A Lisa Christie summertime – or anytime – pick.
Without Lisa LC, J Lisa C picks two books she recently finished and loved – Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea and This Must Be the Place by Anna Winger.
Into the Beautiful North – Nayeli, a lovely young girl this new novel, works and lives in Tres Camarones, a town in Mexico devoid of men – all of whom have gone north to find work. When gangsters threaten the town, Nayeli takes inspiration from a screening of The Magnificent Seven in the town theater. She travels north, with three young friends to convince seven Mexican men to return with her to Tres Camarones and save the town. The situations and characters they encounter are memorable. The author’s gorgeous prose, ability to place social commentary without preaching, and subtle, yet pointed humor turn this tale into something very special.
This Must be the Place – I am surprised at how much I like this novel. Nothing much happens, yet a lot takes place at the same time. No matter the plot, I enjoyed the time I spent with the characters. And, I loved learning more about and thinking more about the former Eastern Block countries.
Read Full Post »
