Categorical Reading Lists

Libra by Don DeLillo

Books with the signs of the Zodiac in their titles are proving to be a bit elusive after Martha C. Lawrence stopped writing her pyschic private investigator series mid way through the astrological signs--really really really miss those books. Especially as it turns out that the majority of the remaining book options are sex, romance, S&M, and/or serial killer related. I persevere. And yes, fufilling this category is the only reason I picked up this book.

Part fact, part fictional speculation on the assassination of John F. Kennedy by a reknowned critically acclaimed author that was controversial when it was first published. The writing style is very choppy and the author quickly flicks from character to character, from past to the present, and from fact to speculation. I finished it but found it difficult to read and put it down multiple times.

I was only a couple of years old when JFK was assassignated so mostly I don't know enough to distinguish between fact and mere speculation--nor do I care too. However, I caught mysel several times fact checking and looking up non-fictional accounts of that fateful day in Dallas. 

I will not be reading anymore of this author--and blame him for sparking an interest in reading more about the known vs. the conspiracy theories.

If you want great fiction regarding this infamous assassignation I recommend reading 11/22/63 by Stephen King.

The conspiracy theory "further reading" title that most intrigued me: The Man Who Killed Kennedy: The Case against LBJ by Roger Stone and Mike Colapietro

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The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

I adored her first book, "The Ten Thousand Doors of January" and hope she writes a sequel (maybe she already has)... but this book just wasn't what I hoped it would be and I'm sad about that result. I wanted to like it more than I really did. It was just too much- in attempt to be all inclusive it just became instead-- complicated and preachy. Big surprise--the enemies are all old white men. I will give this author one more shot (based on TTTDOJ--but this book was mostly a waste of valuable reading time.

Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver

Ms. Kingsolver is a very popular writer with legions of fans, but unfortunately this book did not turn me into a fan girl. It is split into two separate stories. One in the past and somewhat based in the actual history of Vineland, NJ--post Civil War, and one set in 2016, on the cusp of the first Trump presidency. Both of these parallel stories revolve around time spent in the same rundown house on the corner of Plum and Vine. I feel sorry for the house.

I found the portions set in the past slightly more enjoyable but the portion set in 2016 featured a WHINY miserable woman surrounded by a bunch of cliche characters. The book spans the length of time each family spent living in this house. 

If I didn't already have Demon Copperhead sitting in a TBR stack--truth be told--I wouldn't be wasting anymore of my precious reading time with Ms. Kingsolver. I'm sure she won't miss me.

As a woman sitting on the cusp of the 2nd Trump presidency-- I'm not really in the mood to read allegorical laments about the "American Dream". I imagine it will be enough to simply live through it...

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Hi! I'm Debbie. Here at Categorically Well-Read I give an extra layer to the reading life. Learn more about me, check out my current category of books, submit your own suggestion, or check out my latest post.