The Fall of a Sparrow by Robert Hellenga

I really loved this book, even the second time I read it. It's beautifully written and has something for everyone ... tragedy, foreign travel, terrorism, religion, love, sex, forgiveness, eating, humor, music. It's a work of fiction about an English professor at a small college in northern Illinois whose oldest daughter is killed in an event that is actually historical -- the bombing of the Bologna train station. It goes on to show how the different members of the family ... father, mother, and two younger sisters ... adjust to this tragic event. If you've never read anything by Robert Hellenga, you might be surprised at what he's accomplished here.

Reviewed by Cal

if you want to be happier, read this book-- really.

Family member: Aniko

Book: EAT, PRAY, LOVE by Elizabeth Gilbert

Brad and I stopped by The Strand Bookstore again last Monday so he could pick up a new Oliver Sacks book (which looks really cool-- can't wait to read his review). I spent the whole time winding through the miles of narrow stacks across three floors. I was unfocused, unable to commit to buying a book, even ones I had been meaning to read forever. After an hour, I was standing with Brad in line, resigned to leaving without something to read. At that moment, though, out of the corner of my eye I saw a book with three huge words on the cover: EAT, PRAY, LOVE. On an impulse I grabbed the book and thrust it onto the checkout counter at the last second.

I'm generally a pretty picky reader. I normally choose classics, modernist novels, and quirky contemporary stories (which, more often than not are set in NYC). I'm not sure that I had read anything on a New York Times bestseller list before. But, let me tell you-- this book was AMAZING. I wasn't able to put it down until I finished it this morning (silently reading while Brad made me breakfast and then silently reading while I ate the breakfast and he stared at me).

I had read an article about the backlash against the book the day before (as they say there's no such thing as bad press) and was intrigued by what the article said. EAT, PRAY, LOVE is an autobiographical account of the trip the author took to Italy, India, and Bali after a painful divorce and her equally painful subsequent relationship. She basically eats her way through her 4 months in Rome (gaining 23 healing pounds in the process!). She then spends 4 months meditating in an Ashram in India (which I think is really, really cool. She attempts to describe the absolutely outofthisworld experiences that she has while meditating and I'm definitely intrigued). Finally, in Bali (which also sounds amazing) she comes to a point of balance someplace between that decadence and the self control.

This story would normally sound far too ridiculous for the often cynical me to be interested-- but it's good, really good. She's a fantastic writer (if a bit of an emotional wreck as a person) and the way she's able to weave the story together is fascinating and intriguing. And inspiring. GIlbert's journey for self discovery is already nudging me to take stock of what's important and what's excess in my life and how to remain balanced and happy. If this is telling-- when I finish a book that I'm really in love with, I normally feel a bit depressed when I come to the end because it's over. The end of this book left me feeling both empowered and relaxed-- I'm a bit incredulous that the book had such an great impact on me, but I love it all the same.

Don't get me wrong, though-- there's no way that I'm going to see the movie. The movie's going to be ridiculous.

An Equal Music by Vikram Seth

Book

Cal

This novel is written in the first person by the second violinist in a string quartet headquartered in London. It's beautifully written and includes both the pleasures and problems of playing in a quartet. Throughout the book is a love story that will keep you on edge, wondering how it will possibly turn out the way you'd like it to. The book is also a bit of a travelogue as the quartet travels to several cities in western Europe.

I've read the book three times and enjoyed it even more the third time than I did the first two.