Books - Review

Short stories, love and life. Very funny one about a distracted mum organising a magician for her son's birthday party.

Funny and sweet.

Jane is a young primary school teacher living in a small city in the mid-west USA when she meets Duncan and falls in love. However Duncan has been around the block a few times and seems to have known (and slept with) almost every woman in town, and stayed on friendly terms with most of them, including his ex-wife. Then there is a tragic car crash affecting them all.

Great book, moving and funny. Excellent scene in the classroom during careers week, when Jane invites the local barman in to talk about his job and he teaches all the seven-year-olds how to mix cocktails. It reminded me of Garrison Keillor a little bit, only more sparky.

Matthew is an autistic 10-year old growing up in New York with his father, Graham, and his second wife. They dote on him and do everything they can for him, even taking him to weekly origami club meetings. Then the first wife reappears which makes Graham think a bit about his choices.

Excellent, moving and funny.