Feb
21
2012
Girl Reading by Katie Ward
There has been a lot of buzz surrounding GIRL READING by Katie Ward and I can understand why. The plot sounds both mesmerizing and intriguing.
Seven portraits. Seven artists. Seven girls and women reading.A young orphan poses nervously for a Renaissance maestro in medieval Siena. An artist’s servant girl in seventeenth-century Amsterdam snatches a moment away from her work to lose herself in tales of knights and battles. An eighteenth century female painter completes a portrait of a deceased poetess for her lover. A Victorian medium poses with a book in one of the first photographic studios. A girl suffering her first heartbreak witnesses intellectual and sexual awakening during the Great War. A young woman reading in a bar catches the eye of a young man who takes her picture. And in the not-so-distant future a woman navigates the rapidly developing cyber-reality that has radically altered the way people experience art and the way they live.
Each chapter of Katie Ward’s kaleidoscopic novel takes us into a perfectly imagined tale of how each portrait came to be, and as the connections accumulate, the narrative leads us into the present and beyond. In gorgeous prose Ward explores our points of connection, our relationship to art, the history of women, and the importance of reading. This dazzlingly inventive novel that surprises and satisfies announces the career of a brilliant new writer.
Oprah.com listed it as their Book-of-the-Week, saying:
The old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words gets trotted out pretty regularly, but we so infrequently stop to think what it means. In this luminously vulnerable debut novel, Katie Ward takes seven real images of women reading and imagines a story for each one. From a young girl struggling with an unintended pregnancy in 1333 to a performer photographed by her less flamboyant but much more talented sister in the Victorian era to an adolescent who’s fixated on a much older man during World War I, Ward’s characters are so utterly relatable that you’ll feel you know them after a few sentences. Yet none of them appears for more than a chapter, transforming each tale into snapshot of a woman’s life. At first, the brevity of interaction is disappointing, because getting to know the characters is such a pleasure. But as you go (and the pages in this book do turn quickly), Ward’s reason for creating these short portraits becomes clearer. The sketches she composes are an invitation to the “girl reading” (that’s you!) to go further on your own, to imagine the characters’ next chapters, or even their whole lives, to enjoy the infinite imaginative possibilities offered by a finite portrait. If you dig into the stories, you’ll get far more than a mere thousand words. In fact, you’ll discover, as one of Ward’s characters says, that “there is a world under” each and every one.
Other industry reviews are glowing, as well:
“A real wow of a first novel…incredibly clever.” –The Times (London)
Book of the Week: “Katie Ward’s assured debut is inspired by that mysterious and provocative subject of a thousand visual images: a woman reading . . . In each chapter Ward twists a story around real works of art. Her seven unpredictable tales serve up a lively, irreverent and even feminist journey through history.—Time Out (London)
Book of the Week: “This isn’t a novel – it’s a time machine! Well, nearly. As each chapter transports you to a completely different century, you’ll find yourself wondering if Ward has her very own Tardis … I guarantee the stories will relate to your own life in some way – if you’re planning to pack any holiday books this year, make sure Girl Reading is one of them.” —Cosmopolitan (UK)
“Girl Reading is a debut of rare individuality and distinction. Katie Ward inhabits each of her seven scenes, her seven eras, with a fluent and intuitive touch, and sentence by sentence, deft and mercurial, she surpasses the readers’ expectations. What is set down on the page has a rich and allusive hinterland, so that the reader’s imagination has a space to work, and what is unsaid has its own fascination. The writing is full of light and shadow, alive with fresh and startling perceptions.” –Hilary Mantel, author of the Man Booker Prize winning Wolf Hall“Ambitious in range and technically impressive…[Girl Reading] is undoubtedly the work of a writer to watch.” –Kirkus
Have you read GIRL READING? Is it on your To Be Read list? Do you listen to buzz surrounding a book and does it influence your interest in reading that book?
Feb
16
2012
Catch Me by Lisa Gardner
Father and son Michael and Daniel Palmer, along with bestselling author Lisa Gardner return to Brookline Booksmith with their own particular brand of mayhem. Michael Palmer is the best-selling author of 16 novels, including The Patient and A Heartbeat Away. His newest thriller, Oath of Office, deals with the fallout when a well-respected doctor goes on a murderous rampage.
Daniel Palmer is a former e-commerce pioneer, singer-songwriter, and the author of the critically-acclaimed thrillerDelirious. In his new book, Helpless, former Navy Seal Tom Hawkins returns to his hometown after his ex-wife is murdered so that he can raise his daughter. But when he becomes the prime suspect in his ex-wife’s death and other shocking false allegations are leveled against him, he has to fight for his freedom.
Lisa Gardner is the author of fifteen crime novels, including the best-selling D.D. Warren mysteries. In her newest, Catch Me, Warren is approached by a woman claiming she will be murdered in four days, creating the inspector’s toughest case yet – to solve a murder before it happens.
The event starts tonight at 7pm at the Brookline Booksmith.
Feb
14
2012
In honor of Valentine’s day, The Huffington Post has compiled a list of the 10 best kisses in literature. From the romantic (Gone with the Wind) to the creepy (Lolita and Humbert) to the the innocent (Callie’s first kiss with her friend Clementine in Middlesex,) this list has a little of bit of everything for everyone.
So Happy Valentine’s Day to all the book lovers out there!
Feb
6
2012
Little Girl Gone by Drusilla Campbell
“We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face…we must do that which we think we cannot.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
The definition of courage is the power or quality of dealing with or facing danger, fear or pain. Millions of women face tremendous danger and fear daily. They are literally prisoners in their own lives, prisoners of domestic violence. It is easy to offer simple solutions when not facing these challenges personally. It is easy to say, “Get out!” or “Don’t stand for his harsh words,” or worse, his strong fists. But unless you are faced with the constant fear for survival it is impossible to pass judgment. In Drusilla Campbell’s Little Girl Gone (Grand Central Publishing, January 2012) we are introduced to a young woman trapped in an unhealthy relationship and forced to do things that are beyond comprehension. Unfortunately, oftentimes the abuser holds more power over their victim than just fear, they also represent safety and security. Psychology Today reports that any situation in which one partner is wielding power over the other can fall under the domestic violence umbrella. This is exactly the case for Madora and Willis. Willis saved her from an unhappy life and she feels indebted to him. Even when he kidnaps a homeless, pregnant teenager, Madora still follows along. She is as much a prisoner as the pregnant teenager.
Domestic violence can take many forms; physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse. The United States Office on Violence Against Women defines domestic violence as a “pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.” A recent survey of college students found that 43% of college women have experienced violence and abusive dating behaviors. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women. These are terrifying statistics and to those unfamiliar with abusive relationships, seem impossible. But statistics don’t lie. Reading a novel like Little Girl Gone allows readers to step inside this terrifying life and see for themselves the powerlessness that women feel. Stepping inside Madora’s life is both terrifying and inspiring. We route for her to find the strength and courage to free herself from the hands of Willis, from the isolation and terror he has created in her life. Campbell beautifully captures the raw and stark reality of Madora’s life while building tension and suspense towards a climactic ending. Little Girl Gone is a fantastic exploration into domestic violence and the power of courage in the face of tragedy.
Feb
3
2012
Maggie Gyllenhaal (Secretary), Greta Gerwig (Greenberg) and Rhys Ifans (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1) are in talks to star in TV adaptation of Jonathan Frazen’s The Corrections for HBO.
Gyllenhaal is up for the part of Denise Lambert, the talented bisexual young chef and family mediator. Gerwig would play Julia Vrais, middle child and Chip’s married girlfriend and Ifans would play Julia’s Lithuanian husband, Gitnas, in a cameo. Bruce Norris, playwright (Clybourne Park) and theatre actor is in talks to play Banker and amateur photographer, Gary Lambert.
The show, which will be written by Franzen, has already cast Diane Weist and Chris Cooper as Enid and Alfred Lambert. Ewan McGregor has also been casted to play the peter pan like Chip Lambert, the most outwardly screwed up member of the Lambert Family of St. Jude, Missouri.
It is rumored that the show will air in 2013 and will be produced by Scott Rudin (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.)
Feb
2
2012
Four of a Kind by Valerie Frankel
“A man’s growth is seen in the successive choirs of his friends.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
I sat down to write this review in the same manner I write every review. I wanted to diplomatically describe the details of the book (something you can easily find on Amazon or Goodreads and therefore do not need me to repeat here). I was then going to give my impression of the book, where the author excelled, what was interesting about the plot, describe the challenges the four main characters faced in their lives (at home, at work, in love). All of this would have been interesting and informative but it would also be stagnant. It would be run-of-the-mill. It would be something you could find in the hundreds of reviews online or in magazines and newspapers. It would be something you could find just by reading the book yourself. (Which I highly recommend you do!)
Instead, I want to do things a little differently. I want to explore the theme of this book and how it relates to life. Because isn’t that why we read fiction in the first place? To learn more about ourselves, to understand our lives, our hopes, dreams, fears, and failings?
Four of a Kind by Valerie Frankel (Ballantine Books, February 7, 2012) is a novel about FRIENDSHIP.
Friendship is crucial in life. It is an integral part of our happiness. Strong social ties are key to happiness. Gretchen Rubin in her book, The Happiness Project, routinely points out that “To be happy we have to feel strongly connected to other people.” She even has a post on her blog with 8 Tips for Making Friends. In that post she talks about how the “mere exposure effect” makes you like someone better. Basically, just by repeatedly seeing the same people, you will, in fact, like them better. Another tip she gives is to join a group. “Being part of a natural group, where you have common interest and are brought together automatically, is the easiest way to make friends.”
This is what happens in Valerie Frankel’s completely entertaining novel, Four of a Kind. Four women are brought together as part of a school diversity committee, each woman has a child in the same school. Ironically, the diversity committee is a very diverse group, women who would never be friends if not forced together. On a whim, the women end up playing a game of Texas Hold’em, but instead of money the currency is secrets. Secrets in their marriage, secrets with their careers, their children, their parents. Every woman has a secret in her life and even though she keeps them close to her heart and aches because of them, she is really just looking for the right person to tell. When these secrets (and worries and fears and hopes) begin to come out, the women realize they are bonded more closely than they ever could have imagined. These women found each other and as a result have built honest, beautiful, complicated relationships.
Rachel Bertsche’s website and book, MWF Seeking BFF, was devoted to the challenge of finding friendship once you are no longer in structured, friend-building environments (school, offices, teams). Her message struck a chord. Why is it so hard to make friends as you get older? Studies constantly point out the health benefits behind having friends. For example, did you know that gossiping with friends can help lower stress? Friends give you an impartial outlet to vent your frustrations. They can listen to your complaints, offer advice and guidance and be the shoulder to cry on. They can also help you find joy and happiness in life. They get you out of your routine and can help you discover new aspects of yourself.
It is easy to isolate yourself, to retreat into your own world and shut people out. Women often feel competition and jealousy, even with their closest friends. They strive to have the most successful life; the best clothes, career, husband, children, vacations. Women can sometimes see that green-eyed monster lurking when a friend’s life seems to be sunnier than their own. So in trying to prove that our lives are successful and that jealousy never crosses our mind we put on false fronts, fake faces. We live in a false sense of security with our hundreds of Facebook “friends.” But what about real, live interaction? An email message pales in comparison to lunch with a girlfriend.
By reading Four of a Kind you will find yourself longing to have the close friendships that evolve throughout the novel. You may not envy their struggles and fears, but you will rejoice in their successes and find yourself routing for all of them in the end. When you turn the last page you will have an immediate urge to call your closest friends and organize a girls night out. I highly recommend you do this!
Feb
1
2012
People love books. Some people show their love by recommending books to friends and family members, others start websites to share their love of stories to the world. There are also people out there who want to show their love for their favorite books daily, wherever they go, to whomever they meet. Publishers Weekly found the top five books that inspired the most tattoos. This is devotion.
5. Fight Club by Chuck Palaniuk
Fight club resonates with people who are anti-authority and Tyler Durden is their hero. This one tattoo is an iconic image because Tyler was, among other things, a soap maker.
4. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
The watercolor images inspire many tattoos but also the appreciation of the world’s beauty and wonder. This tattoo is of the prince himself.
3. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
This book reminds us of our childhoods and we grow up so fast, that maybe it’s a symbol of who we were as children: wild, carefree and full of imagination. This is tattoo is of Max in his iconic wolf outfit.
2. Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
There are a lot of tattoos of Alice in Wonderland out there. There are quotes, images and the cast of characters are depicted frequently: Alice, The Mad Hatter and especially the Cheshire Cat. Here is a depiction of the tree, the cheshire cat and a few other characters.
1. Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnetgut
This classic novel of war and time travel resonates with people in the mantra “So It Goes,” which represents the owner’s coping with worry or loss. Here is a tattoo of the mantra on someone’s wrist, which is where people usually get the tattoo, oddly enough.
Jan
31
2012
Because the internet truly is a web that I get lost in quite frequently, I wanted to fully trace my path to this particular discovery. I was perusing one of my favorite websites, Creature Comforts, when I found a post about a unique project. Handwritten Letters by Mary Kate McDevitt. Mary Kate gave herself the task to write one handwritten “letter”, not a note to a friend, an actual letter of the alphabet, every day for 395 days. She blogs about it here. Originally, she had a sign-up board where you could actually enter your address and each person would receive one letter. The list of 395 filled up pretty quickly and the entry form is now closed. But what a gorgeous idea! She also blogs about her illustration and other lettering work here. And she tweets.
She has a book coming out in March (a journal) from Chronicle Books and this is DEFINITELY something to pine for…
Jan
27
2012
Friendship According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney
Our resident children’s book reviewer is back with a fantastic review of a new and exciting series. Get ready to fall in love with Humphrey.
Friendship According to Humphrey (Book 2)
In book 2, Class 26 gets another class pet and everyone is paying more attention to him (the frog) than Humphrey. Plus how could he become friends with a frog with its bug out eyes and really icky skin? When the class writes poems. most of them write about you know who.
…This book was read and reviewed by Piper, an adorable 9-year-old girl. We can’t wait for more reviews from this insightful and brilliant reviewer! We also can’t wait to find out what further adventures await Humphrey.
Thanks, Piper!
Jan
26
2012
Ben Stiller is going to produce, write and direct a pilot called All Talk to HBO. Jonathan Safran Foer (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Everything is Illuminated) has been tapped to write it.
The pilot is about a Jewish family living in Washington, D.C. It has been described as“politically, religiously, culturally, intellectually, and sexually irreverent.”
Alan Alda is in talks to play Ben Stiller’s father, making the first time he’ll be on a series regular since M*A*S*H*.
