Chrisbookarama

Changes. The Only Thing David Bowie and I Have In Common

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Sun, 19 May 2013 19:08:00 +0000

I’m a working lady now. I have to be out of the house before everyone else, after many years of me sending them all on their way. It’s not an easy adjustment. My body is all, “Wtf?” Saturday I was wide awake at 5:30 am and fell asleep at 10pm. On a Saturday. I have to record my shows and reading is nearly impossible. Will this last forever? I hope not.

So, the only book I managed to finish was True Deceiver by Tove Jansson. It was a thinker, so my opinion about it is all over the place. I should have read Dan Brown’s new one instead. My brain is broke.

I did manage to watch my TV shows though.

Revenge’s season finale was actually interesting. I have hope for Season 3. I’m like a sad girl with a bad boyfriend. I keep believing it will change if I just stick around long enough. C’mon, Revenge, don’t do me wrong!
The Elementary finale was wack! Seriously, what is happening there? Moriarty. What?! I still love Watson though. I have thoughts I will share at a later date. She is my fashion guru. She rocks a pair of 4 inch heels.
ABC released the last 8 episodes of Don’t Trust the B- In Apt 23 on iTunes. Since it would cost me $$$, I only downloaded the last episode (cheapcheap). I did not like where it went. At. All. So now I don’t care about it anymore. Boo.

Hey, have you signed up for Armchair BEA? It’s coming soon. May 28-June 2. You better get on that!

I better go. I have to freeze my butt off at a BBQ!

Friday Bookish Buzz Is Trying to Keep Up

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:04:00 +0000

I started a new job this week, or just a job –no “new”- since I haven’t had one in years. I’m liking it but I am not used to this schedule yet. I’m sleeping more than reading, so no reviews for awhile. I hope to catch up soon! In the meantime, here are some links.

*For Brits complaining about Americanisms, you’re doing it wrong.

*National Review writer loses his temper at the theatre.

*Are you a book person?

*Dan Brown is an easy target for bad reviews.

*The Diary of Anne Frank is not too p0rny.

*So, what was The Great Gatsby about again?

*Etsy Love: A little button to wear to The Great Gatsby movie from Monster Brand.

Have a good one! It’s a long weekend here. I intend to enjoy it.

Friday Bookish Buzz Has Delicious Books

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:36:00 +0000

Hope your weekend involves some delicious books!

*Not cool, man. Agent gets rights from Harper Lee, she plans to sue.

*Gone Girl themed cupcakes? I don’t think Amy would approve.

*Candace Bushnell gets hacked.

*A tongue in cheek genre reveal party.

*F Scott Fitzgerald’s relationship with Hollywood.

*A list of a little more lady friendly literary magazines from Persephone Magazine.

*Etsy Love: Love The Velveteen Rabbit? How about this brooch from EllyMental?

The Clothes They Stood Up In by Alan Bennett: Review

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:39:00 +0000

I don’t have a lot to say about this book. It was okay. I read it in an hour for the Readathon.

The Clothes They Stood Up In by Alan Bennett is the story of an older couple, the Ransomes, who come home from the opera to find their house has been burgled. Of everything. Even the toilet paper. So they have nothing and have to start over. One of them decides that this is a good time to make a few changes, but the other just stays the same.

I found the book rather depressing. I wasn’t expecting that. I had read The Uncommon Reader by Bennett and thought it was a cute little story. Like Uncommon, The Clothes seems like a parable, but what the lesson is, I’m not sure. Mrs Ransome makes positive changes in her life. She steps outside her comfort zone. They’re not huge steps, but considering her narrow little world, they’re big to her. Mr Ransome doesn’t change at all and Mrs Ransome won’t even share her experiences with him because she knows he’d be horrified. This marriage made me sad. I wanted better for them both.

The writing is neat and tidy, very once upon a time, in keeping with The Uncommon Reader.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath: Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Tue, 07 May 2013 11:13:00 +0000

It’s hard to review The Bell Jar so I’m not going to try. It ain’t entertainment. It’s a book about a girl with depression who ends up institutionalized. I don’t think that’s a spoiler since most people know what it’s about (and it’s in the blurbs on the back cover). It’s how she gets there that’s the story.

Esther Greenwood looks like a girl who has it all: a job in New York City, parties, a handsome doctor beau. From the outside, Esther’s life is perfect, but for her it’s anything but. Esther sees the world differently. She has no ambition, no lust for life, and little love for the people she knows. The reader experiences what Esther does, sees what she sees, and it’s a gloomy world.

Reading The Bell Jar is an emotional experience. I found it heavy reading, not the writing, but the atmosphere. I remember seeing a commercial for some new anti-depression drug, where the actors sat in their housecoats looking lethargic. I thought to myself, “This commercial is making me depressed.” That’s how reading The Bell Jar made me feel. I don’t think a book can make someone depressed, but it can give you a good idea of how it feels when done right. Plath knew her stuff, obviously as she was depressed herself.

I had to remind myself not to judge Esther harshly. Yes, she does have opportunities that most people can only dream of having, but she is sick and can’t help how she feels. I never thought of her as whiny. I’ve read plenty of characters who do that all too well. She doesn’t complain, she just doesn’t give a fig.

The “care” Esther gets at first is horrible. I can’t imagine that making anyone well. Things improve later on but still the drugs available today weren’t then. I wonder if that would have made a difference for Esther. Reading about Esther’s experience made me appreciate my own mental health.

If there is anything funny about The Bell Jar, it’s Esther’s pursuit of losing her virginity. Girl goes at getting that done like it’s her job. Most of the guys come off pretty terribly in the book. Sorry, dudes.

I hadn’t read The Bell Jar before. This was my first time. If you haven’t read it yet, make sure you do at some point.

Hey Ladies! Or Unlikeable Female Characters

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Sun, 05 May 2013 21:25:00 +0000

In two separate articles, two different female authors were asked to defend their ‘unlikeable’ female characters.

Claire Messaud took umbrage over one reporter’s question of would Claire want to be friends with her character, Nora. “For heaven’s sake, what kind of question is that?” and went on to say that you shouldn’t read to find friends (sidenote: though sometimes you do). Gillian Flynn was called a misogynist for creating an irredeemable female sociopath in one of her books.

These ladies aren’t nice. Is that really such a big deal? It’s not even a new thing. There have been plenty of female protagonists who were awful, nasty, bitches over the years. Why are people acting so surprised by these two recent additions? It took me about five minutes to come up with a list of examples.

Becky Sharp (Vanity Fair): Becky is an opportunist. She had a hard life and will climb her way to the top if it kills her.

Scarlett O’Hara (Gone With the Wind): The biggest bitch in heels there ever was. After nearly starving to death during the Civil War, she vows never to go hungry again. She steals her sister’s sweetheart and works him to death to make sure of it.

Catherine Earnshaw (Wuthering Heights): Cathy is a brat. She wants to have her cake and eat it too. In her case, have a rich husband and a sexy, bad boy lover. She drives them both crazy.

Undine Spragg (The Custom of the Country): Another brat, spoiled by her parents. Entitled. Social climber. Doesn’t care who she hurts on the way to the top.

There are more but those ladies came to mind first. With the exception of Vanity Fair, the books were written by women. None of the characters had much in the way of maternal instincts, although they were all mothers. Scarlett and Becky have something admirable about their mad self-preservation skills. They both occasionally do something nice for someone else, but Cathy and Undine are out for #1. Murder? Maybe not, but given the opportunity I’m sure they could do it.

I actually love an unlikeable character. It’s fiction after all, I don’t have to work with these people. They aren’t real. But there is something interesting about exploring the darker side of humanity. Why else would film and TV keep giving us new stories about Hannibal Lector? Why should the guys have all the fun anyway? Ladies don’t have to keep in the kitchens doling out advice about not letting the sun go down on our anger, like Marmee March. Marmee’s okay, but a good slap from Scarlett would set some people straight too.

And it’s true that bitches get stuff done. You might not like the stuff they do, but they sure know how to do it. Women can be just as awful as men. It’s sexist to think otherwise. Unlikeable female characters? I say, bring them on!

Who are your favorite unlikeable female characters?

Friday Bookish Buzz Has Hugs

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:32:00 +0000

Aw, start your weekend with a hug from kitty. Maybe you need one to end your week on a high note. Plus, it’s virtual so you can have one even if you’re allergic. Feel better? Now onto the book news.

*The Beastie Boys to write a memoir of a sort.

*Gillian Flynn talks about Gone Girl and evil women.

*Claire Messaud speaks out about unlikeable female characters. (I sense a theme here.)

*Anne Rice and the bad review.

*Margaret Atwood or Thriller movie plot?

*Parents say Hurray for libraries!

*For one day be more like Hemingway.

*Etsy Love: So pretty! A tiny Elizabeth Bennet necklace from Let’s All Make Believe.

Finally, Henri le chat noir contemplates publishing.

The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood: Review

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:17:00 +0000

Marian McAlpin is a young woman living in Toronto with a wild roommate, a dull boyfriend, and a boring job. She’s just sort of floating along, not really in control of her life. She’s mostly waiting to get married.

Her job at a market research firm is a dead end. Even if she can move up the ladder, she’s not going to get far. She can’t see herself staying there, she balks at the pension fund, but doesn’t know where else to go. Her boyfriend Peter is an ordinary guy. She figures she’ll marry him when he asks. However, when he does ask something strange starts happening to her. Food suddenly disgusts her.

At first, it’s anything that drew breath, but soon it’s anything that grew and then pretty much anything edible! She wants to eat but her body won’t let her. Marian struggles to keep this secret from her fiancé who is sure to think she’s crazy, while trying to figure out how to stay alive.

This was Margaret Atwood’s first published novel and while people think it’s feminist literature, she prefers to call it protofeminism. According to her intro, the women’s movement wasn’t a thing when she wrote it in 1964 and she says she’s not clairvoyant. Ha! I agree. Although gender identity is explored in The Edible Woman, Marian seems to be going through an identity crisis. She’s not willing to enter into a conventional life, though she believes that’s what she wants. Her body is trying to tell her what’s what.

The thing is Marian doesn’t think she has many options. She doesn’t want to end up like the “office virgins.” She can’t be like Ainsley whose latest project is to get pregnant and raise a baby on her own. Peter and marriage is it, she thinks. Then she meets Duncan, a graduate student, who rejects reality. He makes up his own rules. She’s attracted to him because he’s unconventional. He reminds me of a cat. He does what he wants. If he wants to take a nap, he just lies down and takes one. And like a cat, he has people to take care of him, his two roommates, Fish and Trevor.

Marian, and the reader, get to see traditional gender roles rejected or discussed through the other characters. Clara, pregnant with two small kids, isn’t nearly maternal as her husband, Jeff. Ainsley declares that fathers aren’t needed to raise children and picks the most unfatherly of all men as an unsuspecting sperm donor. Len, who only dates teenagers (ew), gets angry with Ainsley for ‘seducing’ him, even though he thought he was seducing her. “You used me!” he declares, on the verge of hysteria. Marian herself is afraid that Peter’s personality will overshadow her own once they’re married. He really only wants Marian as an extension of himself. His reasons for marrying are because everyone else is doing it and he doesn’t want people thinking he’s a homosexual. Yeah, he’s a real charmer. All these personalities clash during a disastrous dinner party, where Marian finally comes to some sort of decision.

I enjoyed The Edible Woman for not only giving me a lot to think about but entertaining me. It’s a very funny story, really. Very clever with lots of odd characters. It’s very much a product of its time. I giggled over some of the old fashioned ideas. Clara is particularly funny when she says she can only drink vermouth- she’s pregnant at the time.

About the Audio: The book is narrated by Lorelei King. She has a pleasant voice and was totally believable as a young woman in the 1960s.

Ratings:

Your House Is On Fire, Your Children All Gone by Stefan Kiesbye: Review

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:40:00 +0000

Hey, want to read a book? A book about growing up and coming of age? How about a book in which every character is a psychopath and murder is the first solution to every problem?

Your House Is On Fire, Your Children All Gone is possibly the most disturbing book I’ve read in a long time. Like, Oh the Humanity! disturbing. The setting is some old German backwater, Hemmersmoor, where the people are superstitious and strangers regarded with suspicion. It never ends well for strangers in this book. People outside of Hemmersmoor don’t much like the villagers either. They are the type that outsiders would say “kept to themselves,” a euphemism for “too many cousins marrying for centuries.” There is something quite wrong with these people. They have a complete lack of empathy.

The book opens with a group of once childhood friends gathering in front of The Big House for a funeral. One of the group plans on turning the house into a hotel. There is bitterness and hatred under the surface and hints at hidden secrets. The book then flashes back to the past when they were all just kids. It is sometime after World War II, though it could be a century ago, the village doesn’t change. The book is a series of alternating points of view, each vignette more disturbing than the next, chronicling their childhood.

The first tale sets the tone for the book. The villagers, in a fit of violence, murder a family of six and burn their house down. No one feels bad about this event. It’s business as usual. The children grow up in an atmosphere of violence. Their parents are superstitious, angry, and deranged. The kids aren’t any better. One boy commits his first murder when he’s just seven years old.

The stories remind me of Grimm’s fairy tales. Tales where random and inexplicable acts of violence are committed. The villagers are quick to forget their own dirty deeds but real and imagined sins are never forgiven and payback is brutal. Old legends are weaved into the memories of the children. The devil makes an appearance though I wonder if the narrator of this tale is reliable since he seems to be the maddest of the group. They do terrible things or are silent witnesses to them.

Even though Your House Is On Fire, Your Children All Gone is crazy loco, I couldn’t stop reading. I had to find out all the secrets. It’s well written too. Some reviews complain about a lack of denouement. It does just sort of end, but I went back and read the prologue and it all seemed to make sense. The town is about to have to deal with changes. Their secrets aren’t going to be their own for much longer. That’s kind of an ending.

This book will give you a sense of unease and while it’s not for everyone, I recommend it.

Readathon 2013: Update #4

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:05:00 +0000

The Readathon is about to begin and I’m just dragging myself out of bed now. Sorry, I do this every Readathon. Before I get the coffee on, I’ll tell you what I’ll be reading.

~~The Clothes They Stood Up In.~~ Alan Bennett
Your House Is On Fire, Your Children All Gone. Stefan Kiesbye
The Flamethrowers. Rachel Kushner
The Night Bookmobile. Audrey Niffenegger
The Edible Woman. Margaret Atwood (audio)

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
4) Tell us a little something about yourself!
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

Nova Scotia, Canada
Your House Is On Fire, Your Children All Gone. It looks creepy
I have a chocolate bar hidden away.
I’m a brunettte with green eyes and I am very tired right now.
Probably nothing. I’m always a read when I can readathoner.

I’ll be updating this page during the readathon. Good luck!

Update #1

It’s 2 and a half hours in and I have finished one book: The Clothes They Stood Up In by Alan Bennett. Not sure what to make of it. It’s sadder than I thought it would be and very British.

I had some waffles and I’m considering taking a run before moving onto my next book.

Update #2

I had my run while listening to The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood. I’m really liking it. She was a clever and funny writer, even back in 1965.

As for Mini-Challenges. I did Book Appetit and the Self-Portrait.

I think it’s time for snacks!

Update #3

Just my Book Sentence Challenge

Rumors surfacing when she flew.

Update #4

Update the fourth and a mini-challenge! I’m close to done Your House Is On Fire, Your Children All Gone. A seriously disturbing book. Still working on The Edible Woman too.

My Little Pocketbooks asks us to cast the protagonist of our current book.

1. Book: The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood

2. Character: Marian McAlpine. She cannot eat since getting engaged and feels that she’s being consumed. I cast Jennifer Lawrence.

3. Why? Marian is young, smart, and funny, as is Jennifer. Plus, Jennifer was already in one hunger related movie, why not another?

Friday Bookish Buzz: Reading Like a Cat

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:15:00 +0000

Are you ready for some reading this weekend? You can join the hundreds signed up for the Readathon. I signed up but then the hubs informed me of a bunch of stuff that we might be doing. So maybe not as much reading as I thought will get done this weekend. Probably that cat will read more than I will.

*You can be a writer or a lady writer but you can’t be both, says Wikipedia.

*Giving classics a pulp makeover, which involves drawing cigarettes onto characters’ faces.

*How I Met Your Author: Jason Segel to co-write children’s series.

*Are these the worst management speak words?

*Books to humanize Schmidt from New Girl.

*Gatsby or Angsty Tumblr user?

*Etsy Love: With The Great Gatsby film coming to a theatre near you soon, how about wearing this Gatsby Quote Cuff Bracelet from Accessoreads?

Totally Hip Video Reviewer Ron Charles takes a look at a “lady’s book” The Woman Upstairs.

The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin: Review

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:51:00 +0000

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase Stepford Wife, usually referring to a subservient woman with little else than domestic interests. A perfect doll of a wife. Have you given any thought to where that came from? Yes, there was that terribly campy Nicole Kidman movie and before that the original 1975 version, but first came the novella by Ira Levin. I picked the book up on a whim from the library and although I knew ‘the secret’ of the book, I had no idea what I was in for. Holy whoa! It gave me the heebie-jeebies. That Kidman movie in no way did the book justice. The tone is all wrong.

I need to talk about this book in detail. Right now! So, if you haven’t read the book and want to, don’t peek under the break. I will tell you that you should read it. Today. Come back and talk to me about it. It’s short, 123 pages, don’t worry.

In The Stepford Wives, Joanna, Walter and their kids move to Stepford, a perfect little town, or so it seems. When Joanna tries to befriend some of her neighbours, the ladies in particular, she gets the cold shoulder. They’re all too busy cleaning their houses and taking care of their husbands to even go out for a cup of coffee. So much for her plan to start a NOW chapter. The Men’s Club on the other hand is a going concern. The men of the town spend all their free time in their mysterious clubhouse. Joanna seems doomed to loneliness until she meets Bobbie, another recent addition to Stepford. Bobbie is funny and intelligent and just as flummoxed by the Stepford women as Joanna. Together they try to shake Stepford out of its dusty ways, but they have no idea what they’re dealing with.

If you have read the book or know what happens at the end of The Stepford Wives then please continue on…

So…

Let’s discuss.

Spoiler:

You know the secret, right? The Stepford wives have been replaced by robots created by their douchebag husbands. I knew that before I even picked up the book, but getting to the ending is an experience. Ira Levin amazed me with his ability to create tension through ordinary experiences. Imagine doing everyday things like making coffee or checking your mail while the whole time your partner, who you trust 100%, is plotting to murder you and replace you with an exact replica and you are totally unaware. That’s what was creepy about the story. Although it’s fantastical, there is a sense of normalcy, like this could be happening. As Joanna starts putting things together, there’s a sense of urgency. Will she be able to get away? She doubts herself. This isn’t the kind of thing that could happen, she thinks. Her doubt is coupled with Walter’s insistence that she is must be losing her mind.

When I finished the book, I read the introduction by Peter Straub and while I agreed with him about many things, I didn’t find the story as funny as he did. Sure, there are funny parts but I was too freaked out by it. It might be that I’m a woman and didn’t see the humour in some of the things he did. This edition is from 2002 and maybe the world is just too different now. I’m sure there are politicians who wouldn’t mind a Stepford wife! You would think that things for women would have changed to such a degree that this book written in 1972 would seem quaint now, but there is still a power struggle. Maybe things are worse because, if you believe Hollywood, women not only need to be beautiful, but not age, have perfect homes and children, and have incredibly successful careers. You must have it all!

I do agree with Straub about the term Stepford wife being misused. The Stepford wives were victims, all were brilliant women with their own dreams. A woman with a desire to be subservient, while not my jam, is a choice (though we could get philosophical here, I won’t for brevity); these women had no choice. The men are being satirized here. What kind of man would want a mindless, housecleaning, s*x-robot in place of their very real flesh and blood wives? These geniuses (creating a hot robot-lady requires genius) spend all their time together at the clubhouse creating these dream machines instead of using their abilities to better the world. At one point, Joanna asks Bobbie’s son what he thinks of his mom now that she’s so changed (Joanna knows there’s something wrong with Bobbie) and he says, “It’s great!” So, these husbands have the mentality of a ten year old basically, only with a desire for big boobs.

I kept wondering about the men. We never see them at the clubhouse. How were they all talked into this scheme? Dale Coba I can understand, he’s a dick, but the others? Walter? He seems to love and support Joanna. I kept wanting him to have been threatened or something, but no. He’s as bad as the rest. Was Joanna’s photography really that big of a deal? What is Levin trying to say? That all men, no matter how seemingly tolerant, really just want a s*x-robot? I hope not!

I want to thank Mr Levin for giving me so much to think about while giving me the creeps. It’s an amazing little book.

Ratings:

The Brinkley Girls Edited by Trina Robbins: Review

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:29:00 +0000

A few months ago I came across an article in a magazine about fashion related graphic novels and immediately started looking for them. It took awhile for my library to get the first one for me, but this past week it finally arrived!

Nell Brinkley was an artist for Hearst Magazines. Her specialty was beautiful girls, and her drawings so distinct that the girls she created were known by her name, The Brinkley Girls. Trina Robbins collected Brinkley’s full paged art, found in American magazines during the early part of the 20th century, into this volume. Robbins adds a bit of background and commentary but mostly lets Brinkley’s art speak for itself.

Brinkley’s work is broken into three styles: the serials, the Flappers, and the pulp series.

The serials are the earliest (1918-1922) and most garish. The panels are a single illustration with text written by Brinkley. I’m not sure if it was the style at the time or what but I couldn’t read her stories. Brinkley seemed to believe why use one adjective when you could use three. The drawings are beautiful but dramatic with ladies’ hair, dresses, and scarves blowing into the wind. Drama was the order of the day.

The Flappers were my favorite. Brinkley changed from a single illustration to five on one page. Text was written by Carolyn Wells in bad verse. The girls are awfully dumb but they had great fashion sense! Prudence Prim is harassed by lechers every time she steps outdoors but can’t decide if she wants to have adventures or run back home. Flossie is obsessed with psychics and her boyfriend is a jerk, Dimples is a dreamer with a jerk for a boyfriend too, and Gloriette a French girl in America trying to navigate the cultural divide.

Prudence Prim in her new outfit

The 1930s make up the final chapter. Brinkley illustrated and wrote these pulpish looking series: Heroines of Today and The Princess from Nowhere. Heroines of Today is interesting since the stories are based on real women. The girls have that American girl next door look to them, much different from the cartoonish Flappers.

The Brinkley Girls is beautiful to look at and well laid out. It is a large coffee table style volume. I imagine that the art here is much larger than it would have appeared in the original magazines. All the better to see it, my dear!

Friday Bookish Buzz Is Brief

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:21:00 +0000

There’s not a lot of good news stories out there this week, so I’m going to keep it brief.

*A list of great fairytale adaptations.

*Adele says no to a book deal.

*Find out who won the Pulitzer Prize. The winner for non-fiction is Tom Weiss, author of The Black Count. (Loved it!)

*I was featured on Book Bloggers International. Check it out!

*Etsy Love: Since Mother’s Day is coming up, order this Mother quote greeting card from Literary Emporium for a mother you know. I know I’d love it.

And for your pleasure, a video of a cat in a shark costume on a Roomba chasing a duckling.

Hope you all have a safe and happy weekend!

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham (Audiobook): Review

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:36:00 +0000

Franny Banks is an aspiring actress in New York City with a deadline. She’s given herself three years to make it as an actress or head back to her hometown and start a ‘normal’ life. Now, at the beginning of 1995, she has just 6 months left and all she’s managed to snag is a commercial for ugly Christmas sweaters. With two roommates and an in demand job as a waitress in a comedy club, she still can barely make rent in Brooklyn. She needs an agent but they’re hard to come by. Surprisingly enough, after an embarrassing tumble during her acting class’s showcase, she has not one but two offers for representation. Could this finally be her big break?

I heard whispers on Twitter that Lauren Graham had written a book and my spidey senses started tingling. Lauren Graham, the actress that played Lorelai Gilmore on The Gilmore Girls, wrote a book? I was torn between excitement and trepidation. Was this just going to be a case of an actress sticking her name on any old thing and selling it to the masses? Fortunately, no. It’s really good!

First, it’s set in 1995. Wahoo, the nineties! I loved that. No smartphones or even cell phones. Even though this is fiction, there is a lot of Graham in the book. She was an aspiring actress herself in the 1990’s. When Franny goes through the process of becoming whatever character she’s asked to be no matter how small the role, I felt like I was getting some insight into how actors do what they do. It was like a mini acting lesson. It’s fascinating.

I loved the protagonist Franny. She’s funny and warm with enough self-awareness to know when she’s being a jerk. When she says something catty to another character out of jealousy, she realizes it right away and regrets it even though she can do nothing to fix it. There’s some complexity to her. Franny’s journey means making a lot of wrong decisions, of questioning whether or not she should compromise her morals to begin her career as an actress. For Franny, acting isn’t about becoming a big star but making a living doing something she loves, but she has that deadline in her head that she must meet.

Graham doesn’t take Someday, Someday, Maybe too seriously though. She pokes fun at the formulaic devices used in this type of fiction. After seeing a rom-com, Franny asks why there is always a love triangle and a sassy best friend in every one of those movies. The joke is Franny is in a love triangle and has a sassy best friend too. There are lots of little laughs like this. (Well, I found them funny anyway.)

As for faults, I found some of the descriptions of being on a set or an audition a little long. Maybe too much detail there. And Franny starts a lot of sentences with “Shit.” Not that I mind this word but she says it a lot. I like some variety in my swears.

If you’re looking for something fun and quick but with some wit and emotion, read Someday, Someday, Maybe.

About the Audio: Lauren herself narrates. That was the right way to go. She ought to know her own work and where the inflections should go. I loved her accents, especially for one of the agents. It was quite entertaining. It only took me a day to listen to this. It’s a quick one.

Ratings:

Thanks to Random House Audio for the review copy. Someday, Someday, Maybe will be available for purchase April 30th.

French Kissing by Catherine Sanderson: Review

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:46:00 +0000

After her partner has an affair with his secretary, Sally Marshall, a Brit living in Paris, starts a new life with her daughter. First, she takes care of the basics: gets an apartment, finds a good school for Lila, and creates an arrangement where Lila can still see her father and his family. Her personal life, however, she’s neglected. Tired of the lonely nights, she signs up with the online dating service, Rendez-Vous.

She dips her toes cautiously into the dating waters, unsure whether or not to let her potential suitors know about her status as a single mother. However, the logistics of dating while being a single parent are a bigger issue. Dating isn’t easy when you can’t be spontaneous, have to plan for sitters and be home early. Can Sally find a guy who’s worth the effort?

Lordy, it took me longer than expected to read French Kissing. It could have used more French kissing actually. It dragged in parts, especially Sally’s dates. They weren’t particularly memorable, not sexy or terrible, just blah. Things did pick up at the end as Sally has to make up her mind and decide which dude she’s going to focus on.

I did like Sally though, when she wasn’t being a moron over one particular guy. Her situation is a difficult one and I can’t imagine trying to date while mothering a very young child, especially in a country that’s not her own. At least Sally is fluent in French, as she is an English tutor. She’s got that going for her anyway.

I’m on the fence about French Kissing by Catherine Sanderson. The premise, the setting, and most of the characters were enjoyable but the pacing just wasn’t there for me. The cover is very pretty though, that’s what made me buy it! (Shallow!)

French Kissing didn’t make online dating very appealing. I’m curious, if anyone is willing to tell me, is online dating just one long boring nightmare?

Ratings:

Another Lazy Sunday Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 16:07:00 +0000

Hello! I hesitate to write this but…I think the reading drought is over. I finished 2 books this week! That’s a big deal because in all of 2013, I’ve read a total of 10 books. For me, that’s not a lot. I’m not sure what’s changed, maybe nothing. Maybe I was trying too hard to like the books I was reading before. I’m not sure.

It’s a good feeling to suddenly want to read again. So, what were the books I read this week? French Kissing by Catherine Sanderson (not so great) and Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham (yep, Lorelai Gilmore, and it was great!). I picked up The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin on a whim from the library and The Brinkley Girls (illustrations) arrived via ILL.

I’m thinking I’d like to do a book purge too. I’ve looked at my shelves and thought, “I’m never going to read that.” So, it must go.

It was another week of Estellagraming for me. Here’s what I shot this week.

Blogging
Cult (Outlander)
Paper (crochet pattern)
Light (French Kissing)
Heavy (The Bell Jar)
ARC (The Flame Throwers)

What did you think of the Meg Wolitzer article found linked in the Flavorwire link from Friday? First, that headline, Men Won’t Read Books About Women, makes it sound like that’s all she was discussing when in fact it was a tiny part of that interview. Second, is this a fact? Is it a self-fulfilling prophecy? When you say something over and over, it simply becomes true. I know plenty of dudes who read books by women, granted those men are book bloggers, but they aren’t put off by female names on covers.

Wolitzer does make a point about very feminine covers. It’s not just men who are turned off by the abundance of pink and flowers on the covers of books. Maybe this is simply a marketing issue. Perhaps more gender neutral covers will entice men to read them.

Loved the comments from some of the dudes (and one lady) in that article. “I don’t want to read about feelings and girls write about feelings.” No, good lord, not emotions! To the fainting couch! Because, you know, great male writers like Hemingway and Fitzgerald never wrote about girly stuff like feelings. Nope, not at all.

Friday Bookish Buzz Is Surprised It’s Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:48:00 +0000

I love how awesomely…fluffy…that cat is. No parties here. I can’t believe it is Friday already. It seems like all I write these days are link posts. But, hark, I have read some books this week and will have actual real-live reviews on the blog next week. I think I see an end to this reading drought.

For now…

*Margaret Atwood gets her zombie on.

*Online students, ever feel like someone’s watching you? Probably are.

*Are cable’s TV shows like YA novels? (Honestly, I watch none of these shows so I have no idea what they are talking about.)

*Let’s get alarmist! The death of the modern American writer. Can’t agree about the library thing. Ever try downloading from the OverDrive? What a pain in the butt. (Moby Lives has a list of other things that are dead.)

*Guess that classic!

*Books about ladies that men should read. What would be on your list?

*Etsy Love: I know these are for doll houses, but Look! A tiny Jane Eyre book from L Delaney. There’s a whole series of books.

Laters!

Lazy Sunday Thoughts: Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 19:58:00 +0000

What is up, Readers? I feel like it’s been ages since I’ve actually said anything on the blog. My mind is a blank. Ever have that feeling? What do I write if I have nothing to say? It’s boring. I bore myself these days.

The weather (always a reliable Canadian topic) is improving and I’ve been running outside. Yay! I hate the treadmill like a mo-fo. Hate. It. Still I do it because I have to; it’s just one of those things. Getting outside makes running fun(?) again. At least it’s a change, even though the wind is all, “Hahaha! I’m putting a stop to this!” Wind is not my friend. A nice thing about outdoor running again was when hubs said to me today, “You smell like the ocean.” A lot nicer than, “ew, stinky.”

Maybe I can get back to taking photos outdoors too. This week marked the beginning of April Estellagram. Here are the pics I took so far.

Top to Bottom, left to right

Holiday: half eaten bunny
Currently reading: The Bell Jar
Paper: Owl post-its
Author: Simon Van Booy followed me on Twitter
Autograph: Karen E Olson
Favorite: more Simon Van Booy

Have you found Thug Kitchen yet? Warning: there are so many swears. I think FizzyJill would like this site. I love it. Eat your veggies like a boss.

I better go read something. Bye!

Friday Bookish Buzz Is Having a Beautiful Day

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:19:00 +0000

It is a beautiful day! Yay, Spring! Though we’re getting a lot of rain later today. At least it’s not snow. No more snow, please! I hope you’re having a beautiful day too.

*Gillian Flynn’s books get a Gone Girl makeover.

*Here’s some rock albums as book sets. I wish they were more than just the spines. Can you imagine what the covers might look like?

*Want to hear Margaret Atwood read Mavis Gallant? Sure you do.

*Some literary tattoos of celebrities.

*What is the purpose of paperbacks?

*Bookstore of the Year: it’s a major award!

*The “One Ring” that may have inspired Tolkien is now on display.

*Etsy Love: I have a thing for mugs so this Jane Eyre quote mug from Ophelia’s Gypsy Caravan is perfect for me. There are many more literary related mugs in the shop.

Have a great weekend!

The Reluctant Detective by Finley Martin: Review

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:48:00 +0000

Anne Brown finds herself the owner of Darby Investigations and Security after her beloved Uncle Billy dies and leaves the company to her. The Prince Edward Island agency is not exactly a booming business and Anne is half thinking of moving on when two cases fall in her lap. Neither seems difficult and one appears to be easy money. She has a little experience in the investigative field, so why not? A single mom with a teenaged daughter isn’t about to let an opportunity like this slide by. God laughs when humans make plans and the easy money case gets complicated. Anne ends up neck deep in trouble, putting herself, her family and friends in danger with local thugs and international villains.

After a bit of a clunky start, I ended up thoroughly entertained by The Reluctant Detective by Finley Martin. Anne is quick on her feet and level headed, even when she’s shaking in her boots. There is some info-dumping about the characters at the beginning, which always bothers me. This isn’t an elegant way to introduce new people into a story but it was quick so I got over my irritation. By the time things get rolling, I was hooked by the action and didn’t want to put it down. As in most mystery novels, I often wondered why Anne was doing the things she did, but I just went with it. The ending is a nail biter and I was glad I held on during the bumpy beginning.

I loved the setting of Prince Edward Island. Not exactly the hotbed of criminal activity, so a detective agency on the island is unexpected. I enjoyed what Finley Martin did with it. I look forward to what this other Island Anne gets up to, that is if the author writes another.

Ratings:

Friday Bookish Buzz Is Late to the Party

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 22:19:00 +0000

Since it was a holiday today, I slacked off a bit and left the Bookish Buzz to the end of Friday. I plan on eating a lot of chocolate this weekend. How about you?

*So…did you hear? Amazon has bought Goodreads.

*Found! Oscar Wilde has some advice for you would be writers.

*Smells like teen spirit: Famous authors when they were teens.

*Nothing’s private, I tells ya. Willa Cather’s letters to be published, despite her telling everyone not to.

*Like to run? Here’s some books for you.

*Bitches be crazy and a lot of other things.

*Etsy Love: For the bookish cat lover, a framed Edgar Allan Poe quote from the Wandering Reader.

Have a great Friday night and a happy weekend!

The Secret Lives of People in Love by Simon Van Booy: Review

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:13:00 +0000

Ah, Simon Van Booy. He can really rip your heart out with his words. Sort of like this…

GIFSoup

The Secret Lives of People in Love is a collection of short stories about the inner thoughts of people who have loved. And some of them are down right sad. I had a case of the sads after reading some of these- but in a good way! The characters are in love or have lost love or are witnessing someone else struggle with love.

I love Simon Van Booy’s writing. It is so simplistic but so full of meaning. Sometimes he’ll plunk a sentence down in the middle of a paragraph and I’d think, what the heck was that for, only to realize later, yeah, I see what you did there. Beautiful and poetic. That sums it up.

Two of my favorites came near the end of the book: Save As Many As You Ruin and The Still But Falling World. I loved the uplifting ending to the first one, while the other is about kindness. Two of the best, I think.

I don’t have much to add other than I hope he hurries up and writes more.

Getting Real About Google Reader

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 13:52:00 +0000

So, I’ve had some time to digest the news that Google Reader is going away, and I’ve had time to think about my blog reading habits. I’m going to be honest with myself: I don’t use it the way that I used to.

For example, right now I have 476 unread posts in my Google Reader. That’s a lot. I’m not reading anywhere near the blogs I used to read. I’ll sometimes let posts from a few blogs stay unread for weeks. Yes, I am busy, but I do use Twitter a lot for reading blogs, to be honest. If I’m looking through my Twitter stream and see a link to an interesting post, I’m going to click on it. I’ve found a lot of new blogs this way, but I haven’t subscribed to any new blogs in GR in a long time.

The question is: do I need a new Feed reader? Or will I just let unread posts accumulate like I did with Google Reader? I do not want to lose touch will the people I’ve come to know over the years and while most of them are on Twitter, some are not. I have lots of time to think about this and come up with a solution. I can wait to see what others will do, but what is going to work best for me and my habits.

Google Reader Solution	Thoughts
*New Feed Reader	*Same old habits
*Blog List	*An old solution
*Blog Rings	*Are they still available?
*Twitter	*Sure to miss a lot

I’m sure I’ve missed something obvious. Do you have any new ideas?

There were blogs and Feed readers before there was Google Reader, but I think this is going to change things for bloggers. For better or worse. If RSS goes too*, it will really change things. Will small blogs like mine with a single author just fade into oblivion? Without readership numbers, will the review blogs be the hot commodity for publishers that they are now? Will email subscribers become even more important? Goodreads? Amazon?

I also think that perhaps collaborative blogs with several authors with similar tastes and a history together might be a way to go. At least friends are sharing ideas together that way and combining their readership.

Anyway, it’s a lot to think about and so much can happen between then and now. As a blogger or a blog reader, what are your thoughts?

(I’ve heard a lot about Feedly and Bloglovin but has anyone heard of Spundge.)

*Feedburner is supposed to be eliminated too- or so goes the rumour- but will that be the end of RSS?

Going to Bloggiesta Like It's 1999!

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisbookarama) — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 20:12:00 +0000

Remember 1999? Sure you do! (Don't tell me you don't.) Everyone was preparing for Y2K. What a let down. It's best to prepare for the worst, I guess. I'm not preparing for the worst today, though part of my Bloggiesta plan is to back up my blog (you never know).

Here's my list:

~~Answer questions for a feature on another blog.~~
~~Update my reviews page.~~
~~Clean out my email.~~
~~Write a review.~~
~~Back up my blog.~~
Check out some new feed reader options.
Write a couple of non-review posts.
Etc.

It's a short list, but these are things I should do anyway. I'll be updating this page over the weekend. Happy Bloggiesta!