Swamplandia! / Karen Russell / 316 pages

As you read Swamplandia! you will find yourself wanting to jot down phrases, descriptions, and questions.  This is a book that begs to be savored, discussed, and re-visited.  You will find humor, pathos, psychology, creepiness, rich characters, symbolism, and characters that take hold of you.  It is the story of the Bigtree family and their alligator wrestling tourist trap of a park vs the new "amusement" hell-themed park that you enter via the gullet of the whale that swallowed Jonah.  It is the story of a family trying to survive deep grief over the loss of a mother and wife, debt-ridden land, and isolation.  It is the story of the culture and features of the swamp and Everglades of Florida.  It is the story at last of family, survival, and redemption even when you are damaged.  Highly recommended for readers of literary books.