*****Rock, Paper, Scissors by Naja Marie Aidt

Rock, Paper, Scissors reads like Ravel’s, Bolero. It slowly and evenly builds in intensity. To what end, one does not know. But it will not - it cannot - be good. With great skill Aidt creates a powerful atmosphere of impending doom. The reader watches as her protagonist carelessly spins out of control while exacting revenge against his dead father, a criminal. Yet, revenge is not as sweet as he anticipates. It comes with its own complexities, difficulties and demons. If let loose, it can lead to a storm of dysfunction, deception and violence - and it does.  Set aside a few good hours to read this novel as it is impossible to put down.

*****A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

2015 Shortlisted for Man Booker Prize

A psychological immersion. Love, friendship and success cannot fix the trauma of a life overcome with intractable pain.  A Little Life illustrates the permanence of protracted child abuse. How that life, despite all its later gifts, is a matter of endurance and pain horribly redirected. I was profoundly moved by this remarkable work of literature. 

2016 Books Read From May 3, 2016 to December 31, 2016

***The Ploughmen,  by Kim Zupan, 2014, audiobook, American Literature 

**Last Night in Twisted River: A Novel, by John Irving, 2009, audiobook,  American Literature

****Little Bee: A Novel, by Chris Cleeve, 2008, audiobook,  American Literature

****Britt-Marie Was Here, by Fredrik Backman, 2016, audiobook, American Literature

*****Zafarani Files: An Egyptian Novel , by  Gamal al-Ghitani, 2015, translated from the Arabic by  Farouk Abdel Wahab, Modern Arabic Literature

****Who Will Catch Us As We Fall,  by Iman Vergee, 2016, LibraryThing.com ARC, African Literature 

***The Cauliflower,  by Nicola Barker, 2016, LibraryThing.com ARC, British Literature   

**Orchard by Larry Watson, 2003, audiobook,  American Literature (read 50% & discarded)

****Human Acts, by Han Kang, 2016, LibraryThing.com ARC, South Korean Literature 

***The Mortification, by Derek Palacio, 2016, LibraryThing.com ARC, American 

***Rogue Lawyer, by John Grisham,  audiobook,  American 

***The Secret Chord, by Geraldine Brooks, 2015, audiobook,  Australian Literature

**The Nest, by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, 2016, audiobook,  American 

***Clara and Mr. Tiffany, by Kimberly Farr, 2011, audiobook,  American  

***Library of Illuminaries, Frida Kahlo, An Illustrated Biography, by Zena Alkayat, 2016, American 

***The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins, 2016, audiobook,  English

****Dance to the Music of Time,  1st Movement,  by Anthony Powell,  1962 (1962- 1st publication of 3 novels as one volume; 1st individual novel published in 1951, 2nd in 1952 & 3rd in 1955), English Literature 

****Bardo or Not Bardo, by Antoine Volo dine, 2016, translated from the French by J. T. Mahony, French Literature

****Reading Things We Lost in the Fire, by Mariana Enriquez,  2016, translated from the Spanish by Megan McDowell ,  Latin American Literature