When I lived in Chicago I frequently listed to radio station WNIB, which until 2000 played classical music. The morning host for a time there was a gentleman named Obie Yadgar. On rainy mornings Obie would give a brief weather report followed by the remark, "It's a good day to stay inside with a samovar of tea and a Russian novel." I was usually on my way to work at the time and often thought, "Yes it is Obie," and it was all I could do to not turn the car around and head home.
Well, my friends, today is definitely one of those days. I'm at work, so the samovar of tea is out, but here at the Wells Public Library we have plenty of Russian novels. If Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Pasternak are not to your liking, maybe you'd like to read another good "rainy day read." Here are some books that just might suit your rainy day mood. They're dark, gloomy, and bleak - perfect for a day like today. And while not written by a Russian, many of them do reflect Tolstoy's observation, "All happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick and The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran. I'll be spending the weekend rereading these dark, yet compelling historical novels about difficult marriages.
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. This story of a race car driver narrated by his faithful dog is a poignant tale of love, loss, and loyalty.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. If you haven't read this gripping psychological thriller do it now, before the movie comes out.
Evidence of Love by Melissa McConnell. I read this thriller about a woman searching for her missing fiance who gets mixed up in some shady Washington dealings a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The Punch by Noah Hawley. Hawley takes family dysfunction to new levels in this dark, yet occasionally funny story about two brothers, their mother, and their father's funeral.
The Tie that Binds by Kent Haruf. Haruf's novels reflect the harsh, sparse, yet beautiful Great Plains of northern Colorado where they are set. In his first novel he tells the story of a brother, a sister, and the father who controls their lives.
That's my list, although I'm sure I could come up with many more suggestions. If you'd like to read these or other books, just visit the MINERVA online catalog, or call the library at 646-8181.
Enjoy your weekend, and we'll see you at the library.
