read one!  The layout of the book and the reveal of all the characters and clues is absolutely brilliant.  A Christie type ending with the wrap-up shows that all the clues were laid out for the reader to see and piece together. Stunning plotting and writing!