75 Books...More or Less! discussion
Archive (2016 GR Challenge)
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JanB's 2016 Challenge
2. My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout5 stars
This is a profoundly moving novel, full of meaning and subtext. Lucy was raised in abject poverty, and endures a life of hardship. She's achingly lonely (“Lonely was the first flavor I had tasted in my life, and it was always there, hidden inside the crevices of my mouth, reminding me.”), shunned by her peers and starved for affection. She decided at a young age to become a writer: Books “brought me things,” she explains. “They made me feel less alone....and I thought...I will write and people will not feel so alone!”
Now an adult, Lucy looks back on a period of her life in the 80's when she was a young wife and mother living in NYC, and hospitalized for 9 weeks from complications after an appendectomy. Her husband makes a phone call to Lucy's estranged mother, who then visits and stays at her bedside for 5 days.
What follows is a series of conversations between Lucy and her mother, local gossip about the townspeople of Lucy's childhood. We slowly learn some of the details of her past, but other topics are danced around and never verbalized, or even fully formed as a thought. They are too painful to remember and Lucy often tells herself "it's OK", trying to convince herself that it wasn't that bad. Even more poignant is what is not said and the reader must read between the lines.
It's painful to see Lucy profess love for a mother who is surely undeserving of that love, but who also suffered as a child. Lucy is so starved for affection that she professes to "love" anyone who shows her the tiniest bit of concern or kindness...a doctor, a teacher..anyone. Also surrounding Lucy are people who encourage her and see a spark of the artist within....the small kindnesses that can make more of a difference to a person than they will ever know. Lucy's own marriage is explored as well as her relationship with her own two daughters.
Strout is one of my favorite authors and this novel didn't disappoint. Olive Kitteridge was a favorite and while both are 5 star reads for me, they are very different. Highly recommended, this would make an excellent book club selection.
3. Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin3 stars
Here’s the take-away: A. there’s value in forming habits in that it saves our energy and decision-making for other more meaningful things and B. everyone’s habit-forming tendencies are different.
It helps to know yourself before embarking on developing a new habit or NY resolution. Most people fall under one of 4 tendencies: Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel, and there are sub-categories such as lark or owl, competitive or non-competitive, etc. For instance, don’t resolve to get up every morning at 5 am to exercise if you are an owl. If you are an obliger, find an exercise partner so you’ll feel a responsibility to show up…etc. It seems rather intuitive but I think it’s always helpful to know why some habits don’t stick. It’s not due to a character flaw or a lack of self-discipline, it’s a lack of knowing what methods work for your particular personality type. If you’re not sure, the questionnaire at the end of the book is helpful in determining which category you fall under.
What I didn’t like: there’s way too many personal anecdotes and relaying of conversations with friends that felt, well, really rigid and insufferable (self-admitted by the author) to transform other’s habits whether they wanted her advice or not. There’s also much repetition and contradictions. A notable example is how the author refuses to have a scale in the house for fear her pre-teen daughter will obsess about weight but she feels it’s no problem to push her no-carb diet on everyone, including her family.
I’d like to give the benefit of the doubt to the author and assume some of the anecdotes were meant to be humorous but failed. Still, the book has some nuggets of helpful advice and I'm not sorry I read it.
Mod
4. This Is Your Life Harriet Chance! by Jonathan Evison4 stars
This clever, unique book is narrated in a "game show host" style (familiar to readers who remember the tv show "This Is Your Life"). We meet Harriet as a 78 year old widow who finds out her late husband has won an Alaskan cruise at a silent auction. Harriet decides to go on the trip with a friend but when the friend backs out at the last minute she decides to go alone.
Alone except for the ghost of Bernard, her deceased husband (not as cheesy as it sounds), and an estranged relative who makes a surprise appearance. Early on there is an explosive revelation that takes Harriet on a long look back at her life. Told in a non-linear way ("pinballing across the decades"...) we get glimpses of Harriet from birth to the present. As in any life, there are disappointments, regrets, and failures. And secrets. Big secrets. This all sounds quite dismal but in the hands of our narrator it's dealt with in a compassionate way with a large dose of humor. In fact, there were several laugh out loud moments.
The result is thoughtful and bittersweet, with a surprising depth than the whimsical cover would lead one to believe. As the heartwarming afterward suggests, the author wrote it for all the women who persevered despite what life threw at them.
JanB wrote: "2. My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout5 stars
This is a profoundly moving novel, full of meaning and subtext. Lucy was raised in abject poverty, and endures a life of hardship. She's achin..."
Nice review Jan, I want to read this! I love Elizabeth Strout.
Alecia wrote: "JanB wrote: "2. My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout5 stars
This is a profoundly moving novel, full of meaning and subtext. Lucy was raised in abject poverty, and endures a life of hardship..."
Alecia, Thanks, I do too! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did
5. The Passenger by Lisa Lutz2 stars
The book started off with a bang. A woman’s husband is found dead at the foot of the stairs and the wife goes on the run, assuming different identities along the way. But why???
And there’s the major problem. Her reasons are elusive. The reader knows there was an incident in her past but we have no clue what the reason is. There are cryptic e-mails with a guy named Ryan but all we know is there was a relationship in the past. After a while I was just annoyed. Never a good emotion when reading a book.
All is made clear in the last 20% of the book, but it was too little, too late. I need to know more to become invested in the main character. The other issue I had is this is a girl with SKILLS, yet she’s a girl in high school when she goes on the run. Sorry, but I don’t buy it. So many preposterous things happen and so many coincidences that I couldn't suspend disbelief.
This read like a TV movie of the week, ok for mindless entertainment but I need a bit more in my reading.
**thanks to NetGalley for an e-book copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
6. The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest by Dan Buettner4 stars
I may not always follow what I learn but I love reading and studying nutrition and health topics. And I have a mother who is very nearly a centenarian. So this book is of particular interest.
The author and his researcher cohorts set out to study the secrets of people who live the longest. "Blue Zones" were identified, which are areas of the world that have the greatest concentration of centenarians, people who have reached 100. This book focuses on these Blue Zone locations: Sardinia, Italy, Okinawa, Japan, Loma Linda, California, Ikaria, Greece, and Nicoya, Costa Rica.
Written in a breezy, conversational tone, and filled with stories and anecdotes from the centenarians themselves, some common threads appeared:
1. Eat simple local foods and in the words of Michael Pollan, "Eat mostly plants, not too much". Not strictly vegetarian. Drink alcohol, but, again, not too much.
2. Move a lot, but do it naturally without having to think about it (I.e. no gym rats or marathon runners in the group!). Activity is built into their daily routines.
3. Have a strong sense of purpose, a reason to get up in the morning and contribute to their families and/or communities.
4. Slow down: less stress means less inflammation that can lead to disease. There is a natural rhythm of work, rest, and play (socializing) to their days. And don't worry, be content. The author points out that none of the centenarians are grumps.
5. Participate in a supportive community with strong social connections. Along the same lines, family is a priority. Multiple generations lived together or were close by. The elderly were revered.
There's more to the book than this, there's much more depth and the words of the centarians themselves. For the most part, it's a way of life that is foreign to us in the U.S. and I loved reading about it. There are no guarantees that if you do x, y and z you will live to a healthy ripe old age. But , if nothing else, these principles can certainly add life to your years. The author ends the book with tips and ideas to put the principles in place.
Loved the review, Jan! I'm off the list already, I'm too grumpy:)
Mod
Alecia, I have more than a few areas that need work
Elyse, I was so disappointed. But see above comment....maybe I'm just grumpy ;)
7. The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert4 stars
I've surprised even myself with my rating. The book is simply too wide in focus with numerous themes for me to write a review that would do it justice, so after several false starts, I will simply say that if you disliked Eat, Pray, Love (I was not a fan), don't let it stop you from giving this book a chance.
This sweeping family saga/ historical fiction spans over 8o years, and has a protagonist that is now on my list of all-time favorite fictional characters. I absolutely loved Alma and the supporting characters were wonderful as well.
I think it would have benefitted from tighter editing and there was too much attention given to the solution to her sexual frustrations, but I still found it captivating and compelling with gorgeous writing. She even made botany interesting, a subject on which I have zero interest.
Juliet Stevenson was brilliant as the narrator and truly brought the book to life. I found myself listening every chance I got. Don't miss this one!
8. Dear Mr. You by Mary-Louise Parker3 stars
This is a unique memoir, often beautifully written and expressed. Some of the chapters brought me to tears, especially the letter to the oyster picker whose hard work made her father's last meal possible. She demonstrates a sensitivity and awareness of just how privileged she is and shows a keen sensitivity to others.
But other stories were written in a stream-of-consciousness style I found strange, difficult to understand, and/or in the category of TMI. They were brutally honest and no doubt cathartic for the author to write but not something I want to read. As a parent, I couldn't help but think of her children reading some of them when they get older.
I appreciate the beauty of the writing and the vulnerability she shares with her readers, but ultimately, this just wasn't my cup of tea.
9. The Admissions by Meg Mitchell Moore4 stars
The Hawthorne family is ready to implode due to all the pressures of college admissions, and living and maintaining an upper middle class lifestyle. I know, who wants to read a book about how tough it is for the fortunate among us, right? Plus, it's a subject that has been done before. The difference, in my opinion, is the author made every character sympathetic and relatable. That's not always an easy feat for an author but Ms. Moore pulls it off.
High-pressure jobs for both parents, balancing work and home, the stress and strain of juggling all the balls that keep a busy high-achieving family afloat...how does it all get done? And what happens when a ball is dropped? Or expectations aren't met? But the book isn't all stress and strain, there's also a large dose of warmth and humor.
The title is a play on words. The eldest daughter is trying to get into Harvard, but every character has a secret they need to admit. Each chapter is told from a different characters POV. I loved the voices of the characters and the thoughts running through their heads. The SAT words were a very clever device, as was mom Nora's e-mails to her sister. The wife's boss and his wife has a heartbreaking secret, with a sub-plot that we don't always know what goes on in someone's life and we shouldn't make assumptions. What we think we know can turn out to be so wrong.
The author made the characters come to life on the page and I was invested in the outcome. This is a fresh take on modern family life that I found easy to read and thoroughly engrossing. There were a few instances that maybe didn't quite ring true (only one college application?) but it didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying the read.
10. Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout2.5 stars
I've read every book Strout has published and especially enjoyed Olive Kitteridge and her newest, My Name is Lucy Barton. In this book, Strout writes beautifully, as always, but I didn't care for the plot or the pacing. The story bogged down in the middle with the minutia and meaningless conversations of small-town life. Pages and pages of it.
The graphic sexual details of the relationship between the teacher and Amy were, in my opinion, gratuitous and unnecessary for the story. I wasn't satisfied with the resolution to this man's crimes, but maybe that was indicative of the times.
I did enjoy the exploration of mother-daughter and female co-worker relationships. She captures the complexities of relationships, if a bit stereotypically. Thankfully, it's not a mother-daughter relationship I can relate to since the one I have with my own daughter is very close and mutually supportive. This mother is a strange one for sure.
The overriding theme that everybody has a story to tell behind the facade they present to the world, and secrets can damage relationships, are good ones but it took until the last 1/4 of the book for the payoff. Even then, I found the ending unrealistic and unsatisfying. The lack of a likable or sympathetic character made me not really care what happened to any of them.
I nearly abandoned the book and while I'm glad I read it to complete my reading of Strout's back list I can't really recommend it.
11. You (You # 1) by Caroline Kepnes3.5 stars
Warning: if you find bad language and intimate sexual details offensive this isn't the book for you. But if you liked the TV show Dexter then imagine Dexter with a potty mouth and obsessed with sex - and you have Joe. The reader spends the entire book inside of Joe's head and listens to every sick, twisted, and obsessive thought that he has. Yet, sometimes he's strangely likable. And snarkily funny. He's a reader who works in a book store and I enjoyed his references to books and Stephen King (who gave the book an enthusiastic endorsement on Twitter). The story is also a cautionary tale about your presence on social media.
My cursor was wavering between 3 or 4 stars and I'm almost embarrassed to admit I actually enjoyed this book. If half stars were given I'd give it 3.5. I can’t wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone because of the language and eroticism – but it’s strangely compelling. I found myself nodding in agreement or chuckling with his observations on pop culture and then a bit horrified that I found this sicko funny or spot on. The author deserves kudos for taking the reader down that path.
I understand a Showtime series or movie is in the works and this is the first book of a series. The narrator of the audio book was excellent and yes, I'll definitely be reading the next installment.
Mod
3.5 stars
Warning: if you find bad language and intimate sexual details offensive this isn't the book for you. But if you liked the TV show Dexter then imagine..."
Sounds pretty interesting and I think it's already in my TBR!
Elyse, I'll be very interested in your take on it!
12. The Light of the World by Elizabeth Alexander3.5 stars
3.5 stars
A beautiful expression of love, family, loss and grief. This series of essays is written in poetic prose and highlights their life together from their first meeting to her husband's untimely sudden death at age 50. Writing this book was no doubt healing and cathartic for the author and both she and her late husband seem like lovely, interesting people.
Mod
Andrea, Olive Kitteridge is one of my all-time favorite novels so IMO if either call to you listen to that one first
13. Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by John Kraukauer5 stars
It’s a chilling statistic that most rapes do not get reported. This book follows 3 cases of date (or acquaintance) rape on a college campus. Unfortunately, Missoula is no better or worse than any other college campus.
I liked how the book focused on the victim – how she feels, how she acts both during and after the rape (it’s often not what you would expect), what she must endure after reporting the rape, the emotional aftermath, and how the justice system deals with cases such as these.
It is sometimes a difficult read given the subject matter. Part of the book recounts the courtroom scenes so there's necessary repetition of the harsh facts. It gets 5 stars from me because it's a strong and powerful book that should be read by everyone.
14. The Longest Night by Andria Williams4 stars
Set in the late 50s/early 60s, the author takes a look at the first fatal nuclear accident in the U.S. in Idaho Falls. But this is far from a dry accounting of the facts surrounding the accident. Instead, the author builds a fictional story around the people involved.
Part suspense/thriller and part domestic drama, we get a peek into the lives of the military men and their families who were stationed at the base. Most of the scenes involve Paul, a rather reserved type, and his free spirit wife, Nat. Paul is dealing with mounting worries about the reactor, his inept and dangerous boss, and a wife who is increasingly unhappy. Among the cast of characters are Mitch, the aforementioned boss, and his wife, Jeannie, the Queen Bee ‘mean girl’ of the group. Her scenes were among the most fun to read. A great character!
The time period was perfectly rendered down to the smallest of details. The harsh winters and barren landscape add to the wives’ feelings of loneliness and isolation. Add in the mounting suspense of what’s happening at the reactor site, and this makes for a tense, addictive read.
15. Gratitude by Oliver Sacks5 stars
This is a short collection of 4 essays, one written before his terminal diagnosis, and 3 written after. Not surprisingly, given the title, his prevailing attitude was one of gratitude. This quote sums it up:
"I cannot pretend I am without fear, But my predominant feeling is one of gratitude. I have loved and been loved; I have been given much and I have given something in return; I have read and traveled and thought and written. I have had an intercourse with the world, the special intercourse of writers and readers. Above all, I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal, on this beautiful planet, and that in itself has been an enormous privilege and adventure."
Dr. Sacks doesn't focus on the particulars of his illness or his ordeal, but instead on the peace and gratitude he had and what it means to live a meaningful life. Beautifully said and elegantly written, what a wonderful gift he has left behind. Instead of being unbearably sad, the prevailing tone of the book was uplifting.
16. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi3 stars
I won't detail all the ways I didn't end up loving this book, as it feels wrong to speak ill of the dead, but I will say it's a tragic story. I loved the epilogue by the author's wife Lucy.
I've spent the last few weeks helping a daughter move and helping out my son and daughter-in-law with their new baby (which was heaven) so I haven't been reading much. I'm sorry that I wasted my precious little reading time on THIS book17. Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
1 star
1 star seems harsh but according to goodreads one star = "did not like it" so I'm sticking with it. I love a good book featuring dysfunctional characters, but I had to slog through this one. The first 60% was mind-numbingly boring. From reviews I expected it to be boring, but it was worse than I anticipated. The last 40% was slightly better but I was expecting a big twist or revelation, and again, I was disappointed.
I found the entire book over-written and pretentious, with an abundance of metaphors that had me shaking my head and rolling my eyes. The characters didn't feel real to me and I felt no emotional connection to anyone. The sex scenes were gratuitous and boring. The tedious plays did nothing to enlighten the reader and only interrupted the story. I finished the book because it was a book club selection but I wish I had followed my instincts and given up on it.
I'm at a loss to explain why it garnered such glowing reviews in the media.
Mod
Oh man, that's so disappointing!!
18. Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes4 stars
Joe is back! This time I'm just accepting the fact that I love a sociopath. It's been a long while since I've read a series that was this much fun. Kudos to Ms Kepnes who has the skill to make a sociopath so likable and funny!
The story picks up where You left off, with Joe meeting Amy in the bookstore. Amy is the perfect girlfriend, until things don't go quite as expected. From there, Joe leaves NYC and heads to California on a mission. (I'm deliberately being vague so as to not ruin the story).
Just as in You, we spend the entire book inside Joe's head, and we're privy to his every thought. He still has a wicked sense of humor and this time he turns his scathing wit on California and celebrity culture. There's plenty of quirky California-type characters that Joe meets along the way, and he has lots to say (think) about all of it.
This one doesn't have quite the charm of the first book, You, but it's still a worthy follow-up to the first book in the series. If you decide to give the books a try be aware there's strong language and sexual content.
The narrator of the audiobooks, Santino Fontana, is fabulous and I highly recommend listening to these over reading them.
19. The Grownup by Gillian Flynn4 stars
It almost feels like cheating to list this as a "book"....it's a well-written, fast-paced, entertaining short story, with plenty of twists and a few chuckles along the way.
Perhaps it should have been published as a collection of short stories, and not as a stand-alone. It's so short I wouldn't recommend buying it. I borrowed mine from my library's Overdrive system.
Mod
Andrea, I figure it makes up for the few chunksters I read. It all evens out
20. The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens4 stars
I enjoyed this mystery with engaging characters and an interesting plot. There were a few twists along the way and while the ending was a little too pat and I had to suspend disbelief a few times, I still enjoyed Joe, his autistic brother and Lila so much I added a star. Joe is a fantastic character and the narrator of the audio book was excellent.
As a writing assignment for class, Joe visits a nursing home and takes on the task of interviewing Carl, a Vietnam vet who was imprisoned for 30 years for the rape and murder of a young girl. Suffering from terminal cancer, Carl resides in a nursing home to live out his final days. As Joe learns Carl's story he begins to doubt his guilt and sets out to clear his name. From there, the story takes off with enough twists in the story to keep me interested.
21. Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson4 stars
As with all of Erik Larson's books, this one is well-researched and takes the facts and blends them with personal stories. Fans of the author will find much to enjoy.
22. Eating Clean: The 21-Day Plan to Detox, Fight Inflammation, and Reset Your Body by Amie Valpone4 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Amie's story of how she healed from multiple health problems through functional medicine and clean eating. The recipes sound delicious, and are accompanied with beautiful color photographs. I borrowed this from the library but placed an order for the book today. I'll definitely be making many of the recipes.
23. The Summer Before The War by Helen Simonson2 stars
I hate to be one more voice saying this book doesn't live up to the author's first book, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, but it doesn't. If you like slow novels with an abundance of descriptive writing then this is the book for you. It has a Jane Austen feel about it, with the requisite strong-willed, intelligent female character and a small English village setting. Much attention is given to social standing, manners and propriety, much of it delivered with subtle wit.
There was probably a good story buried among the 500 pages and tighter editing would have let the writing and story shine. The title is misleading, there are too many characters, too many subplots, and the ending just a bit too pat and predictable. But my main complaint is it was so slow, filled with pages and pages of mundane events and conversations. I struggled to finish it and by the end I was skimming.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
24. What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan2 stars
This wasn't a bad book but for a thriller it was too slow with no surprises or tension. The story alternates between the mother's POV, the "emotional part" (ad nauseam) vs the police investigation/media/blog POV. The problem lies in that it was all tiresome. These can be interesting plot devices but in this case it was all too slow to be gripping.
I love psychological thrillers and dysfunctional family dramas but this one was simply too slow to keep my interest. There was no tension or suspense. It went on forever...so many pages and pages with nothing interesting happening.
25. Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld2 stars
In this modern re-telling of Pride & Prejudice the Bennett sisters are classless, promiscuous, and foul-mouthed. Caricatures and stereotypes abound. Missing is the wit, snappy dialogue, and subtle social satire that make Jane Austen's books classics.
Many have enjoyed this book but it wasn't for me and I gave up after 75%. Based on the GR rating descriptions I should give it 1 star but I guess I'm not grumpy today.
Mod
2 stars
In this modern re-telling of Pride & Prejudice the Bennett sisters are classless, promiscuous, and foul-mouthed. Caricatures and stereotypes abound. Missi..."
Ooooh ick. :/
Thank you for sparing me from this one! The author started out so strong (I loved her books Prep, and American Wife). But lately it appears she is missing the mark. Too bad.
Alecia, no one is more surprised than me. If I read this as comedy/ satire I might have enjoyed it more, but, sadly, I don't think it was written with that intention. Ugh
26. What Was Mine by Helen Klein Ross4 stars
This book is sure to spark lively discussions in book clubs. So many topics to discuss: motherhood, forgiveness, coping strategies, forgiveness, justice....the list goes on. I certainly felt a need to talk about it with someone when I finished.
When Lucy abducts the baby from an IKEA shopping cart it was not a premeditated action. She's a smart, successful business woman whose marriage fell apart when they were unable to conceive. When she sees the unattended baby in the cart she was horrified and her first instinct was to protect the child. From there, things progressed rapidly to a point of no return. Watching how she rationalized her bad choices was fascinating. Lucy ends up keeping the baby, renames her Mia, and raises her as her own - until it all implodes 21 years later.
The story is told from several perspectives: Lucy, the kidnapper, Marilyn, the birth mother, and Mia, the abducted baby. There are also several short chapters from Lucy’s sister, Mia’s nanny, the detective and Mia's father. The current trend of multiple POV stories can be tiresome and gimmicky, but in this case it was essential to the story. The short-term and long-term effects of a child abduction on everyone are explored, as are the coping mechanisms used by the different characters. In particular, Marilyn's transformation was interesting.
It made me think and brought up more questions than answers. As a mom and a grandmother of a nearly 3 mo old granddaughter, it was easy to personalize the issues raised.
I loved that the author didn't present the issues as totally black & white (the older I get the more I appreciate this) and the ending wasn't neatly tied in a bow - much like life. Nothing can justify the abduction of a child but the aftermath was thought-provoking. Mia's dilemma was especially compelling.
If I have a complaint it's that the first half was a tad slow but the set up is necessary and the story as a whole is a great read.
27. Miller's Valley by Anna Quindlen4.5 stars
4.5 stars
Profoundly moving and beautifully told, this is a quiet story of small town life that spans 5 decades. The overriding themes are family and home, told from the POV of Mimi Miller, who is 11 years old when the story opens and is in her 60s at the novel’s end.
Quindlen is a master of writing about ordinary lives in an extraordinary way. The prose is beautiful and she can certainly turn a phrase. I found myself highlighting phrases just for the truths so eloquently expressed.
The story builds slowly but events happen quickly in the second half. I turned the last page of this short, moving novel with tears in my eyes.
** thanks to NetGalley/Random House for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
Mod
Elyse, I just added Flight Patterns to my tbr list. It looks like a good summer read! Thanks
28. The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney3 stars
4 siblings find their lives upturned when an expected inheritance ("the nest") is nearly gone after their mother uses the money to pay out a settlement when one of the siblings is in an accident. It's an interesting concept for a book as satire/social commentary. I love a good dysfunctional family story so I went into this book fully expecting to love it, but I was disappointed. The blurb mentions that it's warm and funny but I didn't find it to be either.
The siblings are all, as expected, shallow, self-absorbed, and unlikable. I don't need to like the characters in a book but I do need to understand them or find something about them that is relatable or sympathetic. Besides the 4 siblings, there are multiple story lines and a large cast of secondary characters. There's so much going on that I never felt invested in any of it. I think the story would have benefitted by narrowing the focus and delving deeper into fewer characters. I also didn't feel Stephanie, the twins, or the widower with the statue added anything worthwhile to the story. They seemed to exist simply to further an agenda and felt out of place.
But the book has been getting a ton of buzz and I'm sure it will eventually be in movie theaters.
29. Living Well, Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life3 stars
I picked this up to pre-read for a young 20-something who is just starting out in life. My impressions are mixed. It's heavily Christian-based, which is fine because the back cover clearly states she uses biblical truths in her writings.
The author has (had? but still struggles with) a self-professed shopping addiction that many young people would find hard to relate to.
However, I still think the book has value, especially for young people, to counteract our consumer-driven society.
3 stars
Richard Chapman, a well-heeled investment banker who lives in the suburbs with his teacher wife and young daughter, agrees to host his irresponsible younger brother’s bachelor party at his home, a party that involves entertainment by hired strippers. This bad idea turns into a nightmare when the party turns into a night of debauchery and drunkenness, and the strippers murder their Russian bodyguards and go on the run. This all happens in the first few pages. From here the story is told from multiple viewpoints: the Chapmans, which includes Richard, his wife Kristen and his daughter Melisa, as well as one of the strippers, Alexandra.
Richard’s life is now in shambles, both professionally and personally, and it’s revealed the girls aren’t strippers but sex slaves who are fleeing their captors. The author did his research on the sex trafficking trade and Alexandra’s story is a heartbreaking one. The girls are being hunted by both the police and the Russian mob, so there’s an element of a thriller as well.
Bohjalian sheds light on the seemingly victimless “entertainment” of strippers….how many men consider that these girls may not be at their job willingly? And how many “regular” guys, the guy next door with a wife and family, see this as harmless entertainment? Why isn't more being done about sex trafficking? All compelling questions, but I felt drawn out of the story every time Alexandra’s story was told. The other issue is I couldn’t buy the premise of Richard or his wife agreeing to host a party with strippers. The wife was OK with staying at her mom’s for the night with her daughter and letting strippers come to her home? I realize the author’s intent, but it needed to be believable for me to invest emotion into the telling of the story. It's not that I don't believe it happens, I just didn't believe THIS family would agree to it. I also think the story suffers from too many issues, the result being none of them are delved into deeply.
The book had lighter feel than I would expect given the subject matter.
Still, if you can get past the premise, it's a fast entertaining read that not only explores the sex trafficking trade but also explores how the family deals with the aftermath.
**thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review