Book Club Local Author March 14, 2010

I am the first to admit that I am a total and complete sucker.  One look at those brown puppy dog eyes on the cover and I was pretty much sold.  But, honestly, I loved this book just as much as I thought I might.  The Art of Racing in the Rain was my pick for last month’s book club.  I was so completely emotionally involved with this book right from the beginning.  The relationship this family has with their dog, and vice-versa, is believable, honest, and true.  Did I mention the fact that the book is written from the dog’s perspective?  Seems weird, but it worked.  And it was fun and different, and if you are a dog owner than you know that there is so much more going on in that head than they get credit for.  One of my book club members said she found it a bit juvenile, but I would just classify it as a “beach read” type book.  No, you don’t have to think really hard to follow the plot, or remember character’s in detail.  What you do need to do is open your heart, and let Enzo in.  Great read, and we should all be trying to support our local artists, authors, etc. as often as we can.

The Space Between Us January 11, 2010

The Space Between Us, our current pick for book club, was pretty good.  I wouldn’t say facinating, I wouldn’t say exciting.  It didn’t pull out emotions the way other books have. 

Pretty easy to read, I found I read about a chapter each night, and it took a little under a month to finish.  I liked it, but in a luke-warm kind of way.  It was very centered around 8 characters, so I feel like I got to know them pretty well.  There unfortunately wasn’t a good male character in the whole book, and even the “strong” female character wasn’t someone I found myself rooting for.  It was interesting though, to find myself in the middle of every day life in Bombay.  Interesting also that the slums and the middle class neighborhoods were next door to one-another, yet worlds apart.  Interesting to see the difference in the way the people were treated according to their class.  Interesting that if your mother worked as a made for a middle-class family, then you were destined to as well.  Interesting that a woman was considered lucky if she married a man who didn’t beat her, and lucky if her new mother in law, with whom she would live, didn’t make her life a living hell.

All in all, I feel this was an average read.  I’m not sure I would reccommend it, but then I haven’t met with my girls yet, and I often find after we meet, that through our discussion I come to appreciate the book even more.

The Middle Place May 22, 2009

Our fantastic five just finished Kelly Corrigan’s The Middle Place.  I for one, LOVED IT!!  I had picked up and considered buying this book three if not four times.  But for one reason or another, I’d put it back down, vowing to find it again some day.  My day came when it was my turn to pick our next book.  It is all about the “middle place” between being an adult, with your own responsibilities, family, troubles, and still being a child.  Someones child.  Someone who still wants to protect you, and yet, may need your protection too.  Both Kelly and her father face cancer, as individuals, as a daughter, as a father, but also as a family.  I laughed out loud, and cried too, all in the first fifty or so pages.  She calls out herself when she is being bitchy, ridiculous, tired, and cranky.  She wonders at times why her husband even bothers to put up with her, and why on earth her young children still love her, after a particularly cranky afternoon.  She artfully describes her emotions, her fears, her deep down troubled thoughts.  I found myself completely enraptured, and loved every minute of this story.  Needless to say I highly recommend this book.  It is right up there with Eat Pray Love on my list.  Top five for sure.  I haven’t met with my book club yet, so I’m not sure if they are all in love with it like me.  But I am.  And sometimes that is all that counts.

The Shack February 6, 2009

  WOW!!!  Although this isn’t an official book club pick, (we’re still finishing Revolutionary Road, and gearing up for our watch the movie, have happy hour, discuss day) I just wanted to say anyone who is looking for a bit of a spiritual, okay a major spiritual journey, should check out the Shack.  I haven’t blogged in a few days, and frankly this is why.  My husband noted that I carry it with me everywhere, just in case I have a moment to spare.  I am almost done, and have loved my time with this book.  I’d love to hear from anyone who is also reading this one!  And I’ll try to finish it quickly so I can have more time for blogging!!! 

Revolutionary Road: a Great Read January 31, 2009

My book club chose this book as our current selection, and I loved it so much, I’ve already finished!!  The story is simple, though the characters are very complex.  The writing though, is so breathtaking.  At times I actually slowed down, so that I could absorb the sounds of each word.  Yates’ writing is mature, sophisticated, yet very accessible.  I loved getting into Frank’s mind, as he wondered during every moment away from April, just how he would describe later to her what was happening.  Sort of a haunting tale, and a very interesting look into relationships in the fifties.  I look forward to our discussion in book club… lots to talk about.  See you soon ladies!!!