Possession by A.S. Byatt

This is a very long book.  It took me a while to get into it;  it has a slow start.  There are also long passages of poetry and copies of letters attributed to the literary figures in the book that are very long and boring.  (I actually skipped most of the poems, especially those by the male author.)

This book begins with a researcher discovering never-before-seen notes by an author.  Amongst these notes is the beginnings of a letter to a woman.  With more study he discovers it was written to a female poet from the time.  He connects with an expert on the female poet and they search together to discover the story.  A big positive of the story for me is that she wraps up the story.  She doesn't leave dangling lines or mysteries for the reader, even though the characters in the book may not learn quite everything.

This book is mostly clean, although there are the situations of an extra-marital affair and a child out of wedlock.  These situations aren't explained in detail.  There is discussion, not description, of sex and, so it is probably not an appropriate read for younger readers.

I didn't love it, but it's all right.  I wouldn't say it's worth the time, but I do see where someone else may feel it is. 

Ragtime by E L Doctorow

This is an involved novel of historical fiction.  It is a little depressing but interesting.

There is a white family that have no names and are just called by their family titles, Father, Mother, younger brother, etc.  They take in a black maid and her young son.  The boy's father keeps coming around to woo the mother.  He is involved in a horribly violent incident and struggles to regain his pride.  There is also a Jewish father and daughter in New York that become involved in the story.  An interesting thing to me is that the black and Jewish families have names and more defined identities than the white family.  Another interesting thing is the inclusion of historical figures like Henry Ford who somewhat randomly appear in the narrative.  By the end of the book, all three families are inter-connected in a supposed representation of the American "melting pot."

This book has some serious racially-motivated violence that is inappropriate for younger readers.

Ragtime isn't my favorite book, but it is interesting.  Some of the characters get your attention and keep it.  It is worth the time but isn't a purely entertaining read.

The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

I really didn't love this book and struggled to finish it.  It is very political and seems completely about race, but not in a straightforward or clear manner.   It has lots of mysticism and cynicism, neither of which are my favorite!  The beginning moved especially slowly, although it picks up the pace toward the second half. 

This is the story of a nameless black man.  He starts at a black university in the deep south and is expelled through no fault of his own.  He goes to New York to find a job and learns he was betrayed by the black college's president.  He gets a job at a paint factory and is involved in a work accident when a boiler explodes.  This is followed by a very bizarre episode when he seems to receive electroshock therapy in the factory hospital as treatment after the accident--a very confusing event that is never explained.  I especially don't like it because it raises the possibility that the character's thoughts and conclusions after this event could be incorrect because of damage to his brain or colored by mental illness if the treatment was actually necessary.  This one seemingly pointless episode can negate the whole book!  After the factory he becomes involved in a political movement, which seems to be communism.  The story culminates in a race riot in Harlem.

I wouldn't suggest this book for young readers.  The way it discusses race is pretty intense.  There is discussion of incest and rape.  There is a little swearing but not much.  The riot is pretty violent and upsetting.  Not a super uplifting book!

This book has some interesting points and can make you think, although it feels like it doesn't completely own its sentiments.  It is challenging and takes a fairly large time commitment so be prepared.  I wouldn't recommend it for sheer entertainment but it is worth a read.

Girls in Tears by Jacqueline Wilson

This is from the British Big Read list, which contains quite a few of Wilson's books.  She writes children's books geared toward pre- and early-teen girls.  This is another of those.

Girls in Tears is about a ninth grade girl and her challenges with friends, family, and her boyfriend.  Wilson is a great writer and draws you in, but this isn't my favorite just because of the content.  Some of the main worries (like how far to go with boyfriends) seem too old for a 13-year-old girl.  I wouldn't want my kids to grow up that fast!

It is a super easy read that is done really quickly, so it is probably worth the time.  I wouldn't recommend it to particularly young readers, though.

King and Maxwell by David Baldacci

I have been disappointed with Baldacci's recent books, so this one was a welcome change, at least until the end.  Then it suddenly wrapped up without having a real climactic moment and seemed somehow unfinished.

This book is obviously about the ex-Secret Service agents turned private investigators, Sean King and his partner Michelle Maxwell.  In a strange coincidence, they run into a high school boy whose father has gone missing in Afghanistan after a botched mission and has been declared dead by the army.  Of course they get involved and end up saving the day.  The autistic computer genius, Edgar, from the last book in this series reappears in King and Maxwell and seems like he will become a regular character in the series.

It is an easy read, so probably worth the time, but it isn't his best.  If you're looking for a Baldacci book, try The Winner, Absolute Power, Last Man Standing, or The Camel Club first before reading this particular book.  It isn't his best.

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens

This is definitely not my favorite Dickens' book.  And I usually quite like Dickens!  It took me more than a month to finish this book, and I am a fast reader.  I would even venture to say it is one of his worst books.

Little Dorrit doesn't have enough plot to support the story, and quite often seems rather dull.  It does have some excellently eccentric characters to liven things up in typical Dickens fashion, but not as many as would usually populate one of his books of this length.

This book takes forever and is definitely not worth the time.  Read David Copperfield instead!

A Passage to India by E.M. Forster

I have mixed feelings about this particular book.  It's a bit sad and depressing, but it is also interesting and is well-written.

A Passage to India tells the story of Dr. Aziz, an Indian gentleman who wonders whether it is possible to be friends with an Englishman, Adela, a young English schoolteacher, and Mrs. Moore, and older English lady who befriends Dr. Aziz.  A group of people including these three go on a day trip to some caves.  Adela is accosted and accuses Dr. Aziz of the crime.  The trial and its surroundings are full of racism and prejudices, which is pretty sad.

This book makes me wonder how accurate Forster is about British India and how much he actually knows about the Indian mind.  I know he did spend actual time in the India he is writing about, but he obviously was never an actual Indian to know how their minds work.  He frequently gets inside Dr. Aziz's thoughts and he attributes most of his thoughts and attitudes to his race.

It is worth the time, but it is a bit of a challenging read and takes quite a bit of it.  Definitely not a beach read!