Her Fearful Symmetry

I received a copy of Audrey Niffenegger's Her Fearful Symmetry for Christmas from my cousin Miranda. I've wanted Niffenegger's second novel since I found out about its release. I had gotten it from the library immediately, gobbled it up and loved it, but for some reason didn't admit I had read it when I received the book last month, afraid she wouldn't understand how much I loved the gift if I said I'd already read it. (Silly, I know.)

I reread the novel a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed it all over again. (It's amazing how much of a book you can forget after a few years and how the reading experience can be so similar to the first time around.) The novel is about two sets of twins: Elspeth and Edie, and Edie's twin daughters- Julia and Valentina. After Elspeth dies, her nieces inherit her estate with the provision that they live in her flat for one year before deciding to sell it. And so Julia and Valentina head off to London, where life begins to get complicated for them. It's a story about identity, love, family, and loyalties--to ourselves and to our loved ones. I know the novel had received poor reviews, but after reading it twice now, I can't for the life of me figure out why. Perhaps because it is different from her first novel that was so well received? I'm not sure, but sometimes the critics are just plain wrong.

The Girls' Guide To Hunting and Fishing

I read Melissa Bank's The Wonder Spot a couple years ago and enjoyed it, so I picked up her first book, The Girls' Guide To Hunting and Fishing. Bank did not disappoint. I was in a bit of a reading slump--one of those times when everything you pick up seems bland and nothing grabs you. And though this book wasn't exceptionally exciting or interesting, I was hooked by the first page as I loved the character's voice. Thankfully that character, Jane Rosenal, is carried throughout the seven interconnected stories so the reader can follow her through her life as she navigates her way through relationships. Bank writes with humor and poignancy, with that ability to write about something that makes you shake your head even though you did or thought the same thing yourself before. I loved this book and am looking forward to when she comes out with another book, be it a novel or short story collection, either will suffice.

Autobiography of a Face

A few years ago I read Ann Patchett's memoir Truth and Beauty, about her friendship with writer Lucy Grealy. Patchett mentions that Grealy wrote a beautiful book called Autobiography of a Face. I filed the title in the back of my mind, in that space I throw names of authors and books I want to read someday to retrieve from later at the library or used book sales. I found a copy of Grealy's memoir for 20 cents and grabbed it.

Lucy Grealy, who died in 2002, was a beautiful writer and her story is one that stays with you. It's been weeks since I read it [I'm a bit behind on this blog] yet I still remember it in startling detail.When Grealy was nine years old she was diagnosed with cancer causing her to get part of her jaw removed. It's a sad and inspiring story of how Grealy coped with it all--the cruelty of her classmates, the multiple surgeries and pain she endured over the years, the hunger to fit in, and the challenge of dismissing vanity in a culture that puts so much emphasis on appearances. It is the kind of book that makes you look at life and the world a little differently, definitely a worthwhile read.

Sin in the Second City

My mom recommended Karen Abbott's Sin in the Second City: Madams, Ministers, Playboys, and the Battle for America's Soul several times until I finally got around to reading it. Abbott's heavily researched nonfiction book is said to read like a novel, a statement with which I would only partially agree. The book chronicles the rise and fall of the Everleigh Club, the most famous brothel in American history. The club was run by two sisters, Minna and Ada Everleigh, who treated their girls extremely well. The club's prestige was envied by a madam of another brothel in the district and soon came under scrutiny by reformers and ministers concerned with the nation's sexual culture. One of the aspects I found most interesting was the disappearance of young women and the tales of "white slavery" or human trafficking before it had a name. It's an fascinating book, one I rather enjoyed though it took me a long time to finish it. To me, the book wasn't one to devour, but something I slowly nibbled on.

When It Happens to You

I didn't pick up When It Happens to You because it was written by someone famous. Molly Ringwald was on NPR talking about its publication and I was intrigued by her description of the novel. My expectations were low after reading Steve Martin's novel as I half-wondered if a famous name sells books regardless of the merit of the writing. I decided to give it a chance, but not much of one. And yet, Ringwald pulled me in. The book is very well written, the characters compelling, the concept of the novel interesting. I gobbled the book up, delighted by the book's format. When It Happens To You is a series of short stories that together comprise a novel, which I typically enjoy. This novel was no exception. I loved how the complex relationship of Greta and Phillip was explored by pulling it away from where we first learn about it, allowing the reader to see it from different angles. One of my favorites though was about a mother whose young son insists he is a girl and the mother's struggle to determine what is best to do in this situation. The book was equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, one that I would read again.

The Buddha in the Attic

A while back my mom lent me Julie Otsuka's novel The Buddha in the Attic. She had stumbled upon it and, thinking that it sounded good, immediately bought and read it. She gave it to me, saying that it was really good and a fast read. I was especially intrigued when I saw it had won the PEN/ Faulkner award. And yet it took me forever to actually pick it up, but when I finally did, I was captivated. The story of a group of young women who are brought to Japan as "picture brides" is told in first person plural, a technique that can be a slippery slope, but Otsuka skillfully navigates the narrative voice. Her writing is beautiful and she makes the reader feel for these women, regardless of the fact that their stories blend together. Because the novel is so beautiful (yet short) I'm going to go ahead and recommend it as I doubt anyone could read it and regret having done so.

An Object of Beauty

I had heard Steve Martin was actually a pretty decent novelist a while ago, I don't remember where. Then I kept seeing his most recent novel, An Object of Beauty. One of the places I saw it was on my brother's girlfriend's e-reader this past summer and I asked what she thought of it. She said she liked it so I put it on my ever-growing list of books to read. My mom picked up a used copy a month ago (with my urging) and I finally got around to checking it out.

It's a hard book to review because I more or less hated it the entire time I read it. I didn't feel anything for the main character, Lacey Yeager, a driven art dealer. The plot line seemed more or less nonexistent, which doesn't bother me so long as I care about (or at least am interested in) the characters--and in this case, I didn't. Yet I pressed on due to the recommendation and I will say I liked how it ended, enough that I was satisfied that I had read the book. But I can't offer much of a recommendation as the book does a poor job of captivating the reader, unless the reader is someone extremely interested in the New York art scene. I saw the book is being turned into a movie, which is surprising as not too much happens in the book. (Though it is being produced by none other than the author himself, so that might be how that happened.) I suppose though that it might be easier to make the story into a two hour movie than a 300 page book and I'm guessing the movie version will be better.