Title: Drinking Coffee Elsewhere
Author: ZZ Packer
Genre: Fiction

This collection of short stories had been on my “to read” list for so long that perhaps there was no way for me to not be disappointed by it. I had to force myself to push through and finish this book and when I did I walked away quite unsatisfied.

The more I thought about my disappointment though the more I realized it wasn’t disappointment at all. It was instead discomfort. The book didn’t offer any element of escapism at all. Even though I had next to nothing in common with the actual characters and actions in the stories the deep sadness and melancholy present in everyone of the stories rang a little too true and hit a couple tender spots a little too directly. The fact that Packer is originally from Louisville and threw in some Louisville and Kentucky details just added to those direct hits.

I wasn’t disappointed in the book, just uncomfortable with the level of emotions and introspection it inspired in me. I cannot think of higher praise to give a book.

Title: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
Author: Michael Chabon
Genre: Fiction

I don’t think I loved this book as much as everyone else in the world seems to but I did love it. I read it at night in the ICU with my uncle while everyone else slept and it definitely wasn’t hard to stay awake to. Then I read it after I came home and was heart sick. Then I read it after evenings at the funeral home. It’s a long book. Did you pick up on that?

Having read three Michael Chabon books this year I’m amazed by the differences and the similarities in the three works. Without gushing too much I’ll just say that it’s very easy to see what he is probably our most rightfully praised contemporary American author.