Sh*t My Dad Says

When I was driving across the country this summer, I tried to find audiobooks that would make me laugh and keep me awake. I took a chance on this book because I had heard some of Halpern’s one liners and they made me giggle. After reading the back, it didn’t sound like there was much to this book but I hoped that at least it would keep a smile on my face. Fortunately, Halpern far surpassed my expectations!

As I am sure everyone knows by now, the book is based on Halpern’s tweets regarding his father. He reached over a million followers on Twitter and decided to take his cyper writing to the published page. In addition to his father’s quips, Justin also tells about how he found himself living in his parents’ house at the age of 28. Though Justin’s father is gruff, he clearly has great love for his son.

What is so refreshing about this memoir is that it’s not your typical memoir. Recently, memoirs have been very “in” but typically focus on drug addicted, alcoholic, quasi-celebrities who turn their lives around and make good. Halpern’s is a breath of fresh air!

-DLP

Red Garden

Alice Hoffman and I have a bit of a hot and cold relationship. I absolutely adored her novel “The Blackbird House” and hold it as one of my favorite books. However, I find some of her other works to be less than fantastic. Still, I stand in line whenever one of her books comes out so I can get my hands on a copy. That’s why I pre-ordered “The Red Garden” and when I heard that it was similar to “The Blackbird House” I counted down the days until its release. I have to say that I was letdown a bit as it was not as good as “The Blackbird House” but it certainly surpassed some of her other works.

The town of Blackwell is located in western Massachusetts tucked into the Berkshire mountains. The novel follows the history of the town from its first inhabitants in 1750 until the present. The reader watches as the female founder struggles against the brutal weather to establish a homestead. You see years later how her descendants fought in the Civil War, WWII, and eventually in Vietnam. Many of the families from the original settlement are still in town over two hundred years later and have now intermarried with other founding families. Of course there are new people who come into the town and older members pass on, but the structure of the sleepy township has stood the test of time.

If you’re looking for a novel with several main characters, a firm plot, and a definitive ending…then you should pass on this. However, if you’re a fan of “Our Town” or novels about community…then you just have a new favorite read. Similar to “The Blackbird House”, which follows one house over two hundred years, “The Red Garden” details the growth of a town and its development. Throughout the years the reader meets Johnny Appleseed, experiences the death of a young girl, connects with gypsies along a riverbank, feels the sadness of outcasts, the courage of strong women, and the resilience of a community and way of life.

What puts this novel behind my favorite work of hers, are some of the individual stories. While most of them were fascinating, it seemed that many (too many in my opinion) centered around a strong woman who finds love in an unsuspected place and triumphs over her ghosts and the narrow-minded town. As a strong woman, of course I enjoy reading stories about woman like myself, yet it got a bit overdone when this is the plot of almost every story. Additionally, I thought that the novel was supposed to show the development of the community but stories that focused on the uppity and cliquey residents of Blackwell seemed to prove that the town didn’t actually change of time. This was disappointing for it was like reading an entire book and finding that the main character was exactly the same at the conclusion as s/he was in the beginning. Would I recommend this book, yes, but not as much as her previous novel.

-DLP

Book Review: Nobodies Album

I love to buy books but oftentimes I finish a novel and no longer feel the need to keep it on my shelf. There are only so many books that I want to reread and all of the others get passed along. “Nobodies Album” isn’t going anywhere! It is staking great realty on my shelves. While I can’t say it’s fantastic or a classic representative of the time, I can say that it’s narrative style is beyond intriguing. The storyline seems hackneyed at points and thrown together at others, but it’s integration into the novel as a whole is fascinating. You owe it to yourself to read this book, even if you don’t like it...it’s worth a reading.

Olivia Frost is a successful writer living in an affluent Boston suburb. For her most recent book, she has decided to rewrite all of the endings from her previous novels. While her editor is less than thrilled with this idea, Olivia believes that her reinterpretation of her body of work will be interesting to her readers and therapeutic for herself. While delivering the manuscript to her editor, she hears on the news that her rockstar son has been accused of murdering his own girlfriend. Olivia is sent into shock and decides to head out to San Francisco to try to help her estranged son during this tough time.

The novel alternates between Olivia’s present relationship with her son and the endings that she has changed in her novels. Between each traditional chapter, is a “final chapter” of each of her novels. These excerpts are like short stories and fantastic in their own right but are also very telling about the characters in the larger novel. In the hands of another author, this narrative style could have ruined the entire book. Fortunately, you are in very skilled hands and the quirky style only adds to the beauty of the novel. Do yourself a favor, pick up this book. And when you’re done...grab another by her.

-DLP

Ghosts of Nantucket: 'Tis the Season to be Scary

October is my favorite month. I love apple picking, the chill in the air...oh, and scary stories!! I am always on the hunt for a good spooky tale but too often I get stuck with gory books or stories that fall flat. When I saw this book at my local library, I thought that I would take a shot (even if the book is older than I am!). I am SO glad that I picked up this book because it was the perfect combination of scary, eerie, and chilling. Better yet, there are no dead bodies or bloody corpses.

The author has compiled a beautiful collection of stories that was born out of an oral history project. Perhaps this is the reason why the different tales come together so well, because she is not writing for the sheer scream factor. Additionally, she allows the people to speak for themselves without ever making them sound crazy or delusional. Due to this, the book is spine-chilling and perfect for the season!!

-DLP

Book Review: Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

There is little I can add to the cacophony of reviews that are already out there. Still, I have to gush about how wonderful this book is. I am typically a fiction reader but often  dip into nonfiction as long as it proves to be interesting and insightful. This seemed like it would be right up my alley, but I shied away from it because there seemed to be so much hype surrounding it. I dislike hype, on principal and try to stay away from most bestseller lists. Actually, I picked this book by default because the audiobook was in my partner’s car. Halfway through the first disc, I was completely enthralled. I even crossed state lines to go to a bookstore and buy a paperback copy so I could read it 24/7. After I finished it, I wanted to so back and read it all over again!

Unless you live under a rock, you have probably heard about this book. Still, I’ll give you a brief overview just in case you’ve been trapped in a time capsule. Henrietta Lacks was an African-American woman who lived in Maryland when she felt a hard ball on her cervix. Having no health insurance and little money, she went to Johns Hopkins where they removed her tumor and took some of her cells for future testing. However, the doctors did this without anyone’s knowledge or approval. Though Henrietta eventually died from this cancer, her cells became the first immortal cells. Since her death, they’ve been used in thousands of experiments in numerous field. Though people have made millions on Henrietta’s cells, her family saw none of the money and still has no health insurance.

What makes this book so fantastic is that the author takes a holistic approach to her writing. She doesn’t simply focus on the science of the cells but spends an equal amount of time on Henrietta’s family and their history. This adds an emotional edge that left me crying at times, which a book strictly on cells would never do (unless I was crying with boredom). The most exceptional aspect of the book is how well researched it is. Clearly, Henrietta’s family has been misrepresented since the 1950s. Fortunately, the author took years to get to know the family, understand their plight, and write objectively. I could ramble on for pages and pages but I will end by saying this: “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” is by far one of the best books I have read in my entire life (and I read a lot).

-DLP

Book Review: The Funny Thing Is

...that this book isn’t funny. I love Ellen (who doesn’t?!). I think that she’s funny, insightful, and incredibly wise. While I enjoy watching her show, I also loved her before she became the dancing, housewife heartthrob. It is for this reason that I picked up her book. More specifically, I got a copy of her audiobook so that I could listen to her read her book to me. I thought it would be like a private stand-up show with Ellen in my car. Sadly, it missed the most important ingredient...laughter.
In this book, Ellen has compiled a bunch of random musing that are neither funny nor insightful. For example, she tells of a brunch she has with various entertainment figured ranging from Eminem to Paula Abdul. I thought that there might be some chuckles, but mostly I was left feeling like “huh?”. I suppose I should have known better because the entire introduction was about how she didn’t want to write a book and how hard it was. If it was written by anyone else, I would have thought that they did if for the money.

Sometimes, I feel as if Ellen is holding back some of her humor because she is thought of as being “G” or “PG” rated. This was one of the reasons I picked up her book because I thought that she would write some “PG-13” or maybe possibly some “R” rated humor. Sadly, this was as funny and racy as a TV show on Nick Jr. I don’t like crude or overtly sexual humor, but I was hoping for at least some social commentary. Last month, her new book came out and I have to say that it looks very similar to this oldie. Sadly, I would have to tell you to pass on this one.

-DLP

Book Review: Official Book Club Selection

Let me say it upfront, I am very “meh” about Kathy Griffin. Most times I find her to be annoying and think that her schticks are obnoxious bordering on rude. Still, she can get a chuckle out of me even if I don’t want her to. I basically got this book because of my partner who is a bit more of a Kathy fan than I am. However, once we started listening to it together, I just couldn’t stop! As far as celebrity tell-all, humor memoirs, go...this is the best of the bunch!!

You know Kathy, she’s the annoying red head who did too much plastic surgery, stormed out of the Emmy’s, and brought Bristol Palin’s baby daddy to a red carpet event. She can be annoying times ten but what this memoir shows is the softer side of Griffin; the woman who took two gay men who were kicked out of the military because of DADT to a red carpet event. However, this is not a sappy memoir where you find out that the wicked witch of the west has a heart. No. This is a truthful history of Kathy that is narrated by herself and she does what few people (especially celebrities) do...she writes about her flaws.

She brings the reader back to her younger years when she worked various jobs, none of which were on comedy, and took years to barely get noticed. She describes her rise to almost fame and the people who helped her get there. But she also talks about her closest friend who committed suicide, her severely troubled brother, and her ill fated marriage. She lays bare the truth about her plastic surgery, speaks of her regrets, and makes the reader chuckle while feeling her pain. This memoir is incredibly well down in the way that few memoirs are these days. Equal parts humor and heart-wrenching, Griffin does not disappoint. Even if you’re not a fan, try this book...it may change the way you think.

-DLP

Book Review: Domestic Violets

When I finished this book, I realized that I had been waiting for it for over five years without even knowing. Norman is able to create the perfect recipe that includes laughs, tears, heartache, and forgiveness. I rarely say this, but this novel has it all! Therefore, I recommend it to all.

Tom is tired of his work as a copywriter and can see his marriage slipping away from him but he is helpless to do anything. When his father wins the Pulitzer Prize, Tom’s problems grow exponentially. Curtis Violet is the ultimate author; his works are taught in universities across the country and his reputation as a writer is only dwarfed by his reputation as a philanderer and heavy drinker. When Curtis decides to move in with Tom, Tom is confronted with his own inadequacies as a writer and husband. Yet the economy is on the brink and the crash might finally push Tom to chase after his dreams…or it could push him off of a rooftop.

This may be Norman’s first novel, but he is an expert when it comes to sarcasm and dark humor. Reviewers have compared him to Jonathon Tropper but Norman’s skill far surpasses that of Tropper’s. I typically enjoy dark stories with tragic characters and harsh endings. In between such heavy reading, I like to grab a book that will make me chuckle but doesn’t need me to bring much to the table. “Domestic Violets” is able to be this book while also having great depth, insight into characters and society, and weaving a beautiful family story into a witty office satire. I have no problem recommending this book to both men and women, which is nearly impossible to find! It is timely in subject matter but I believe will still be powerful in years to come. In many ways, it reminds me of the great Christopher Buckley and his classic “Thank You For Smoking”. This is a must read not just for 2011 but for this entire generation. Do yourself a favor, read it now before the rest of the country beats you too it.

-DLP

Book Review: The Lantern

When I heard that there was a book coming out that was comparable to “Rebecca” I just knew that I had to get my hands on it! I knew I was bias going into it but I still am not sure if I was for or against the book. Certainly, it has some of the gothic appeal and charm of the great classics but it does fall short. Of course, this did not come as a surprise to me as it is hard to top the best in gothic literature. Still, this novel is not without its merits and if you’re hankering for some good old fashioned gothic but have re-read the classics too many times...then this is your book!

Eve is caught off guard when she falls for Dom, a man that she meets in a maze near Lake Geneva. The couple have a whirlwind romance which eventually leaves them on the doorstep of Les Genevriers, a slightly dilapidated estate with great atmosphere and a troubled history. Eve falls in love with the property but as she becomes more and more involved with its history, Dom becomes more distant and moody. Eve knows that Dom was married before but he refuses to share any information with her regarding that part of his life. Of course this pushes Eve to snoop into his past, even if it means placing her relationship with Dom in danger.

Alternating with chapters by Eve, are those written by Benedicte who was a previous owner of Les Genevriers. Benedicte, now elderly, is looking back on her troubled life plagued by the ghosts of her blind sister and violent brother. While the reader is able to see where Benedicte’s story is going, she is blind to its own development. For some readers, this was annoying and they felt that the mystery was predicable. However, I didn’t view this book as a mystery. Instead I thought it to be an atmosphere piece. While I knew more about Benedicte’s past than she did, it made me hurt for her and yearn to hear her side of the story.

Some readers were let down by this book and thought it not equal to “Rebecca”, lacking in mystery, and overall predictable. I agree with each of these assessments. However, I do not believe that these were in any way detrimental to the story. This novel is a stand alone that, while boasting similarities to the great gothic classics, holds its own story and purpose. Additionally, this book is not written as a mystery or thriller any more than “Jane Eyre” or “Wurthering Heights” was. The intrigue is used to develop the atmosphere, not the “who-done-it”. The predictably of the plot is to each their own. I had figured out elements of the ending within the first hundred pages though my true joy in reading it was knowing more than the characters and yet still watching it unfold. Overall, this is a good read. It’s not great, but it certainly kept me occupied for a few days and left me feeling satisfied with the story.

-DLP