Burn Down this World by Tina Egnoski. This new book has a braided narrative, with one story set during the turbulent anti-Vietnam War protests of the 1970s and based on events that happened at the University of Florida in 1972. The other part takes place during the 1998 Florida wildfires when brother and sister try to reconcile after so many years. It looks like an excellent family story.
The Narcissism of Small Differences by Michael Zadoorian. This one is actually set in 2009 Detroit. The '70s vibe comes from the font on the cover, which looks exactly like the font on so many 1970s paperbacks. I love it.
The Narcissism of Small Differences is about Joe and Ana, a couple on the brink of 40, trying to hold on to their relationship while their careers come to a crossroads. Crumbling Detroit is the background for their crumbling romance.
From the Publisher's description:
Set in bottomed-out 2009 Detroit, a once-great American city now in transition, part decaying and part striving to be reborn, The Narcissism of Small Differences is the story of an aging creative class, doomed to ask the questions: Is it possible to outgrow irony? Does not having children make you one? Is there even such a thing as selling out anymore?
And I got two Joan Didion books, both collections of essays: Slouching Towards Bethlehem, first published in 1968, and The White Album, first published in 1979. I read The Last Thing He Wanted last year, and when I saw it was turned into a Netflix series, it put me in the mood to read these two classics of American journalism that made Didion famous.
Mailbox Monday is a weekly event where participants share the books they got the week before. Visit the Mailbox Monday website to find links to all the participants' posts. You can also see highlights of last week's post at Books that Caught our Eye.
Mailbox Monday is hosted by Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit, and Martha of Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf.
