The Cure of Death by Lightning by Gail Anderson-Dargatz

A family drama taking place on a small Canadian Farm in the midst of WWII.  This book is told by fifteen-year old Beth who encounters many strange and quirky people from her own family members to friends and neighbors.  Filled with Indian legends she gets from a friend from the nearby reservation.  Beth also shares home remedies and recipes she gets from reading her mother’s scrapbook.  This book is a coming of age story filled with a plethora of quirky characters from Filthy Billy who suffers from having his soul taken over by a coyote, to Coyote Jack who sneaks around watching Beth and hiding in the bushes.  Beth’s father is a violent man who is a danger not only to his family, but also to his friends and neighbors.  This book intertwines legend, myth, and reality to make a truely engrossing read.  I look forward to reading other books by this author.   ***

Lost and Found by: Carolyn Parkhurst

A great book about relationships and how we deal with different aspects of those relationships.  There is a mother/daughter, former gays, brothers, and several others that are involved in this novel.  Each faces the question of honesty, matters of the heart, and coming to terms with themselves.  The characters take part in a reality show which takes them all over the country and while they travel from place to place, relationships grow together and some grow apart.  How much is the million dollar prize worth?  Is it worth ending a relationship, telling the truth about your past, or revealing something about your future?  This is a great book by a great storyteller.  Parkhurst also the author of The Dogs of Babel which is another great story.  I would suggest this book or this author for anyone who is intrigued by unique stories with great character development.  submitted by: artful4mysoul

Mr. Sebastian and the Negro Magician

The latest book by Daniel Wallace, the author of Big Fish.  This is a unusual story about a young boy who “sells his soul to the devil” to become a magician.  The story is told through different voices, many of them circus freaks the likes of The Ossified girl who can only move her eyes and lips, the Alligator Lady and JJ the Barker.  The story is filled with twists and turns and each character is so memorable.  The novel starts off with Henry’s disappearance.  Then his friends from the circus tell the story of Henry’s life the way the remember it.  You’ll learn what Henry had to give up to become a magician.  And what of his sister, Hannah?  Did the devil take her, did she run away willingly, or did she die?  What about Henry’s first and only love?  So many questions throughout the stories.  Nothing in this novel is as it appears.  A captivating read for anyone who likes quirky novels.  Not your mainstream fiction, but that is what makes it so interesting.         

Submitted by:  artful4mysoul