The Undomestic Goddess Friday, Mar 30 2007

The Undomestic Goddess
by Sophie Kinsella

Why did I read it?

Well, after reading three pretty heavy books in a row, I was in the mood for something lighthearted and easy. I have a good selection of chick lit sitting on the shelf waiting to be read, but when I picked this one up and started reading the first few paragraphs, it drew me in pretty quickly, so I kept reading.

What’s it about?

Samantha is a high-powered lawyer in London who’s worked her whole life to make partner at Carter Spink, a top law firm. But on the day her partnership is about to be announced, she realizes she has made a terrible mistake and lost a client millions. Flipping out, she takes off on a train and ends up on the doorstep of Trish & Eddie Geiger, a middle-aged couple who just happen to be interviewing for a new housekeeper. Somehow Samantha, who doesn’t even know what a vacuum bag is, gets the job. Did I mention the Geiger’s have a handsome gardener, Nathaniel? Hmm…wonder where that one will go

Did I like it?

Actually, I really did like it. I can be picky about chick lit – the main character has to be likeable, the dialogue not to cheesy, and the plot interesting enough to keep me turning pages. This book had all of that and even made me laugh out loud a few times. Yes, it was pretty predictible, but not entirely so. It was a funny, well-written, quick read. Although the ending was just a tad dissapointing, I really enjoyed it.

Rating:

A-

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“New Mom” reading.. Monday, Mar 26 2007

I have several books that are on my “to be read” list sitting on my shelf, and one of my biggest dilemmas is which one to pick up next after I finish what I’m currently reading. One of the most annoying things to me is to realize, 20 pages into a book, that I’m just not in the mood to read that. Usually my dilemma boils down to “chick lit” or “serious fiction.” For a while I was on a “chick lit” run but then I began to crave something that took a little more thinking and have read several “non chick lit” fiction pieces in a row. Part of the problem is that right now, I’m so preoccupied with the possibility of having a baby any day now, that it’s hard to decide if I should be reading something mindless, or something that will keep me engrossed. So far The Time Traveler’s Wife, My Sister’s Keeper, and Good Grief have done well for me. Let’s hope The Secret Life of Bees does too.

I guess I’ve been kind of “saving up” my chick lit under the impression that in my sleep deprived, baby blissed out state of having a newborn, I won’t be in the mood for anything too serious. I do have a good selection of mindless chick lit waiting to be read should the desire strike me, but then today I had a thought – will I really even be in the mood for fiction when I have a brand new baby? Perhaps I’ll be so baby-obsessed that the only thing I’ll want to read is baby-related stuff. So on that note, I managed to pick up on E-bay (for around $10 total, including shipping) two books: “The Diaper Diaries: The Real Poop on a New Mom’s First Year,” and “The New Mom’s Companion: Caring for Yourself While you Care for Your Newborn.” One funny (the prior,) one more serious (the latter) – both rated highly on amazon.com. Hopefully now I will have whatever I am in the mood to read in that post-partum period. Of course, this is assuming that I will be in the mood to read at all – but knowing how I am with reading (a bit obsessive) the chances of me not wanting to read ANYTHING seem pretty slim. I fully accept that the chances of having hours to sit down and read are slim-to-none, but I’m sure I’ll work it in there somewhere. There are a few more baby-related books that I’d like to read at some point (The Happiest Baby on the Block, Babyproofing Your Marriage, Nursing Mother, Working Mother) but I’m going to TRY to force myself to get (at least a few) of these from the library. I’ve been going way overboard buying books lately!

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The Secret Life of Bees Monday, Mar 26 2007

The Secret Life of Bees
by Sue Monk Kidd

Why did I read it?

This is yet another book I just “heard about” and I bought it for cheap on E-bay. I really wanted to read this but knew it wouldn’t be the kind of thing I would want to read in my post-partum haze, so I chose to start it after finishing my previous book.

What’s it about?

The story centers around Lily, a young teenager during the early 1960’s in the deep south. Her mother is dead and her father is a jerk. One day, she accompanies her black nanny, Rosaleen into town to register to vote and Rosaleen ends up getting into trouble with some racist white men and sent to jail. Lily breaks Rosaleen out of jail and they take off to a nearby town for the sole reason that it’s name is listed on a plaque of the black madonna that Lily has of her mother’s. There, they’re taken in by three eccentric beekeeping sisters. Then…Lily learns all about beekeping, the black madonna, and her mother.

Did I like it?

Ehhh…I liked the beginning and felt it had alot of potential. It did remind me a bit of “To Kill a Mockingbird” at first, and a few “growing up in the deep south” memoirs that I’ve read. Then, once Lily and Rosaleen got to the “pink house,” the story just kind of stopped. It was alot of the same happenings, musings, etc, over and over. There were plotlines that happened but weren’t really fully developed (like her romance with Zach, the young black beekeeper.) All along, I kind of knew what was coming, and when it finally happened it was almost anti-climatic. Then the ending was abrupt and tied up a little too neatly.

Rating:

C

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Good Grief Friday, Mar 23 2007

Good Grief
by Lolly Winston

Why did I read it?

This was another book that was recommended on the good ol’ nest book club board, and when I saw it on clearance at Border’s last weekend for $4.99 I picked it up (even though it was in hardcover.)

What’s it about?

Sophie, a 36-year old widow, who’s husband Ethan recently died of cancer and her grieving process. Sounds really depressing, right? Well, it’s kind of sad, but not nearly as much as you’d think. In the beginning of the book Sophie is in complete despair and does things such as go to work in her bathrobe. But then she moves from Silicon Valley to Oregon and things begin to change as she goes through the “stages of grief.” She becomes a “Big Sister” (think Big Brothers/Big Sisters,) to a crazy 13-year old girl, gets a job as a baker, and meets a man (you knew it had to happen.)

Did I like it?

Yes. Although it didn’t instantly engross me, a few chapters in I was hooked. I really liked the book and despite it’s subject matter it ends up being heartwarming and even funny. I have to admit that I was enjoying the story of Sophie’s recovery so much that I thought “don’t introduce a love story!” but then that turned out to be a storyline I enjoyed as well. I finished this book in 2 days, which is a true sign that I really did like it.

Rating:

A-

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My Sister’s Keeper Wednesday, Mar 14 2007

My Sister’s Keeper
by Jodi Picoult

Why did I read it?

Jodi Picoult is highly recommended on (where else?) the Nest Book Club message board and after looking up a few of her books on amazon, this one sounded the most interesting to me. I’ve been wanting to read this for a while, and after quitting “A Long Way Down” I really needed something that I was excited to read. Due to the fact that I’m intensely preoccupied with the fact that I could have a baby any day now, I really need to be reading stuff that holds my interest right now, and I just knew this book would. I picked it up, on a whim, at Kroger. Although I love the great deals I get on used books on E-bay, there’s something to be said for picking up a crisp, new book at a store, knowing I’m the first one to turn the pages, and watching it get worn in by me….

What’s it about?

Anna is a 13-year old girl who was genetically engineered and conceived to be a “match” for her older sister Kate, who has cancer. Her whole life she has undergone extensive medical procedures to donate various things (bone marrow, blood, etc.) to Kate. This book starts when Anna decides to file a lawsuit to obtain medical emancipation from her parents, in order to not have to donate a kidney to her sister. She retains cocky attorney Campbell and gets assigned his former flame, Julia, as her guardian ad litem. Her own mother (a former attorney) represents her family. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character, rotating between Anna, Campbell, Julia, Sarah (her mom), Brian (her dad), and Jesse (her brother.)

Did I like it?

I really did like it. I loved Jodi Picoult’s writing style and know I definitely want to read more of her books. As far as the plot goes, it kept me interested and moved along at a nice pace. I might have been able to do without some of the romantic sub-plot stuff though, and I have to comment on the ending – although it managed to catch me by surprise (which I like) – I think it was just a tad too sudden compared to the pace of the rest of the book. With a few minor adjustements I probably would have thought this was one of the best books ever, but overall, I’m still so glad I read it.

Rating:

A

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A Long Way Down Friday, Mar 9 2007

A Long Way Down
by Nick Hornby

(ON HOLD)

OK, I hate to “quit” books but I am almost exactly 1/3 through this book and I am just not getting into it at all. Usually if this happens (especially if it’s a book I own) I’ll slog my way through it, but I really need to read something enjoyable right now, so I’m going to hang this one up. Hopefully someday I’ll come back and finish it, just so I don’t see it glaring at me from my shelf saying “you didn’t read me” everytime I walk by.

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The Time Traveler’s Wife Thursday, Mar 1 2007

The Time Traveler’s Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger

Why did I read it?

This is another one of those books I just “heard about” (maybe on the nest.com book club board?) so I ordered it as one of my enrollment selections when joining qpb.com. It’s been sitting on my shelf while I whizzed through chick lit after chick lit so when I was in the mood for something a little deeper I picked it up. I was a little hesitant, I think, #1 due to it’s length (almost 600 pages) and due to how sorely dissapointed I was in The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, another book that I had high hopes for.

What’s it about?

It’s basically a love story, between Henry and Clare. But there’s a huge twist thrown in, and that’s that Henry is a time-traveler. But it’s not an intentional thing – he doesn’t go jump into a time machine and cruise back to the middle ages. It’s an involuntary, genetic disorder, that causes him to jump forward and backwards within his own life, sometimes even coming into contact with another “him.”
Henry and Clare first meet (to Clare, anyway) when Clare is 6 and Henry is in his late thirties. They form a friendship, then romance (that officially starts when Clare turns 18 and Henry is in his forties.) However, for Henry, they first meet when he is in his late twenties, and Clare in her early twenties. But you see, Clare already knows Henry and was waiting to meet him in “real time” while Henry has no idea who Clare is (as when he met her as a child he was in his forties) – are you confused yet? It’s really not that confusing – the author does a good job of noting the year and how old each of them are at the beginning of each section. The first third or so of the book is mostly Henry’s visits with Clare as a child, but then the book follows them through their marriage and years that follow, in “real time” – with some time traveling episodes thrown in. There are many other characters and side plots too, but most turn out to be involved the main storyline as well.

Did I like it?

I really, really liked this book. Despite my initial hesitation, I knew I was hooked when a few chapters in I wasn’t already counting the pages to see how much I had left. I was actually sad when it ended. Not only do I really like Audrey Neffenegger’s writing style (she doesn’t use tons of metaphors and lengthy passages of descriptive language – my pet peeves) but the story was just so touching, interesting, and creative. I highly recommend this book!

Rating:

A

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