The Madonnas of Echo Park

The Madonnas of Echo Park by Brando Skyhorse begins with an author's note leading you to believe that the account to follow is a semi-autobiographical account.

Skyhorse takes us through the lives and years of the Echo Park neighborhood, introducing a new character and voice with each chapter. He weaves together the history of a community and families that are sometimes far-fetched, sometimes touching and sometimes sad which together gives you the feeling of being an insider.

This is Skyhorse's first novel and I look forward to more from him. Sadly though, the author's note in the beginning was all part of the fiction.

The Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods

The Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods by Julia Butterfly Hill was our May book club selection.

While Julia and Luna's story is a touching one, the writing is terrible. I wanted to read this book and be inspired but Hill comes across as flighty, a lousy story-teller and very uninspiring.