Backlist Book Club Review: The Giant's House by Elizabeth McCracken
The backstory: The Giant's House , Elizabeth McCracken's first novel, is the first pick in The Backlist Book Club . It was also a finalist for the 1996 National Book Award . The basics: Set in 1950's Cape Cod, The Giant's House is the story of an unlikely friendship between public librarian Peggy Cort and James, the giant of the title. Peggy and James meet at the library when he comes with class at the age of eleven and already over six feet tall. My thoughts: I confess: I was nervous going into this novel. It came highly recommended from a friend whose reading taste I trust immensely, and I always have a pang of 'but what if I don't like it?' In this case, however, I spent a lot of time contemplating which title to pick for the first pick of The Backlist Book Club. I know the success or failure won't hinge on the first selection, but I really wanted to love the first pick. And I did. Despite my misgivings of this novel being billed as a lov...