I'm getting better! I have THREE books for you today! Woot!

Like I said, there are three books today. On a side note, Malvern Library is massive and incredible. I wrenched my shoulder with the amount of books I lugged out of there (Nine hardcovers and two paperbacks) Reviews on those will come later. Let's start with the reviews

The Flying Troutmans-Miriam Toews
"Days after being dumped by her boyfriend Marc in Paris – "he was heading off to an ashram and said we could communicate telepathically" – Hattie hears her sister Min has been checked into a psychiatric hospital, and finds herself flying back to Winnipeg to take care of Thebes and Logan, her niece and nephew. Not knowing what else to do, she loads the kids, a cooler, and a pile of CDs into their van and they set out on a road trip in search of the children’s long-lost father, Cherkis."

This book was amazing. It dealt with dark subject matter (manic depression and psychosis) with humour. The situations the Troutmans find themselves in are hilarious but not outlandish which makes it easy to relate to them. The common theme of the book is the search for understanding. Hattie is trying to understand her sister's illness, Logan is trying to understand himself and Thebes is trying to understand why her mother just can' t be her mother. Each of the characters are achingly real with the exception of the spaced-out Min but hopefully most people won't be able to relate to a woman diagnosed with psychosis. Another great aspect to the book was that the characters never felt sorry for themselves nor did the author attempt to make the readers feel sorry for them. Her only intention was to capture a fundamental aspect of human nature: to suck it up and deal with it. And capture it, she did, through hilarious, lovable characters and a quirky, strange premise that actually makes all the sense in the world. I mean, if you had two kids who's mother had just been hospitalized for psychosis, wouldn't you pack them into a car and drive cross-country looking for their father?
4.5 out of 5

Blood Eagle-Craig Russell
Dear God, this book was gory. A serial killer is loose on the streets of Hamburg and his modus operandi is ripping the lungs out of his living victims and flopping them over their shoulders. Piece of advice: if you have an over imaginative mind like I do, DO NOT read this book when you're alone at home at night. However, the book was extremely well-written. The descriptions of Hamburg were truly beautiful; the author must really love the city. The characters are meticulously described; Craig Russell's attention to detail really is something to be admired. However, the book could easily have been shorter. My verdict is:
4 out of 5

For One More Day-Mitch Albom
I officially love this author. His books are moving and beautiful. All of them deal with the question of life. What would you change? What was your legacy? Is life as beautiful as we are told? I'm pretty sure I already reviewed "Five People You Meet in Heaven" which moved me to tears multiple. This book didn't make me cry but it definitely made me think about my mother and my relationship with her. The main character, Chick Bennetto, tries to commit suicide but winds up at his old house where his dead mother is waiting for him. With her, he reviews all the times she's been there for him and all the times he's failed her. Mitch Albom always provokes thought in his novels with beautiful prose and unique story plots. 4.5 out of 5 for this one.