Thirst for Love by Yukio Mishima

To me this is a false diary, although no human being can be so honest as to become completely false. (p.17)

The Humbling by Philip Roth

 

Interesting start, describing a distinguished actor in his 60s who loses the ability to act. Sort of devolves into a pervy Roth sex fantasy though. Not that that stopped me from finishing it. Movie with Al Pacino supposed to be good, looking forward to watching it.

Who is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews

 Pretty good literary whodunit. Along the lines of THE PLOT.

The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade

 

Really great, surprisingly moving story of a family in New Mexico: grandmother dying of a brain tumor that no one else knows about, singe unemployed alcoholic father trying to get it together (plays Jesus in Passion play at local morales, has actual nails hammered into his palms), his sixteen year old pregnant daughter trying to get her life together. Very fine, close writing.

Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar

 

good, strange mix of fiction and memoir.

The Index of Self-Destructive Acts by Christopher Beha

 

Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry

 

Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman

Loved this. First of Lippman I've read, will seek out others. 1960s Baltimore, a 36 year old Jewish woman leaves her husband and seeks a career as a crime reporter, stumbling over clues to an  African-American woman's crucial unsolved murder.

Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All by Allan Gurganus

 

Gurganus was Cheever student, along with TC Boyle. Fun fact. Cool book so far, if shaggy.