nomadreader

The basics: The Epilogue  is a photographic and mixed media exploration of Cammy Robinson's life and death from bulimia, as well as how her family handles their grief at her death. My thoughts: The Epilogue  is unlike any book I've ever read. At first glance, it's a big, beautiful book. The cover is (intentionally) creepy, but as I turned each page, I was fascinated by its contents and how photographer Laia Abril chose to tell Cammy's story. Inserted between some of this book's glossy pages are reproductions (that look real) of artifacts from Cammy's life, including report cards, letters, and hospital records. These objects, along with the photographs provide a mesmerizing reading experience. I didn't know what to expect when I started The Epilogue . It looked interesting and unique, but as I turned the first page, I didn't stop until I finished. I soaked this book up in a single sitting, simultaneously enjoying the reading experience and processin...

The backstory: Still Life with Bread Crumbs  was longlisted for the 2014 Baileys Prize for Women's Fiction . It's also one of my book club's selections for May (we meet every other month and read two books.) The basics: Rebecca Winter is a famous photographer who was once also rich. Now she finds herself forced to sublet the Manhattan apartment she loves and rent a quaint cottage upstate. My thoughts: I've previously read two of Quindlen's novels: Rise and Shine  and Every Last One.  I read Rise and Shine  when it was first released and before I started blogging, but I loved it. I had decidedly mixed feelings about her last novel, Every Last One , and admittedly I was hesitant to pick up this novel until it was longlisted for the Baileys Prize. For me, this novel falls somewhere between the other two. Rebecca Winter is a wonderfully honest character. Quindlen deftly introduces her to the reader as both the public persona and the private person: "Ta...