What I'm reading this week (3/26/18)

I had a wonderful readcation last week. I finished three books (two start to finish) and made headway on several others. I even got in a bit of 80s sitcom viewing--nothing like some Kirk Cameron to bring me back to childhood.

Last week I finished:

I made the right choice saving Force of Nature for my readcation. It was the perfect book to read in large chunks over a couple of days. If you like books that keep you on the edge of your seat and keep you guessing as to how things are going to work out, this is something you must pick up. I'll recap the plot without giving spoilers: Five women and five men are on a three-day hiking retreat as part of a teambuilding exercise for work. The men's team and the women's team start at different times, but only the men's team makes it out on the third day intact. Four of the five women make it out that day, but the fifth is still somewhere within the dense, cold Australian woods. No one has the whole story, and it's a race against time to find the woman before the elements take her--that's if she's still alive. The book moves back and forth between the present-day search for the missing woman and the events of the last three days in the woods. If you enjoy thrillers, this is the best of the best. I thoroughly enjoyed the first in this series, The Dry, earlier this year, and I liked this one even better. The investigator, Aaron Falk, is a good, honorable character, all of the other characters are well written, the plot is tight and unfolds at just the right speed to keep you invested and in suspense. I can't recommend it highly enough. My rating: 5 stars.

Years ago I read Kelly Corrigan's The Middle Place, and although I remember liking it, I don't really remember much about it. More recently, I read Corrigan's Glitter and Glue, and I was disappointed with it, thinking it much shallower and less interesting than her previous memoir. So, I wasn't sure what to expect from Tell Me More, her newest book. I'd seen a number of other bloggers give it positive reviews, so I started it hoping I'd enjoy it. And I have to tell you, it surprised me. It had a maturity and gravity to it that her last book didn't, but it was still sparkling with Corrigan's sometimes raucous humor. This is her examination of the 12 hardest things she's learning to say such as "I Don't Know," "No," and "Tell Me More." Although this structure did seem a teensy bit forced, it was an effective vehicle for Corrigan to present her stories of motherhood, friendship, and grief. Throughout the book she talks about losing her friend and her father in a close period of time and how that changed her. This book might especially appeal to folks who have lost someone close to them recently. The feelings and emotions are raw and tender, and it felt genuine. The book, and the author, reminded me quite a bit of Amy Dickinson's Strangers Tend to Tell Me Things. While it's not my favorite of the "women writing about women for women" books, it was very good. (Glennon Doyle Melton and Lena Dunham blurb the book, if that helps you decide.) My rating: 4 stars.

The book industry just does not stop presenting books about Julia Child, and I just do not stop consuming them. When Alex Prud'homme, Julia's grandnephew and co-author of her memoir My Life in France, and author of the wonderful recent follow-up The French Chef in America, came out with France Is a Feast: The Photographic Journey of Paul and Julia Child last fall, I was all in. Unfortunately, I found the text of this book sort of a re-hash of the books that went before, and I was bored by it. The photographs, mostly architectural, all black and white, were very nice. The book was lovely, but I felt the story was disjointed, moving back and forth in time in an odd, jolting way. And I was hoping for more photos of Julia than of post-World War II France, which, I have to say, was a very sad-looking place. The whole book sort of brought me down with its rather melancholic feel. Perhaps I was just not in the right mood for it. Maybe it's more contemplative than my spring break mind is willing to be. At any rate, it sort of felt to me like Prud'homme was cashing in on his aunt and uncle, and using Julia to sell Paul's work when I think Paul's photos could have sold themselves with less help from Julia, or at least deserved the chance to try. Check it out for the photographs, especially if photography is your thing. Many are quite stunning. My rating: 3 stars.

I love to buy little books that clock in at less than 200 pages and defy genre. These are the kind of books that spur my creativity and bring freshness to my reading. I began Heating & Cooling by Beth Ann Fennelly (I know her as a poet) last week and began reading it during sitcom commercial breaks. It's that kind of book, easy to pick up and put down. This is a collection of 52 micro-memoirs (or "flash memoirs," to use the old term) that is reminiscent of the wonderful Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Encyclopedia of My Life (one of my favorite books). Being a poet, Fennelly is expert in knowing what to include and what to excise to make a succinct tiny story. Each memoir is a tidy package, an anecdote that you can savor (or laugh with). It really did make me want to write some of my own. So often I think only in terms of "saleable" pieces, longer pieces, but oftentimes, the best stories are short and sweet. I recommend this one. It's wonderful. My rating: 4 stars.

 

Last week I started:

I hadn't meant to start Tell Me More until this week, but not only did I start it, I finished it. So, this week I have moved on to my April chunkster, Jackie, Janet & Lee, a biography of the relationships between Jackie Kennedy, her mother Janet, and her sister Lee. I'd read another Kennedy book by J. Randy Taraborrelli (After Camelot), so I know I'm getting a well-researched biography with a good narrative thread. I'm enjoying it so far.

This week I'll finish:

 

I think I'm actually going to be able to do it! I'm on track to finish all 824 pages of Pablo Neruda's All the Odes this month. Wow. I did not think that was going to happen.

And I'll be finishing my re-read of Present over Perfect. Review next week.

 

My audiobooks:

I'll finish Empire Falls next week, and I know already that I'll miss it. And then I'll pick up the third Penderwicks book, The Penderwicks at Point Mouette.

What I'm reading this week (3/19/18)

I'm off the first part of this week for my first Readcation of the year. Spring Break has reached our university, even if spring hasn't exactly reached Wisconsin. I don't have much planned other than reading and maybe culling some books and transcribing some book notes.

Last week I finished:

While the Millennials have their Mindy Kalings, Generation X has Jen Lancaster. I've loved her books for a long time, and I still have a backlog of her memoirs to get to. When her most recent memoir came out at the same time as her new YA novel, I didn't understand why there was no publicity. This was cleared up on the first essay of the book in which she tells her fans her agent was having trouble shopping her memoirs to publishers because Millennials aren't interested in "old Jen Lancaster". It just about broke my heart. So, this book is self-produced, but it is every bit as good as her most recent books, The Tao of Martha and I Regret Nothing. Lancaster is one of the few authors who makes me literally laugh out loud. Some make me guffaw in my head, but I LOL at Lancaster's work. But her books also have depth and great heart. She doesn't have as many serious moments as Jen Hatmaker or Melanie Shankle, but she gets you to the same place. I always feel just a little more in control and okay about aging and addressing my fears because I know that I'm not the only one doing it. In Stories I'd Tell in Bars, Lancaster recounts stories about things I have zero interest in (having anti-aging injections, taking a Sandals vacation, going on a ride-along with police officers, etc.) but that in her hands are interesting and pretty darn funny. And she's at her best when she writes about her psychotic and geriatric pets. I'm not normally a fan of alcohol-laced stories or stories that include a lot of swearing or talk of reality television shows, but I make exceptions for my friend Jen, because she makes everything fun. Maybe it's because she also has the same fondness for pearl necklaces and loafers that I do. The only thing I didn't care for about the book was the last "bonus" chapter that was a screenplay involving a sorority housemother in the witness protection program. Just wasn't interested in this in the least. Also, there were numerous typographical errors in the book that I neurotically corrected in my copy. But overall, I was so glad to have another Jen Lancaster experience, and it reminds me to get to my backlog of her memoirs. My rating: 4 stars.

P.S. Jen, if you need a copyeditor, I'll work for free. And I know, "if free, you take."

As you know I love to read anything about the White House, presidents, or first ladies. Ian Randal Strock's Ranking the Vice Presidents and Ranking the First Ladies have been on my book list for a long time, but it wasn't until I happened upon a copy of Ranking the First Ladies at a used bookstore, that I finally started one. This is a list of 50 or so rankings of first lady trivia from Martha Washington through Michelle Obama. Strock writes about such things as The First Ladies Who Served the Shortest Terms, The Most Married First Ladies, The First Ladies Who Were Related to Presidents (Other Than Their Husbands), and The First Ladies Who Were Firstborn Children. It was all quite fascinating to me, being an American history junkie. It did get necessarily repetitive at times, just due to the nature of the information, but I learned a lot, too. Strock wrote a previous book of presidential facts, so he has a lot of background information on not just the first ladies but also on their husbands. In The First Ladies Who Were Related to Presidents (Other Than Their Husbands), for instance, I was amazed to learn just how many first ladies President Obama was related to. Granted, these are not simple relations like "third cousins" but more along the lines of "19th cousins, three times removed," but still, I found it fascinating. If you're a history buff who likes trivia, this is a wonderful book. If you're not, it might drive you a little nutty. I loved it. My rating: 3.5 stars.

I dearly love Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, set in Bostwana. I recently finished book five, The Full Cupboard of Life, on audio, and I loved it. In this installment, Mma Ramotswe is asked by a wealthy woman to check on several suitors to determine which might make the best husband, and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni is thinking it might be time to finally wed Mma Ramotswe. I've listened to them all so far on audio, and I highly recommend the audio versions. The narrator is just wonderful, and the stories are fun to follow. If you begin this series, I suggest working through them in order. Although there is always a recap of previous plot points, the books do build a bit on the previous books, and it's fun to have them unfold in order. The books examine morality and tradition a great deal, so if you like that kind of story, you'll find a soul mate, here. My rating: 4 stars.

This week I'll be reading:

I saved Force of Nature to read during my time off. I like to read thriller/mystery books in as few sittings as possible to get the full effect. I loved the first in the series, The Dry, and I'm very excited to begin this one.

Last week I started:

I started my re-read of Shauna Niequist's Present over Perfect last week on Kindle, in an effort to re-read at least five books this year.

I also began Kelly Corrigan's Tell Me More when I finished Stories I'd Tell in Bars a little early last week, and I didn't want to begin Force of Nature before Readcation.

I'm also reading:

I'm not sure I'll make it through all 800+ pages of All the Odes this month. I might need to carry it over to next month. Which is fine. It's a lot of odes.

I am working my way through France Is a Feast, Paul Child's photos of wife Julia Child and France, and I've stalled a bit on Heating & Cooling, but I plan to return to it this week.

My current audiobook:

I started Empire Falls last week, and I'm loving it. It's something I've wanted to read for awhile, and I finally picked up the audio. It's a mildly depressing story, but it's done so well.

What I'm reading this week (3/12/18)

Last week I finished:

I'm not a huge Star Wars fan. I've seen the first three movies (which I have trouble thinking of as IV, V, and VI instead of 1, 2, and 3), and that was enough for me. Years and years ago I read a book or two by Carrie Fisher, and though the material was a bit beyond my experience or comfort zone, I remember thinking the writing was quirky and good. So when I saw the Kindle copy of The Princess Diarist on sale for $1.99 (it might still be), I downloaded it, and I read it in three days without really meaning to. I guess it was just what I needed when I needed it. I feel foolish admitting it, but I didn't really know what this book was about, and if you don't either, and you don't want your feelings about a certain dashing Star Wars star to take a big hit, maybe you should stop reading right here. You've been warned. In essence, this is the story of filming Star Wars, but it's also a vehicle for revealing the fact that Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford had an affair while filming the movie. She was 19 and drunk; he was 33 and the married father of two. She developed feelings for him, he barely had a word to say to her (what was there to talk about, after all, when the relationship could not continue?). In her diaries kept at the time of the filming, Fisher writes: "Why have I become casually involved with someone who, if I am totally honest with myself, I don't care for and who doesn't care for me? And is married." It's kind of a sad, pitiful story. But thankfully, it doesn't go into detail. The next portion of the book is excerpts from her diaries from this period, which were excruciatingly vague and impersonal, and yet, really well-written for a girl of her age. The last portion of the book is about how Fisher deals with her fans. She writes out long, funny examples of one-sided fans' dialogues with her. You know those awkward sci-fi types. I guess judging by the speed with which I made it through the book, I enjoyed it, but the fact that it was a way to reveal the affair (and why? why reveal it 40 years later?), and Fisher's sad passing a month after its publishing (and her mother's passing the day after hers), makes this a particularly sad note to end on. If you're a Star Wars fan, you've likely already read this one, and if you're not interested, you probably won't ever pick it up. It was at times charming, at times bewildering, and it contained much humor and profanity. My rating: 3 stars.

I am now officially a big fan of Alice McDermott. I'm not sure you can make such a claim about an author until you've read at least three books by them, so I've officially reached the threshold of fandom. I read her latest, The Ninth Hour, in December (my review here), and I loved it so much I immediately bough three more of her books. Someone is the book that came out prior to The Ninth Hour. Someone is very similar to The Ninth Hour, and I liked it almost as much. McDermott wrote both books as first person narratives; both are quiet books with a somber feel. Someone is the story of Marie Commeford's life in Brooklyn, coming of age around World War II. It's not a book of compelling plot, but is a more contemplative narration of Marie's childhood, marriage, and present-day widowhood, which is what McDermott excels at. And, like most/all of her work, there's also a great deal of Catholicism involved. Marie is a spunky young woman who has a mind of her own, and in some ways that means she'll always be a little lonely. While I preferred the plot of The Ninth Hour, and especially the plot twist at the end, this was a very satisfying character study. I recommend both books highly. My rating: 4 stars.

I tend to ignore books about ailments and diseases, but every now and then a book comes along that looks like a lot of fun in spite of it being part of the malady genre. Born on a Blue Day was one of those. This is the memoir of a man who is an autistic savant, much like the character in Rain Man, but on the higher functioning end of the autism scale. Daniel Tammet has been through a lot. He's dealt with Asperger's, epilepsy, and homosexuality. He's worked hard to learn to understand human emotions and how to react to them. He's pushed himself to travel and meet folks who want to know more about him and his brain. He has learned many languages--including Icelandic in one week. He has set a world record by reciting 22,514 digits of pi in five hours and nine minutes. He tells his story simply and with candor. I enjoyed hearing about Daniel's story from Daniel himself, but I feel that I would have been just fine without having experienced this book. It sort of felt flat to me, not great or bad, just average. My rating: 3 stars.

Last week I abandoned:

 

I was not finding Wallis in Love any fun, so I bailed.

Next up:

This book didn't get much press when it came out, but I'm a big Jen Lancaster nonfiction fan, so I'm excited to give it a read.

I'm also reading:

I feel like I'm finally making headway in All the Odes. I'm about one-quarter done.

I'm still enjoying Ranking the First Ladies. So. Many. Facts.

 

 

My audiobook:

I'm currently listening to the fifth in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. It's just as good as all the others.

What I'm reading this week (3/5/18)

Last week I finished:

As you know, I love a good biography, especially if it's well-researched, well-written, and interesting. I love being able to look into another life for a few days and read about someone from beginning to end. Bunny Mellon was a wonderful example of the genre. Although I was relatively unfamiliar with the subject, I had run across her name in other biographies, probably Kennedy family-related. In brief, Bunny Mellon was the granddaughter of the man who invented Listerine. Her father, whose marketing genius boosted the product in American's eyes (by acquainting us with the term "halitosis"), inherited the family millions. Bunny grew up in luxury's lap, eventually marrying Paul Mellon, whose father, Andrew Mellon, made millions (billions?) in business and banking. Andrew Mellon established the National Gallery and was known for his extensive art collection and philanthropy. Paul and Bunny Mellon owned several homes, a private plane or two, champion racehorses, and an enormous art collection featuring Cezanne, Renoir, Degas, Rothko, Monet, etc. They also gave away much of their fortune to philanthropic causes and political campaigns. Bunny established a reputation as a gardener and style maven, though she had no formal education. She was asked by President Kennedy to create a rose garden at the White House, and her notoriety took off. (At least, the notoriety in name, she liked to keep a low profile.) Through the White House Rose Garden project, she befriended Jackie Kennedy, and they were fast friends until the First Lady's death in 1994. Bunny lived until 2014, dying at age 104. The book was a fascinating look at "how the other half live." There was much talk of her jewelry, her French-designed (Givenchy) wardrobe, her expensive art collections, and her botanical library full of rare tomes. She was friends with Sister Parish, Truman Capote, the Kennedys, and entertained both the Queen and her consort as well as Prince Charles and Lady Diana. There was a giddy amount of name dropping, and it was fascinating to see how someone few nowadays would know by name always seemed to end up at the center of American history. (It doesn't hurt to be Jackie Kennedy's friend, I would imagine....) If you're looking for a fun, detailed, never boring, exploration of a life of luxury, this is a wonderful book. My rating: 4 stars.

When Victoria came out, I was struck by the cover, but I assumed it was a fluffy, unserious look at Queen Victoria. But then I ran upon a copy at a used bookstore, picked it up and began reading, and I was hooked. I bought a copy that day. But since it's a long book, I was concerned I'd never get to it, so I picked it up on audio at the library. I'm almost disappointed that I didn't read the paper copy. I loved the audio, don't get me wrong, but I think I would have loved sitting down with this one, and having a somewhat slower perusal. It really was wonderful. I didn't really know what to expect, how much of the Queen's life it would cover, and how serious it would be. It turned out to be the fictionalized (though I would hope it's based on truth) first year or so of Queen Victoria's 60-some year reign. It was fascinating, really. She deals with the adjustment to the throne (at age 18), navigating an overbearing mother, a power-hungry advisor, her feelings for her Prime Minister, the pressure to marry her first cousin Albert, as well as a scandal or two. The audio is wonderful. The narrator has a lovely English accent and also does a fantastic job with the German accents of Victoria's mother and other relatives. I really enjoyed this one. My rating: 4.5 stars.

Loving books about the Kennedy family like I do, I snapped up The Nine of Us the minute it was published. And then it languished on my shelves for well over a year. I finally decided to read it on Kindle, and it turned out the be the perfect way to read it. The chapters are short, and there are loads of wonderful pictures of the Kennedy nine growing up. This is the memoir of the Kennedy siblings (JFK, RFK, Teddy Kennedy, et al.) growing up in the 1930s and 1940s. It's written by the eighth of the nine children, Jean. This is a very glossy version of the family. None of the affairs of Mr. Kennedy or his sons, none of the scandal or controversy the family kicked up everywhere they went. This is an account of nine idyllic childhoods, children that never seemed to squabble, a mother's perfect Catholic faith, and a set of parents who set their children on a course to change American history. It may have been a little too perfect, but I enjoyed it anyway. I guess Mrs. Kennedy Smith has the right, as the last remaining Kennedy sibling, to write her story as she wishes, and to disregard the less desirable bits of the Kennedy family. Just know that this book should likely be balanced with something a bit less biased if you want a complete picture of the family. At any rate, I enjoyed the book regardless of the whitewashing. These folks, faults and all, really did accomplish great things. My rating: 3.5 stars.

Last week I started:

Following Bunny Mellon with this book might have been a bad move, two women from roughly the same period, both entrenched in high society. This is the story of the woman who changed the course of the British monarchy when King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry her. Queen Elizabeth would not be reigning if not for Wallis Simpson.

I'm continuing with:

 

I'm having a blast with Ranking the First Ladies. I'm totally geeking out over First Lady history.

And I'm enjoying All the Odes, but at 800+ pages, I'm already concerned about not being able to finish it in a month.

 

 

My next audiobooks:

I'll finish one and begin the other, but I'm not sure which will be first.

March 2018 reading list

About this time of year I begin to long for something other than dirty white piles of snow, sweaters, and high heating bills. My mind is so ready to stretch and take in all the things. Plus, I want good stories. I've tried to fill my March reading list with some good stories. I've started five of these already, and I think I'm on the right path. I'm liking them all.

 

Memoirs

 

 

Fiction

Nonfiction

 

Poetry