Back to Lists Again...

With so much going on in my life and other hobbies taking over, it has become more challenging to find time to blog.  I do want to keep track of books that I have read though, since reading remains an important part of my life.  So as a compromise, it's back to maintaining a list of books that I have read.

A Fortunate Age by Joanna Smith Rakoff, 2009

I had read Rakoff's My Salinger Year (2014) and enjoyed it so much that I reserved A Fortunate Age at the library.

A story of a group of 20-something Oberlin college graduates, A Fortunate Age does a great job of capturing the uncertainties involved in being in your mid-twenties and transitioning into 'adults' for a group of liberal-minded Oberlin graduates living in Williamsburg.

The story and upbringing of this group of friends (one of the characters grows up in Brookline, MA and Newton, MA, my hometown is mentioned) resonates with the upbringing of so many kids who attend elite liberal arts colleges and really captures the liberalness of a school like Oberlin.

The novel revolves around a group of friends: Lillian Roth, Sadie Peregrine, Beth Bernstein, Emily Kaplan, Tal Morgenthal, and Dave Kohane.

The story kicks off with the first symbol of adulthood: marriage.  Lil is the first of her group of friends to get married, and the group of friends now need to consider her as a unit along with her husband Tuck Hayes.

Instead of taking her husband's name, Lil and Tuck decide that they will become the Roth-Hayes.

Sadie is the one in the group who has always had it easy with men and relationships.  She and Tal soon couple off but as Tal finds success with his acting career, the distance strains the relationship and Sadie finds herself in a relationship with Ed Slikowski, a new media wunderkind who started his own magazine and is constantly surrounded by male groupies basking in his hipness and relevance.

Despite the apparent success of Slikowski (he makes a well-received documentary, he eschews financially attractive offers to only produce things that matter.  Not only does his job keep him away from Sadie and their child Jack for months at a time, but it leaves Sadie without the comfortable upbringing that she experienced in the Upper East Side.

She is not poor by any means, but left frustrated by the lack of wealth that other classmates, like Caitlin Green-Gold, enjoy.

Having completed a graduate program on popular culture in Milwaukee, Beth is from Scarsdale, Westchester County and is relieved to find herself back in 'civilization' with her group of friends.  She struggles to find a teaching position after not accounting for her credits and pines away for Dave, whom she dated during Oberlin before both went to their respective graduate schools.

Emily is a struggling actress who has the added burden of caring for her mentally ill sister Clara.  As others are achieving success, she feels left behind as she struggles in her tiny apartment and works a mindless office job supporting her acting career.  She eventually marries Dr. Josh Gitter and gives up acting to start a pre-med program.

Tal is from Brookline, MA and defies his parents expectation of a legal profession by pursuing acting.  Despite his success in television and movies, his socially conservative parents never really accept his profession.

Dave is a piano prodigy who is never able to recover from his lack of confidence by going to graduate school instead of pursuing a career as a pianist.  He spends his 20s as a waiter and in band and like Emily, is stuck in making progress.  The difference between Dave and Emily is that Emily pursues opportunities aggressively while Dave continues to passively sit on the sidelines.

The Best of Times by Penny Vincenzi, 2009

A novel with many characters of different ages and situations woven together by a fateful accident on the M4, The Best of Times is an enjoyable read that explores the lives of many characters.

The novel reminds me of the movie Love Actually, where disparate lives intersect.  Another similarity is that Vincenzi is British so the novel is peppered with English-isms, which I always enjoy reading.

Characters include the hero doctor Jonathan Gilliatt and his mistress Abi Scott.  The lorry driver who is involved in the accident Patrick Connell and his wife Maeve.

William Grainger, a farmer, witness the crash.  Barney Fraser, best man, and  bridegroom Toby Weston are heading to a wedding.  Mary Bristow is heading to the airport to meet the American serviceman Russell McKenzie that she met decades ago during WWII.

Georgia Linley is an aspiring actress managed by Linda Di-Marcello.  Alex Pritchard is an Accidents & Emergency doctor (the equivalent to an American ER doctor), while Emma King is doing her statutory in A&E.

Despite the numerous characters, the novel is extremely readable and I plan to read other Vincenzi novels.  (June 2015)

And the Good News Is...: Lessons and Advice from the Bright Side by Dana Perino, 2015

I first heard about Dana Perino's book on NPR.  As the first Republican woman press secretary, Perino served under President George W. Bush and is now a Fox News show co-host.

During her interview on NPR, Perino was witty and engaging, and since I have always been interested in biographies of successful women, I decided to pick up her book.

A mix of personal and professional stories, Perino describes growing up in Colorado and Wyoming, and how she ended up in Washington D.C.  She requested a job reference from a Colorado Congressman's office and the office ended up offering her a job in their D.C. office.

The professional stories that Perino writes about are light-hearted and reflect her absolute loyalty and admiration for President Bush.

Naturally, there are Democratic barbs scattered throughout the book; although ironically, Perino dedicates a portion of her book on civility.  Her message that politicians need to remain above the fray and civil, and not spiral towards the name-calling that politics has become, is heart-felt but the partisanship in Washington is prevalent in even those with the best intentions.

The take-aways from Perino's books include general tips for career women:
* Making Butterflies Fly in Formation - It's ok to be nervous, just channel the nervous energy in a productive way and imagine the butterflies in your stomach flying in formation so that you are in control of your nervousness.

* Find Your Strong Voice - No up-talking?  NO up-talking.  Speak from your core, stand up straight and open up your lungs to really talk.  None of this Valley Girl, teenage way of speaking.

* Always Take Your Husband's Phone Calls - Always take your family's call.  It's all about priorities.

* Let It Go - There are no do-overs.  When something does not go well, learn from what happened and apply those lessons to whatever is ahead and move on.

Good habits that I already do and plan to pass along to my nieces: share the credit, be wiling to take the blame for your team, and stick up for others - even if they don't know it.  (June 2015)

Short Girls by Bich Minh Nguyen, 2009


The story of two Vietnamese-American sisters, Short Girls is a story that I relate to as a 2nd generation Asian-American.

The themes of community and family versus fitting into an 'American' world run throughout the novel.

Van and Linny Luong are sisters.  Van is the studious model-Asian daughter who becomes a lawyer while Linny is the assimilated, social younger sister who has dropped out of community college.

Despite her popularity and immersion though, Linny remains on the outside and will never have the ease of 'fitting in' as her brother-in-law, a 4th generation Chinese-American whose parents and grandparents speak English fluently.

Ironically, Linny is the sister who maintains most of her heritage, mainly through cooking.  Van was so singularly focused on achieving 'success' that she never spent time with her parents or attending the Vietnamese gatherings her parents and Linny attended.

The story unfolds from alternating point of views of each sister.  Both are at a crossroads in their personal and professional lives.

Van's attorney husband has left her without explanation and she has left a job she was passionate about as an immigration attorney to join a firm that processes corporate visa paperwork.

Linny is in a dead-end relationship with Gary, a married man, and has a steady job as a chef for You Did It Dinners providing meals for suburban moms (including her lover's wife), but is restless.

What draws the sister back together is their father's decision to become an American citizen in hopes of improving his chances for success as an inventor of gadgets for short people.  As head of a family composed of members 5'2" and under, Dinh Loung is obsessed with the challenges of short people and has buried himself in his basement/lab since arriving in the States.

During the time together supporting their father, the sisters confide in each other (as much as Asians can) and end up being there for each other as they move on from their respective dead-end situations.

Character nuances that I can relate to include a non-communicative father who does not show emotion and a driven mother who wanted to move her family into a house in the suburbs instead of an urban apartment. 

The distance between the parents and children is also a theme that I can relate to.  Van reminisces about her deceased mother's favorite time of day after the sun sets and the sky turns blue.  Her mother had wanted her daughters to sit with her to enjoy, but there was always excuses.  Van was studying while Linny was on the phone or with friends.  There was always something else to do besides getting to know their parents.

Well-written, Short Girls is an enjoyable novel, regardless if one can relate on a personal level to the characters.  The characters are well-developed and the story moves at a nice pace. (June 2015)

The Rum Diary by Hunter Thompson, 1998
During our vacation to Puerto Rico, my husband picked up The Rum Diary, Hunter Thompson's portrayal of Puerto Rico in the 1960s. 

He enjoyed how Thompson captured the essence of San Juan and Vieques immensely. 

The Rum Diary is a semi-autobiographical story of journalist Paul Kemp who moves to Puerto Rico to work for the San Jaun newspaper.

Drawn in to the Caribbean pace of life with its oppressive heat and soothing clear blue ocean waters, Kemp leads a decadent, transient existence surrounded by other ex-pats; all who have fled to Puerto Rico to reinvent themselves or run away from their failed dreams in the States.

The style and pace of writing is full throttle as Kemp stumbles from one opportunity to another, in search of the next pay check that will sustain the bare necessity of food and rum.

Written in the '60s, it is surprising how misogynist the attitude was.  Yeamon, a fellow ex-pat and co-worker, hits his girlfriend Chenault and there is no reaction from Kemp or others who witness the abuse.

Having read a collection of letters by Thompson years ago, I was familiar with his writing, but had never read any of his actual novels.  If The Rum Diary is any indication, his novels are engaging, manic, concise and never let up, like the man himself.  (June 2015)

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, 2013

I had heard the buzz around The Goldfinch, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and almost picked it up at the bookstore, but the description of the book seemed too dire.

A thirteen year old boy becomes orphaned; and is obsessed with a painting was not a topic I found too interesting.

The novel lives up to the buzz though.  The Goldfinch is one of those books in a class itself - an epic story where the reader is completely immersed in somebody else's life.

From growing up in New York City to getting shipped out to Las Vegas to finally returning to NYC, Theo Decker's world is so raw, filled with tragedy and innocence, that I could not put the book down.

The characters are distinct and memorable: Theo's mother Audrey Decker and doormen Goldie and Jose; his childhood friend Andy Barbour and his Park Avenue family; Eli Blackwell, James Hobart (Hobie) and Pip Blackwell; Theo's father Frank and his girlfriend Xandra; and of course, Decker's best friend in Las Vegas, Boris.  (June 2015)

The Hot Rock by Donald E. Westlake, 1970
Capers and crime novels are not not my genre, but my husband's.  He has a collection of crime novel books so I grabbed The Hot Rock.  It caught my interest since it was made into a movie starring Robert Redford with the screenplay written by William Goldman.

The novel centers around John Dortmunder, a charismatic, straight-shooter convict who is hired to lead a gang of criminals to steal an emerald.  Despite the execution of intricate plans, the gang finds that they must pull off multiple capers before successfully obtaining the emerald.

Wry with dry humor and one-liners peppered throughout, I enjoyed The Hot Rock although am not sure I will read additional novels by Westlake given that the genre is not really my interest.

A prolific writer, Westlake published over 100 books, including additional novels centering around Dortmunder.  (May 2015)

At Home with Madame Chic: Becoming a Connoisseur of Daily Life by Jennifer L. Scott, 2014

A breezy read filled with live-well tips, At Home with Madame Chic attempts to capture the Parisian ability to ooze effortless style and chicness and apply it to every day living,

Tips include how to fold towels like they do in hotels (fold into thirds lengthwise and then fold into quarters inward for a neat finish when towels are stacked) to online living tips like not looking at your phone first thing in the morning.

I followed the former tip and love how the towels now look on my linen shelf, and have banned cell phone and iPads from our bedroom overnight so that my fiance no longer checks his emails first thing in the morning.

Since the  ban, my fiance has noticed that not checking his phone first thing in the morning puts himself in a better mood.  (We'll see if this lasts...)

Other tips include:
* Chic nagging - instead of telling children not to do something, focus on the positive.  Scott's example is that instead of constantly reminding her child to wash their hands, she phrases it as something positive such as how nice it is to have clean hands at home, which also keeps everyone healthy. 

Another example is that instead of "Don't eat with your hands," try "We eat with our forks."  The positive messaging provides for better motivation.

* Making chores into a game - With children, assign roles and 'important' tasks.  Time box the chore itself, whether it's straightening up during the duration of a song or time boxed (e.g. three minutes of cleaning).

* Stopping negative trajectory of a day - When everything is going wrong, try to stop and just pause.  Think, how can I change my circumstances?  What can I be grateful for?  Let go of the frustration and deal with what the day has become.

Kate: The Future Queen by Katie Nicholl, 2013

Having been obsessed with Kate Middleton ever since she become Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Nicholl's biography fulfilled my obsession (for now...).

Detailing the humble beginnings of Kate's parents to Kate's eventual marriage to the future king of England, Kate: The Future Queen tells the story of an unpretentious, pretty late bloomer whose discretion and loyalty to William resulted in the wedding of the century.

Despite her parents' middle-class life, her father did come from a wealthier and titled background, which included a trust fund to educate the Middleton children.

This trust fund, combined with the success of the Middleton's online Party Pieces business, allowed Kate to attend the same public schools favored by the aristocratic class.

As a result, Kate had already met Prince William a few times through mutual friends before becoming classmates at St. Andrews.

An interesting fact is that Kate had her heart set on attending Edinburgh University (which her sister Pippa attended), but then decided to apply to St. Andrews despite having gained acceptance into Edinburgh and despite Edinburgh having a better academic reputation.  A motive to apply to St. Andrews: Prince William had announced he would be attending St. Andrews in the upcoming year.

During university, the couple became friends and eventually fell in love.  Reserved and a homebody, Kate was the perfect fit for the Prince, who shunned attention and the spotlight.

The book details the courtship of Kate and Prince William post-university and of course, has a true fairy tale ending.  Not only does Kate get the Prince, but also brings a breath of fresh air, relatability and popularity to the royal family.

The fairy tale ending is not just the result of Princess Bride style true love, but also smart public relations tactics.  Aware of his mother's difficulties in adjusting to royal life, Prince William ensured that Kate would not be left as unprepared and vulnerable as Princess Di when she married future monarch Prince Charles.

The Palace public relations team was made available not just to Kate, but also to the Middleton family.

With details of the royal Christmas at Sandringham where events, outfits and even arrivals are carefully coordinated and each guest assigned a butler or maid (how very Downton Abbey), Kate: The Future Queen is an enthralling read for any Kate enthusiast.



 

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella, 2009

Even though I had no interest in the premise of the novel, I still enjoyed Twenties Girl.  Sophie Kinsella books are witty, contain original plots and thoroughly English.

The protagonist, Lara Lington, is at a cross roads in her life.  She has started a new recruitment company with her friend, who decides to remain on holiday after meeting a man, and has dumped by her boyfriend Josh.

Lara's great-aunt Sadie has recently passed away, and when she attends the funeral, Sadie's ghost haunts Lara as she is not able to rest until she finds a necklace that has disappeared.

The search for the necklace and Sadie's desire to be young again results in Lara discovering the true nature of her relationship with Josh, her millionaire Uncle Bill's secrets and crossing paths with American businessman Ed.

With Sadie's prodding (i.e. insistent screeching at the top of her lungs serving as the mysterious voice one hears in one's head), Lara successfully gets her recruiting firm off the ground and discovers Sadie's legacy that will allow her to finally rest in peace.

Entertaining and a quick read, I had to suspend disbelief a few times, but still thoroughly enjoyed Twenties Girl.

Here I Go Again by Jen Lancaster, 2013

A quick-paced, funny book that kept me engaged, Here I Go Again centers about Lissy Ryder, the uber popular girl in high school who wielded her power ruthlessly.

Twenty years later, reality still has not set in for Lissy as she continues through adulthood self-centered and unaware of those around her.

Lissy is in for a rude-awakening during her 20th year high school reunion where she realizes that those whom she tormented are now highly successful while she is jobless, living with her parents.

New age healer Deva, formerly Debbie in high school, offers Lissy a chance to go back to her high school days to redeem her Mean Girl behavior, which she does, but with surprising ripple effects.

Having reformed her bullying behavior, Melissa is now a successful business woman.  However, she soon realizes that her other classmates, including best friend Nicole, who had found great success previously, are now failures.

Melissa now needs to decide whether she should sacrifice her adult successes for others, and go back in time again to re-enact her Mean Girl ways. 

Filled with interesting twists on how Lissy's parents' lives evolve based on her behavior, and how she treats her slightly geeky neighbor Brian, Here I Go Again contains poignant scenes that keep the reader interested.

Lancaster is a very funny author with quick wit and I plan to read her other books. 

One particular witticism that I enjoyed involves Lissy discovering that her high school crush and love of her life is still single after all these years...but has just gotten married days ago.  Her reaction: Joy.

As in, Joy being the name of the woman he has married.

baby proof by Emily Giffin, 2006

Emily Giffin has a knack for capturing people's true motives, thoughts and feelings.  As a result, her writing is always readable, if not making for the most compelling stories. 

Her stories do tend to have a unique twist where the situation itself is not unique (e.g. someone in a marriage does not want a child), but the perspective is.

In the case of baby proof, Claudia Parr, the wife, is the one who is not interested in having her child, while her husband Ben desires one.

The story starts off with a divorce where Claudia and Ben are unable to settle their differences over having a child.

Claudia moves in with her best friend and former roommate Jacqueline, who is stuck in a relationship with a married man she is convinced will be leave his wife and family for her.

The move back with Jacqueline is a welcomed solution for Claudia's situation, but in a way, she feels like she is taking a step back in life and moving back home.  Something that I have done before. 

(At the same time though, for me, it was also comforting to know that I had some place to go to while I started up a new life again.)

Claudia's support network includes her sisters Daphne, who is desperate to have a child with her husband, but unable to; and Maura, who has two children, but a philandering husband.

Life after Ben proves difficult, but Claudia manages to move on and starts dating a fellow co-worker Richard.  Ultimately though, Claudia comes to term with what is really important to her and there are happy endings (the Disney kind) for all the characters.

Babyville by Jane Green, 2003

I always enjoy books by English authors so that I can read the cultural references to my fiance, who sometimes gets homesick for all things British. 

Babyville was not the most compelling book I have read, but it held my interest.

The novel tells the story of three women at different baby-stages in their lives:
1) Julia, desperate to have a baby to save her relationship
2) Maeve, single with no interest in settling down or having a baby
3) Sam, happily married until her baby is born

Broken up into three distinct sections which focus on each women, the book reads like three mini-stories and may have been more interesting if the stories and women's lives were more woven together.

Instead, with this format, we only get a glimpse of the women's lives and how they predictably all reach their happy endings.