Trying to Love

I was given an advanced reader's copy of David Levithan's adult book "The Lover's Dictionary." As with all of his books, I like the premise, I'm intrigued by the plot and characters...but then I'm disappointed by the product. There are a few brilliant turns of phrase in this one but neither partner is very sympathetic and the non-linear storytelling doesn't give me enough information to be invested in the outcome.

Briefly Happy

Anna Quindlen wrote this terrific little book ten years ago. I crossed paths with it right now and that's probably divine intervention. The wisdom she's gained and freely shares could speak to anyone in any situation, as long as the reader can accept it. One of the mantras: "Keep still. Be present."

Sister Love

I can't imagine life without my sisters. Our relationships to eachother and our parents change over the years but we have that common history that no friendship can ever rival. It's getting more complicated lately, so I was eager to read You Were Always Mom's Favorite for insight. I gained some knowledge and I've been thinking so much, but I don't have solutions yet.

Devil in the Details

AvroKO's designs resonate with me, I think, because they consider the history of buildings when creating identities for the restaurants that inhabit those spaces. They bring in unexpected touches and use materials that one might never encounter anywhere else. I especially liked the card catalog of past menus in PUBLIC (of course), as well as the meat hook chandeliers at Quality Meats. Best Ugly highlights just a few of their successful projects.

Painful

If you can remember when you were a teenager, you must have some cringe-worthy moments. Would you ever think about sharing them with the world? It seems some people have no qualms about it and their notes and diaries are out there for all to see in Cringe. Lots of the documents will strike a chord with you, I'm sure, and some are just too painful to read.

Read Me More, Please

I just finished listening to Sherman Alexie's War Dances on CD. Sherman reads the stories himself--it doesn't get better than that. As his voice came through my speakers, I was reminded of the evening that I had the pleasure of meeting him for the first time. True Confessions had just been published and he read parts of it aloud. He's so remarkable--and you get to see glimpses of that in his writing. Funny, painful, wonderful.

The Unexpected

When young mother Amy dies suddenly from a heart condition, her mother and father move in with her husband and the three children to help out. Roger Rosenblatt ("Boppo") reveals moments of sorrow and delight that result. You'd never want to imagine having to deal with such grief but you envy the closeness that such a tragedy can produce, when you are Making Toast.

That Teen Age

Anne Lamott's latest work examines the difficulties parents face as their children grow and mature much too fast. Rosie is a senior in high school, doing all the things she should be doing (hanging out with friends, learning in class, thinking about boys) and some things she shouldn't (experimenting with drugs, skipping school, flirting with a teacher). Her mother, a recovering alcoholic, tries to do her best to keep tabs on Rosie and prevent the behavior from getting worse. Imperfect Birds captures and adeptly expresses the emotions of both women, leaving you wondering who is suffering the most.

Short and Compelling

The women of Love Stories in This Town are complex and compelling. The stories vary in mood and setting but ring true always. My personal favorite (for obvious reasons) is "Butte as in Beautiful" and begins with the sentence, "It's a crappy coincidence that on the day James asks for my hand in marriage, there is a __________ loose in the library." I'm not telling you specifics--you'll have to read it for yourself.

Collective History

Several years ago I visited the National Archives in Washington D.C. I was awestruck by the sheer volume of items there and loved how history sprang to life through them. Records of Our National Life allows you to bring the Archives home and cozy up to them. I love seeing the Top Secret documents, and all the photographs and handwritten letters. A very cool look into the lives of Americans past, both famous and unknown.

Not Alone

Penny Lane's parents are huge Beatle fans--can't you tell? She's had bad luck with boys and decides to focus on school and friends without the distraction of romance. Thus begins The Lonely Hearts Club. This sweet story will bring back the thrill and dread that accompanies high school relationships vividly. There are enough twists to keep you interested and rooting for Penny to the last page.

All Thumbs

'Tis the season for thinking about putting in gardens and watching things grow. I've had middling success in years past, so this year I've been reading and researching before I plant a thing. Grow Great Grub has ideas for small-space gardening and the pictures alone will motivate you. Raised-bed Vegetable Gardening Made Simple isn't as flashy but has more information and diagrams than you could digest in a single season. I've implemented suggestions from both titles already--time will tell if they produce results.

Those Remaining

Somehow I ended up watching "The Bridge" in the same week I finished Hold Still. Both works thoughtfully portray the family and friends of those who take their own lives. You get a feel for the depths of sadness that might drive someone to do such a thing through the words of the survivors and the grief that remains in their wake.

Heavy Duty

I was so excited to read the latest from Joshua Ferris, The Unnamed. The characters and plot hooked me from the first chapter. This one took me a very long time to finish reading because it kept on weighing heavier and heavier on my mind. It made me think about how the body sometimes fails the spirit, how the unknown future can cripple a person, and what would I do in the same situation. This one will stay with me for a good long time.

Losing It

Sara B. started a magazine from the ground up with a friend based on the idea that people fall into two strict categories based on what they wear: DOs and DON'Ts. That was years ago and now she's starting to question her ability to distinguish between the two and has trouble trusting her own judgment about lots of things. Along comes Eva, a hipster who turns everything upside down very quickly. The writing is funny and touching many times but sometimes is way too gritty. Get through it because the ending brings in some great characters and resolutions.

Classic Crutcher

Chris Crutcher does it again with Angry Management. This time he's pulled together some of the greatest characters from his previous works but changes them slightly to fit in a loosely connected ensemble. Crutcher so successfully depicts the struggles of teens and draws you into their difficult situations with his distinct humor, you'll read furiously to the end.

Takes all kinds

If you are intrigued by the conversations of strangers, Overheard in New York is for you. Based on the popular blog, the book presents you with brief exchanges between people in public areas of The City. My only advice to readers is to pace yourself. Reading it all in a single sitting might make you nauseous.

For Pete's Sake

I've been a fan of Pete Hautman's since I read Mr. Was. I happened upon his latest teen fiction and devoured it in almost a single session. Kelleigh is a fifteen-year-old who is just bored. She stumbles upon something that gives her a kick: stealing cars. Hautman portrays her voice and emotions so vividly you'll be pulled into the story and get your own kick out of it.

Frenemies

I needed a good chick lit read, since I have been submerged in home design and improvement books lately. This one fit the bill--and it's well-written, too! It follows two young women who have been friends since college. One has become a published author, one has two small children and struggles to make money writing articles. Their relationship takes a hit when Alison has a tragic car accident while driving home intoxicated from Claire's book release party and the truth about their history begins to unravel. The characters are likable and human and the story is absolutely believable.

Growing Up Quickly

Sam is fifteen and has a lot to consider. Her father is the pastor, her mother is in rehab, her faith doesn't feel so real anymore, and then one of the girls from her class goes missing. This might sound like a lot to consider in a single book, but Sara Zarr does a fantastic job of making it believable and real in Once Was Lost. I had the pleasure of meeting Zarr upon the release of Story of a Girl. Make time to read her novels this year--she's got a way with words.