no time today for a new review, so let’s continue with the dusting off and posting of the archives…
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Secrets to Happiness by Sarah Dunn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
As it’s not my typical genre, I’m not positive that this is chick lit–but I’m pretty sure it’s at least close enough to the border to keep me from being the target demographic. That said, I thought this look at the messy nature of relationships (and the need/want for one) was hilarious and touching.
This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is everything you want in a Tropper novel–and then some–an awkward fistfight (actually multiple fights this time); an emotionally withdrawn father; a meddling mother; a female confidante/best friend/sister; a death…and it all works–pain, grief, wry observations, some 80’s references, and plenty of laughs. Actually you get most of that in the second chapter–probably the saddest, funniest, most disturbing sex scene I’ve read.
I went with 4 stars rather than the 5 I’d probably have given it because this isn’t Tropper at his best, but it is him being very, very good–which still makes it better than just about anything else out there.
An Underachiever’s Diary by Benjamin Anastas
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
The recommendation I read for this called said it “may have been the funniest, most underappreciated book of the 1990s”. Really? I remember the 90’s having better taste. This is the very colored reminiscences of the lesser of two twins. William is constantly outshone by his brother Clive (despite testing as well as, if not better than) from the cradle onward. Clive’s more successful in school, socially, athletically, etc. He’s better looking, healthier…better in ever conceivable fashion. William sees this from an early age and determines to keep things that way–to basically excel at not being as good as his brother (or anyone else for that matter). And in that, and in that only, does he find success. There are sentences/paragraphs scattered throughout the novel that almost make it worth the effort, like:
universal LOVE, the failing panacea of my parents’ generation: flower children, baby boomers, whatever name you’d like to use. Exactly what had the sexual revolution gained them, after all? Some measure of bodily happiness, a sex instinct unfettered, the herpes virus, the social acceptability of T-shirts and cutoff shorts, but what else? Had they really changed our values and attitudes?
Aside from those momentary displays of authorial talent, there’s no profit from spending time with this determinedly miserable character.
Something Missing by Matthew Dicks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Martin’s a thief–a very peculiar kind of thief. He keeps going back to the same places time and again, mostly stealing staples–food, household supplies, etc.–enough to get by on, but never enough to get noticed. This book takes effort to get through–the quirky, even funny, premise will carry you through the first chapter or two, but then the excruciating detail that the Narrator gives about every little thing threatens to drag the story to a halt. I wanted to stop more than once, but there’s something about Martin that made me want to stick with it.
I’m so glad I did, it was so worth it. After all the painstaking detail about how Martin gets into people’s homes, learns their habits, decides how much to take, and then inventories it and so on…a new side of Martin starts to break through. One that cares about people. He starts taking risks–and everything, every dull, obsessive detail that you trudged through pays off.
The book becomes thrilling, endearing, heartwarming…by the end, I couldn’t believe how much I liked Martin and was pulling for him.
I Thought You Were Dead by Pete Nelson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Start with a young-ish divorced man, struggling to get his career going, in love with a woman dating someone else. Throw in a parent with a major health issue, a supportive sister, and a much more successful older brother who’s a lifelong rival and idle who he must come to terms with. On the whole, there’s not much here you can’t find in many other books on the General Fiction shelves. But Nelson executes his story so well, the lack of novelty isn’t that important. Nothing seems forced, even if several plot developments can be seen coming a hundred pages or more away, they still unfold naturally. And you’re left with a tale well told, and well worth your while.
And that would be enough, but there is one element to this book you won’t find anywhere else–Stella, “a mixed breed, half German Shepherd and half yellow Labrador, but favoring the latter in appearance. Fortunately, she’d also gotten her personality from the Labrador side of the family, taking from the Germans only a certain congenital neatness and a strong sense of protectiveness, though as the Omega dog in her litter, it only meant she frequently felt put upon.” As with any good book with a dog as a main character, Stella is the heart and soul of this book–at least until her master gets his act together, and then he shares that billing. Stella’s also the source of the humor in the book–humor frequently needed to keep the story from being bogged down in the muck of her master’s life.
If you can buy Paul talking to Stella and Stella talking back (and there’s no reason you shouldn’t), this is a sweet, heart-filled book that’s a great way to wile away a few hours.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Meticulously crafted, wonderfully written, intricately , fantastic characters, a world you’d love to live in, imaginative, creative, a concept so great, so well executed…aaaaaand I had to force myself to read it. I took 3 breaks from this novel, and had to drag myself back to it each time.
I feel like I owe this book 5 stars because it deserves them, but I really want to give it 1.75 or so. There is no reason at all that I shouldn’t like it–people should love this work, actually. But I just didn’t.
Sorry Mr. Wroblewski.
Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook by Matt Dunn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The book begins with our hero, Edward, receiving one of the (if not the) worst Dear John letters imaginable. What’s worse is that Edward soon realizes that every nasty thing enumerated in the letter is true. In her letter, Jane essentially has given Edward three months to fix himself, which will at least open the door for a discussion of their future.
So, with the guidance and help of his best friend/ladies’ man/cad, the lady bartender from their pub, his lecherous/man-chasing boss, and his new personal trainer, Edward starts a process of self-improvement to become the kind of guy he imagines Jane wants him to be.
This was very funny book, a quick, light read that makes no pretensions of being anything but. It’s a Nick Hornby/Jonathan Tropper book without the depth (which isn’t a knock, Dunn doesn’t seem to be going for depth–just enjoyment), it’s more along the lines of a Mike Gayle or Jennifer Weiner book. Apparently the first of a series, I’m intrigued to see where they take things from here.
A lot of heart, a lot of laughs. All you can ask from it.
The Lover’s Dictionary: A Novel by David Levithan
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I was really looking forward to reading this one, I mean, what a concept — tell a love story through a series of personal dictionary entries. Amazon gives a sample or two (I’d provide my own, but I don’t have the book on me): “breathtaking (adj.),” the unnamed narrator explains, “Those moments when we kiss and surrender for an hour before we say a single word.” For “exacerbate (v.),” he notes, “I believe your exact words were: ‘You’re getting too emotional.'”
Some of the entries are short, not even a sentence long; some go on for a page or two. Some are funny, some are bitter, some are lovey-dovey and sweet. The entries are listed alphabetically, rather than chronologically, so the reader has to piece together the story from beginning to end.
Great, great concept.
And that’s pretty much all it is.
Sure, it was skillfully accomplished. Can’t complain about the execution. But beyond that, there’s little to be said about it. It comes across as little more than a clever exercise for a Creative Writing course.
I was pretty disappointed in case you can’t tell.
The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’m not sure I’m up to writing up my thoughts on this book, they seem pretty inadequate…but if I don’t do it now, I probably won’t at all. This is a really good book, a love letter to a medium that’s (almost certainly) dying and a rich character study. Touching, funny, moving, and more than capable of throwing a surprise at you.
At the center of the novel is an international English language newspaper based in Rome. The story of this paper, from its founding in the 50’s through its coverage of the U.S. Invasion of Iraq is told in brief (2-3 page) spurts between chapters telling us about the people who read and/or work for (and/or their families) the paper.
More than once, I was astounded by how invested I could be in a character I just met by the end of one of those chapters–each of these really could be a short story unto themselves. But when looked at as a whole–once you reach the end–it is a well-crafted novel, not just a series of semi-related short stories.
That’s not to say that all the chapters are great–there were a couple that almost missed the mark, and a one flat-out dud (I felt I’ve read the story of the novice reporter being taken advantage of by the veteran a few dozen times).
From the other reviews I’ve read (at goodreads and elsewhere), it’s easy to oversell or overhype this book–and I don’t want to do that, nor do I want to undersell it. It’s very good–not fantastic–not a “must read”, but a “really, really should read.”
What’s this? Chick Lit here?
Sure, why not?
I’ve actually read a piece or two lately about how useless the term is, and where people like Franzen or Tropper or Hornby can write about the same themes that appear in the better Chick Lit works and not be dismissed with a label quite as easily. Maybe that’s true, probably is. At the same time, it’s a label that works pretty well most of the time–and like all genres, the better works don’t get the recognition they deserve, but those who are up on things will get rewarded.
Anyway, I do read Chick Lit–at least a couple of titles a year. I’d read more, but I try to be picky. So this weekend, I finally got around to taking my wife’s advice and tried Jennifer Weiner’s Good in Bed (probably helped by seeing it set forth as an example of the better Chick Lit being ignored in the articles I mentioned). I’m glad I did, and will likely read more of her. Not anytime soon, nothing against her, it’d just take time away from the mysteries I’m binging on lately.
Wow, I’m rambling today, eh?
So on with the book…our protagonist is Candace (but call her Cannie), an entertainment reporter for a Philadelphia newspaper. She’s funny, smart, has good taste, a neat dog and is…well, fat. On the whole, she’s okay with that–she’s healthy and active, and though she’s tried a few diets/diet programs, none of them has stuck. Still, overall, she has a nice life. Until her ex gets a new column in a Cosmo-like mag and starts off with an article called “Loving a Larger Woman” (or something like that). It’s actually a pretty decent piece, fairly considerate–and everyone who isn’t Cannie or her best friend really likes it.
This launches Cannie on a quest for self-improvement–emotionally, professionally, and physically. And honestly, I’m not sure how to go on from here without a lot of spoilers.
There’s a big fairy tale ending here, but it’s quickly derailed into something still unrealistic, but far more satisfying. Funny, insightful, touching (without being obviously sentimental), and charming. It’s a satisfying read (and would probably hold up to a repeated read or two), no matter what label gets attached to it.
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