The Singles: A Novel by Meredith Goldstein, 2012

Meredith Goldstein is the advice columnist for The Boston Globe's Love Letters.

The Singles: A Novel is Goldstein's debut novel and I truly enjoyed it.  The book contains the same wit and sensibility that make Love Letters a mid-day treat for me while I am at work.

Beach Read
This book makes for a great beach read - the story is fast-paced and after a few chapters, I found myself anxious to find out what would unfold.

The characters are identifiable, have humorous character quirks and interesting story lines that are neither too contrived nor predictable.  Witty observations and scenes help usher the story along.

Book Report
The novel tells the story of five people who RSVP yes to a wedding without a guest.  In other words, as a "Single."

Each chapter is written from a different character's point of view and skillfully weaved together so that events are neither confusing nor awkward.  Instead, they turn out to be quite humorous.

(The interwoven character stories worked in a way that The London Train did not.)

The story begins the day before the wedding, culminates during the wedding, and ends the day after.  Flashbacks provide details to each of the character's struggles.

The majority of the Singles are part of a group of college friends, but two Singles, an uncle and son of a family friend, add dimension to the standard formula of "what happens to a group of friends once they graduate from college."

The novel weaves together each Single as they relate, bond and unknowingly help each other by the mere fact that they happen to be attending a wedding alone.

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by Lady Fiona Carnavon, 2011

I picked up Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by the Countess of Carnarvon because of my obsession with the PBS series "Downton Abbey."

The book is written by Lady Fiona Carnarvon, who is the current Countess of Carnarvon.  In other words, she lives in the breathtaking Highclere Castle that serves as the backdrop for "Downton Abbey." 

My cynical self believes that there is a ghost writer while my bookworm self feels that the book reads more like an infomercial than a compelling biography.

I enjoy biographies since they transport you into another life, but this biography presents a contrived, one-dimensional view to sell an image and to continue to build off of the success of "Downton Abbey".

Lady Almina - The Early Chapters Years
Almina was the illegimate daughter of wealthy banker Alfred de Rothschild and a separated French woman, Maria, also known as Mina.  "Almina" was a combination of her parents' name - something quite clever.

(I'm surprised narcissistic celebrities today with a penchant for odd names have not combined their own names to create one for their offspring.)

Reflecting English demeanor and attitudes, affairs were generally tolerated as long as there was discretion.  I'm sure that the large sums of money and connections that de Rothschild possessed also eased the tolerance.

Society was aware of Almina's heritage and de Rothschild made it known that he planned to financially support his daughter.  Because of this, Almina was deemed a suitable match for the 4th Earl of Carnarvon, who was the owner of Highclere and in large amounts of debt.

It was the perfect marriage of old nobility and financial debt with no nobility and a ton of money.

Highclere Castle
Already a gorgeous estate, Highclere Castle was able to maintain its standard, modernize and become even grander with the de Rothschild money infusion.

Earl and Countess Carnavon were not just masters to their servants, but also of the woodsmith, farmers, groomsmen, etc. who worked on the surrounding castle grounds.

It was a village where the inhabitants relied on the Earl for their livelihood.  Since people not only worked for the Earl, but also lived on his land, their entire lives were in the hands of one man.  

The End
Despite my "Downton Abbey" obsession, once the infomercial feeling crept in, I was not able to shake it or muster up the American can-do spirit to complete the biography.

Perhaps my cynical self gave up too soon, but overall, I did not find this book to be a satisfying read.

Th London Train by Tessa Hadley, 2011

The London Train by Tessa Hadley is comprised of two stories focused around unraveling relationships.  There is a connection between the two stories, but the connection is inconsequential and tenuous.

As a result, the novel does not completely work - each story is a bit slow and ends abruptly and unsatisfactorily.

The story is average at best, but a quick read after slogging through On Saudi Arabia.

One of the main reasons I picked up the book and stuck it out is because my boyfriend is English.  I felt that by reading the book, I was showing my support and solidarity.

Instead, I realized that a better (and more enjoyable) way of doing this is to watch Downton Abbey together.

On Saudi Arabia: Its People, Past, Religion, Fault Lines - and Future by Karen Elliott House, 2012

I picked up On Saudi Arabia: Its People, Past, Religion, Fault Lines - and Future by Karen Elliott House since I know so little about the country.

Having covered Saudi Arabia and the Middle East as a reporter, House is extremely knowledgeable about the history, current affairs, and social and political climate of Saudi Arabia.

Known for its wealth, Saudi Arabia is still ruled by the Al Saud monarchy.   Ascension is a bit complicated since Saudi men have multiple wives, resulting in dozens of Princely sons.

Women are not allowed to appear in public without a related male and are covered head to toe in shapeless black material called an abaya.  Saudi Arabia remains one of the few nations with no female athletes in the Olympics. Men do not shake women's hands

Despite this gender backwardness, Saudi Arabia remains relevant due to its oil exports - one in every four barrels of oil exported around the globe is from Saudi Arabia.

Oil is the only economy in Saudi Arabia and despite its support of sending youth abroad to be educated, the Saudi culture remains a non-entrepreneur, complacent spirit heavily influenced by religion and appearances.

Cars come with prayer mats while hotels include arrows pointing to Mecca for the four-times-a-day prayers.  Despite the relevance of prayer though, only men are allowed in mosques.

House warns of  a murky future for Saudi Arabia as the succession between Princes in their 70s remains uncertain, compounded by a society/youth that is becoming bored and frustrated by the lack of opportunities within Saudi Arabia.

With the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011, Saudi Arabia will need to keep its people, both men and women, content.  Complacent and non-revolutionary by culture, Saudis are known for their patience and ability to put up with hassles, which buys Saudi Arabia time.

However, changes will be needed when Saudi Arabia is no longer able to remain prosperous and keep its people content through its oil.

On Saudi Arabia provides an extremely well-researched and knowledgeable overview of Saudi Arabia.  Although it can be a bit dry at times, it provides a comprehensive overview of the country.

Having gleaned a few bits of information about Saudi Arabia from various news stories throughout the decades, I had a very hazy picture of the country.  After reading this book, I have a much better knowledge and understanding of the country.

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan, 2012

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore  by Robin Sloan seems like a clever book.  The author's bio on the back flap talks about him splitting his time between San Fran and the internet.

The story centers around a protagonist in his 20s who befriends a cute Googler.  They date, although I do not believe the term "dating" is ever used as it may be too antiquated for younger generations.

Despite garnering good reviews and having some humorous quips, this novel was a bit too trendy and surrealistic a genre for me and ended up in my "started but not finish/perused" category.

Also, despite being an Agatha Christie fan when I was younger, I no longer read mysteries and tend to enjoy mysteries more as they unfold on screen versus on pages.