Other Women's Stories

Monday, March 1, 2021

Last week I finished:

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Agatha Christie

This re-read did not disappoint. I can see why it's a favorite among Christie fans. It had a wonderful twist, and even though I remembered the twist (in fact, guessed at its coming the first time I read it), the story still stood up to re-reading. I read it this time to see how the story was put together. I think this book should be taught in creative writing classes. It's wonderful. The thing I'm in awe of about Christie's work is that she doesn't waste a word, and nothing is superfluous. My rating: 4 stars.

Living Out Loud, Anna Quindlen

As I was listening to this wonderful set of essays this week, it occurred to me that I may have already read the book, but since that would have been in about 1998, I don't remember one way or the other. Still, certain parts felt familiar, which says something for its staying power. This is a book of Quindlen's New York Times columns, and if you try it and love it, the good news is that there are several others! I read my first the summer I began my first job post-college graduation. I remember reading it up until I had to leave for work in the afternoon. That began my long relationship with Quindlen's writing (I prefer her nonfiction). If you're unfamiliar with her writing, there are many folks I could liken it to, but they'd all fall a little flat. The essays are about her life as a career woman, mother of young children, and wife, and they are so well written. There aren't many writers writing like this anymore, and I wish there were more. Her voice is strong, whereas so many women writers nowadays write from a victim standpoint, but her work is also tender and full of wonder. In an interesting twist, these columns were penned before the third of her children, her only daughter Maria, was born. In this audio version, mother and daughter co-narrated. You can't tell their voices apart, much deeper and NYC than I'd expected. Highly recommended. My rating: 4 stars.

Going Rogue, Sarah Palin

Oh how I miss Sarah Palin. I was in elementary school when Geraldine Ferraro became the first woman to run for the vice presidency. Now, all these years later, a woman has finally won the vice presidency. But the woman I voted for in her bid for the vice presidency was Sarah Palin. Mainstream media went after her, made terrible fun of her, but they did not stop her from being Sarah. In my sadness at where the White House is directing the nation, I felt an urgent need to go back to Sarah. Narrated by the author, this book was balm for my weary Republican heart. It's hard to be a Republican woman in today's world. It takes a strong woman to even attempt it. I often have to borrow that strength from other Republicans like Palin, Dana Perino, and others, but we need more female role models in the party, women of integrity who refuse to play the gender victim card, who believe in plainspoken truth, strong national defense, less government spending, and a strong stance on life. I can't really name one of those right now. It's interesting, listening to this book, how much has changed on the political landscape. The 2008 election vs. the 2020 election? Mindbogglingly different. Here, Palin talks about her life in Alaska, her rise to governorship and the VP candidacy, her RNC acceptance speech (which was a game changer for me), her son Trig who was born with Down Syndrome, the mismanagement of the McCain/Palin campaign, the campaign's constant overhandling of Palin which stifled her and limited their reach, and her appearance on SNL with Tina Fey (I'd forgotten since I first read the book that Palin used to dress up as Fey for Halloween!). Going back to this book was a touchstone for me. The political nanoring on (as these books often do) was easy to ignore. I liked my re-read, only realizing when it was over that my audio copy was abridged! My rating: 3 stars.

Last week I abandoned: