Swallowing the Universe with Fries and Dumplins

Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs
At first I wasn't interested in reading Small Fry, because I felt like it was someone talking smack about their famous dead dad just for a paycheck.  Then I watched some sort of movie about a snippet of Steve's life a few months ago and so when this book came up on Modern Mrs. Darcy's daily Kindle deals, I decided to give it a shot.
The book is really a grouping of chronological snapshots that volley around between her mom doing or saying something crappy or inappropriate or weirdly loving and her dad doing or saying something crappy or inappropriate or weirdly loving but I admit that she pulls them together surprisingly well, avoiding choppiness and showing the reader the good, the bad, and the ugly of her parents and herself.  
I admit I really liked it and even did a little googling to see what everyone looked like.  If you give a hoot at all about the Jobs family, or memoirs, or odd paternal relationships, or navigating weird and separate parental relationships, pick it up.

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My Own Miraculous by Joshilyn Jackson
Jackson writes southern novels with kooky characters.  Plus, she shares my birthday.  So I like her by default and have been slowly making my way through her collections.  This is a novella, so it's a great trial run or a good choice if you just want a little something to enjoy for an hour or two.  
In short, it's a story of a young mother who realizes that her three year old son has a special gift.  So is he Jesus or is he just super smart?

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 Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
I almost gave up on this one early on, because it can be a little raw.  If you're a baby like me, be prepared to quickly skim two scenes due to some graphic imagery.  But it's okay!  You'll get the idea and this is an AMAZING book.  Five star read for me, all the way.
The lengthy book is about two adolescent Australian teens and their crazy heroin dealer parents and their escaped convict friends.  It's full of adventure, violence, drugs, brotherly love, revenge, dreams, artificial limbs, and it's awesome!  I'm still kind of like, what WAS that?  I think in a future year I'm going to re-read all of my very favorites and this will be included, hands down.

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Dumplin' by Julie Murphy (today - 99 cents on Kindle)
Oh my gosh, I just realized I hadn't yet reviewed Dumplin'!  I'll make it quick.  EXCELLENT YA NOVEL.  I loved it with my whole 16 year old and 39 year old heart.  You will think you know what's going to happen, but it doesn't shake out that way.  Yes, there is a sassy Texan low income plus size protagonist, and yes she joins a pageant.  So I tell you that and you are like okay well I can guess how this is going to go.  But it doesn't.  So read it and see how it goes.  When Veronica gets a little older I'm going to shove it in her hands (not yet, because of language and sexual themes) and I'll remind her that I had kids so that they could read the BOOKS I LIKE!!!

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What have you been reading?