I have been a part of three book clubs and have yet to find one that seemed like a perfect fit. I judge myself for this. In my darkest moments I wonder if my participation comes across like Meg Ryan in that double date scene in When Harry Met Sally when she turns away fromContinue reading “The Problem With Book Clubs”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Siding
The first rule of reading memoir is to expect an unreliable narrator. Even the most gifted writer can be forgiven for some manner of curation. Memoirists also face potential blowback from their supporting players. Imagine how anyone might feel if their marriage, parenting, or friendship skills were laid bare in someone else’s book. I thinkContinue reading “Siding”
The Most List
I don’t often read the same author twice. With so much talent out there, I like to diversify and seek out fresh voices. There are a few exceptions, though. Here is the Most List: authors I have read more than ten times. Anne Tyler Every reader has that book that changed everything. For me itContinue reading “The Most List”
The Motels
What is it with horror and hotels? If you are old enough to remember Psycho and The Shining, you probably have certain built in expectations while reading. When a couple pull up for a night’s lodging, you have been conditioned to squirm a bit. I guess it makes sense that motels represent fear in stories.Continue reading “The Motels”
Close To #Me
The #metoo movement has inspired a plethora of book titles, ranging from literary fiction to autobiography. The best known is Ronan Farrow’s Catch and Kill, an engrossing but repetitive account of his pursuit of sexual assault claims against Harvey Weinstein and Matt Lauer despite pushback from NBC, his then employer. A contender in the fictionContinue reading “Close To #Me”
Killing Time
What are the qualities that make some mysteries better than others? Liz Moore’s Long Bright River offers some clues. The main plot reflects bigger themes in the story: Long Bright River is about the devastation of drug addiction. Specifically it is about two sisters, Mickey and Kasey, who are born to teenage addicts. Their childhoodContinue reading “Killing Time”
Random Facts You Didn’t Know About…
I have read my share of trashy books. I figure as long as I am reading a few serious books a year, I can do it guilt free. I don’t know that the rungs go any lower than celeb authors. Memoirs are supposed to be juicy. I mean, you don’t want to read philosophical essaysContinue reading “Random Facts You Didn’t Know About…”
Hidden Worlds
From time to time, I find myself drawn to stories of Orthodox Judaism. Something about the austere customs and ancient theology appeals to me. I would guess I am not alone in this as there are multiple titles to select from, both fiction and memoir. Movies, too. Tova Mirvis was raised in an Orthodox familyContinue reading “Hidden Worlds”
The Rules
Back before I learned how to read, I had an aversion to the idea of fiction written by co-authors. Surely writing was a solitary pursuit, the result of a singular vision, and not something done through consultation. I held onto that idea for a long time. Then last year, browsing through an airport bookstore beforeContinue reading “The Rules”
Three Sides Now
You are winning at life if no one has ever written a memoir about you. This is the takeaway after seeing what Michael Mewshaw does to Pat Conroy in The Lost Prince. By turns mesmerizing and exploitative, it might require a psychologist to unpack it. The book starts off innocuously when the two men meetContinue reading “Three Sides Now”
Books Smitten 