MANIFESTING MADE EASY

Manifesting Made Easy: How to Harness the Law of Attraction to Get What You Really Need by Jen Mazer  223 pages

https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1381379116


Reviewed by Rae C.

This is a great book whether you are already familiar with The Law Of Attraction (LOA) or a newby.  It is clear, concise, and handles some of the more challenging aspects of positive thought and manifestation, such as "thinking positively but feeling negative about a situation" and forgiveness as a path to manifestation.

My problems with this book are the same that I have with all of the LOA gurus: it would be nice to hear from people who have become wealthy, successful, healthy, and happy, and NOT because they became LOA gurus!

Also, most of these books are written by and for middle class white people, and there is often a real lack of understanding in applying LOA to people that very desperately need to manifest the basics, have difficulties to overcome that are outside the scope of the status quo experience, and/or are in a state of mind where the power of positive thinking is very difficult to access.

LOA has worked for me, but remains a challenge, so I am always glad to find a new resource.  Recommend to anyone with an interest in changing their circumstances by changing their mindset!

THE WRITER'S LITTLE HELPER

The Writer's Little Helper by James V Smith  199 pages

https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1200677116

Reviewed by Rae C.

I'm going to have to buy this book.  I've been writing for 30 years, and in that time I have not sold anything to a major publisher or publication.  (Or a screenplay to a studio.)  I've written several novels, about 30 short stories, two screenplays, a comic book script (for a series, not just one issue), a lot of poetry, and numerous articles for small magazines.

I've expressed myself and followed my own path. I've watched many stories similar to mine get published. I want to write something that more than 20 people want to read, so I really needed this book!

This book might seem gimmicky, but it's not.  For example, Flesch Kincaid scores. As a secretary I've used this tool for business documents, but after reading this book I'm going to use it on all my future manuscripts.  Best sellers should be easy to read!  And the author has compiled many helpful checklists and outlines for story structure and plotting.

Recommended to any writer in a slump, that is aiming for a bestseller- or at least a sale with a major publisher.

The Paragon Hotel

The Paragon Hotel by Lyndsay Faye   432 pages

In this beautifully written novel, the Paragon Hotel is based on Portland, Oregon’s, Golden West Hotel, which was a haven for people of color, mainly African Americans, from 1906 to 1931. Author Faye says in the Historical Note that the descriptions she uses of the hotel is as accurate as she can make them. She did a great job, as I felt I knew the place inside out.

At the core of this novel is racism. I found is horrifying to learn that in the 1844, prior to statehood, Oregon’s Legislative Committee did its best to make the territory exclusively white. History shouldn’t surprise me, but it does. Oregon was “the only state of among the fifty ever to explicitly deny blacks the right and live and work there.” Since the NOW sections of the novel take place in 1921, this denial is most apparent. The THEN sections of the story provide the backstory that helps the reader understand the blacks’ plight.

Alice “Nobody” James is on the run from the New York Mafia with a bullet wound in her side. She boards a train bound westfor Portland. She is very sick by the time she arrives. She befriends Max, the black porter who takes pity on her, and takes her to the Paragon, a haven for “small and increasingly besieged black population.” The fact that Nobody is white makes them uneasy. Most of the residents like, or at least interested in Nobody, but not everyone.

 

Still, Nobody fits right in. That’s her super power, to be able to remain totally forgettable no matter what situation she finds herself in. She makes friends with most of the residence, especially cabaret singer Blossom Fontaine, who reminded me a lot of The Lady Chablis from “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”

As Nobody heals, a young boy goes missing. As the search progresses more and more dirty little secrets come to life.

This book is complex with its dualing timelines and threads of  mental illness, the Mob, racism, love, friendship, secrets, romance---all set against the backdrop of a hotel exclusively for people pf color. Faye has a wonderful writing style. Nobody’s language is dead-on for a gun moll. It isn’t forced whatsoever. Faye has the ability to take tired old clichés and similes and make them new and bright. I wish I had marked some of them.

 “The Paragon Hotel” receives 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

THE MORTAL WORD

THE MORTAL WORD by Genevieve Cogman

433  pages

https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1423249116#

Reviewed by Rae C.

The fifth book in the Invisible Library series, and the best one so far!

There are multiple worlds, and in each there are different levels of technology (order, ruled by Dragons) and magic (chaos, ruled by The Fae).  Each earth has different versions of the same stories, reflecting the different development and history of that particular world. 

The Library exists at the center of all the worlds, and is outside of time.  By collecting the different versions of stories, the Library keeps the worlds bound together.  Also Librarians are able to speak The Language, and therefore in each world have a power different from either Fae or Dragon.  The Language is a pure command, the essence of all earth languages on all the different versions of earth. For example, if a Librarian commands water to boil in The Language, the water will boil.

There is an ongoing conflict between Dragon and Fae, and neither species can tolerate too much of the other. So Fae suffer in the order of Dragon worlds. And Dragons lose strength in chaotic Fae worlds filled with magic and Story.  (The Fae themselves are dominated by Story.  In fact, sometimes they are bound by the rules of the Story and/or their characters.  Both this book and The Masked City display this feature of Fae power.)

In this book there is a peace conference underway between Dragon and Fae, and the Librarians are officiating.  The main protagonist, Irene Winters, is currently Librarian in Residence in a world that is steampunk, and at roughly the 1920's in its timeline. One of her companions is a real life Sherlock Holmes, named Peregrine Vale.  (In some worlds Sherlock Holmes is not just a story.)  Her other companion is a Dragon Prince, Kai Strongrock.

All three of them are summoned to the top secret peace conference after a Dragon is murdered.  The conference and peace in all the worlds is in jeopardy.  Like the other four books, this is a great adventure, with "unguessable" twists and turns.  Cogman always has something up her sleeve!

I especially enjoyed the interim with Vale's POV.  This is the first time there has been a POV other than Irene's.  My understanding is this series grew partly out of the author's love of Sherlock Holmes (as well as Dungeons and Dragons), so to have Vale highlighted was a treat! In fact, Irene's name was chosen from Irene Adler in Conan Doyle's "Silk Stocking." Cogman did a good job of recreating a solid Sherlock Holmes in an unfamiliar world ruled by Fae and Dragons, and powered by ether.

The alternate Paris the story is set in retains all of the history of our worlds' Paris, and includes a very exciting scene in the Grand Guignol.  And the added spectacle of the Blood Countess, Elizabeth Bathory, running the show.

Kind of sorry I finished it so fast because now it is another long year of waiting for book six!!!

An Unwanted Guest

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena   290 pages

This is a perfect closed-room murder mystery.  The setting is a beautiful remote lodge in upstate New York, where the winter snow may blow, but it's cozy inside. At least, until the first dead body is discovered.

Mitchell's Inn is cozy and a perfect place for a relaxing (and maybe romantic) weekend getaway. When the weather gets worse and the power goes out, the guests settle in for a day or two, sure that the fireplaces will keep them warm and they'll stay snug and cozy. However, when a body is discovered at the bottom of the stairs, everyone is upset. When the second body is discovered, panic sets in. Can the guests and innkeepers discover who is picking off people, apparently one by one, before help arrives?

I really enjoyed this book and whipped through it. There's a nice cast of different characters, some with their own secrets and agendas, and the shifting perspectives made for a good complement to the steady pace. I wasn't able to figure out who the murderer was until the end, which I liked. There's also a small twist at the end that was a nice little bonus. 

Native Tongue

Native Tongue by Carl Hiaasen          Audio Book:  15 hours, 45 minutes        Mass Market Paperback: 481 pages           

Francis X. Kingsbury has a personal vendetta against Walt Disney and wants very much to one-up Walt Disney World in Florida with his own similarly themed park “The Amazing Kingdom of Thrills.”    Kingsbury refers to Mickey Mouse as the rat and does his best to come up with amusements and wonders of his own to draw the tourist trade away from Disney to his own hackneyed knockoff.    In this other side of the looking glass bizzaro world Kingsbury goes the cheap route on everything and “creates”  wondrous creatures to “astound” the world like coloring two voles’ tongues blue in order to fictionalize a rare endangered creature called the Mango Blue-Tongued vole, why there are only two left in the world…yeah…that isn’t his only spectacular find but these two RARE creatures are stolen then tossed into other vehicles going by and later one is shot by an officer of the law while “saving” some tourists from an infestation!   The story is a really good one with lots of quirky characters, good people with bad tendencies and bad people with guilty consciouses.    Never get between an elderly woman with a cause and her goals to achieve victory for that cause or mayhem will ensue.   Kind hearted women with phone-sex jobs and desires to give great performances over the phone to their clients.   One woman especially strives to become a successful writer of phone porn scripts there are tie-ins all over the place between the amusements going on at the park and amusements going on everywhere it seems.    I really liked this read, all of the characters are well fleshed out (no pun intended) and I liked them all (yes, even the sleazy ones are funny).    A good book,  a fun read.    The reader will never look at theme parks for their face-value alone again.   I highly recommend this book – some adult situations so event though there are animals and theme parks there are some very violent scenes described so no recommendation for kiddies on this one only adults.  Good book, I do recommend it.   It has a lot of surprises in it.    Good story.

The Complete Chi’s Sweet Home Part 4

The Complete Chi’s Sweet Home Part 4 by Konami Kanata          Paperback Book:  480 pages                          

I love Chi so much I cannot get enough of her and apparently I am not the only person in the world who feels that way.    Chi has a following on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram, too.   What a sweetie pie she is.    I am already looking forward to following her next adventure.    In this book, Chi remembers her Momma and her siblings, she learns how to control her claws when playing with or jumping on other cats during play times, and she has to decide whether to stay with the Yamadas who are moving to France or to stay with her Momma and siblings.   So many things happening.   Does she go and leave her friends Blackie and Cocchi and having just reunited with her cat family, should she stay with them or leave them for her human Yamada family?   So many decisions for a little kitten to make.    Gut wrenching stuff here.   It may be a juvenile graphic novel but Konami Kanata has a great ability to move the reader so much emotionally that Chi’s world draws you in so deep, Chi’s hurts and joys become the reader’s.     Chi endears herself more to me with each book.   The books in this series really twist the reader’s heart and the situations Chi gets into are very real and makes one pause to think what might I do if I were her?    The stories make you very protective over this little kitten.    There is one scene with Chi and her mother that will make you holler, “Oh no!!!   No!!!! NO!!!!!  NO!!!!! I won’t tell you what it is, so I don’t spoil it for you, but this is such a good book, I can’t praise it enough.    I love you, Chi.    See you again in Chi’s Sweet Home Part 5.  Yes,  I highly recommend this book and the whole series.

Josephine Baker's Last Dance

Josephine Baker's Last Dance by Sherry Jones

I was attracted to this biographical novel simply for its subject: Josephine Baker. I knew a little about her. An African-America woman, she left the Jim Crow-era America and was singing and dancing in Paris’s nightclubs by the time she was sixteen. That’s about it. Readers get an insightful and well-researched novel about Baker---singer, dancer, movie star, French Resistance member during World War II and Civil Rights activist---that is at times slow, at times despairing yet a fascinating story of a groundbreaking woman, well before her time.

The story starts off in Paris, in April 1975. Josephine doesn’t know if, but readers get a glimpse of her final performance. Then the story skips ahead to her childhood in St. Louis. She is considered an ugly child. Her mother, a bitter woman, forces her to work for the neighbors by the time she is seven years old, making only a pittance, none of which Josephine ever sees. Life was so incredibly difficult that Josephine tries to blot it from her mind and tells anyone who might ask that she is from New Orleans. It’s heartbreaking to read about the line of abusive people in her life, from both her parents to every man she seems to meet.

By 1915, young Josephine has a new employer, one that treats her like a person, not an animal. But her security doesn’t last long. By 1919, she has spent two years singing, dancing, playing instruments with the Jones Family Band. 
The story continues to recount her time in Paris. Sometimes it drags a bit as the tediousness of her life in the theater evolves. The World War II breaks out, and Josephine wants to do her part.  She joins the French Resistance. I didn’t feel this section was deep enough, but maybe there isn’t enough documentation or evidence out there to make it more compelling.

It doesn’t matter though, I enjoyed this book thoroughly, couldn’t put it down. That’s why  “Josephine Baker’s Last Dance” receives 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

SLPL November 2018 totals

Tom Hardy reads, obviously impressed by our team...

The SLPL team this month did our best to keep up our reading.

8 people

read 61 books

for a total of 17,191 pages

Not too bad -- and we're already moving on to logging our December reads!!  

Shirley J. was November's Super Reader, logging 5977 pages. Jen O. was the runner-up, clocking in at a healthy 4240 pages.

I’ve Got Sand in All the Wrong Places

I’ve Got Sand in All the Wrong Places by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca  Serritella              Audio Book:  5 hours, 32 minutes           Paperback Book:  352 pages          

This is the third book I have read by this awesome mother and daughter comedy duo.    Hilarious.    I laughed out loud so many times I lost count.     Such good storytelling here, everything they talk about and tell on themselves for our listening or reading pleasure are fraught with hilarious anecdotes.    They say they fight just like any other mother and daughter, but, you would never know it.   They are so in sync  with each other and the warmth and love they express is sincerely heartfelt.   They deliver punchlines so spot on you could picture them doing standup comedy at a club but I guess they save it for their presentations at booksignings.  J    They also hold get-togethers at Lisa’s house for their fans.    Both ladies do comedy books together in which they trade off telling funny stories, but, each also writes in other genres and each have several books in print.   I dearly love their comedy works this is the third of their comedy writings I have read and I want to read them all as well as their other writings.   They are excellent story tellers when talking about their own lives, so, I am curious to see what their fiction titles are like.     I highly recommend this book as I lost count on how many laugh out loud moments I had.   In this book Francesca also tells the story of the time she got mugged on her street when she returned home a subway ride with friends who had all left a party.   The mugging happened around 1:00a.m.  She was walking down her street and was 2 blocks away from her door when she was attacked from behind.   Francesca doesn’t tell the story as a victim but as a survivor.   Though she was beaten up, she will not let it stop her from walking her dog on her street at night and not stop her from going and coming as she pleases.   She takes the experience in her stride and pulls funny bits she observed.   She is good.   Lisa and Francesca see things through their own perspective Lisa is the mother with two ex-husbands – the first was Francesca’s Dad and she has lots of stories to tell about aging and things that are meaningful to those of us in our 60s while Francesca sees life through the eyes of of a recently turned thirty something, still reveling in the tales of her 20 something years and now into her new decade as a thirty something.    Nothing is taboo for these gals and the way they tell it – its going to be real and its going to be witty and it is definetly going to be comical.   I highly recommend all of the comedy titles with these two ladies dishing up the humor – they are a riot!  

Royal Crown: From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess

Royal Crown: From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess by Meg Cabot           AudioBook: 4 hours, 7 minutes       Hardback book:  224 pages           

Not since the War of the Roses between the House of Stewart and the House of Tudor has there been such royal intrigue!   Cousins fighting amongst themselves to be the next successor to the Genovian throne being abdicated Princess Olivia’s Dad.    Cousins are coming out of the woodwork trying to climb over each other to grab the crown when succession traditionally goes to the oldest child of the previous monarch which means Olivia’s older sister (Olivia is third in line for the crown).   The cousins are playing on their worthiness, their birthrights and their genetic makeup according to the genobe project detecting their DNA lines.   It is not pretty heading up to the coronation with all the snarky remarks, backstabbing and mayhem afoot.   Add to this that loads of royal relatives are coming in for the coronation from all over the globe with their children which begets a golden opportunity to make some pocket money for the young royals to babysit the uppercrust children.   It is also a marketing coup the royal princesses advertise that the incoming royal guests can have their royal darlings babysat by princesses of the realm who can also impart knowledge to the kinder on how to behave with royal etiquette.   When the princesses royal grandmother got wind of their ploy she wanted in and took on the job of being their manager for 10% of their earnings (Grandma is certainly savvy and rules the roost).    A fun read with lots of haught attitude on Princess Luisa’s part – she is a little jerk to everyone but Grandmama knows how to get her in line – seems she is the only one with any sway when it comes to Luisa.    There is royal romance afoot, too, as well as squalling twins, and Princess Purple Iris (her mother got the idea for her name from Beyonce who she named her daughter Blue Ivy).   Princess Purple Iris is a three year old with a yen to be a hairdresser and insists on brushing everyone’s including any royal pooches’ hair or bear the brunt of her disgruntled screams.   Its either that or bear the beating of her brush and comb set – kind of a toss up and Olivia keeps suggesting Purple Iris brush the dog who just loves it.   The dog gives Olivia a long look and ducks and runs when Purple Iris comes after it, salon products in hand.     It is a cute and funny story and gads the subject of a young lady’s menses even takes center stage!    A fun romp of a story that I think would make a particularly well received film.   I would recommend this story and Meg Cabot has always been a fun writer to read.    Well done.  

Guided Mindfulness Meditation Series 2

Guided Mindfulness Meditation Series 2 by Jon Kabat-Zinn            Audio Book:  3 hours, 37 minutes    Book: estimated 150   

Jon Kabat-Zinn has such a great understanding of meditation that he imparts to the listener or reader.     I know a lot of meditation books try to be how- tos, but, this one accomplishes what the others merely attempt.   The meditations found in this manual to the art are most excellent.    The meditations truly do raise your consciousness in such a way that you are carried along with the instructor so fast it is almost like being hypnotized.   He cuts to the very core of quieting your mind,   relaxing your body so you can hear your breath and he guides you whether novice or experienced meditator in such a Zen (no pun intended on Kabat-Zinn) way that you ride on the dream-like wave of calm to a deep state mental as well as physical relaxation.   I tried it and I can honestly say some issues that were plaguing me afterward didn’t seem so fierce afterall.   I can only describe it as a deep felt sense of calm or better said, perhaps, a lack of worry and a sense of all will be well in the universe.   Now, I’m not saying it is a type of mental high but more an awareness that all will work out and everything will be fine.   No more, no less.   Kind of like when you are a kid and you think the world is crashing in on you for whatever reason and your Mom talks to you in that gentle understanding voice and counsels you on how to make things right in your world.  Like that only without the talking just the occasional bell and his soothing words directing you to visionary paths with mountains and lakes while you mindfully follow his words and instructions directing your sitting and lying meditations to nirvana or profound peace of mind.    He really helps the reader to accomplish that.   Not enlightenment but peace of mind.    I highly recommend this instruction as I am a witness it worked.    This work is a companion piece to his other book,  “No Matter Where You Go, There You Are,” which I plan to read, too, though this instructive book on CD was a stand alone work in its own right.    Good going, Jon Kabat-Zinn.

Footprints in the Sand: A Piper Donovan Mystery

Footprints in the Sand: A Piper Donovan Mystery  (Book 3 in the Piper Donovan/Wedding Cake Mysteries)  by Mary Jane Clark                Audio Book:6 hrs. 18 min       Hardback Book:  384 pages   

This story was kind of a “meh” for me.  It was o.k.  not anything that required a lot of thought, I didn’t get attached to any of the characters in this one.    There were interesting elements, a good mix of plot lines – location Sarasota, Florida, a wedding happening on the beach,  cousins, bridesmaids, add in some Amish folks and lots of Amish proverbs stir that up add in several murders, a car wreck, an ex-cop, a lot of murders shake ‘em all up and pour out this story.    Some good parts, some pretty predictable ones and the off surprise and cryptic message.    Sorry, this one was just “meh” for me.   Seems like it could have been better, more punch with all the intermingling clandestine happenings, but, no, it was just o.k.    Passable.   I would not brag on this one, but, if someone was committed to the series I suppose they would want to read this one or if they were a fan already of Mary Jane Clark, they would likely enjoy this one.    Personally with all the potentially exciting elements I just felt there could have been more meat to this story and it ended up with no real bite.  Even the ending was like sand through an hour glass, here then gone.   No recommendation on this one unless the reader is just looking to kill some time or read something simple.       

The Next Person You Meet in Heaven

The Next Person You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom  224 pages

I admit that I’ve often wondered over the last fifteen years if Mitch Albom would ever write a sequel to “The Five People You Meet in Heaven.” What happened to Annie after the tragic accident at the amusement park when she was just eight years old? Did she carry the scars of Eddie’s death? Did she even remember him? Well, now I know; my wait is over.

Annie is a nurse and a day shy of her thirty-first birthday. Readers get to watch Annie marry Paulo, a childhood friend who had been out of her life for many years. As they embark on their honeymoon, they stop to help a man change a flat tire. That moment of kindness changes Annie and Paulo’s life forever.

Later that night, Annie and Paulo are involved in a horrific accident. Annie goes to heaven to meet the five people who explain her life to her. But that’s not how the story ends, so this wasn’t a spoiler. 

I was a little disappointed in this sequel. I took the title literally, and thought there would be a sixth person. Or something. The structure of the novel follows the same structure in the original story, so that gave it some continuity.  However, I feel as if the title was misleading and that is why  “The Next Person You Meet in Heaven” receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom  196 pages

I first read this delightful short novel when it was first published in 2003.  I couldn’t put it down, then, and I couldn’t put it down this time either. I wanted to refresh my memory about Eddie, the 83 year old amusement park maintenance man before I started Mitch Albom’s sequel, “The Next Person You Meet in Heaven.”

The story starts at the end, with Eddie dying on his eighty-third birthday. Eddie had worked at Ruby Pier in the Maintenance Department all his life. He considered himself a nobody, no one special. But Eddie was very special. Every day he walked through the park. He could hear a problem with one of the rides as acutely as if the park was empty and completely silent. All the regulars knew Eddie and loved him. He even carried yellow pipe cleaners in his shirt pocket to make little animals for the kids.

On that particular day, Eddie was nearby when one of the rides began to fall.  He rushed to the scene, grabbed little Annie by the hands and got her out of the way before one of the ride’s cars plummeted to Earth.

Eddie arrives in heaven. It’s not at all like he expected. There he learns that there are five people, whom you may or may not know, that are connected to your life. They are to answer the question that haunts us all:  why am I here? What is my purpose?

As Eddie advances through heaven, those questions are answered. Eddie soon learns that he wasn’t a nobody, he was important. Very important. Not just the maintenance man at an amusement park, but his real job was to protect the children. 

Eddie’s story has struck with me through the years. Oftentimes I find myself wondering why I am here and what my purpose is. Then I think of this little story and wonder who might my five people be.  This read is just as compelling and appealing as it was the first time I read it. That’s why  “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” receives 6 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

Stories of Your Life and others

Stories of Your Life and others by Ted Chiang, 10 hrs 23 m, 333 pages

This is a collection of the author's first eight published stories. All of the stories were good but my least favorite was the first one - "Tower of Babylon". It was slow to get going but had a good ending. It was the author's first published story which could be why it wasn't as good.

The title story, Stories of Your Life was the basis for the movie Arrival and it is what drew me to this collection. However, it wasn't my favorite story in the collection. I would say my favorite is a toss up between "Understand" and "Liking What You See: a Documentary".      

"Understand" is about a man who is given a life saving drug that unintentionally makes him more intelligent. After several doses, he is super intelligent and has control over his body. While he is constructing his grand philosophy he finds out there is another like him. He realizes there can only be one of them which leads to a showdown.

"Liking What You See: a Documentary" is set in the future where your ability to tell if people are beautiful or ugly can be turned off. The documentary is of people at a college debating and then voting on whether everyone at the college will be required to have the procedure while they are attending.

I would recommend this book to fans of science fiction and fantasy.        

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Megan Mullally,  Nick Offerman   audiobook 6 discs, 288 pages 

I listened to this audiobook, which is read by the authors and makes for some very good listening. Admittedly, I prefer listening to Nick than Megan (and it seemed like sometimes she dominated the conversation a bit too often).  I liked that the two of them talked about their childhoods, how they met, and anecdotes about their relationship and life in general. I really liked it when Nick would do a chapter on his own, like the one about how if you're looking to meet someone (for a relationship), it's best to do it while doing something you love. He starts out by talking about baking delicious cookies and then it all develops from there.

I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed this as much if I had read the book because the audiobook just feels like a natural conversation between the two of them, complete with occasional snickers. It's clear that the two of them have a solid relationship and their comfort level with each other comes through as you listen to them.

Mrs.

Mrs. by Caitlin Macy        341 pages --- read 150 before I gave up

"Macy has written a modern-day House Of Mirth, not for the age of railroads and steel but of hedge funds and overnight fortunes, of scorched-earth successes and abiding moral failures. A brilliant portrait of love, betrayal, fate and chance, Mrs marries razor-sharp social critique and page-turning propulsion into an unforgettable tapestry of the way we live in the 21st Century."  (per Goodreads summary)

Our main character is Phillippa Lye, a tall and elegant woman who seems to be the one person everyone can't stop discussing. She's married a man who is part of the last family-held investment bank in New York City (read this as "they have loads of money"). While her life seems balanced, when she meets Gwen Hogan (and actually, meets her again, as it turns out they went to school together) and Minnie Curtis, things start to come unraveled. Because Philippa has a past (of course she does) that may be connected to a criminal investigation.

I had put this book on hold and I'm assuming I did that because I read a review that made this book sound good. It wasn't. I gave up after 150 pages because I was bored. Rich ladies gossiping about other rich ladies, a wife who is rags to riches, a husband who is an investment banker (but wait, is he up to something shady?) . . .  after a while, I just didn't care.  I contemplated skipping to the end to find out what happened but ultimately didn't care enough to do even that. I'm hoping the next book I pick up is better than this one was.  

Nicole Eisenman

Nicole Eisenman by Nicole Eisenman, Beatrix Ruf, Lynne Tillman, Laurie Weeks, and Nicola Tyson

Harcover: 96 pages

Nicole Eisenman is a contemporary artist, best known for her paintings (though she also works in installation, printmaking, and sculpture), and a 2015 MacArthur “Genius” Fellow. This book came out in 2011 and features many handsome reproductions of Eisenman’s paintings and drawings from the mid-90s to about 2010. Check out this book to look at the paintings, of course, but you’d be remiss to skip the writing, which includes an introduction by the editor/curator Beatrix Ruf, an interview with the artist, and a short story.  In the interview, conducted by the author Lynne Tillman, Eisenman talks about her approach and evolution as a painter, and the early influence of art history on her work  – particularly Italian Renaissance and Gothic art. She points out how she built from the ruins of these traditions, imbuing them with her specific world of characters, abjection, subconscious desires, and importantly, humor. She also addresses feeling constantly disappointed by feeling forced to define herself and her paintings in terms of gender, when to her, “all in life and painting is fluid.”  Speaking about her newest paintings at the time, she explains how she reassessed her formal approach, deciding to become more painterly and less controlling – that is, to let the paint itself claim as much or more meaning than the image. This changing approach can be seen in the range of paintings featured in the book. The author Laurie Weeks provides a surreal and hilarious meta-story about writing a story for a Nicole Eisenman book, in which the author and her cohorts pontificate on the artistic and political implications of Eisenman’s work, and totally eviscerate capitalism and patriarchy in the process. I enjoyed it immensely and can’t think of a better introduction to the paintings in this book. Recommended!

 - Aleta L.

Dog

Dog by Michelle Herman   Hardcover: 188 pages

Dog is a novella about a cynical, reclusive poetry professor and her transformative experience adopting a puppy. Though she’s resistant to change at first, the protagonist finds that the emotional space she creates for Phil, the dog, opens things up everywhere: she begins reconsidering the meaning of “goodness” in her life, and she contemplates her past, present, and future with more kindness than she’d ever been able to muster. I enjoyed the changing tone of the professor’s musings as she grew more and more attached to the dog, and appreciated the depictions of her very different academic and domestic selves – a divide everyone can relate to on some level.  Ultimately a story about companionship and possibility, I recommend it if you want a rare feel-good but believable, engaging short book – it didn’t take much time to read, but the story is still hanging around pleasantly in my mind.

 - Aleta L.