Wednesday, September 21, 2011

This Beautiful Life

This Beautiful Life  By Helen Schulman   Jake Bergamot is an  15 yr old boy in NYC. He receives an inappropriate email from a young girl begging for his attention. He forwards it to a friend, and so on and so on. These boys that forward the email are removed from school, the word lawsuit, expulsion and crime are on the lips of everyone involved. The parents are distraught. This situation puts an enormous stress on Jakes parents, Richard and Lizzie, who are in an already precarious marriage and new location due to Richards recent job change. The questions of loyalty, friendship, sexuality, curiosity and parenting skills are all addressed in this come of age novel. The times of cell phones, instant access, constant communication and minimal parent supervision have taken over the world and all the families in it. Interesting story. Captivating writing. A bit of a rush to closure at the end leaves the reader hanging or wanting more. A read that should not be missed.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

A Year and Six Seconds

A Year and Six Seconds  By Isabel Gillies  A memoir written by author/actress/mother/daughter/friend Isabel Gillies. Ms. Gillies is everywoman. She is honest, funny, witty, clever, resourceful and smart. She shares her story as a continuation from her excellent first memoir Happens Everyday, which detailed her idyllic life in Ohio and her heartbreaking and all too commonplace divorce from her husband a short time later. Every woman can find some aspect of this story to relate to, whether its divorce or simply having a similar relationship with your own mother. Its a quick, smile to yourself, a tear in your eye, one night read. Enjoy. Learn Something. And note to self: Read Happens Everyday first.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Sugar in My Bowl

Sugar in My Bowl   By Erica Jong    Collection of essays/short stories written by excellent, top quality women writers. These women range in age by many decades. They write about their sexual experiences that were most meaningful or memorable to them for one reason or another. Some women reach back to their first time, while others regard their spouses, exes, children and parents influence. Each story was like a secret peek inside a womans diary. Easy and enjoyable, just as it should be.

Monday, September 5, 2011

The American Heiress

The American Heiress  By Daisy Goodwin   Cora Cash is the wealthiest debutant in America. It is the late 1800's and every wealthy family in America has but one dream for their daughters, and that is the one thing money cannot exactly "buy", a title. Cora is a smart, outspoken, beautiful girl of 19. Her mother's dream is to have Cora marry an English aristocrat, which is exactly what Cora does.  Duchess Cora quickly learns how very different English society and social circles work. She learns that she cannot trust  her closest friends and even her husband has mountains of secrets that all of London seems to be whispering. Cora has to make hard choices. She married for love and dreams and is still young enough and rich enough to believe in them. This book is a light, airy read that takes the reader on a short enjoyable journey through another time.