Bright Lights, Big Ass by Jen Lancaster

In preparation for this review, I wanted to see what I said about the author's first book. Um, apparently I was a tad short on words. Not that I didn't like it. . . I just didn't have much to say, apparently.

In any case, Bright Lights, Big Ass is Jen Lancaster's follow-up to her kick ass first book. And this one? Kicks just as much ass (which is good, since ass is in the title, although not in the same context).

Jen, is who I would be if I was a little less bitchy and a little more funny. She has her bitch moments, but the funny outweighs. The fact that she owns a gray cat is just a bonus. This second memoir (and we all know-memoirs are my fav!) is even better than the first. Better writing, funnier moments-all in all it takes the first book and changes her from a blogger with a book deal to a writer.

It can't get much better than that.

carry me down by M.J. Hyland

I finished this book about a month ago. It's been sitting on my desk, waiting for a review, but I haven't been able to muster up the strength to write one. Not because I am lazy. No, mostly because I can't think of anything to say about it.

carry me down by M.J. Hyland is one boring book. I can't even think of one redeeming quality. There was not even one sentence that touched me or made me think. It certainly didn't make me laugh. I was not invested in the characters.

This book, was a waste of trees.

the Myth of You & Me by Leah Stewart

This book has been sitting on my book shelf for more than a year now. Every time I see it, I want to read it, but I never got around to it. Of course, this also could be said of the 15 other books sitting there right now.

Did you know, that there are a LOT of good writers out there?? I mean, most of my book reviews are positive. And sometimes, I don't even know WHY I picked out some of these books. But, I read them and they are great.

The Myth of You & Me by Leah Stewart is a great book. It's almost a text book example of what a good books should be. Great writing. Good story. A little bit of mystery. Relatable topics, but not stereotypical "Chick Lit" (which I HATE, by the way). I just loved everything about it.

Cameron receives a letter from her best friend of 8 years (high school and college) whom she hasn't seen, heard from or talked to in about 8 years. After a very manipulative letter from her deceased boss (whom was like her best friend) Cameron goes on an almost scavenger hunt to find Sonia. As the search unfolds, we learn all about the rise and fall of this friendship.

I have many friends I think about all the time. People I would love to talk to again. If only to reminiscence over coffee those stories that are only funny if you were there. I am lucky, however, that I still have some of those friends in my life. I think more than anything, this story reminds you of how important friends are in this world. Friends that aren't your spouse or children. The people you can call at 3 AM to tell them you just had the best sex of your life. The people that will drive 4 hours just to pick you up when your car breaks down.

The loss of a friendship is surprisingly hard. But, I think this book might give you a little hope. It doesn't always have to be a loss. It could become a new beginning.

such a pretty girl by Laura Wiess

I read this book in about 3 hours. It's a small book and the story takes place over about 4 days, so it makes sense that I could get through it quickly.

There are some books that I read that I don't feel strongly about-one way or the other. Such a pretty girl by Laura Wiess was one of those books. It's not a bad book. It's well written. The story is compelling. Unfortunately, for Wiess, the characters on SVU are more developed and sympathetic. Well, it's not that Meredith isn't sympathetic. You would have to be dead to not feel bad for her. But her character is not developed enough for me to be really drawn in. I didn't shed a tear. And, that may not be the point of the book. However, when I watch SVU, I usually cry. Just because it reminds you of how horrible the world is.

Again, I am not saying it was a bad book. I probably couldn't have written better. I am surprised, though, at all the praise written by fellow authors. Maybe I should be. Most of it is filled with buzz words. I get the feeling the felt the same as I did when reading it, they just had to say something nice.

Take it or leave it.

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

Wow. This book is wow. I would go so far to say that We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver is one of the best books I have ever read.

But, before I go any further, I would like to warn any person reading this review that there will be spoilers-lots of them. So don't read any further if you would like to enjoy the book without knowing the ending.

That being said, I kind of guessed the ending, but was foiled when I couldn't find it spelled out on the last few pages. I went all over the internet to see if I was right, but I could only glean from other reviews that perhaps I was. In any case-I was right.

I am not sure where to begin with this review. I find it especially poignant that, while I was in the midst of reading this book, the horrifying event of Virginia Tech unfolded. I think it may or may not have colored my thoughts.

Now, unlike most books, you pretty much know the end first. Eva is writing letters to her (presumably) estranged husband Franklin. She is reliving and trying to understand their son Kevin. Kevin, as we soon know, killed 9 people in a high school "shooting". I quote shooting because Kevin didn't use a gun. He used arrows. And the majority of his victims did not die from the arrow-they died slowly from the blood loss. It is one step beyond the horror of the "typical" school shooting.

So, Eva is writing to Franklin. Discussing their decision to have Kevin, how she felt when he was born and all the things that led up to his massacre. I read that Shriver said that most people read two different books: The book that shows Eva as a cold and unloving mother who, through her actions and "un-love" raised this horrible child. The other book (so to speak) is the story of a woman who tried to be a good mother, despite this horrible monster of a child. Perhaps she saw this horrendous event coming, but was powerless to stop it.

I read both of these books. I saw both sides. I never strongly sided with one or the other. On the one hand, this is Eva's perspective-her "hindsight is 20-20" perspective. On the other, at the time she is writing these letters, she has nothing to lose-so why would she be lying?

I, for one, was most horrified by her husband. Again, I realize this is Eva's view, but either way you cut it-whether her side is completely accurate or not-he still did something to make her feel the way she felt. Even if what he did was exaggerated, she didn't experience anything less than what she describes. The man is just so blind. So desperate to choose his son over his wife. And why? I can't answer that, but every time he did this in the book, I cringed. Perhaps he is just as responsible for pushing a wedge between Eva and Kevin. I mean, how would any wife feel? You have a child with a man you love and this man adores the child and slowly and steadily begins to hate you-no mater what sacrifice you make. No matter how hard you try.

There are two surprises at the end. Each of these were suspected, but they way they played out was more than I could have imagined.

The first is the obvious-Franklin is not "estranged". He is dead. Kevin killed him, along with his younger sister, Celia, the morning he went to kill his classmates.

The second is less obvious, but I could still see it-Kevin loves his mother. He does. There are hints of this throughout the book. But to see the way he reacts towards the end, it's so sad.

I could go on and on, but I could never do this book justice. Please read it. Unless you are thinking about having children. I wouldn't want to change your mind.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

This book got many rave reviews when it came out. However, not one of these reviews struck me in a "I gotta read that" way. My friend Kristy picked it up in an airport-and not to say she wasn't interested, but I mean, it can be slim pickings out there.

Kristy lent it to me a month or more ago and although I have been slowly, but surely reading a few pages at a time, I haven't really picked up any momentum. Then, Michael and I went to Barnes and Noble the other night and you know what he told me?!?! "You can't buy any more books until you read the ten 'new' ones lying around the house". Now, the fact that I still bought 5, secretly, is neither here nor there. All I know is I finished this book this afternoon.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards is the story about a choice that changes the lives of at least 7 people in unimaginable ways. It very much made me think of the Butterfly Effect-the thought that every little action we take, every decision, effects every other person in the world. The idea is astounding.

However, the book doesn't have to go as far as the world to show you the effects such decisions can cause. In a moment, David Henry made a choice about his newborn daughter.

I am not going to go too much into the plot here. Most people probably know what this book is about. It's not that it isn't a good book. It's not that it isn't an interesting story. I just felt it was painfully slow. The story didn't move me. I wasn't sure I cared how it all turned out.

I'll admit-I certainly cried a few tears in the end. Strangely, at least to most people, it was tears for David Henry. If there is to be a "bad guy" in this book, it's him. He lied. He made the decision. He changed the lives. Everyone else got caught up in the aftermath. But in the end, I found him to be the most sympathetic character. The one I related to the most. Although, I am not sure what parts of him I related too. Maybe it's just he is human-painfully human. He never, ever meant to do the harm he did. But after that moment, nothing he ever would have done could fix it. Even if the very next day, if he told his wife he lied and that their daughter had lived-she would have never been able to love him again, knowing what his original intent had been.

In the end, he spent his whole life with a horrible secret. The rest of them-his children, his wife, they all got a chance to move on.

It's a good book. Just expect it to be slow. Actually, it is a great airplane book. You'll be forced to read it and one sitting and it will go down much better.

Belle de Jour by Anonymous

I love blogs. I am obsessed with blogs. I currently write 4 blogs. I am not so sure blogs should be books.

I have read my share of blogs turned books. You can read one such review here. I didn't think this book was of that category-until I read the first two entries.

Belle de Jour: Diary of an Unlikely Call Girl had an intriguing cover. I judge books by their cover.

I liked the book, but I am having a hard time singing it's praises. I am not sure why. It's not that I am up tight about sex or prostitution. Please.

Belle, as I guess her name is, is a call girl. And all I'm sayin' is-if you are good at what you do, you enjoy it-then get paid for it. I see nothing wrong with it. Her writing is great-she really knows how to tell a story . . .

Story . . . maybe that is what is missing in this book. In other blogs-turned-books, I feel like the writers used their blogs a reference, so to speak, and built a story around it. Maybe it cohesion. Beginning, middle and end. This, however, just reads like . . .well, a blog. There is no real storyline and no real ending. When I got to the last page, I just felt. . .hmm, I guess that's it. No real satisfaction. I suppose I could go read the blog, but that seems like a lot of searching and a lot of work.

I guess my overall thought is: take it or leave it.

Little Children by Tom Perrotta

OK, so I cheated. I saw the movie before I read the book. However, I can't be held at fault, as I would have never known about this book if it wasn't for the movie. Sometimes you have to do things in reverse order.

My review will be short and sweet: Little Children by Tom Perrotta is perfect. And for the record: the movie is a perfect rendition of the book. A rare and delightful occurrence.

More than anything, I feel like this book IS real life. Hundreds of blog prove it. Sarah and Todd-stay at home parents. Both in ho-hum marriages. Both unsure of themselves and the direction they have taken their life. They find solace in each other. Their affair is REAL. Idealistic. Loving. Longing. Obsession. Comfort. A perfect world they have created. Google blog search the word extra-marital affairs and find 9,540 results. This is what people are doing. This is what Sarah and Todd are doing.

The piece de resistance is the end. Because it doesn't end with a pretty little bow. It ends how most affairs in real life end.

And if you don't know what that ending is-Google it.

Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell

We all know I love me some Candace Bushnell. I am a Sex and the City EXPERT. The book is fantastic. Actually, all her books are fantastic. I am not sure what took me so long to get to Lipstick Jungle. It's been out for years.

And it did not disappoint.

Set in New York City (of course), Lipstick Jungle is the story of 3 successful women-Nico, Victory and Wendy. Each equally successful in their chosen field, each with their own set of personal problems.

I am not going to go into each of these women's stories. I am just going to point out some of the highlights of this book.

1) The turned tables. These are women that are kicking ass in their jobs and taking care of business at home. Wendy has a house husband. And Victory-well who the hell needs a man??

2) I LOVED how extremely confidant these woman are. Most woman are not portrayed to perfectly -whether it's Movies, TV or books.

3) Despite their confidence and success-they are real. Real woman, with real problems and lives. These are not characters-they are people we know.

Awesome book. I recommend it to all.

One last little perk for people who regularly read Bushnell's books-I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE how there are always appearances by characters from previous books. She ties tiny loose ends together every time you read one of her books. Not anything that you really missed being put together in the last book-but kind of cool to read about in this one. Love it!

Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock

First off, I like this book-but I am not sure why. I can list all the things I didn't like, but not sure I can list what I did like. Among the dislikes: you can not tell the time period this book is set in, the ending is Hollywood cheap (not surprising-the author used to write for People magazine )-I could list the movies it steals from, but I would give away the ending-and I hate when authors spell out the dialect they want-it forces you to read it a certain way, rather than giving the reader the privilege of imagining things the way they like.

Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock is the story of Carrie and Emma. Two sisters who led a truly sad life. Their father died when they were young girls and their mother remarried to a man who abuses the girls physically, mentally and sexually. When faced with moving, the girls try to run away, but end up being caught and forced back into their horrible home.

The book moves along slowly, but surely. The abuse is heart-wrenching. However, there isn't much to keep the reader hooked. I only got through it as quickly as I did because of my 3 hour flight. I began and finished it on the plane.

The ending wasn't one I saw coming, but I was un-impressed. The fact that the author left a few things up-in the air as well bothers me. Nothing bugs me more than not tying up loose ends.

This book is take it or leave it. It may be more for readers who prefer traditional books with anti-climatic endings.

pretty little dirty by Amanda Boyden

Well, I have certainly started 2007 off right with my book reading. This will make up for the months when I am studying for my Series 7 and 66 and can't read a book for months.

The book pretty little dirty by Amanda Boyden is told from the perspective of two best friends-Lisa and Celeste-although you don't actually know this until the end. It's the tale of their high school years (with a few younger years stories thrown in) and how they went from the smartest, prettiest and most popular girls in high school to college drop-outs who sell drugs out of their home.

Although older people may be a bit appalled by this story, I think it's very relevant to kids today-GIRLS today. It doesn't matter how much privilege or opportunity you have. It doesn't matter if you are pretty or well-liked. All girls have issues with themselves, with insecurities, with sex and boys. And you learn at an early age that sex can get you pretty much anything you want-even if it's only for 10 minutes.

But who teaches you when to stop? When to say it's NOT OK to let boys use you, hurt you, make you feel like a THING. But maybe you don't have to stop. Maybe when you have a soul mate who makes you feel worthy-then maybe it's just fine to fuck boys randomly. Maybe it's OK. Or maybe it's self-destructive. I am not sure what conclusion the book led me to.

More than anything I think that life is hard for everyone. It's not easier because you rich or pretty or smart. You have just as many problems. Maybe you are poor. Maybe you are "ugly". But maybe you still have dignity. Maybe you still have self-worth. While other maybe be pretty and rich, but they hate themselves. Life is hard either way, just in a different way. My favorite thought is no matter how bad you think your life is at the moment, there is someone out there whose life is worse.

It's a good book. It's addictive and a bit painful to read, but it makes you think-which is always good.

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

Another book in just one day. I tell you this cold is the best thing that ever happened to my reading.

First thing's first. A week or so ago, a commenter left this for me:

" . . . I'm looking for another book with the same key points (young adult/late teen, deep, powerful, meaningful love but with a tragic twist). . ."

I wouldn't say that Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld fits that description exactly, but I think you may find what you are looking for in this book.

The novel is about Lee and her four years of high school. Actually, it's a boarding school thousands of miles away from her mid-west town.

Lee is painfully self-conscience. Seriously. It's painful. Throughout the book, she never realizes, what I think, what really makes her special. The fact that she took it upon her 13 year old self to research boarding school, apply, get accepted, get a scholarship and actually GO to the school. Most people I went to high school with have never even thought of leaving Albuquerque.

I get that Lee feels like she doesn't fit in. We all feel that way. As her fuck buddy* tells her towards the end:

"I bet things would be easier for you if you either realized you're not that weird or decided that being weird wasn't bad"

Of course, this is easy for the smart, hot, sports jock who everyone loves to say. And it has to be said that the poor girl didn't realize she was becoming the fuck buddy. Of course, in the end, even I will admit that if I were in her shoes, even if I knew, I would accepted it too.

I find this book to be so mundanely interesting. I feel like nothing is going on, yet I can't stop turning the pages to find much of the same. It's not quite a train wreck you can't turn away from, but it certainly has pull. I mean, clearly-I read it in a day.

In addition, being 25, I can't tell if I am too far removed from high school that I don't remember feeling the way Lee does most of the time or if I really didn't feel that way. Not to say I enjoyed high school-far from it. However, I don't remember finding it this painful. Was I lucky? I certainly wasn't Ms. Popularity.

Maybe I just found that happy medium between realizing I wasn't weird and deciding that being weird wasn't bad.

The Marriage Diaries by Rebecca Campbell

Well, it's a new year and I just spent $140 on books. I think we are off to a good start.

The book I chose to start with (I guess this cold is good for something) was The Marriage Diaries by Rebecca Campbell. This book is a journal by a husband and wife. Not to say they are co-authoring the journal. Actually, the wife, Celeste, discovers her husband's journal and begins her own counter journal, so to speak.

Sean (Celeste's husband) is a stay-at-home-Dad and Celeste is a high fashion something or other. Each of them don't realize that they are just a tad unhappy with how things are going until there is the opportunity for an affair staring them in the face.

Perception is reality. You hear it on TV, you see it played out in movies and, of course, you read about it in books. I may have said this same thing in other book reviews. However, it is a common thing in life. You can not escape it. What Celeste perceives is her husband-who no longer thinks of her "all the time". She perceives a husband who has a keen interest in a playgroup mother. Her reality is her marriage is falling apart. She uses it as her own excuse to stray. Only to realize that her perception is NOT reality. She loves her husband. Perhaps it's her who is not holding up her end of the bargain.

This book is well written. The characters are brutally real. It's a good start to 2007.