EP88: Parables, Memoirs, and Chords

It's Daylight Savings and we are alternately miserable and happy about it. Which is a good reflection of the books we've read this week. We love them and not! Here's what's on the agenda: - "Wild Dark Shore," by Charlotte McConaghy — if you like one of her books, you're going to like this one. Hannah's a big fan. Nevermind the sleeping with the seals.  - "A Thousand Splendid Suns," by Khaled Hosseini — also, like "The Kite Runner," not a memoir. Sam was confused. Kinda miserable. Hope the U.S. doesn't wind up like this.  - "Lion," by Sonya Walger — she's "Penny" from "Lost," and here she is with an autobiographical novel. The lion in question is her father, who's a crazy rich guy.  - "How To Lose Your Mother," by Molly Jong-Fast — did everyone else know that Erica Jong was Molly's mom? Read this, regardless, because Molly can write like hell.  - "I Heard There Was a Secret Chord," by Daniel Levitin — an exploration of music therapy and why it works. Sam was already a convert, but you should read it if you're not.  - "Parable of the Sower," by Octavia Butler — after some confusion with how this dovetails with the Patternist novels (it doesn't), we come around to discussion why this novel is must-read.